More than 100 individuals throughout the UH system received test phone calls and e-mail messages automatically sent to their contact information.

The test was conducted using the NTI Connect-ED system, which was chosen by the university last year through a competitive solicitation. Several private schools in Honolulu use the product.

Today's test involved only emergency coordinators and administrators identified by the UH system or campuses as part of the institutional crisis response teams. UH has long maintained e-mail distribution capability for all its students and faculty. Connect-ED adds automated distribution of notices by phone and multiple e-mail address capability.

"No single approach can address all kinds of emergencies, so we need to incorporate a variety of strategies and technologies," David Lassner, UH Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer said in the release.

UH officials began considering alternative notification systems after a number of recent events highlighted the need for improvements in emergency communications. Last October's earthquake resulted in major power outages impacting many Hawai'i providers of e-mail and mobile phone service, as well as the ability of many people to make calls with their fixed line phones.