FAQs
GENERAL
- What is the UPennAlert System?
- Who is MIR3™ and what kind of services do they provide?
- How will Penn use the UPennAlert emergency notification system?
- How will I know when I receive a message from the UPennAlert system?
- How do I know that all of my personal data will be secure and protected by the University and by MIR3™?
- On what devices will I receive an emergency notification?
- What other means will be used by Penn to communicate emergency information?
- Will Penn be testing the Penn Alert system?
TECHNICAL
- How do I enter my contact information for use by the UPennAlert system?
- Can I change my emergency contact preferences?
- What contact information should I use for the Penn Alert system?
- Does Penn correct my personal contact information when it is wrong?
- Will I receive unsolicited messages ("SPAM") on my cell phone or email account as a result of giving my cell phone number to the University?
- Is there a charge for subscribing to receive emergency messages via the UPennAlert system?
- Do I need to install software on my PDA or cell phone to receive text messages or emails?
- When will you deactivate my subscription to the UPennAlert system?
- If I switch cell phone service providers, do I have to notify Penn that I have changed providers, even though my cell phone number remains the same?
[ GENERAL ]
What is the UPennAlert System?
The University of Pennsylvania has recently selected the services of a company, MIR3™, which delivers time-sensitive emergency notifications (descriptive information about news or events), via voicemail, text-messaging and email, to the entire Penn student, faculty and staff population within minutes of an emergency affecting the Penn and University City areas.
Who is MIR3™ and what kind of services do they provide?
The UPennAlert system is powered by MIR3™, the technology leader in Intelligent Notification (IN®) solutions for global enterprises. MIR3™’s unified, multi-modal emergency communication system supports all types of voice- and text-based communication devices and provides two-way notifications and instructions to students, staff and parents during critical events. For more information about MIR3™, please visit their website at the following address: http://www.mir3.com.
How will Penn use the UPennAlert emergency notification system?
In the event of a major emergency affecting the Penn and University City community, you will automatically receive an emergency communication on your phone numbers registered in the Penn Directory via text-message and voicemail, in addition to an email notification sent to your Penn email account, from the Division of Public Safety.
How will I know when I receive a message from the UPennAlert system?
The Caller ID function on your cell phone or landline (if available) will display the following number:
215.573.3333
This is the emergency communications number (similar to 911) for Penn’s Division of Public Safety, and will identify the number as: Penn Pub Safety
How do I know that all of my personal data will be secure and protected by the University and by MIR3™?
The contact information that you enter into the Penn Directory, such as your cell phone number, will only be provided to MIR3™ for the explicit purposes of notifying you in the event of an emergency. MIR3™ has agreed that they have no right to use your contact information for any purpose other than notifying you via the UPennAlert Emergency Notification System.
They do not have rights to sell, disclose or trade your contact information. Only the Individuals employed by the University of Pennsylvania who must use this information to administer and manage the UPennAlert Emergency Notification System will also have access to your contact information. No other access will be allowed except as may be required by law.
On what devices will I receive an emergency notification?
You will receive an emergency notification from the UPennAlert system on all phone numbers (both cell phones and landlines) included in your directory listing. Additionally, an email notification will be sent to your University email account listed, and any email accounts registered in your directory listing.
What other means will be used by Penn to communicate emergency information?
The UPennAlert Emergency Notification System provides our students, faculty and staff with an additional layer of security and protection in emergency response, in conjunction with our already well-established emergency communication methods, which include: University-wide broadcast emails, online updates via the Penn and Division of Public Safety homepages, coordinated use of public media outlets, and public address systems within all College Houses.
Will Penn be testing the Penn Alert system?
YES: The Division of Public Safety, in conjunction with our University partners, will periodically conduct emergency drills using the UPennAlert system. The University community will be notified in advance of all emergency tests and drills.
[ TECHNICAL ]
How do I enter my contact information for use by the UPennAlert system?
STUDENTS: Access Penn InTouch via the Penn Portal at http://www.upenn.edu/penn_portal OR
Access Penn InTouch directly via, https://sentry.isc.upenn.edu/intouchFACULTY/STAFF: Access the Penn Directories via, http://www.upenn.edu/directories
- Click on “Update Directory Listings” and log in using your PennKey
OR
Access U@Penn directly via, http://www.upenn.edu/u@penn
- Click on “My Directory Information” and log in using your PennKey
Can I change my emergency contact preferences?
YES: You can adjust your contact information anytime by logging into either Penn InTouch (students) or U@Penn (faculty/staff) using your PennKey and changing the settings. This information will be automatically be uploaded to MIR3™’s software application within one hour of submission.
What contact information should I use for the Penn Alert system?
Since the UPennAlert system will be used to notify you in an emergency situation, we strongly recommend that you provide contact information for YOU, the subscriber, such as your cell phone number.
For Students ONLY via Penn InTouch:
Please provide the name and address for “Other Emergency Contact Person” in the appropriate fields. Additionally, you can enter up to four other phone numbers for emergency contacts (such as parent, spouse, guardian, other cell, other residence, other pager).
We strongly recommend that you include a phone number for a parent/legal guardian in the available field.
Does Penn correct my personal contact information when it is wrong?
Penn will not verify the accuracy of the contact information you enter. Please check and edit your information as necessary to ensure that the University’s records are accurate and up to date.
Will I receive unsolicited messages ("SPAM") on my cell phone or email account as a result of giving my cell phone number to the University?
NO: The UPennAlert system has a rigid security policy in which authorized personnel ONLY are permitted to send messages using the UPennAlert system in the case of an emergency. The UPennAlert system adheres strictly to a ZERO SPAM policy that clearly prohibits unsolicited messages. Furthermore , the University cannot and will not sell the contact information of UPennAlert subscribers to third party marketers.
Is there a charge for subscribing to receive emergency messages via the UPennAlert system?
There is no charge for the UPennAlert service from the University of Pennsylvania. Depending on your wireless carrier provider and the plan you have, you may be charged a nomimal fee (e.g. ten cents per message) to receive SMS text messages. For those with unlimited text messaging plans, there would be no additional charge.
Do I need to install software on my PDA or cell phone to receive text messages or emails?
NO: The UPennAlert system, as powered by MIR3™, uses a standard industry SMS text messaging protocol to send messages to your phone. Your mobile phone plan will need to accept text messages to work properly.
When will you deactivate my subscription to the UPennAlert system?
Your contact information will be removed from the UPennAlert Emergency Notification System when there is a change in your affiliation with the University (for students – graduation; for faculty/staff – change in employment status).
If I switch cell phone service providers, do I have to notify Penn that I have changed providers, even though my cell phone number remains the same?
The UPennAlert system will automatically transfer your contact information from one service provider to the next. If your actual cell phone number changes, you will have to update your most current number with the Penn Directory.
