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UCF Alert

What is UCF Alert?

UCF Alert is a multi-media communications system that provides timely and accurate information about emergency situations that could impact the university. The goal is to help keep the campus safe and informed during an emergency.

UCF’s Department of Emergency Management, Police Department and Communications team determine which communications tools are used during an emergency. These offices work together to provide timely and accurate information to the UCF community.

UCF Alert features several communications tools, including e-mails, text messages, Web updates, social media, sirens and more. Generally, e-mails and text messages will be used only for events that present an imminent danger to the campus community or that significantly impact university operations. UCF understands that some UCF Alert members may be charged for receiving text messages, and therefore will use text messages judiciously.

Examples of situations where text messages and e-mails might be sent include, but are not limited to, bomb threats, chemical spills, police or first responder activity, extreme weather alerts, etc.

At all times, the best source for official news and information is the UCF website, www.ucf.edu. The site will be updated during an emergency as information becomes available.

For questions about UCF Alert and how it is used, please contact the UCF Department of Emergency Management at 407-882-7111.

Why UCF Alerts are “Urgent”

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires SMS carriers to protect consumers from spam text messages. These rules are laid out in the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). For all non-emergency text messages, SMS carriers require you gather prior consent from recipients and message them over unique, sender-identifiable numbers. This helps them ensure nonemergency messages are not spam. Emergency text messages are different. They do not require prior consent, allowing UCF to reach people quickly with critical safety information.

Text messages sent for emergency purposes remain a special type of communication, as supported by the FCC and TCPA. When sending emergency messages, carriers require all senders, including Rave clients, to clearly identify all emergency messages with a sender name and an emergency label. In this case, “Urgent UCF Alert” serves as the identifier for UCF emergency messages.

How to enroll in UCF Alert

All UCF students, faculty and staff are automatically enrolled into the UCF Alert system. However, it’s a good idea to frequently ensure your contact information is up-to-date. To do so:

  • Go to www.getrave.com/login/ucf
  • Log in using your NID and password
  • On the “My Account” tab, verify the information including your e-mail address and mobile phone number
  • Your UCF email address is listed by default; to add an additional email address, click the “Add” button
  • To edit your mobile phone number, click the “Edit” icon and follow all prompts for mobile phone verification

Get UCF Alerts on UCF Mobile

  • Download the UCF Mobile app on the App Store or Google Play
  • Open the app and select the “Safety” module
  • Tap UCF Alerts and then select “Opt into UCF Alerts Push Notifications” from the drop down menu
  • Tap the green “Opt in” button on the top right of the screen

Both Apple and Android phones may turn off push notifications for apps that aren’t used often. Apple users can avoid this by following these steps: 

  • Navigate to your phone settings
  • Select “iTunes & App Store”
  • Make sure “Offload Unused Apps” is turned off 

Android users can avoid this by following these steps:

  • Navigate to your phone settings
  • Select “Apps”
  • Select the “UCF Mobile” app
  • Make sure “Pause app activity if unused” is turned off 

For questions about UCF Alert and how it is used, please contact the UCF Department of Emergency Management at 407-882-7111.

UCF Alert

How do I sign up for a UCF Alert?

All UCF students, faculty and staff are automatically enrolled into the UCF Alert system through their MyUCF or Workday account.

I am a parent or family member of a current student. Can I get UCF Alerts, too?

Parents can receive UCF Alert emails by having their Knights add additional emails addresses to their Rave account. Additionally, parents can sign up for UCF Alert push notifications on the UCF Mobile app. To do this:

  • Download the UCF Mobile app on the App Store or Google Play
  • Open the app and select the “Safety” module
  • Tap UCF Alerts and then select “Opt into UCF Alerts Push Notifications” from the drop-down menu
  • Tap the green “Opt in” button on the top right of the screen

How do I add an email address or edit a phone number for UCF Alert text messages?

  • Go to www.getrave.com/login/ucf
  • Log in using your NID and password
  • On the “My Account” tab, verify the information including your e-mail address and mobile phone number
  • Your UCF email address is listed by default; to add an additional email address, click the “Add” button
  • To edit your mobile phone number, click the “Edit” icon and follow all prompts for mobile phone verification.

What should I do when I receive a UCF Alert?

In an effort to get UCF Alerts out as quickly as possible, initial messages may contain limited information. Regardless of the Alert’s contents, you should always:

  1. Recognize that an emergency is occurring on campus.
  2. Take the recommended actions identified in the alert messaging, such as sheltering or evacuating.
  3. Seek more information from the  UCF Police Department’s account on X (formerly known as Twitter).

How do I report errors during a test or activation?

If you detect an error during a test or activation (e.g. did not receive a text message), please contact UCF Emergency Management at eoc@ucf.edu.

I have graduated or no longer am affiliated with the university, but I am still receiving UCF Alerts. What do I need to do to stop these messages?

Graduates and former employees are automatically unsubscribed from the UCF Alert system. If you are still receiving alerts, please reach out to UCF Emergency Management at eoc@ucf.edu from your UCF email account.

Why do Emergency Notifications and Timely Warnings send out differently on UCF Alert?

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, or Clery Act, has specific requirements intended to help keep our university informed about threats to health and safety in a manner that allows the community to make informed decisions about their safety and the safety of others. There are two types of campus alerts required by the Clery Act – timely warnings and emergency notifications. While both similar, there are certain criteria for the issuance of each. To learn more about these requirements, click here.