How can I register for AppState-ALERT text and/or voice messaging?
Registering your cell phone numbers with AppState-ALERT (the Appalachian State University 24/7 emergency messaging system) is quick and easy. Just sign in Banner Self Service and register or update your information. (This system is also available within AppalNET.)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Please follow these instructions. For your convenience, all links will open in a new browser window.
- Go to Banner Self Service.
- Login using your Banner username and password.
- Click on the "General" tab (screenshot).
- Click on the "General Self-Service" button (screenshot).
- This will take you to the Personal Information menu, where you will click the "AppState-ALERT" selection at the bottom of the menu (screenshot).
- A menu will populate where you may enter your phone information for voice and text alerts (screenshot). You may choose to register for Boone or Hickory campus alerts. Make your selection in the location drop-down menu. Choose "ALL" if you would like to receive alerts for both campus locations.
- Be sure to click the "submit" button when you have entered your information.
Note: If you choose to receive emergency notifications via text and/or voice messaging, you agree to incur any applicable costs from your carrier for receiving these messages. Registered cell phone numbers should become active in the AppState-ALERT system within one (1) business day of completion of the above registration steps.
When does the registration take effect?
Once you register in Banner Self Service or AppalNET, the number is uploaded to the alert system the next day at 5 a.m. Eastern time. For instance, if you register using Banner Self Service at 10 a.m. on a Tuesday, the number will not be uploaded until 5 a.m. on Wednesday, the next day. You will not receive emergency messages until your number is uploaded.
The cell phone number you register is tied to your Banner Self Service account, but the registration is not finalized until your account is "active," which means you are enrolled in a class and classes have started. If you are planning to attend App State but have not yet started classes, your number will not be active in the alert system yet.
You only have to register your cell phone number once. If you register your freshman year, your number will stay active as long as you are affiliated with the University. There is no need to register every academic year unless your number changes.
How will I know that an incoming text/voice message is from AppState-ALERT?
Emergency messages sent to registered cell phone numbers will display a caller ID of "828-262-2000." The body of a text message will also contain the verbiage "AppstateALERT Boone" or "AppstateALERT Hickory."
If you recieve an Appstate-ALERT via text message, the SMS Operator ID number may vary, but will always be 5 digits.
How much does AppState-ALERT cost?
Appalachian State University does not charge for participation in AppState-ALERT. However, if you choose to receive emergency notifications via text and/or voice messaging, you agree to incur any applicable costs from your carrier for receiving these messages.
How does AppState-ALERT protect my privacy?
All cell phone numbers that are registered with AppState-ALERT for emergency notification purposes are confidential. For employees (including faculty, staff, and administrators), they are protected by the State Personnel Act; for students, they are protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act ("FERPA"). The contract with Saf-T-Net (aka AlertNow), the entity that provides the notification system, specifies that the cell phone numbers are confidential and will be protected as such.
In addition, cell phone numbers registered with AppState-ALERT will be used solely for the purpose of emergency notification. App State will only send emergency notification messages when an emergency exists that is considered an "imminent threat." An "imminent threat" is defined as a significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the life safety of the campus community.
Solving Common Registration Problems
If you have registered for voice and text AppState-ALERTs but did not receive a voice and/or text message during a publicized test, there are several things you can do to verify that your registration is valid:
- Make sure that you have entered numbers for "Emergency Cell-Voice" and "Emergency Cell-Text" contacts. The numbers will be entered in the Area Code and Phone Number fields per the instructions detailed above.
- Make sure that the numbers you entered for "Emergency Cell-Voice" and "Emergency Cell-Text" contacts are both cell telephone numbers. Do not use landline telephone numbers to register for AppState-ALERTs.
- Make sure that the numbers you entered for "Emergency Cell-Voice" and "Emergency Cell-Text" contacts DO NOT contain any letters, spaces or punctuation. All characters entered in either the Area Code or Phone Number fields must be digits (0-9). Hyphens, dashes and all other non-numeric characters are not recognized by the AppState-ALERT system, and will usually lead to dialing errors.
- Make sure that the numbers you entered for "Emergency Cell-Voice" and "Emergency Cell-Text" contacts are of the correct length. Area Code is three digits. Phone Number is seven digits. Remember, use only digits (0-9)—do not use letters, spaces or punctuation.
- Check to make sure that you have chosen the correct campus location when you register. You may register for either Boone or Hickory campus alerts, or you may register for both.