University implementing cAlert notification system

The University is implementing an electronic notification system to be used in the event of an emergency.

The system, called cAlert, will provide the University with a state-of-the art mechanism to notify community members in the event of an emergency.

The cAlert system will give authorized University officials the ability to transmit short notifications nearly instantly in three crucial ways: by e-mail to outside e-mail addresses, by text message to cell phones, and by voice message to both on- and off-campus telephones, said Greg Jackson, Vice President & Chief Information Officer.

The information in the emergency-notification system will be used only to contact individuals in case of an emergency, a University closing or some other event that requires rapid, wide-scale notification to the community.

At the outset, the system accepts up to 10 contacts per individual. “Eventually we will collect emergency contact information directly through other central systems such as cMore or the human-resources system,” Jackson said, “but for the present, to get the system functional as soon as possible, we are using a special Web page, where individuals can enter their preferred contact mechanisms—other than University e-mail addresses and telephone numbers.”

To update emergency contact information, visit the cAlert site at: http://calert.uchicago.edu. There, visitors identify themselves using their CNetID and CNet password, and then can specify up to ten contact points. Data was loaded into the notification system beginning in July, and test broadcasts will be sent to those who submit data.

Questions about the new system can be sent to support@uchicago.edu.