6:41 p.m., March 21, 2008--A test of the UD Alert emergency notification system, held on Wednesday, March 19, was a success, according to Marcia C. Nickle, emergency preparedness coordinator at UD.

For this test, messages were sent via e-mail and cell phones, as well as land-line telephones in campus residence halls and offices.

"In a true emergency, we would use every means available to reach students, faculty and staff at all their contact numbers," Nickle said. "Our intent is for individuals to receive the message multiple ways so that no matter where you are, you will receive vital, critical information quickly."

For the March 19 test, messages also were sent to the numbers that students listed as "home." As a result, several parents responded to the test message. Parents who are interested in receiving such messages should ask their students to make sure to add the appropriate phone number as the "Emergency Contact."

The test accomplished a number of goals, Nickle said. "We raised awareness that UD Alert exists and how it works, and many individuals received calls or realized that the University was trying to contact them.

"We did receive reports that some students and employees did not receive a message on their answering machines," she said. "We are working with the company that provides the service on correcting this problem."

The UD Alert system includes several methods for the University to communicate emergency information. All members of the University community are reminded that, for the system to be effective, contact information in the University's databases must be up to date. Contact information may be updated online at any time. Instructions on how to update information is available at these web sites:

For students: www.udel.edu/udalertstudent
For staff: www.udel.edu/udalertstaff

The system will be used only in a major emergency when there is a clear and credible danger to the University community.

To read frequently asked questions about UD Alert, click here.

Anyone with comments or concerns about UD Alert should write to [publicsafety@udel.edu].