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EAGLE ALERT FAQ

Q: What is EAGLE ALERT? EAGLE ALERT is a mass notification system comprised of e-mail, voice and text messaging that is designed to send emergency messages to thousands of individuals in minutes. It supplements existing means of emergency communication, including outdoor warning sirens and severe weather alert radios. All students, faculty and staff have the opportunity to provide a primary mobile phone number for receipt of text messages, and up to three other phone numbers (mobile or other) for receipt of voice messages. Emergency messages will be sent via a system called Blackboard Connect. EAGLE ALERT will be used in tandem with other campus communication tools and should not be relied on as the only method of communication/notification in an emergency.


Q: Who can sign up for EAGLE ALERT voice and text messages? All Georgia Southern University students, faculty and staff who have a valid ID are able to sign up to receive text and voice message alerts. You will need to use your Georgia Southern University user ID and password to authenticate to the registration page. While those at locations beyond the main campus may sign up for alerts, messages will primarily focus on possible threats at the main campus location. If you spend time on the main campus, you are strongly encouraged to sign up. If you are located beyond the main campus location, you should continue to rely on local emergency notification systems for site-specific warnings. In addition to Georgia Southern University students, students attending classes on the main campus from East Georgia State College will also be automatically registered.


Q: How do I sign up for EAGLE ALERT?

Students, faculty and staff may update their emergency contact information in MyGeorgiaSouthern.

  1. Visit https://my.georgiasouthern.edu
  2. Login using your username/password
  3. Update your emergency contact information by clicking on “Personal Settings” or the Eagle Alert Channel. If you have a cell phone, please be sure to include that number. EAGLE ALERT will use that number to try to contact you via phone or text message in the event of an emergency.

Q: Will I receive EAGLE ALERT messages if I don’t update my info? If you do not sign up with EAGLE ALERT, you will still receive emergency messages via your official campus e-mail address and contact numbers that are on record with the University. Georgia Southern University strongly recommends that you provide at least one phone number for EAGLE ALERT to ensure that you receive important messages in a timely manner. Any contact information you provide will only be used for emergency notifications.


Q: Who implements EAGLE ALERT? EAGLE ALERT is managed jointly through the Office of Public Safety, IT Services and University Communications and Marketing.


Q: What kind of alerts will be sent? The system will only be used to distribute information regarding emergencies that dictate immediate action. Examples of alerts include severe weather, building evacuations, dangers requiring lock-down or shelter-in-place, or other emergencies requiring immediate action. The message will direct you where to go for further information or what action to take. Following a warning, the alert system may be used to provide additional messages or an “all-clear” announcement. EAGLE ALERT will also be tested on a regular basis. Less urgent messages will be sent using the campus e-mail system.


Q: How does EAGLE ALERT work? EAGLE ALERT is a hosted and managed system. You will not need special hardware or software to receive messages. It is a multi-modal service that can disseminate emergency messages through: <strong>E-mail:</strong> An alert message will be sent to your official campus e-mail address. You can also specify a secondary e-mail address for receiving these alerts. <strong>SMS Text messages:</strong> Faculty, staff and students may choose to register their cell phone number for receiving SMS text messages through EAGLE ALERT. <strong>Voice messages:</strong> Faculty, staff and students may choose to register additional phone numbers with EAGLE ALERT. Voice messages will be sent to these phone numbers. <strong>NOTE:</strong> You will receive emergency alerts to all phone numbers and e-mail addresses registered with EAGLE ALERT.


Q: Can I opt out of the system? Georgia Southern University requires that all students, faculty and staff participate. If students do not register a SMS-capable cell phone number, they will not receive text messages. Once you leave the institution (graduate, transfer, withdraw from class or are no longer employed), you will automatically be taken out of the system once your EagleID is discontinued. Whenever your phone number or alternate e-mail address change, it is very important that you update this information with EAGLE ALERT to ensure you continue to receive alerts through the system. NOTE: Faculty/Staff may modify their emergency messaging options by visiting MyGeorgiaSouthern.


Q: Are there any costs involved if I sign up for the system? If you do not have a text messaging contract as part of your cellular service, there may be a small charge for any text messages that you receive. You should check with your cell phone carrier to determine what these costs may be. If you do not register your cell phone number, you will not receive any charges. You ARE encouraged to register your cell phone, if you have one, to receive additional access to emergency messages. As a service to the campus community, the University actually pays a flat rate subscription charge for each student, faculty and staff member that is signed up for EAGLE ALERT.


Q: Will my contact information remain secure, and will it be used for any other purposes? The information collected for EAGLE ALERT is securely maintained and will not be shared. It is only used for notification of emergencies requiring immediate action.


Q: How can I recognize messages from EAGLE ALERT?

  • E-mail: sent from Georgia Southern University will have the words “EAGLE ALERT.”
  • SMS Text messaging: Text messages will include “EAGLE ALERT.”
  • Voice messages: Each message will notify the user that this is an EAGLE ALERT MESSAGE.

Q: Where can I find additional information about emergency procedures or emergency situations? A: Information about existing emergency procedures and emergency preparedness is posted at www.georgiasouthern.edu/eaglealert. During an emergency, the University will use multiple means of communication to contact its students, faculty and staff.


Q: Do I need to install software on my phone? NO. EAGLE ALERT uses the industry standard SMS text messaging protocol to send messages to your phone. Your mobile phone plan will need to accept text messages to work properly.


