The University of Mary Washington has bought a text-messaging system to alert students, faculty, and staff about campus emergencies.

The system was purchased from Arlington-based Roam Secure Incorporated and is expected to be in operation by the start of school in August.

University spokeswoman Teresa Mannix says school officials have been looking at systems for a couple of years, but the timetable moved up after the Virginia Tech shootings in April.

Mannix says the system will cost $40,000 plus annual renewal fees.

It will be used on the campus in Fredericksburg, the graduate campus in Stafford. It will also send alerts to parents.

Mannix says the system is designed to work with cell phones, pagers, Email, BlackBerry devices, and faxes.