The University of Wisconsin recently implemented a program that makes it easier to update and access emergency contact information in times of need.

In past years, student emergency information has been scattered around to the few offices that have collected it. Now all of that information will be located in one central place.

According to a UW statement, state and federal laws require universities to gather student emergency contact information to have on hand in case of emergencies.

In the past, students had the option of entering their information into the student center, but few did. Some students may have entered information their freshman year, but did not continue to update that information throughout their years as undergraduates, Associate Registrar for Student Services Greta Peterson said.

.@UWMadison Students: Update Local/Emergency Contact Info w/MyUW http://t.co/0D8zBFwNbi @UWMadisonPolice @LoriBerquam pic.twitter.com/0aOT0KoSD1

— UW-Madison Registrar (@uwmad_registrar) September 2, 2015

This updated system makes students’ information easier to access and keep emergency information up-to-date.

“Now someone could call the dean of students about a friend or another student, and the dean of students could have access to their information in order check to see if the student is okay and if the police need to be contacted,” Peterson said.

The deans of students are excited for the possibility of being able to access reliable information, Peterson said. She also noted system’s flexibility when it comes to who can be an emergency contact.

Peterson said the emergency contact for a student does not have to be a relative. Students may choose their contact to be a partner, friend or other guardian the student is close to, according to the statement.

Peterson said there are varying uses for the service.

“[C]ases could include if a student planned to work late in a lab and something should go wrong and the student is found unconscious, the contact information could be immediately found so we would know who to call,” Peterson said.

With the help of DoIT Tech Store, the new emergency program has been added to MyUW for students to access and update their emergency contact information, Peterson said.

The information will require students to change their contact information every semester or to at least update the information to ensure their contacts are current, she said.

Students who fail to update their emergency contact information will have a hold on their enrollment, a UW statement said.

“In an emergency situation, seconds count, minutes counts, and without having to scramble around and go through old addresses and ask multiple people, which could make the difference between finding a student alive or not,” Peterson said.