Test of alert system set for March 12: What you need to know
As part of the continuous assessment of our emergency notification protocols and procedures, campus officials will test the CU «Ƶ alerts system at approximately 12:15 p.m. on Tuesday, March 12.
The biannual testing, required by a federal law known as the Clery Act, involves checking the university’s systems for sending text messages, emails, social media posts, computer desktop alerts and website announcements. This testing helps ensure CU «Ƶ stays current with best practices and maintaining readiness to respond in case of emergencies.
Before the March 12 test, students, faculty and staff members should check their accounts to make sure their contact information is up to date.
The below information outlines how to ensure you receive emergency notifications, the types of campus provides, and how to stay informed about off-campus incidents.
How to receive CU «Ƶ alerts
Students should consult the . Faculty, staff and others with university email accounts (colorado.edu) can consult the . CU «Ƶ employees can now opt to receive alerts in languages other than English. This service is also available to students.
CU «Ƶ partners who have cu.edu, cufund.org, cusys.edu, ucdenver.edu or cuanschutz.edu email domains must register and maintain their information on the CU «Ƶ .
Affiliates who are not students, faculty or staff and do not have a CU email domain can opt in to receive CU «Ƶ text alerts by texting “cuaffiliate” to 67283. Your registration will expire one year after you opt in, and you will be required to reregister each year. You may text “STOP” at any time to 67283 to be removed. As a member of CU «Ƶ Alerts, you will receive text notifications for campuswide events.
If there is a true ongoing campus threat to personal safety or a campus closure, a campuswide alert will be sent using one or all of the communication methods available. Text messaging is the preferred method of the system, since this mode reaches the most individuals in the least amount of time.
After the scheduled test, if you think that you should have received an alert and didn’t, or if you need help signing up for the system, please email the Emergency Management team.
What are CU Emergency Alerts?
CU «Ƶ issues emergency notifications, called CU Emergency Alerts, to the campus community when there is a confirmed immediate threat to the safety of those on our campus or near campus in areas of high student populations.
Such threats may include an active harmer, a natural disaster, severe weather or other time-sensitive life safety concerns. CU Emergency Alerts can also be used in the event of campus closures or delayed starts.
Other notifications: CU Safety Alerts and CU Advisories
As a reminder, the university has three levels of emergency notification.
Along with CU Emergency Alerts, campus also issues CU Safety Alerts in accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act).
For non-immediate threats or other incidents that may impact the daily lives of our university community, CU «Ƶ has a tier of notifications called CU Advisories.
What about off-campus emergencies?
For campus community members who live off campus or who are off campus frequently, it is natural to want to know what is happening nearby and how to stay safe. This article explains how the university responds to off-campus incidents in areas of high student populations and has valuable information on how to stay informed of emergency notifications.
The city of «Ƶ and «Ƶ County emergency responders distribute emergency alerts via a system called Everbridge. Community members with «Ƶ addresses are automatically opted-into the Everbridge system. Those who live outside of «Ƶ but want to be aware of emergency notifications in the area .
In spring and summer, city and county officials, in cooperation with the «Ƶ County Office of Disaster Management conduct outdoor, which may be heard on parts of campus. This testing generally runs from the first Monday in April through the first Monday in August.
The «Ƶ Police Department and the «Ƶ Fire Department also maintain social media channels for nonemergency information. Local news media is also a great resource, especially in situations in which rumors are spreading on social media.
If you have questions regarding emergency management at CU «Ƶ, visit the website or email the team. Emergency Management provides a list of common emergency definitions on their website.
