Emergency Notification System
CSULB has deployed the Connect-Ed emergency notification system that allows the University to send important information and instructions during emergency situations to students, faculty, and staff via home phones, cellular phones, text messaging and e-mail. Messages can be sent simultaneously to multiple numbers and devices to ensure the campus community receives important messages during emergency situations.
Tutorial - How to Update Your Phone Number
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the CSULB emergency notification system?
CSULB has deployed the Connect-Ed emergency notification system that allows the University to send important information and instructions during emergency situations to students, faculty, and staff via home phones, cellular phones, text messaging and e-mail. Messages can be sent simultaneously to multiple numbers and devices to ensure the campus community receives important messages during emergency situations.
The emergency notification system is only one component of an overall emergency response by University Police. In the event of an actual emergency, the University will provide important information to the campus community on the CSULB webpage, email announcements, toll free emergency lines, voice mail broadcasts, and through University Police presence.
- How does a member of the University’s campus community enter contact information so that it can be available for use in emergencies?
Existing CMS data for students, faculty, and staff will be used to update the emergency notification system. CMS data including email address, home, and cellular telephone information will be fed to the emergency notification system on a nightly basis. Students, faculty, and staff will have the ability to sign up to receive emergency text messages through the MyCSULB portal by entering cellular device information using the “Emergency Text Alert Message” telephone field. Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to update their contact information through the MyCSULB portal to ensure contact information is current. Auxiliary employees are encouraged to contact their Human Resource departments to be included in the feed.
- May contact information be provided so parents or spouses are contacted during an emergency?
Yes. You may enter spouse or parent contact information using the “home” telephone field. This contact type will only be used during an emergency situation.
- Will my cellular telephone automatically receive text messages?
Students, faculty, and staff who enter contact information using the “Emergency Text Alert Message” option will receive text message alerts. Within a day of entering a new phone number in the “Emergency Text Alert Message” field you will receive an automated text message from the system confirming you are signed up to receive emergency text messages. The message will be from “23177” and will provide you with the ability to opt-out should you no longer wish to receive emergency messages.
You may also opt-out by texting STOP CSULB to 23177, or simply delete your “Emergency Text Alert Message” device in the MyCSULB portal to no longer receive text messages.
- Other members of the University community received emergency notification messages, but I did not. What should I do?
Ensure your contact information is current by logging in to MyCSULB. CSULB will only use the “Home”, “Cellular”, and “Emergency Text Alert Message” telephone fields for emergency notification. Please also confirm your email address is current.
If your contact information is up-to-date and you believe you should have received a message, please send an e-mail to csulbalert@csulb.edu.
- How do I Opt-Out from receiving Text Messages?
To opt out, simply remove your telephone number from the “Emergency Alert Text Message” field in MyCSULB. You may also text STOP CSULB to 23177 at any time to opt-out.
- Are there charges for calls or text messages received from the CSULB emergency notification system?
There is no extra charge for calls or text messages from CSULB. However, the phone call and text message is subject to the conditions and rates of your particular calling plan. If your calling plan does not include text messaging minutes, you may incur a charge for a text messages received based on the rates of your service provider. Please note that with the exception of semester tests, the University will only send text messages during emergency situations.
- The email notification included a button to listen to the message, but not all computers have sound systems. Is the voice message the same as the text included in the e-mail?
Yes. The text of the voice message is repeated in the body of the e-mail. There is no need to listen to the “.wav” file with the voice message. The voice message is the same one that was transmitted via phone.
- If I sign up for “Emergency Text Alert Message”, will I automatically receive emergency telephone calls to my cell phone?
No. You will need to enter your cell phone information in the “Cellular” phone type field in order to receive prerecorded emergency voice broadcasts.
- The emergency email directed me to this website to opt-out of receiving emergency emails. Can I opt-out from emergency emails?
No. Because email is a vital means of communication to students, faculty, and staff, emergency notification to your designated primary email address is mandatory.
- I received the email but it was delayed or was in my spam folder. How do i speed up delivery of the email?
Make sure that the email address: csulbalert@csulb.edu is in your address book or safe senders list. If you are unsure how to do this, please contact your email service provider.
- Who should I contact if I cannot remember my MyCSULB password or are experiencing problems updating my records?
Please contact the Technology Help Desk at (562) 985-4959 or visit the http://www.csulb.edu/helpdesk website.