University of Wisconsin Help Desk Knowledgebase
WiscAlerts - Text Messaging is an emergency notification system used by UW-Madison.
How do I enroll for WiscAlerts-Text Messaging?When should I register for WiscAlerts-Text Messaging?This is a voluntary sign-up service. You can subscribe via the My UW Madison portal located on the Home tab.
Log into the My UW portal and look for the WiscAlerts-Text Messaging logo. After you have registered your cell phone number, you will receive a confirming message indicating you have subscribed. All WiscAlerts-Text Messaging messages will arrive from 69310. It is recommended that you store this number to your cell phone and label it “WiscAlerts”.
I signed up, but didn’t receive the confirming text message. What do I do?As soon as possible after you arrive on the UW-Madison campus.
Can I sign-up multiple cell phone numbers when I register?Log back into the My UW Portal, click on the updates "Click here to change or unsubscribe your WiscAlerts - Text Messaging phone number." Then click on the Report mobile number error and fill out the form. Inspiron Logistics will then look into the problem and will get back to you within one business day.
If you don't get a response from Inspiron Logistics within one business day, contact the DoIT Help Desk at 264-HELP or help@doit.wisc.edu.
Does this service cost anything to sign up?No. In the interest of maintaining speed and accuracy of the message delivery process, only one phone per person is allowed.
How do I unsubscribe?There is no charge to use WiscAlerts-Text Messaging.
Log into the My UW Madison portal on the Home tab click on the update your profile link.
Who can subscribe to the service?Can I enroll my parents or other family members for WiscAlerts-Text Messaging?Students, faculty, staff and university affiliates with an active NetID can participate. Employees can enroll up to 90 days before their appointments begin, and up to 60 days after their appointments end. Students can enroll in the service anytime before, during or after SOAR.
Some non-UW-Madison employees are also eligible. This includes Madison-based employees of the UW System Administration, UW Extension, UW Colleges, UW Hospital and Clinics, UW Medical Foundation, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, and UW Foundation.
Can I enroll for WiscAlerts-Text Messaging if I am located on campus but I am not a UW student, staff, or faculty member?No. In the interest of maintaining speed and accuracy of the message delivery process, service enrollment is limited to members of the UW-Madison campus community.
I am a parent. How can I be aware of campus emergencies?WiscAlerts-Text Messaging is only available to students, faculty, staff and university associates.
What happens if I transfer or leave UW-Madison?Parents are encouraged to sign up for the Parent Program at http://www.parent.wisc.edu/. The program will send out an email Parent Notice in the event of a campus emergency or release of important information.
Your account will be deactivated and removed approximately six months after your eligibility to enroll expires.
What type of messages will I receive from WiscAlerts-Text Messaging?How often will I receive messages during the semester?WiscAlerts-Text Messaging is a service set up to notify campus only of situations in which immediate life threatening personal safety is a factor. To ensure the system is operating at an optimum level, occasional test messages will be sent. You will never receive advertising or spam messages from WiscAlerts-Text Messaging.
Who sends the messages?The number is dependent upon the number of significant emergency situations. There will be a small number of tests messages sent each year.
How will I know the WiscAlerts-Text Messaging message is from the UW and not a spam or a hoax?The UW-Madison Police Department.
What do I do when I receive a WiscAlerts-Text Messaging message?All alerts will come from the same sender, 69310, and will start with WiscAlert.
I am a professor. What do I do if I receive an emergency message while I’m teaching a class?Follow any instructions in the text message. You should also check www.wisc.edu for additional updates. You will receive an “all clear” text message when the situation is resolved.
What if I receive a WiscAlert-Text Messaging message while in class, on the bus or with a group of people?Announce the information in the message to the class and follow any instructions given. As soon as possible, check www.wisc.edu for additional updates.
I signed up, but did not receive a text message during an emergency. What do I do?WiscAlerts-Text Messaging messages are intended for the safety of the campus community. Please immediately share the information with the people around you.
- Please verify that you are registered by logging into the My UW Madison Portal. There are many factors that could prevent a message from getting through, or getting through in a timely fashion.
- WiscAlerts-Text Messaging is offered on a best effort basis. There is no guarantee that the service provider or the cellular service provider will be able to send a text message during every crisis or emergency or that such messages will be received on your wireless device. Receiving a WiscAlerts-Text Messaging message does not guarantee your safety.
Does it matter who my cell phone provider/carrier is?No. The WiscAlerts-Text Messaging service provider has agreements with all the major cellular carriers to allow the passage of emergency text messages through their systems.Will I get charged by my carrier?What if my cell phone number changes?Your cell phone carrier might charge you to receive text messages. Check your service plan.
What if my cell phone provider changes?You can change your number via the My UW Madison portal. Look for the WiscAlerts-Text Messaging logo.
If you keep the same mobile number and simply change cell phone provider, you do not have to change anything. If you also change your mobile number, access your account via the My UW Madison portal to edit your account.
What if I’m interested in WiscAlerts-Text Messaging but I don’t have a cell phone/text messaging capabilities?Besides WiscAlerts-Text Messaging, what are the other WiscAlerts and how do I sign up?WiscAlerts-Text Messaging is just one of numerous methods UW-Madison will use to notify campus in the event of an emergency. Other WiscAlert systems include WiscAlerts-Email, WiscAlerts-Voice Mail and WiscAlerts-Reverse911. Depending on the situation, additional communication systems that could be used include local media, the UW-Madison Parent Program, toll free hotlines, the university’s home and News web pages and Facebook.
Can I suspend text messages while I’m on holiday or studying abroad?
- WiscAlerts-email - You are automatically enrolled with your official UW-Madison email account.
- WiscAlerts-VoiceMail – You are automatically enrolled if you have a UW-Madison DoIT voice mail account.
- WiscAlerts-Reverse911 – You cannot enroll yourself. Enrollment is done through an automatic process in order to capture key campus telephone numbers.
What if my instructor does not allow cell phones in the classroom?Yes. Access your account via the My UW Madison portal to unsubscribe. As long as you remain employed or an active student, you will be able to re-subscribe whenever you like.
Will my sign-up information be shared or sold to any other providers?Follow your instructor’s rules regarding classroom cell phone use. WiscAlerts-Text Messaging is just one of several means by which the University will communicate in times of crisis.
Are the WiscAlerts - Text Messaging alerts accessible for persons with disabilities?No. UW-Madison and the WiscAlerts-Text Messaging provider will protect your cell phone number to the extent allowed by the law.
The alerts are sent out as standard text-based messages, so there are no anticipated accessibility problems. Accessibility of the message will likely be dependent on the accessibility of the wireless device being used to receive the text message.I have a question not answered in this documentation. Who do I contact?Contact the DoIT Help Desk at 264-HELP or help@doit.wisc.edu.
| Keywords: | wiscalerts FAQ text messaging emergency notification system alert alerts wisc wiscalert | Doc ID: | 7693 |
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| Owner: | Jamie B. | Group: | Help Desk |
| Created: | 2008-04-17 | Updated: | 2009-06-30 |