Questions and Help

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated Feb. 23, 2012

   

What is VT Alerts?

VT Alerts is Virginia Tech's Emergency Notification System. In a campus emergency, Virginia Tech will use several information delivery methods to reach you because, at any given time, one form of communications might be better to reach you than another. VT Alerts will deliver messages using some or all of the following channels:

• The Virginia Tech homepage (www.vt.edu)
• Broadcast e-mails to all vt.edu accounts *
• Electronic message boards in classrooms
• The weather/emergency hotline (540-231-6668)
• Campus sirens and loudspeakers
• VT Phone Alerts *
• VT Desktop Alerts
• Twitter at @vtalerts, @vtnews, or @virginia_tech

* Virginia Tech students, staff, and faculty may receive VT Phone Alerts messages and university (vt.edu) e-mail notification specifically targeted to university facilities in six key regions across Virginia – National Capital Region, Abingdon, Danville, Hampton Roads, Richmond, and Roanoke – as well as the Blacksburg campus. All other elements of VT Alerts will only be used for emergency messages intended for the Blacksburg community.

Who sends VT Alerts messages?

Messages will be sent by Virginia Tech Police, Emergency Management, or University Relations, depending on the nature of the urgent situation.

When and under what circumstances will the university use VT Alerts?

VT Alerts will be activated:

• When there is a required near term action on the part of the university community such as:
  • Sheltering from a storm *
  • Cancelling classes on short notice *
• A dangerous situation on campus that could impinge on personal safety either locally or generally, such as a chemical spill, bomb threat, or dangerous person.
• When the Virginia Tech Police Department or university administration determines there is an immediate threat to the university community by the presence of certain persons or when the timeliness of the notice may assist in locating an offender.

*VT Phone Alerts will be used in those instances where severe weather impacts class schedule and the opening of closing of the Blacksburg campus only.  It will not be used for inclement weather announcements affecting the other six regions.

Please note: During a situation when VT Alerts recipients are instructed to stay where they are, Blacksburg Transit (BT) will be suspended to minimize traffic to campus. Scenarios in which recipients would be advised to “shelter in place” include tornado warnings or other instances when people on campus are advised to seek shelter or, if already indoors, should stay in their current location.  

Will I automatically get emergency notification or do I have to do something?

You will receive emergency notifications for the Blacksburg region through all delivery methods except for VT Phone Alerts and VT Desktop Alerts without taking any action.

How do I get notifications via VT Phone Alerts?

VT Phone Alerts is a subscriber-only feature of VT Alerts that allows you to receive urgent notifications where and how you want, even if you're away from your computer or university phone. 

VT Phone Alerts allows you to list up to three contact methods. You must subscribe to VT Phone Alerts to receive emergency notifications through this method. You must have a Virginia Tech PID and be an active faculty, staff or student to subscribe.

You need your Virginia Tech PID and password to get started. Once you decide to subscribe, you will be guided step-by-step through the subscription process. You can log back into the system anytime to change or add contact information. 

Parents who want to receive notifications from VT Phone Alerts should talk with their student about adding their number as a point of contact. Parents — or anyone — can download VT Desktop Alerts to run on a desktop, laptop, or netbook computer that is connected to the Internet.

How can I choose a different region?

In addition to choosing contact methods, you can also select up to three regions for VT Phone Alerts. After you login, the Region(s) area will show the location(s) where you are currently subscribed to receive alerts. To change or add a location, click the (Change) link and select a different region. You can choose up to three regions. 

How do I get notifications via VT Desktop Alerts?

VT Desktop Alerts sends a notice to your desktop or laptop computer, wherever you are as long as you are connected to the Internet. You do not need to be on the campus. However, to activate this feature of VT Alerts you must download the VT Desktop Alerts application to your computer from this page. VT Desktop Alerts is used only for Blacksburg campus alerts.

How will I know the message is from VT Alerts?

The message sender will appear as follows:

• For a text message: 89361
• For a phone call: (540) 232-1000
• For an e-mail: alerts@vt.edu

I'm a VT Phone Alerts subscriber. Why didn't I receive the alert? And why wasn't the message delivered to all my methods of contact?

Here are some likely reasons:

• Quick confirmation: At the end of the alert, you will be prompted to confirm receipt. Once VT Phone Alerts receives confirmation, by design the system will not attempt to send the message to other points of contact.
• Spam filters: Spam filters may block e-mail messages from being delivered; to prevent this, add alerts@vt.edu to your "safe senders" list.
• Network issues: Network congestion may also delay delivery. You may want to check with your mobile service or e-mail provider to ensure there are no issues with its network or software.
• Delivery size: The VT Phone Alerts system contains more than 40,000 subscribers, each with the option to choose up to three methods of contact: text message, e-mail message, or phone. Although the same message is sent to each contact, the technology used to distribute the message varies by the selected method. A message is sent in cycles, which consists of an attempt to contact each subscriber in their preferred order until a confirmation is received. When one cycle is completed, a second cycle starts and sends a message to each subscriber that did not previously confirm. With the current number of subscribers, it may take up to 20 minutes to complete a cycle before a new one begins.

Please note: VT Phone Alerts is intended to communicate urgent information to students, faculty, and staff on campus during an emergency. For that reason, it is very important that you carefully consider your points of contact. If you have included parents, spouses, or others among your points of contact, we strongly suggest listing yourself as the first point of contact. To review your account, sign in.

