Hawk Alert
The safety of students, employees and visitors is our number one priority. We keep campus informed about imminent safety threats using various methods. Hawk Alerts are one layer of our campus emergency notification system. These alerts can be delivered via text message, phone call, and email (based on the settings selected by the user) when there is confirmation of an immediate threat to the health and safety of the campus community. Those on campus can opt-in to receive Hawk Alerts via desktop notification using Alertus Desktop.
All students and employees are encouraged to review and update their Hawk Alert settings using MyUI and Employee Self Service. While email is required, text message is the fastest way to receive an alert.
You may also receive emergency notifications via:
- Outdoor emergency notification systems: includes outdoor sirens and a public address system that may be used for campus-wide critical incidents, including, but not limited to, tornado warnings. Sirens are tested at 10 a.m. on the first Wednesday of each month, weather permitting.
- Building notification systems: may be used to inform building occupants of an emergency. Examples include building alarm/speaker systems, NOAA weather radios, digital signage, and/or other building specific equipment.
- Other digital communication systems: such as university websites, desktop and computer pop-up alerts, social media, and traditional media outlets.
These notifications are sent to either the entire campus or may be targeted to specific buildings or areas of campus when the impact is limited.
Hawk Alert Settings
All students and employees are encouraged to review and update their Hawk Alert settings using MyUI and Employee Self Service.
Hawk Alert Updates
Hawk Alert updates are posted on the campus emergency website during an emergency.
FAQs
Hawk Alert is one component the university's emergency notification system. The Office of Campus Safety uses Hawk Alerts to notify the campus community of immediate threats to their health and safety in emergency situations such as extreme weather events or violence.
These alerts are sent via text message, phone call, and/or e-mail when there is confirmation of an immediate threat to the health and safety of the campus community. The delivery method depends on what preferences each user has selected. Your mobile number will only be used for notification purposes, it will not be published.
Situation updates for these messages can be read on the university's emergency website.
In conjunction with the Hawk Alert system, the university has installed a series of notification towers equipped with sirens and voice alert systems that also will help ensure that those on campus are notified of certain types of alerts (such as tornado warnings).
Text message is the preferred and fastest method.
Yes. Those on campus can opt-in to receive Hawk Alerts via desktop notification using Alertus Desktop.
Alertus is a desktop notification component of the University of Iowa’s emergency notification system. When the university issues an emergency alert (Hawk Alert), all computer workstations and laptops running the Alertus system will display a full-screen pop-up alert providing messaging about the emergency on campus and what actions to take. The pop-up alert option is being added in addition to the notifications those on campus already receive on personal mobile devices, and are not meant to replace them.
You can learn more about how to install this feature on the Alertus page of the ITS website.
When you receive a Hawk Alert, follow the instructions in the message for how to respond. The action you take will vary depending on the nature of the emergency situation, as well as your location.
More detailed information will be sent out via Hawk Alert and posted to the emergency website as it becomes available.
For an overview of how to respond to different emergencies that could impact you during your time on campus, review the emergency response guide.
The university's emergency information website (emergency.uiowa.edu) will have the most up-to-date information available.
Campus Safety initiates emergency notifications.
Winter weather class cancellation notifications are initiated in consultation with the Office of the Provost.
If you encounter an emergency situation on campus, call 911.
International telecommunication standards shift often and sometimes without notice. To receive Hawk Alerts in a timely manner, we strongly recommend international students, faculty, and staff working or studying in the United States consider obtaining a United States cell phone number upon arrival. They should then update their Hawk Alert preferences and add the United States phone number as their primary method of communication in the Hawk Alert system.
You will begin receiving Hawk Alerts ten days prior to the first day of class.
If you are living in on-campus housing and move in prior to that, you will begin receiving Hawk Alerts by noon the day after you check in to your residence hall.
Students are not automatically eligible over the winter/summer breaks (unless they are maintaining a housing contract) but can request an exception by contacting the ITS Help Desk.
Students are removed from the Hawk Alert system when they are not enrolled in and actively attending classes.
No. Hawk Alerts are intended for students and employees who are on campus so they can be aware of potentially dangerous incidents as they are occurring. Including other individuals has the potential to slow down the notification process.
To stay updated during a Hawk Alert, visit the campus emergency website (e.uiowa.edu).
To stop receiving Hawk Alert phone calls, you will need to ask your student to update their Hawk Alert settings and remove your home phone number from their preferences. Ask your student to visit log-in to My UI to update their settings.
Hawk Alerts come from these numbers and addresses.
Telephone: 319-335-5911
Text (SMS): 67283 or 226787
email display name = UIowa Hawk Alert
email id = uiowa@getrave.com
*On Feb. 14, 2024, Rave will move our Alert email traffic to their updated email platform, at which time emails will begin to be sent from: uiowa@email.getrave.com.
The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Police and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) is a federal law requiring all institutions of higher education that participate in the federal student financial aid program to disclose information about campus crime statistics and crime prevention efforts.
The Clery Act also requires these institutions to provide students and employees with timely warnings (Crime Alert) and emergency notifications (Hawk Alert) of crimes that represent an ongoing threat to their safety.
You can learn more about the Clery Act by visiting the U.S. Department of Education website.
Contact the ITS Help Desk.
Help Desk staff provide support via:
Phone: 319-384-4357
Email: its-helpdesk@uiowa.edu
Online chat: Help Desk Online Chat
Self-Service Portal: Access the portal or Learn more about the self-service portal.