UA emergency communications overview
Jan. 21, 2022
The UA Alert notification system is used to release information about emergencies (incidents) that may disrupt university operations. This multi-modal system of notification includes:
- Personal Notification
- Via email, telephone, and text message blasts via Rave Mobile Safety and Rave Guardian/UA Alert App
- Mass Notification (where available)
- Loudspeaker, audio and visual alerts through Voice Over IP Phones, visual alerts on hallway beacons and digital signage
- Community Alert
- Press releases and contact with local media, alert notices on Facebook sites and Twitter feeds and the university homepage
Persons with an active employment status and current students within the University of the Alaska system are automatically enrolled. There is no opt-out option for the emergency notification system.
Individuals can manage their preferences, including phone numbers and preferred email, and learn more on the emergency notification website.
Background/Context
The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, or Clery Act, is a federal law requiring transparency around campus crime policy and statistics. While best known for the requirement to publish an annual security report with statistics on campus crimes, policies and prevention efforts, the law also establishes requirements for maintaining a crime log, maintaining statistics, and the issuance of timely warnings of crimes that represent a threat to the safety of students or employees.
Emergency Notifications
The Clery Act requires the university to notify our campus communities of immediate threats. Upon confirmation of a significant emergency or dangerous situation threatening the health and safety of students or employees at one or more of our facilities, we must immediately notify the campus community. Examples of an immediate threat are: approaching forest fire; building fire; outbreak of meningitis; approaching extreme weather condition; earthquake; gas leak; violent intruder; bomb threat; civil unrest; explosion; or chemical spill. Examples of situations that would not necessitate an emergency notification under the Clery Act but still may be sent are: power outage; snow closure; and a string of larcenies.
Timely Warnings
The university is also required to send timely warnings about crimes committed on or near university property when such a warning will aid in the prevention of similar crimes. The intent of a timely warning is to enable people to protect themselves and should be issued as soon as pertinent information is available. Warnings are not limited to violent crimes or crimes against persons. Examples of a timely warning situation might include a rash of dormitory burglaries or motor vehicle thefts; suspicious persons; kidnapping on campus; or rash or robberies in a public parking lot across the street from a campus.
Weather and Civil Warnings
In Alaska, severe weather or natural disasters can constitute a significant threat to our communities. Emergency management contacts at each campus receive regular alerts of any weather warnings or alerts in their region. In the case of severe weather warnings they may advise campus leadership to recommend closures, early dismissal or other appropriate mitigating activity. Earthquakes, tsunamis and other threats may also impact campus communities.
Notification System
University of Alaska campuses utilize the Rave Mobile Safety platform to send messages and timely warnings. The platform integrates with Alertus beacons and desktop notifications, text messaging, voice calls, email, Twitter, Facebook, digital signage, and RSS feeds to websites. The system can also integrate external notifications from partner agencies including weather notifications, civil emergencies, earthquake or tsunami warnings and other environmental or community-based threats. The level of outreach implemented at any given time depends on the severity of the threat.