McClennan Community College launched a safety smartphone application for students and staff to communicate with police.
The Rave Guardian app allows users to contact police by sending them a text or calling them. The chat option of the app is only available during regular business hours Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The app, which was launched in December, is available along with 17 emergency call boxes around campus for people to reach out to MCC Police.
"This just adds that extra layer of safety, the classroom, the office, the parking wherever they may go. It will help out," MCC Police Chief Clayton Williams said.
Users who are going to a location on campus can also set a safety timer, which will notify loved ones and police if they didn't make it to their destination in time.
MCC student Maxi Vaughn said the feature could be helpful to let others know about a potentially dangerous situation.
"Someone could break into your car and you could be walking up to it, and you wouldn't know what to do or you could see someone else getting hurt, robbed or anything attacked and that will help," Vaughn said.
The 21-year-old said she is glad her college is taking steps to keep them safe.
"It's a good idea. You can never be too safe," Vaughn said.
The app also allows users to report property damage, report harm to a person and request individual mental health counseling. In addition, users can make anonymous reports.
An MCC email address is required to download the app.
