FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
UD Alerts FAQs
Safety starts with you. By becoming an informed community member, you partner with UD Police. The better informed you are, the greater the potential for keeping you and the campus safe.
UD Alert is the University emergency notification system. In case of a major emergency, the system enables the University to broadcast information quickly to the campus community through text messages, voice and e-mail. This system provides an additional method of emergency communication, in addition to postings on the UD home page, UDaily and social media.
The system is an integral method of providing critical information concerning an emergency on campus. The alerts may provide life-saving information and updates. Additionally, the Jeanne Clery Act is a federal law requiring universities “to provide a timely warning in a manner likely to reach all members of the campus community”.
Faculty and Staff may sign up for alerts by filling out the preferred contact information in the HR Employee Demographic Data webform. Students sign up by going to the Central Authentication Service (CAS) website. Students then log into the Personal Information and Emergency Contact information section and provide their emergency contact information. There is a more detailed explanation available at the UD Alert homepage page located at: www.udel.edu/alert/. Generally, it is recommended that students, faculty and staff update personal information at least twice per year.
UD Alert will only be activated during major emergencies, situations where there is an imminent danger to the safety and welfare of students, faculty and staff, or in a situation in which a state of emergency is declared and immediate action needs to be taken. Examples: active shooter on campus; impending tornado in the area.
That decision is made by the University of Delaware Police Department staff and generally originates with the on-duty police supervisor and is reviewed by the police command staff.
Read the message. Recognize that an emergency situation is occurring. Follow the instructions given in the message. If possible and appropriate, alert others.
The University of Delaware Police Department and the Office of Emergency Management will work with the Office of Communications and Marketing in providing as much detailed information and instructions as possible. Other sources of information would be the University and the Police Department social media sites. The University website may provide updates and a campus-wide email may also be disseminated with updates. Keep in mind, these situations are often dynamic and rapidly evolving or may occur late at night, so only limited information may be available initially. If you find yourself in a threatening situation, please call 911 or 831-2222 on campus. If appropriate, an “all clear” message may follow a UD Alert.
For a text message, the message will state FROM: UD ALERT
For a phone call, the call will be From: 302-831-1424
For an email, the email will be: FROM: UD ALERT
The system allows the message to be delivered to select devices ONLY given the nature of the incident. The message may be disseminated to email and text only. In this case, may not be transmitted. This is done to expedite the message to the most likely group of people needing to receive the message. Example: armed robbery on campus. In this scenario, the alert would be sent via text and email to students, faculty, and staff. A follow-up alert message to additional devices could be disseminated after further information about the incident was obtained.
Possible reasons that a message was not delivered or was delayed:
Incorrect contact information in UDSIS or the employee demographic form. It is recommended that students, faculty, and staff make sure they have their correct and preferred contact information on file at least twice a year.
Spam filters. Spam/Junk filters may block messages from being delivered. Add UD Alert to your safe senders list
Network issues:. In rare cases, your mobile/cell service or email provider may experience network congestion delaying the delivery of the message.
Delivery size.: UD Alert currently has over 40,000 subscribers, each with various contact options to receive messages. The messages are sent in cycles, and there can be delays in sending the message to all 40,000 subscribers.
Social Media - The University of Delaware Police Department and the Office of Emergency Management would work with the Office of Communications and Marketing to disseminate timely information and updates via our department Facebook and Twitter accounts.
University Website Override - If there were an emergent situation on campus, Office of Communications and Marketing can override the university homepage and dedicate the entire website to an incident. Postings on the site would include updates,; recommended action steps for the campus community, and other helpful resources.
LiveSafe App - This new app allows information to be broadcast to all users. You can learn more about the free LiveSafe App by visiting this site: www.udel.edu/police/livesafe/
Television/radio/print and online media outlets - Office of Communications and Marketing would disseminate a news alert to all local outlets concerning the emergency.
