Case Study: Purdue University achieves rapid campus-wide emergency alerts and effective lockdown response with Rave Mobile Safety

When Purdue University Sent a Crucial Active Shooter Alert Message

Purdue University faced a sudden active shooter incident in January 2014 when a student was fatally shot in a campus classroom, creating an urgent need to warn and shelter students, faculty and staff across campus. To rapidly communicate during the crisis, Purdue used Rave Mobile Safety’s Rave Alert mass-notification service to deliver life‑safety instructions and coordinate a campus lockdown.

Rave Mobile Safety’s Rave Alert immediately sent a “Shelter in Place” message to students’ and staff devices—texts, emails and computer notifications—enabling a campus-wide lockdown for just over two hours while law enforcement secured buildings and apprehended the suspect. The fast, high-volume delivery and reliability of Rave Alert were credited by Purdue officials with keeping the community informed and safe, reducing confusion during the response and allowing a coordinated sweep that declared the campus secure.

Purdue University

John Cox

Police Department Chief