cAlert System

cAlert is the University’s emergency notification system. In a life-threatening situation that requires immediate action, cAlert sends every member of our community a short message.

In an emergency, trained and authorized personnel enter a short message – less than 140 characters – into the cAlert system. That message is sent by email to every member of the University community, as well as SMS text messages and automated phone calls to those who sign up for expanded service.

Any imminent or ongoing threat to the lives and safety of members of the University community would trigger a cAlert. That could include criminal activity, such as a gunman on campus. It could include localized hazards, such as a chemical spill or building collapse. It could also include broader threats, such as severe weather or a terrorist attack. cAlert could also be used if campus had to be closed.

Students, faculty, other academic personnel and staff of the University are automatically enrolled with the email address provided in the University directory.

Additionally, non-affiliated community members can now enroll in cAlert by texting “calert” to 226787. To be removed from the system, simply text "stop" to the same number.

cAlert can reach multiple email accounts, home telephones, office telephones, and business and personal cell phones, through both voice and text messages. Each University affiliated user can enroll up to 10 addresses or numbers for different devices. We encourage everybody to enroll the devices most likely to reach them quickly in the case of an emergency. Go to calert.uchicago.edu to enroll devices.

To verify that automatically entered information is accurate and to add new devices that will receive cAlert messages, go to calert.uchicago.edu. Log in using your cNet identification and password. The site will prompt you to edit or add information.

In order to get cAlert messages, a member of the University community must have a cNet identification or a UCHAD identification, the system used by the University of Medicine. If you have both a cNet and UCHAD identification, use your cNet identification and password to log into the cAlert system. If you have both forms of identification and cannot log in with your cNet identification, please contact calert@uchicago.edu.

Non-affiliated community members can enroll by texting “calert” to 226787.  These members will not have access to an online profile.

The confirmation process ensures the phone number the user provides belongs to them and is able to receive SMS messages.  However, the system will still send SMS messages to the phone even if it has not been confirmed.

Please email calert@uchicago.edu.

Each cAlert message will include brief instructions on how to protect yourself. Please listen or read carefully and take those steps as soon as possible.

Depending on the type of event, emergency responders might use confirmation information to determine if people are in harm’s way, if further search of an area is necessary, or to help locate missing people. In a test, confirmation is the only sure way to know whether the cAlert message has been received, and the system is working effectively. Please confirm any time you receive a cAlert message, whether it is a real event or a test.

The most efficient and accurate source of information in most cases will be the University's main homepage, uchicago.edu. In the event of an emergency, the homepage will either have an emergency banner at the top, or the entire page may be temporarily redirected to provide urgent information. In some cases, University social media channels might also be used. Misinformation is a significant risk and potential source of trouble in any fast-developing situation, so we urge University affiliates to rely on official University information.

The cAlert system sends out messages nearly simultaneously. But the exact timing of message receipt also depends on the network or system to which each device is connected. For instance, different cellular providers may process the cAlert messages differently in getting them to your phone. While cAlert cannot control those third-party networks, our provider does work with major networks in an ongoing effort to make delivery as timely as possible.

As soon as you confirm receipt of one alert, the system stops sending that message to other devices, to eliminate repetition. That is the most likely cause. But it is good practice periodically to check calert.uchicago.edu to make sure you are enrolled with the correct addresses and phone numbers.

cAlert email messages are safe, simple, text-only messages. Most email systems will show the sender as “UChicago Alert.” If your system shows you the full return address of the sender, it will include the domain “getrave.net” — either way it appears, that message is safe and important for you to read.

The cAlert system will be tested on an annual basis.

cAlert is intended only for the most immediate, life-threatening situations. For criminal activity that poses a less immediate threat but still calls for the University community to take steps to protect itself, all-campus emails known as “security alerts” are sent out by the Department of Safety & Security.

Participating in the cAlert system is mandatory for all University of Chicago students, faculty, staff, University of Chicago Medicine employees, postdoctoral researchers, and other academic appointees. At a minimum, members must include their University email for alerts.

Non-affiliated members can text "stop" to 226787 to be removed from the system.

Graduating students continue to receive certain University privileges including access to email and other systems such as cAlert for a two-quarter period after graduation. After this time period expires, you will be removed from the cAlert database.

Once your affiliation with the University ends, your account is put into closure and will be removed within 45 days.