Belmont Alerts

What is the Belmont Alerts system?

Belmont Alerts is a mass notification system, powered by Rave Mobile Safety, comprised of e-mail and text messaging that is designed to send emergency messages to thousands of individuals in minutes. Everyone who has a Belmont University e-mail address (@belmont.edu, @pop.belmont.edu or @adjuncts.belmont.edu) will automatically receive emergency alerts to their campus e-mail address. In order to also receive text alerts, members of the campus community will be asked to provide phone contact information. While participation in the text messaging notification is optional, enrollment is strongly encouraged. You will only be contacted through the system for communications related to campus emergencies, closures or delays.

Members of the Belmont community should provide a primary cell phone number for receipt of text messages—students and employees can also include the email addresses and/or cell phone numbers for family members on their account.

Why should I sign up for Belmont Alerts text messages?
Because students, faculty and staff are constantly on the move, this system provides the flexibility for you to receive emergency messages on multiple devices as quickly as possible. Belmont Alerts will be used to distribute important information regarding campus closures and emergencies that dictate immediate action.

Who can sign up for Belmont Alerts?
All current Belmont University students, faculty and staff are automatically signed up for email alerts at their official Belmont-associated email address. To sign up for text alerts, please log into MyBelmont and select Belmont Alerts from the Campus Security and Safety tab to add your cell phone number. Students, faculty and staff may also add the cell phone numbers and/or email addresses of family members on their account to receive Belmont Alerts.

Will I receive Belmont Alerts if I don’t sign up or update my information?
If you do not sign up with Belmont Alerts or keep your phone information updated, you will not receive text messages in the event of an emergency or campus closure. You will, however, still receive emergency messages via your official campus e-mail address. Belmont University strongly recommends that you provide your cell phone for Belmont Alerts to ensure that you receive important messages in a timely manner.

How do I sign up for Belmont Alerts?
To sign up for Belmont Alerts, students, faculty and staff simply follow these steps:

1)      Sign into your MyBelmont account

2)      Select the Belmont Alerts Sign Up link under the Campus Security and Safety folder on the left side of the MyBelmont home page

3)      The Belmont Alerts window will open, and you will be asked to agree to a Terms of Use statement from our vendor, Rave.

4)      On the next screen, your Belmont-affiliated email address will automatically be opted in to emergency alerts. Add the phone numbers (both yours and family members) that you’d like to receive text messages in the event of a Belmont emergency or closure.

5)      Once you’ve saved all of your information, close the Belmont Alerts window.

I’m a parent of a current student/I’m the spouse of an employee/I don’t have a MyBelmont account. How can I sign up for Belmont Alerts?
The Belmont Alerts system is primarily designed to inform the campus community in the event of an emergency, and we use our secure campus intranet, MyBelmont, as the means to identify campus community members. However, students, faculty and staff can add multiple contact points for Belmont emergency notifications. To be included on Belmont Alerts, ask your student or spouse to add your phone and/or email information to their account for notifications.

Employees who do not have access to MyBelmont to sign up for the system should contact the Office of Communications at communication(at)Belmont.edu.

How can I confirm my student has signed up for Belmont Alerts?
All students, faculty and staff are automatically signed up to receive Belmont Alerts via email in the event of an emergency or campus closure. Individual students, faculty and staff are responsible for updating and maintaining their emergency notification phone numbers in the Belmont Alerts system to receive text alerts. Encourage your student to check and/or update their information by logging onto MyBelmont and selecting the Belmont Alerts link from the Campus Security and Safety folder.

What kind of alerts will be sent?
The system will only be used to distribute information regarding emergencies that dictate immediate action. Examples of alerts include severe weather, building evacuations, dangers requiring lock-down or shelter-in-place, or other emergencies requiring immediate action. Following a warning, the alert system may be used to provide additional messages of importance. The Belmont Alerts notification system may also be tested on a routine basis to ensure that we are able to effectively reach all participants in the event of an emergency.

How does the Belmont Alerts system work?
Belmont Alerts is a hosted and managed system. You will not need special hardware or software to receive messages. It is a multi-modal service that can disseminate emergency messages through:

· E-mail: An alert message will be sent to your official campus e-mail address. You can also specify a secondary e-mail address for receiving these alerts.

· SMS text messages: Faculty, staff and students may choose to register a cell phone number for receiving SMS text messages through Belmont Alerts.

NOTE: You will receive emergency alerts to all phone numbers and e-mail addresses registered with Belmont Alerts.

Can I opt out of the system after I sign up and can I update my contact information after I have registered?
You can opt not to receive text alerts; however, you cannot opt out from receiving an alert on your official campus email address.

You can log into Belmont Alerts at any time through the link in MyBelmont (Campus Security and Safety folder) to update your contact information. Whenever your phone number or alternate e-mail address change, it is very important that you update this information with Belmont Alerts to ensure you continue to receive alerts through the system.

Students or employees who graduate or leave the University will be automatically removed from the system and will need to sign up again should they return to campus.

What numbers will show up on my phone if a Belmont Alert is sent by text?
Belmont Alerts are powered by Rave Mobile Safety, and Rave’s SMS shortcodes include: 226787, 67283, 78015, 81437 and 22911. Texting “STOP” to any of these shortcodes will cancel Alert messages that are sent from all four.  Texting “START” to any of these shortcodes will resume / reinstate the Alert messages from all four.

Are there any costs involved if I sign up for the system?
If you do not have a text messaging contract as part of your cellular service, there may be a small charge for any text messages that you receive. You should check with your cell phone carrier to determine what these costs may be. There are no fees assessed for students, faculty and staff to access to the system.

Where can I find additional information about emergency procedures or other emergency communication outlets?
Information about existing emergency procedures and emergency preparedness can be found in the Campus Emergency Plan—a link to that plan is located in the Campus Security and Safety folder on MyBelmont. In addition, more information on Emergency Communications can be found here.