About Alerts
UNC Emergency Alerts are the most reliable way to stay informed about emergencies and changes to university operations. These alerts cover a wide range of scenarios, including severe weather, utility outages, and incidents that may affect a single building or the entire campus.
All students, faculty, and staff are automatically enrolled to receive alerts via their UNC-issued email addresses. To receive text message notifications or alerts through the Rave Guardian app, you’ll need to update your contact information by completing the UNC Emergency Alert card in your Ursa account. More detailed sign up instructions can be found on our emergency alerts page.
In addition to email and mobile alerts, UNC Emergency Alerts are also displayed on all UNC computer monitors and most electronic signage across campus, ensuring that critical information is distributed and accessible wherever you are.
About the Alert System
Rave Guardian App
Enhance Your Safety with the Rave Guardian App
The Rave Guardian App adds an extra layer of security for UNC students, faculty, and staff. It complements UNC Emergency Alerts and offers a range of features designed to keep you safe on and off campus.
Key features include:
- Additional delivery method for UNC Emergency Alerts
- Speed dial access to the UNC Police Department*
- Text-based crime tips for non-emergencies*
- Text communication with UNC Police for deaf and hard of hearing students and staff*
- Safety timers that allow friends or family to monitor your walk across campus
- Quick access to important phone numbers and web links for campus departments
- Guardian Safety Profile, which lets first responders know about pre-existing medical conditions and emergency contacts
To use the app, first add your mobile number to the UNC Emergency Alert card in your Ursa account. After 24 hours, you can download the Rave Guardian App from your device’s app store and link it using the same phone number.
*If location services are enabled, using these features will share your location with UNC Police during the call or text session, helping officers respond more effectively.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there any cost to me?
No there is no cost to sign up to use the alert system, although normal text messaging fees may be charged by your phone carrier.
What if I opt out, or accidentally respond STOP to a message?
You can re-enroll by replying “START” to any alert message sent to you, or send “START” to 226787 if you do not have a previous message available to you.
What if I change my phone company or number?
If you switch phone carriers but keep the same number, you’ll continue receiving UNC Emergency Alerts without any changes. However, if you get a new phone number, you will need to update it in the Emergency Alert section of your Ursa account to resume receiving text notifications and Rave Guardian alerts.
When there is an emergency, how long does it take to receive the message?
In the event of an emergency, messages will be sent simultaneously through desktop, e-mail and text messaging. There are several factors that determine the time of delivery. For example, if there are utility outages or high call volumes, messages can be delayed. The intent is to reach campus through at least one of the paths (desktop, e-mail or text) as soon as possible.
Alert Glossery
Emergency alerts may use terminology that varies from other universities or states. To help you better understand UNC-specific language, we’ve provided a list of commonly used terms and their definitions. This list is available for your convenience and will also appear on the main alert page whenever an active alert includes one of these terms.
Return to normal activities. Law enforcement or another public safety official has cleared the area and determined there is no longer a threat to the university community.
Individuals should move indoors or remain in their current location to stay safe. If you are outdoors in the affected area, move inside immediately. If indoors, stay indoors.
Remain in place until an all-clear message is received.
Individuals who are outside should go indoors immediately. Stay away from windows and move to the tornado staging area in your building, as indicated by posted signage.
Remain in the tornado staging area areas until an all-clear message is received.
Individuals in the affected area should move immediately to a safer location.
Do not return to the building and avoid the area until further notice.
Individuals should avoid the affected area until further notice.
Run – If you can get out safely do so.
- Leave your belongings behind.
- Keep your hands visible to law enforcement.
- Take others with you, but do not stay behind because others will not go.
Hide – Lock or barricade doors, turn off lights and stay silent.
- Choose a hiding place with thicker walls and fewer windows, if possible.
- Lock doors and barricade with furniture, if possible.
- Silence phones and turn off other electronics.
- Close windows, shades and blinds, and avoid being seen from outside the room, if possible.
- Remain hidden until you receive an “all clear” signal.
Fight – If no other options fight back
- If you cannot evacuate or hide safely and only when your life is in imminent danger, take action.
- Attempt to incapacitate or disrupt the actions of the aggressor.
- Act with physical aggression toward the aggressor.
- Use items in your area such as fire extinguishers or chairs.
- Throw items at the aggressor if possible.
- Call 911 when it is safe to do so.
At the University of Northern Colorado, we use the term active harmer instead of just active shooter. This is because someone trying to cause harm on campus may not always have a gun. An active harmer could use knives, bats, pepper spray, chemicals, or even everyday items turned into weapons. By using a broader term, we remind everyone to stay alert and prepared for many different situations, not just ones involving firearms.
Online Synchronous Classes
These are more like your traditional classes, they have scheduled meeting times for online class.
Online Asynchronous Classes
These are online courses that do not have scheduled meeting times. Instead, students usually meet participation requirements, done usually weekly, through activities such as discussion board posts, assignments, quizzes, or exams.