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Click here for information on the AlertSU Outdoor Warning System
What is the AlertSU System?
How does it work?
What should you do when you get an AlertSU message?
Who is included in the AlertSU emergency notification system?
Will I receive all of my messages at the same time?
What if I have a personal phone not in the Stanford system?
What if I have a personal email not in the Stanford system?
How will I know when I receive a message from the AlertSU system?
How do I know that all of my personal data will be secure and protected by the University and NTI?
On what devices will I receive an emergency notification?
What other means will Stanford use to communicate emergency information?
About the system
Can I change my emergency contact numbers?
I'd like to receive text messages on my cell phone. How do I add that?
I received the text message on my phone in two parts. Is this normal?
Can I opt-out from messages?
What happens if I mark my information "Private" in StanfordYou? Will I still receive notices?
What contact information should I use for the AlertSU system?
Does Stanford correct my personal contact information when it is wrong?
Will I receive unsolicited messages (”SPAM”) on my cell phone or email account as a result of giving my cell phone number to the University?
Is there a charge for subscribing to receive emergency messages via the AlertSU system?
Do I need to install software on my PDA or cell phone to receive text messages or emails?
When will you deactivate my subscription to the AlertSU system?
If I switch cell phone service providers, do I have to notify Stanford that I have changed providers, even though my cell phone number remains the same?
Who do I contact if I still have questions?
What is the AlertSU System?
AlertSU is the Stanford University emergency notification system for faculty, staff, students and other members of the Stanford community. It delivers time-sensitive emergency notifications via voice mail, email and text-messaging to all members of the Stanford community. Emergency management personnel will respond to an event, assess the situation and determine whether a mass notification is appropriate.
How does it work?
In the event of a major emergency affecting the Stanford campus, Stanford faculty, staff, and students will receive an emergency communication on the phone numbers and emails registered in the Stanford directory (via StanfordYou or Axess). The message will include basic information about the nature of the emergency and instructions on how to obtain further information. The need to activate the mass notification system will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The system will be used in conjunction with other emergency resources already in place, such as the emergency web site (https://emergency.stanford.edu) and the emergency information hotlines (650-725-5555, 800-89SHAKE).
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What should you do when you get an AlertSU message?
In the event of a major emergency, follow the directions received in the AlertSU message. If the message directs you to evacuate, evacuate immediately. If it directs you to shelter-in-place, stay inside your dorm, office, lab or building until you receive an “all-clear” message. Check with others nearby to ensure that they also received the message or inform them of the alert and instructions. DO NOT respond to the location of the emergency. In addition to the possibility of injuring yourself, your presence could interfere with the deputies, fire fighters, and other first responders working to save lives.
Who is included in the AlertSU emergency notification system?
Currently, active Stanford staff, faculty and students are automatically included in the AlertSU system. We are evaluating methods of including additional populations that exist or reside within our campus community.
Will I receive all of my messages at the same time?
Not necessarily. Upon activation, the AlertSU system sends emergency notifications out to all contact points simultaneously. These include multiple phones, email and text messages. Because the delivery rates of the cellular and email providers can vary, messages may arrive at different times. Some messages can be delayed for up to an hour or more. Text messages can be batched and delivered by each individual phone carrier; therefore we have no direct control over the rate of delivery. This is why you may receive messages at different times.
The university uses a layered approach to emergency notification because we understand the limitations of any one individual delivery mechanism. The goal is to reach a critical mass of our population with the initial message. Then, local emergency procedures take over to ensure that each individual in the area is aware of the need for action whether it be to evacuate the area or shelter in place.
Back to General FAQ
What if I have a personal phone not in the Stanford system?
If you wish to receive voice or text messages on a personal phone enter that information into your Stanford directory account.
What if I have a personal email not in the Stanford system?
At this time a second email may not be entered by faculty or staff. You may select between your Stanford email address or a personal email address but not both. We are working with Application Support to resolve this issue.
How will I know when I receive a message from the AlertSU system?
The Caller ID function on your cell phone or landline (if available) will display the following number: (650) 725-5555.
Text messages delivered through an email gateway will display from "sms@ntigroup.com." Text messages delivered through SMS will arrive from 23177.
How do I know that all of my personal data will be secure and protected by the University and NTI?
The contact information you enter in the Stanford directory will only be provided to Blackboard Connect for the explicit purposes of notifying you in the event of an emergency. Blackboard Connect has agreed that they have no right to use your contact information for any other purpose than notifying you via the AlertSU system. Blackboard Connect does not sell, lease, share, rent, or barter personally identifiable information (names, addresses, phone numbers, etc.) to any companies or persons outside of Blackboard Connect or Blackboard Connect service providers, ever!
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On what devices will I receive an emergency notification?
You will receive an emergency notification from the AlertSU system on all phone numbers (both cell and landlines) included in your directory listing. Additionally, an email notification will be sent to your University email account. If you have private phone not in the Stanford directory, be sure to add that information to your directory account if you wish to receive AlertSU messages. Text messages will only be sent to text capable phones listed in the directory mobile phone field.
