Dear Georgetown University Community Members,
Keeping our community informed of any threats to safety or well-being is one of our top priorities.
HOYAlert is Georgetown’s mass notification system used in the event of emergencies such as extreme weather and other life-safety or urgent situations. All Georgetown University community members are automatically enrolled to receive alerts via email, and until today could choose to “opt-in” to also receive SMS/text message alerts via your mobile phone.
Transition to Automatic Text Alert Enrollment/“Opt-Out”
To increase our ability to communicate crucial information during emergencies, the university has automatically added all community members’ mobile numbers in university databases into the HOYAlert system. If you have a mobile number on file with Georgetown, you will now receive HOYAlert SMS/text messages for the campus(es) that you are affiliated with (e.g., Law Center, Main Campus/Medical Center, School of Continuing Studies). No action is required on your part.
You have the option to “opt-out”, or unenroll, from HOYAlert SMS/text message at any time by responding “STOP” to any HOYAlert SMS/text message or by unsubscribing in your HOYAlert account (click on “My Account” on the top bar).
This transition to an “opt-out” model is a best practice among our peers and has been made after consideration by relevant university offices and approval by university leadership.
Reviewing Your HOYAlert Preferences and Contact Information
- HOYAlert: You can update your HOYAlert preferences, including subscribing to alerts from other campuses (e.g., Law Center, Main Campus/Medical Center, School of Continuing Studies), at any time (click on “Opt-In Lists” on the top bar).
- Employee Contact Information: All employees can review their current contact information via GMS.
- Student Contact Information: All students can review their current contact information via MyAccess.
Test of the HOYAlert System
Later today, the Office of Emergency Management will conduct a test of the HOYAlert system by sending a test message to all enrollees via SMS/text and email. There will be information in the email regarding what to do if you did not receive the SMS/text message. This test of the system will allow us to ensure that it is working properly and that critical information in HOYAlert is property updated. This test will take place during daytime hours, and the test message will be clearly marked as such.
If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Emergency Management at emergencymanagement@georgetown.edu.
Thank you for your understanding and assistance in this important initiative to improve the emergency preparedness of our community.
Sincerely,
Office of Emergency Management