I received a text message and/or e-mail and confirmed receipt, yet I still received a phone message. Why is that?

Each method of contact (text message, e-mail, and/or phone) uses different technology to distribute an alert. While the system is very robust, it also has limitations that affect the delivery process. Through testing and prior alert distributions, university officials have determined that confirming a text or e-mail message may not prevent an attempted contact via telephone if that method has been chosen.

In the subscription process, I specified that I wished to be contacted via phone first, then either text or e-mail message. Why then am I receiving a text message or e-mail before a phone call?

The VT Phone Alerts system attempts to deliver messages according to the subscriber’s preferences. Because of technical limitations, however, text messages generally may be delivered with, or even prior to, a telephone contact, regardless of the chosen order.

Do I have to confirm receipt of VT Phone Alerts message? What happens if I don't? And why is this important?

Though receipt confirmation is not required, it is desirable for you to do so. By confirming receipt, you allow the system to more efficiently and expeditiously reach all VT Phone Alerts subscribers, which will save valuable time during an emergency situation.

When you confirm receipt of an e-mail, the acknowledgement page will look like this:

   

How will Virginia Tech use the information I provide in my VT Phone Alerts subscription?

The information provided will be used only for emergency notifications.

Will I receive duplicate emergency notification messages?

Yes, VT Alerts uses multiple channels to deliver urgent information. You should expect to receive duplicate messages. For example, if you are in a classroom in Blacksburg, you can expect to see a notification on the electronic message board, as well as those methods selected in your VT Phone Alerts account. This redundancy is intentional to ensure important information reaches as many people as possible in the shortest amount of time.

Does Virginia Tech periodically test VT Alerts?

Yes, the university will test all emergency notification channels of VT Alerts at least once each fall and spring semester. The university community will be informed when each test is scheduled.

How will I know the difference between a test message and a real urgent message?

When testing VT Alerts, Virginia Tech administrators will always include in the subject line or in the message a clear statement that the message is a test. Urgent messages will carry subject lines such as "Emergency Alert," "Weather Alert," or "Campus Advisory."

Will Virginia Tech always use my most preferred method of contact for the VT Phone Alerts Automated Notification Service?

Depending on the type of emergency, Virginia Tech may or may not send messages according to the preference ranking indicated in your account.

When will my subscription to VT Phone Alerts end?

All students who are graduating or who otherwise will no longer be a Virginia Tech student are asked to unsubscribe to VT Phone Alerts. By unsubscribing, you will help the system deliver messages to those who truly need to receive information when messages are sent.

Accounts will be deactivated if a student has not registered for classes after any four continuous semesters (e.g., fall, spring, summer session one, and summer session two). Any student can activate or reactivate an account upon registering for classes in any semester. Accounts will be immediately deactivated if it has been determined (after due process) that you have intentionally abused or harmed the system.

You will be notified when your subscription is deactivated. When you access VT Phone Alerts, you will be provided with the current status of your subscription.

What contact information should I use for VT Phone Alerts?

Since this will be a means to notify you in an emergency situation, we strongly recommend that you provide contact information for YOU, the subscriber. Consider using methods of contact that you check frequently. If you are a Virginia Tech employee, you may want to add your office phone number as one of the contact methods.

How do I modify my preferences or unsubscribe from VT Phone Alerts?

To change your notification preferences at any time, log in to https://subscribe.alerts.vt.edu. You can change the type of contacts (text, phone, or non Virginia Tech e-mail) and notification preferences. To unsubscribe completely from receiving VT Phone Alerts, choose the "Unsubscribe from VT Alerts" link on the page.

What are the consequences of deciding NOT to subscribe to VT Phone Alerts or choosing to unsubscribe?

If you are in a region other than Blacksburg, and choose not to subscribe to VT Phone Alerts, you will likely receive no emergency notification information. For that reason, you are strongly encouraged to sign up for VT Phone Alerts and select those regions relevant to you.

How is my contact information updated for VT Phone Alerts?

You are responsible for making all updates or changes to your contact information. Virginia Tech does not update your information from other sources. Individual subscribers MUST update their contact information from either My VT (www.my.vt.edu) or the VT Alerts website (www.alerts.vt.edu). It is especially important to change your contact information when you change cell phone carriers or if you change your phone number.

Does Virginia Tech correct my personal contact information when it is wrong?

No. Virginia Tech will not verify the accuracy of the data you enter. If you enter inaccurate contact data, the data will remain inaccurate until it is changed by you.

Does Virginia Tech use VT Phone Alerts contact data to update other university systems?

No. The contact data you provide will not be used to update any other Virginia Tech systems.

Will my contact information be shared with anyone?

The contact data you enter will be provided to a third-party vendor for purposes of notifying you in the event of an emergency. No identifying information (such as your name, etc.) will be provided to the third-party vendor.

The third-party vendor has agreed that it has no right to use your contact information for any purpose other than notifying you via VT Alerts. The vendor does not have rights to sell, disclose, or trade your contact information. When required by law (e.g., in compliance with a subpoena or court order) your contact information may be disclosed.

Only the individuals employed by Virginia Tech who must use this information to administer and manage VT Alerts will have access to your contact information.

Is there a charge for subscribing to receive messages via VT Phone Alerts?

VT Alerts is free to all students, faculty, and staff. Virginia Tech will not charge the subscriber a fee. Whether you are charged for text messages received through VT Phone Alerts will depend on the terms of your contract with your service provider.