New emergency notification system launches

UIC has launched a new emergency notification system to reach students and employees quickly during an emergency.

The UIC ALERT system, powered by AT&T’s Rave Alert, is used by thousands of educational institutions and state and local emergency response networks across the country.

The system is an upgrade to the current system, which allows quick messaging in multiple formats, such as emergency text (SMS) alerts, emails and alerts on Twitter and Facebook.

Students and employees must register their mobile phone numbers to receive text message notifications. Official and urgent email notifications, including UIC ALERT messages, are automatically sent to UIC campus email addresses.

The system will send a test message to all registered users Thursday. Students and employees who have registered a phone but did not receive a text message should email consult@uic.edu

“The UIC ALERT system is one of several emergency communication tools our university uses to keep the campus community prepared and safe in an emergency,” Mark Donovan, vice chancellor for administrative services; Cynthia Herrera-Lindstrom, chief information officer; and Michael Redding, vice chancellor for public and government affairs, said an official email to the campus community.

“In the coming months, enhancements will be added to the system to provide an additional level of communication through a mobile campus safety app.”

During an emergency, alerts are also posted on the uic.edu homepage and updates are also provided on the UIC Hotline, 312-413-9696.