Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated March 25, 2008

What is VT Alerts?

VT Alerts is Virginia Tech's urgent notification system, comprised of a variety of methods by which the university can contact students, faculty, and staff:

• Text messages (SMS) to mobile devices
• Instant messages (AOL, MSN, and Yahoo)
• Calls to home, office, and mobile phone numbers
• E-mails to non-Virginia Tech addresses

How does VT Alerts work?

VT Alerts allows you to list up to three contact methods. During an urgent situation, the VT Alerts system will begin cycling through your points of contact to deliver the alert, starting with the first available. When you receive the message, it is very important that you confirm receipt when prompted. If no confirmation is received, VT Alerts will continue cycling through your points of contact.

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

Campus-wide e-mail is the primary communications vehicle for reaching the university community.  In addition to important administrative, need-to-know information, it is also used in emergencies. It is supplemented by VT Alerts, the Virginia Tech Hotline (540/231-6668), postings on the vt.edu website, the university switchboard, and sometimes the public media. 

VT Alerts will be activated under the following circumstances:

1. 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.
2. VT Alerts will also be used when the Virginia Tech Police Department or senior administration determines that 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.

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
• For an IM (NOTE: Please see special instructions for receiving an IM from VT Alerts):
  • Yahoo: nnnp1a1or nnnp1a2
  • MSN: nnnalertp1a1@3nonline.com or nnnalertp1a2@3nonline.com
  • AIM: nnnalert5 or nnnalert6

Who sends VT Alerts messages?

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

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

Here are some likely reasons:

1. You quickly confirmed receipt of the message. At the end of the alert, you will be prompted to confirm receipt. Once VT Alerts receives confirmation, by design the system will not attempt to send the message to other points of contact.
2. Spam filters. Spam filters may block e-mail messages from being delivered; to prevent this, add alerts@vt.edu to your “safe senders” list.
3. Network issues. You may want to check your mobile service provider to ensure there are no issues with their network.  Network congestion also may delay delivery.
4. Known issues with IM delivery:
• In order to receive an IM from VT Alerts, you must configure your privacy settings in your IM service tool. Please see our special instructions at www.alerts.vt.edu/im.php.
• 3n (National Notification Network), the company that delivers messages for VT Alerts, has identified an issue on its system that may prevent delivery to AOL’s AIM service. If you listed AIM as your only VT Alerts contact method, we encourage you to add another method to your account by visiting www.alerts.vt.edu and clicking the “Manage Your Account” link.

Please note: VT 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, visit www.alerts.vt.edu.

Do I have to confirm receipt of the 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 members of the university community, which will save valuable time during an emergency situation.

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

What other means will be used by Virginia Tech to communicate emergency information?

Virginia Tech will continue to use its well-established broadcast methods that do not require a subscription:

• The Virginia Tech homepage (www.vt.edu).
• Broadcast e-mails to all students, faculty, and staff.
• The weather/emergency hotline (231-6668).
• Campus sirens and loudspeakers.
• The university switchboard.
• Coordinated use of public media outlets.

How will Virginia Tech use the VT Alerts information?

It will be used only for emergency notifications which can be sent via text message (SMS), instant message (IM), phone numbers (mobile, local residence, office, other) or non-Virginia Tech e-mail. You do not need to provide your Virginia Tech e-mail address; the university will continue to broadcast alert messages to Virginia Tech e-mail addresses.

Will I receive duplicate alert messages?

Because we will continue to use the well-established methods listed above, individuals may receive duplicate alert messages.

Will Virginia Tech be testing the VT Alerts system?

The university plans to test the system on a regular basis, at least once per semester. The campus community will be notified in advance of such tests.

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

If the message is a test of the system, it will be delivered with the subject line “TEST: VT Alerts.” Any message that does not include the word “test” is an urgent message. 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 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 you deactivate my subscription to VT Alerts?

Your subscription may be deactivated if you leave the university; if your Virginia Tech affiliation changes and you are no longer on a Virginia Tech campus; or it has been determined (after due process) that you have intentionally abused or harmed the system.

What contact information should I use for VT 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.

What are the consequences of deciding NOT to subscribe to VT Alerts?

You will not receive notification via your preferred contact methods.  You will continue to receive e-mail notification at your Virginia Tech e-mail address; you will have access to the Virginia Tech weather/emergency telephone hotline; and you will be able to find the emergency information at the Virginia Tech homepage. 

How is my contact information updated for VT Alerts?

Each individual subscriber MUST update their contact information from either My VT (my.vt.edu) or the VT Alerts website (alerts.vt.edu).  You are responsible for making all update or changes to your contact information. Virginia Tech does not update your information from other sources.

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

Virginia Tech will not verify the accuracy of  the data you enter.  If the contact data that you enter is not accurate, it will remain inaccurate until it is changed by you.

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

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 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 they have no right to use your contact information for any purpose other than notifying you via VT Alerts. They do 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.

Will I be notified when my subscription to VT Alerts is deactivated?

You will NOT be notified when your subscription is deactivated because of a change in affiliation.  When you access VT Alerts, you will be provided with the current status of your subscription.

How can I be sure you will not use my contact information for a purpose other than an emergency?

If, for any reason, a decision is made to use the VT Alerts Automated Notification System for anything other than an emergency, you will be notified and given the opportunity to subscribe to the other service before your contact information is used for dissemination of non-emergency information through VT Alerts.

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

Virginia Tech will not charge the subscriber a fee.