CU Boulder announced that campus officials will test the CU Boulder alerts system at approximately 12:15 p.m. today, Tuesday, September 2. The test is part of the continuous assessment of the university’s emergency notification protocols and procedures.
The Clery Act, which is a federal law that requires higher education institutions to collect, disclose, and report crime statistics and safety information on their campuses, requires annual testing of universities’ emergency notification systems. The test, according to CU Boulder, involves checking the university’s systems for sending text messages, emails, social media posts, computer desktop alerts and website announcements.
“CU Boulder conducts alert tests each semester to ensure the university stays current with best practices and maintains readiness to respond in case of emergencies,” the university said in a press release.
CU Emergency Alerts are issued to the campus community when there is a “confirmed immediate threat to the safety of those on campus or near campus in areas of high student populations,” according to the university. Such threats may include an “active harmer, a natural disaster, severe weather or other time-sensitive life safety concerns.” CU Emergency Alerts can also be used in the event of campus closures or delayed starts.
Affiliates who are not students, faculty or staff and do not have a CU email domain can opt in to receive CU Boulder text alerts by texting “cuaffiliate” to 67283.
Text messaging is the preferred method of the system, according to the university. Text messages are able to reach the most individuals in the least amount of time.
