Service overview
McGill's automated Emergency Notification System allows the University to rapidly send messages to students, faculty and staff during time-sensitive situations and disruptions in the use of various buildings.
Several channels are used to quickly communicate urgent information to the McGill community:
- Desktop notifications: The Alertus application, installed by default on all McGill-managed Windows computers, sends urgent messages directly to the computer screen. Students, faculty, and staff are also encouraged to install Alertus on their personal laptops in order to receive urgent messages from McGill. See the How to request/access section below for a link to the Mac and Windows installation files.
- Mobile devices: As part of McGill University's ongoing commitment to ensure the safety and well-being of students, staff, and faculty, we encourage every member of the McGill community to opt in their mobile devices to receive SMS text messages.
McGill University reserves the right to contact a member of the community on their mobile device if the number is provided through Minerva.
Note: If your mobile device is configured to use text-to-speech, notifications from McGill will be read aloud. - McGill App: The official campus app for current, new, and prospective McGill University students.
- Email: Messages will be sent to the McGill email addresses of students, faculty, and staff members as appropriate to the situation.
- McGill websites: A banner at the top of the McGill website will announce major disruptions to the normal functioning of the University.
Who can use this service
All McGill faculty, staff, and students.
How to request & access
McGill uses multiple points of contact to reach the McGill community in the event of an emergency, as shown in the table below.
| Point of contact | Students | Faculty and Staff |
|---|---|---|
|
Email for McGill faculty & staff |
n/a |
Mandatory |
|
Mobile devices |
Optional |
Faculty and staff are required to opt in a mobile device if it is owned and paid for by McGill. Otherwise, this is optional. |
|
Desktop pop-up for computers (requires Alertus software and an Internet connection) |
Optional |
Automatically installed on most admin desktops; strongly recommended for laptop users. Not installed on research computers. |
To opt in a mobile device/ cell phone:
- Sign into Minerva and select the Personal Menu > Mobile Devices option.
- Follow the onscreen instructions to enter your mobile device number and carrier information.
- Verify your information and click Submit.
- Within 24 hours after submitting the Minerva form, you will receive an SMS (text) confirmation request on your mobile phone/device. To complete the process, you must reply with a "1" to the SMS.
TIP:
Create a contact on your mobile device for McGill's Emergency Notification System and enter the SMS short codes as phone numbers; this will allow you to quickly identify who is sending the text and not miss an important message. See How to recognize messages from McGill's Emergency Notification System.
To obtain the Alertus software:
For units that have a service level agreement with ICS, the software is automatically installed on your office desktop. Students, Mac users and members of units that are not under SLA with ICS are advised to install the Alertus software. If you do not have administrative rights to install applications on your computer, please contact your LAN administrator.
See How to download and install Alertus software
Cost
McGill University does not charge for this service. Depending on your mobile device plan, you may be charged a fee for airtime or delivery of any messages.
Availability
This service is available 24 X 7. Check the System Status page for announcements regarding service interruptions or updates.
There is NO guarantee of message delivery via this service.
Frequently asked questions
I have an international mobile device. Can I opt in to the service with it?
No. You can enter international phone numbers on the Mobile Devices page, but you can only opt in from a North American phone number to receive SMS messages from McGill's Emergency Notification System.
Is my personal information shared outside McGill?
No. A third-party cloud-hosted solution is used to distribute the mobile text messages; however, no personal information is transmitted outside the University. All confidential information is stored on McGill servers and mobile device numbers are submitted with a unique identifier which cannot be linked to an individual.
How can I tell if Alertus is installed on my computer?
After the installation, you should see the Alertus icon in your Windows system tray. If you do not see this icon, please restart your computer. See How to download and install Alertus software.
Does the Alertus software affect the performance of my computer?
Alertus runs quietly in the background and uses very little processing time on your computer.
Best practices & policies
Opt in your mobile device to receive important, time-sensitive alerts from McGill. To do so, log in to Minerva and select the Personal Menu > Mobile Devices option.
McGill Faculty and Staff should verify that the campus address and staff phone number listed for them in Minerva is correct. To do so, log in to Minerva and select the Personal Menu > Update Address(es) and Phone(s) option. If the address is incorrect, click Current and make the necessary changes. If your work phone number is incorrect, contact your Telephone Coordinator so that they can submit a revision request.
See How to recognize messages from McGill's Emergency Notification System for tips on protecting yourself from fraudulent messages.
Training & documentation
Not applicable.
Support