U.Va. Critical Alerts RSS Feed

The U.Va. Critical Alerts RSS feed includes the U.Va. Alerts text messages plus additional notices about closings, weather, etc.

You may subscribe to the U.Va. Critical Alerts RSS feed to receive messages through your email, news reader or your browser. Select your favorite RSS reader from below, or select the RSS icon below to use your browser.

U.Va. Alerts

Sign up here to receive alerts from U.Va. about potential, developing, or existing emergencies.

You can register for the text message service below. Once you are registered you may add additional numbers as well as email addresses.

If you are not sure you can receive text messages you may also register with just your email address.

U.Va. Alerts New User Signup Form

Not sure you can receive text messages? Read the Prerequisites.
Need help with the form? Read the Instructions.
Did you complete verification? Learn how to verify your registration.
Did you sign up for email? Learn how to sign up for email alerts.
Want to learn more about U.Va. Alerts? Read the Frequently Asked Questions.

Prerequisites

Your mobile phone/device must be able to receive text messages and your service plan must support receiving them. If you are unsure, please check with your service provider.
You must have your mobile phone/device present during signup. The registration process will require you to enter a 4-digit verification code that is sent to your phone.
U.Va. employees with phones on state contract must activate text messaging on their service plan.

Instructions

Step 1:
Choose a username and password for your U.Va. Alerts account and complete the form below. You may use any username/password - your account is separate from other U.Va. accounts.

Step 2:
Your phone will receive a text message with a 4-digit number. Enter this number on the confirmation page. After completing this step, your registration will become active immediately.

After you have enrolled in U.Va. Alerts, you may log into your account to add an additional cell phone number or an email address to receive text messages.

Verification

Once you have registered a phone number or email address you must verify them.

Go to the login above and enter the username and password you used to register. This will take you to the e2Campus Dashboard.

From the navigation at the e2Campus Dashboard select services. Here you will see the status of the cell phone numbers and email addresses you have submitted.

If the status says validate now, select that link.

When you are validating a cell phone number a text message will be sent with a validation code. You will need to have your cell phone with you. Type in the four digit code you receive and your number will be validated.

When you are validating an email address a link is sent yo your email. Once you go to that link your email will be validated.

Once you have completed verification you will start receiving U.Va. Alerts when they are sent out.

Add Your Email Address

Once you have registered a phone number may also add an email address.

Go to the login above and enter the username and password you used to register. This will take you to the e2Campus Dashboard.

From the navigation at the e2Campus Dashboard select services. Here you will see a list of the cell phone numbers and email addresses you have submitted.

On this page you will see a form for adding email addresses as well as additional cell phone numbers. Remember to verify the registration of all the email addresses and phone numbers you submit.

You may also edit or delete existing phone numbers and email addresses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can get U.Va. Alerts?
The U.Va. Alerts service is designed for students, faculty and staff who will be affected directly by an emergency on the University Grounds and/or the proximate areas.

Why should I get U.Va. Alerts?

Text messaging is more reliable in emergency situations when communication systems reach high capacity. Text messages will get through when phone calls won't.
You will receive alerts anywhere, even when you do not have access to a computer.

Will my cell phone number be kept confidential?
Yes. U.Va. Alerts service cell phone numbers are not shared or sold to any other systems or services.

How many U.Va. Alerts text messages will I receive?
The exact number of U.Va. Alerts messages is difficult to predict, but there should be very few. There will be occasional tests of the system, but the aim is to alert you only to emergency situations in which there is an imminent threat to public safety. You will receive messages within seconds of their transmission. If your cell phone is turned off when a text message is sent, you will receive it after you turn your cell phone on, but only if you do so within seven days from the original transmission.

What do I need to get U.Va. Alerts and how much does it cost?
All you need is a cell phone with text messaging capabilities. There is no charge to users for signing up. Individual cell phone plans will apply normal charges for the text message.

Note: All landlines, most Tracfones and some pay-as-you-go phones will not register on the U.Va. Alerts system. This is a limitation of the phone providers.

What if I change my cell phone service provider?
When you change cell/mobile phone providers but keep your existing mobile number it is considered "ported." Depending on the mobile phone provider, it may take up to 30 days for the U.Va. Alerts system to be updated. During the "ported" time period, you may not receive alerts because the alerts are sent to the old mobile provider, which may not forward them. You will find details on how to solve this problem and immediately register when you log on to get registration information.

How do I sign up for U.Va. Alerts?
To register, you do need to have your cell phone handy. Complete the online form above. You will be asked to create your own user name and password. (Note that this has no relationship to your U.Va. computing user name and password.) You will receive a text message in that will include 4-digit validation code. You must enter the validation code on the confirmation web page and hit the "Validate" button. You will then automatically be forwarded to a "Thank You" page. The validate button also creates your own personal account where you should go next and enter your preferred email address. This is where you will log in to update personal contact information.

What if I am not able to register?
For registration assistance, e-mail your mobile phone number and the name of your provider to support@e2Campus.com. Indicate you want to register in the U.Va. Alerts system.

What if I do not receive/enter the 4-digit validation code?
If you do not enter the 4-digit validation code, an account is created but you will not receive alerts. To receive alerts, you must login and re-validate your phone. If you do not receive the code, please contact support (see previous question).

How can I opt-out of U.Va. Alerts?
You can opt-out (discontinue) at any time just as quickly and easily as you signed up. Login to your U.Va. Alerts account for detailed instructions.

What will the U.Va. Alerts tell me?
A short text message will state the type of threat and indicate suggested action. For instance, for the presence of a gunman on Grounds: “GUNMAN AT LARGE NEAR (LOCATION). SHELTER IN PLACE. DETAILS AT VIRGINIA.EDU.” Because the messages must be brief, you will always be directed to go to the University’s Web site (www.virginia.edu) where details will be available.

An important reminder: the U.Va. Web site is the primary and most complete resource for current emergency information. The U.Va. Alerts text messaging service is just one of the methods the University will use to communicate emergency information. If appropriate, global e-mails, the telephone switchboard, flyers, local media and other communication tools will also be used.

For more information, please contact the Help Desk at (434) 924-3731 or email the Help Desk at consult@virginia.edu.

Maintained by: (Web Communications Office) Last Modified: 30-Aug-2008 16:32:30 EDT © Copyright 2009 by the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia	Text-only Version