Q: What if my cell phone is not set up to receive text messages? If your cell phone is not set up to receive text messages, then you cannot participate in the text message alert system. Contact your cell phone provider if you are interested in receiving text messages.


Q: What if I don’t have a cell phone? The text messaging alert system is one of several ways in which the University will contact our community in the event of an emergency. Other methods of the system include website alerts, and e-mail. Landline telephones and some pre-paid cell phones cannot be registered due to limitations of the providers’ service.


Q: What if my cell phone number changes? If you change your cell number, update your cell phone information in MyGeorgiaSouthern.


Q: What if I change cell providers? If your cell phone provider changes after you have registered, update your cell phone information in MyGeorgiaSouthern.


Q: How do I control what shows up on my phone? You will only receive a text messages from Georgia Southern University in the event of an emergency.


Q: Will I receive unsolicited messages (“spam”) on my mobile phone or e-mail account? NO. EAGLE ALERT enforces a ZERO SPAM policy which clearly prohibits unsolicited messages, and the University does not sell the contact information of our subscribers to third party marketers. You will only receive a text messages from Georgia Southern University in the event of an emergency.


Q: What will the alert system messages tell me? Alert messages will state the type of emergency and direct possible action.


Q: How many phone numbers can I register? You may store multiple phone numbers per student or faculty/staff member, including cell phone numbers. The same message will be delivered via e-mail.


Q: Does your service work on multiple cell phone networks? Yes. EAGLE ALERT is a cross-carrier service.


Q: What if I am not able to register? After you have checked to be sure that you have entered your information correctly and still find you can not register, please contact the Georgia Southern University CATS Service Desk at (912) 478-2287 or cats@georgiasouthern.edu for assistance.


Q: Is my text message address the same thing as my e-mail address? No, your e-mail address allows you to receive an emergency notification in a text format via traditional e-mail through your computer or personal data assistant (PDA, Treo, etc), but a text message e-mail address depends on your level of service with your cell phone service provider. If you have text-messaging, the text message address that you enter will look like the following:

  • Alltel: PhoneNumber@alltell.com
  • AT&T Wireless: PhoneNumber@mmode.com
  • Cingular: PhoneNumber@mobile.mycingular.com
  • Metrocall: PhoneNumber@pagemetrocall.com
  • Nextel: PhoneNumber@messaging.nextel.com
  • Sprint PCS: PhoneNumber@messaging.sprintpcs.com
  • T-Mobile: PhoneNumber@tmomail.net
  • Verizon: PhoneNumber@vtext.com

Q: Other members of the Georgia Southern University community received emergency notification messages, but I did not. What should I do? First, check your information in MyGeorgiaSouthern for missing and incorrect information. Ensure that the phone numbers you supplied are valid. Remember, only active/registered students, faculty and staff are included in the EAGLE ALERT system. If your contact information is up to date and you believe you should have received a message, please complete this form to report the problem.


Q: The e-mail notification from EAGLE ALERT included a button to listen to a message, but not all computers have sound systems. Is the voice message the same as the text in the e-mail? Yes, the text of the voice message is identical to the email message. There is no need to listen to the wave file with voice message.


Q: My roommate is also a student at Georgia Southern University, yet we only received one phone call to our dorm room? The system recognizes numbers that are repeated and will only connect to a unique phone number once. The system may attempt to contact the phone three times.


Q: The phone directory lists a common phone number for multiple people in our office/room/suite. Will we receive multiple calls via the phone? No. The system recognizes phone numbers that are repeated and will only connect to a unique phone number once. The system may attempt to contact the phone three times.


Q: Why didn’t I receive a message on my office or dorm phone? If your phone is on a call distribution system (e.g., press 1 for person A, 2 for person B, etc.), the EAGLE ALERT system is unable to leave a message. If you have a roommate or another person that has access to the message, they may have received.


Q: I received the message, but my answering machine cut it off. Why? The system attempts to detect what type of response it is receiving on the other end of the line. In most cases, the system will accurately detect an answering machine and the message plays correctly. In rare instances, the system incorrectly detects a live person and begins to deliver the message prior to the start of a recording.


Q: The message on my cell phone keeps looping and repeating. Why? The system does its best to detect whether it has reached a live person or an answering machine. Sometimes when there is noise in the background, the system detects an answering machine. When this happens, it will wait for a brief moment of silence before starting to play the message. Using the mute feature on the phone or moving to a quieter location may prevent the message from looping or repeating.


Q: Is there a phone number to check EAGLE ALERT messages? Yes. The official EAGLE ALERT phone number is (912) 681-5588. This phone number is updated during an emergency situation. During normal conditions, a standard message is available that directs users to the Web site to register/update their contact information.


Q: Is EAGLE ALERT available social media such as Facebook and Twitter? Yes, Georgia Southern’s EAGLE ALERT messages automatically appear on its primary Facebook and Twitter pages. If you are following/like either of these, you may receive an additional notification as a result depending on your settings in Facebook/Twitter.


Q: I’m not affiliated with Georgia Southern but am receiving EAGLE ALERT notifications on my phone – who should I contact to get my number removed? If you are not affiliated with Georgia Southern and need to report that your number is receiving EAGLE ALERT notifications in error, please complete this form to report the problem to ITS.