What other means will Stanford use to communicate emergency information?
Stanford uses a layered approach to emergency communication. Depending on what is appropriate for the situation, information will be posted on the campus emergency website (https://emergency.stanford.edu), university hotlines (650-725-5555, 800-89SHAKE), broadcast on KZSU (90.1 MHz or Channel 211) and communicated through our mass notification tool, AlertSU, via phone, email and text messaging. For more information on our program, visit the Emergency Preparedness section of the Environmental Health & Safety website at http://ehs.stanford.edu.
About the system
Blackboard Connect supplies Stanford University with mass notification functionality through it's product, ConnectED. This ASP service provides a mechanism for delivering messages to the Stanford community through a variety of concurrent mechanisms including voice, email, and SMS (text message). In addition, a Siren Alert System consisting of seven siren/voice towers will be deployed across the campus and be capable of emitting both a siren/blare notification as well as a verbal message.
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Can I change my emergency contact numbers?
Staff and faculty update their contact information in their StanfordYou profile at http://stanfordyou.stanford.edu under the "Maintain your directory and AlertSU emergency contact information" link. Stanford will use the contact information in this area to send you information during an emergency. The "Maintain your external emergency contact information" link collects information on the individuals we would contact on your behalf if you were injured or involved in an accident at work and were unable to contact them yourself.
Students and post-docs update their information through Axess. http://axess.stanford.edu.
I'd like to receive text messages on my cell phone. How do I add that?
Text messages will be delivered to the contact point listed as "Mobile phone" in your StanfordYou account. If you do not list your cell phone in this field, it will not receive text messages. If you use your cell phone as your main office line or home/dorm phone, you may list it in both fields without any problem. You will be sent both a voice and a text message.
I received the text message on my phone in two parts. Is this normal?
Some carriers may split messages into two parts if the message exceeds the character limitations. We will try to keep messages as brief as possible while still conveying as much important information as possible.
Can I opt-out from messages?
The University requires students to provide one additional point of contact in addition to their local phone number and Stanford provided email address and to maintain this information in Axess. We encourage all students to maintain current contact information and update changes as necessary so as to be able to receive emergency notices from the University.
Staff is required to maintain their work phone number, Stanford provided email and any university reimbursed or provided cell phone information in their StanfordYou account. We encourage staff to list personal cell phones if this will increase the likelihood that we will reach you with important information during an emergency.
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What happens if I mark my information "Private" in StanfordYou? Will I still receive notices?
StanfordYou provides three privacy settings to limit the availability of your information. They are "Public, "Stanford" and "Private". Flagging your information as "Private" will prevent it from being viewable by others but still allows the AlertSU system to contact you during an emergency.
What contact information should I use for the AlertSU system?
Since the AlertSU system will be used to notify you in an emergency situation, we strongly recommend that you provide contact information that will reach YOU, such as your cell number and other personal contact information.
Does Stanford correct my personal contact information when it is wrong?
No. Your email must be in a full and complete format for the system to deliver a message to you. If it is incomplete, such as "john.doe@stanford" or "johndoe@gsb. " without the full ".stanford.edu" the message will not be delivered. If you do not receive a message to an email address, please double check StanfordYou or Axess to ensure the address is complete and spelled correctly. Phone numbers need to be listed using all ten digits including area code to be delivered successfully. Messages will not be delivered to phone numbers listed as five digit extensions.
Will I receive unsolicited messages (”SPAM”) on my cell phone or email account as a result of giving my cell phone number to the University?
NO. The AlertSU system has a rigid security policy in which authorized personnel ONLY are permitted to send messages using the AlertSU system in the case of an emergency. The AlertSU system adheres strictly to a ZERO SPAM policy that clearly prohibits unsolicited messages. Furthermore, the University can not and will not sell the contact information of AlertSU subscribers to third party marketers.
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Is there a charge for subscribing to receive emergency messages via the AlertSU system?
There is no charge for the AlertSU service from Stanford University. Depending on your wireless carrier provider and the plan you have, you may be charged a nominal fee to receive SMS text messages. For those with unlimited text messaging plans, there should be no additional charge.
Do I need to install software on my PDA or cell phone to receive text messages or emails?
NO. The AlertSU system, as powered by Connect-Ed, uses standard industry SMS text messaging protocol to send messages to your phone. Your mobile phone plan will need to accept text messages to work properly. If you have questions about your ability to receive text on your device, contact your service provider for more information.
When will you deactivate my subscription to the AlertSU system?
Your contact information will be removed from the AlertSU Emergency Notification System when there is a change in your affiliation with the University (for students - graduation; for faculty/staff - change in employment status).
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If I switch cell phone service providers, do I have to notify Stanford that I have changed providers, even though my cell phone number remains the same?
The AlertSU system will continue to send notices to you as long as your number remains the same. If your actual phone number changes, you will have to update your most current number in the Stanford directory.
Who do I contact if I still have questions?
Send an email to The Office of Emergency Management at preparedness@lists.stanford.edu.
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