As part of UMass Amherst's Campus Alerts system, emergency text messages will provide time-sensitive notifications to subscribers' cell phones about situations that pose an immediate risk to the safety of the campus or could significantly disrupt its activities. More about Campus Alerts
- Members of the University community are not required to subscribe to this new service. However, as text messages provide a critical venue for emergency communications, we urge you to subscribe.
- Help us spread the word about emergency text-messaging! Encourage your friends and co-workers to sign up.
- Don’t have a cell phone? For the latest emergency information, refer to your UMail account or the UMass Web site (http://www.umass.edu).
Subscribe to Campus Alerts
To subscribe to Campus Alerts, you need:
- An OIT or SPIRE Account. If you do not have an OIT or a SPIRE Account, go to OIT Account Management, A113 LGRC Lowrise with a picture ID (M-F, 8:30 a.m.- 4:45 p.m.) or stop by the Learning Commons Service Desk (First Floor, W.E.B. Du Bois Library).
- A cell phone that can receive text messages. Check with your carrier for more information.
- Log on to SPIRE with your Net ID (OIT Account user name) and password or with your SPIRE logon information.
- In the left Menu, go to Campus Alerts > Cell Phone Info. The Cell Phone Information page opens.
- On the Cell Phone Information page:
Note: You must have a U.S.-based phone number and carrier in order to subscribe.- In the Cell Phone Number field, enter your cell phone number, starting with the area code (e.g., 413/222-3333). All 10 digits of your phone number are required.
- Click Save. The Save Confirmation page appears, confirming your subscription.
- On the Save Confirmation page, click OK to return to the Cell Phone Information page.
You will also receive a 'Welcome' text message from Connect-ED (our service provider) within 24 hours. Note: Your subscription is not complete, and emergency text messages will not be delivered to your cell phone until you receive the 'Welcome' message from Connect-ED.
Manage Your Subscription
To ensure that you are receiving Campus Alerts text messages in a timely manner, it is important that you keep your cell phone number up-to-date in SPIRE.
Update Your Subscription
Remember to update SPIRE if your cell phone number changes.
To edit your subscription, make your changes directly on the Cell Phone Information page, then click Save. The Save Confirmation page will appear, confirming your edits. Click OK to return to the Cell Phone Information page.
Check your phone for a new 'Welcome' text message from Connect-ED within 24 hours.
Unsubscribe
You may wish to unsubscribe from Campus Alerts during the summer or any other time you are going to be away from campus for an extended period of time (e.g., semester abroad). Your subscription to Campus Alerts will end automatically when you leave the University (e.g., graduate, etc.)
To unsubscribe:
- On the Cell Phone Information page, simply click Delete. The Delete Confirmation page appears, asking you to confirm that you want to unsubscribe.
- On the Delete Confirmation page, click Yes – Delete to unsubscribe or No – Do not delete to maintain your subscription. You will be re-directed to the Cell Phone Information page (the Cell Phone Number field will be blank if you choose to unsubscribe.)
When You Receive a Campus Alert
The message, labeled Campus Alert, will be transmitted from 23177 and will include instructions about what you should do. If you are a student and are in class, tell your instructor about the message. Note: Please adhere to your instructors’ policies about cell phone use.
Need Help?
If you encounter problems, submit an online Help Request.
- or -
Contact the OIT Help Desk at 545-9400.
