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Radford Alert Emergency Notification System

Radford Alert graphic

Radford University uses multiple communication technologies to quickly notify students, staff, and visitors of a perceived or actual threat and/or emergency situation that may directly impact the campus community. The following is a listing of primary and secondary systems.

The Radford Alert system allows students, faculty, and staff to receive emergency messages through telephone, email, and text messaging. Additionally, when a Radford Alert is generated additional campus alert technologies can be activated providing a multiple alert capability.

Students, faculty, and staff are automatically enrolled into Radford Alert through their Banner profile. This allows students, faculty, and staff to receive Radford Alert messages via cell phone calls, SMS messaging, and personal email addresses.  

Individuals can review and update their phone number and personal email address on OneCampus.

Alert Options for Families and Visitors

Radford Alert is Radford University’s emergency notification system and is designed to alert students, faculty, and staff when immediate action is required due to a situation on campus.

Students, faculty, and staff are automatically enrolled into Radford Alert through their Banner profile but Radford Alert also offers SMS opt-in for family, friends, visitors, vendors and contractors.

Keeping Family, Friends, Visitors and Others Informed

For our Highlander family, friends, visitors, vendors, and contractors to stay informed during potential emergencies, Radford Alert is available by opting-in through SMS messaging.

  • Family, friends, and long-term visitors, vendors and contractors may sign-up for Radford Alert SMS messaging by texting RadfordFamily to 226787. You will receive an SMS message confirming your subscription. This subscription will be active for 365 days from the date of subscription.  Once your subscription has reached 365 days, you will receive an expiration message that will give instructions to opt-in for an additional 365 days, if needed.
  • Short-term visitors, vendors and contractors may sign-up for Radford Alert SMS messaging by texting RadfordVisitor to 226787.  You will receive an SMS message confirming your subscription. This subscription will be active for 7 days from the date of subscription. Once your subscription has reached 7 days, you will receive an expiration message that will give instructions to opt-in for an additional 7 days, if needed.

Unsubscribe from Radford Alert

Those who wish to unsubscribe from receiving Radford Alert through the family or visitor option, may do so by texting Stop to 226787.   You can resubscribe at any time.

Message and data rates may apply. Text messages are sent on an as-needed basis. This service is provided per the ‍‍Terms of Use‍‍ and ‍‍Privacy Policy‍‍

Radford Safe App

Highlander family members are also encouraged to download the free Radford Safe app.  The app will send important safety alerts and provide instant access to campus safety resources.

For questions regarding Radford Alert, the Radford Safe app, or other general emergency preparedness inquires, please contact the Office of Emergency Management at 540-831-6696 or oem@radford.edu.

Additional Alert Technology

Campus Email
In the event of any emergency or need to relay important information to the Radford University community, an alert notification is sent that reaches all radford.edu email users. The email system also will be used to provide continuing information about the emergency or event. This email will go to all Radford University email recipients regardless of being registered in the Radford Alert system.

Desktop Notification
Desktop notification software has been installed on all campus owned computers, campus computer labs and multi-media classroom computers.  In the event of an emergency, the Desktop notification will generate a full-screen notification message.  This is a popup window and only requires that the computer user acknowledge the alert by clicking on the acknowledge button at the bottom of the alert screen. It does not impact any program running on the computer.

Campus VoIP Telephone Reverse Announcement
In the event of an emergency the message generated by the Radford Alert system will initiate a reverse audio message through VoIP telephones.  Additionally, campus buildings are equipped with either building speakers or fire alarm annunciators to broadcast the Radford Alert when initiated.

Campus Outdoor Warning System
Radford University deploys four campus siren system units on campus buildings.  The operation of the system provides a first notification siren alarm wail and the ability to generate a verbal communication via the siren PA system.

Radford University Homepage
In the event of a major threat or emergency that requires quick and concise information, the university homepage will show a popup window on the main page with the information related to the emergency as well as following updates. Additionally, the OneCampus portal will also display the Radford Alert message at the top of the webpage.

Radford University Social Media
The univeristy social media accounts (Facebook and X) are additional options that may be used when publishing Radford Alert messages.  

    Unsubscribe from Radford Alert

    Those who wish to unsubscribe from receiving Radford Alert may do so by emailing our office or calling 540-831-6696.

    Unsubscribing means you will no longer receive a Radford Alert via the following three ways;

    • Cell phone calls
    • SMS messaging
    • Personal email addresses

    Your Radford.edu email adddress and other technology throuhgout campus will still receive Radford Alert notifications.

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