Virginia Commonwealth University
VCU Alert
current advisory

Remain calm, use common sense and give assistance as needed.

Call the VCU Police at 828-1234 or the Richmond Police by dialing 911.

Evacuate buildings immediately upon fire alarm activation or upon request of authorities.

Shelter in place upon hearing a campus siren or upon seeing activation of an Alertus warning device.

Know the location of at least two emergency exits close to your working/living areas.

What NOT to do in an emergency

In order to keep lines open, do not use the telephone except to report the emergency situation.

Do not use elevators.

Do not jeopardize your life and the lives of others by attempting to save property.



All VCU personnel are reminded to report all suspicious activities to the
VCU Police as well as to local law enforcement. VCU has procedures in
place to report to City, State, and Federal law enforcement agencies.

 

VCU Alert Text Message Announcement

We have received feedback from the VCU community that an easier process for managing VCU Alert text messaging is needed. It is also important that everyone in the VCU community is given the opportunity to easily sign up for emergency VCU Alert text messages or confirm that they wish to opt out.

What other schools have found in moving to this "opt out" system is that the capture rate of text information moves from about 40 percent to 50 percent to about 80 percent to 90 percent, meaning that in the event of an emergency, we can quickly notify more of our community about what is happening. As a result, our team has developed a new subscription method that is smoother and allows all in the community the option to sign up for the VCU Alert text messaging. This new method for signing up for emergency text messages will debut on May 16.

Subscribing to VCU Alert text messaging will be linked to the main VCU log in screen used to log into services such as the myVCU Portal, student email and the forthcoming faculty and staff Google-powered appsforVCU. Unless you have recently signed up for the VCU Alert text messaging service, you will be asked to complete the sign up process. Of course, you can choose to opt out if you prefer. If the system recognizes you as having recently signed up for the service, you will be passed through to the service you were logging into. Otherwise, you will be asked to sign up again for emergency text messages with your VCU eID.

Managing your VCU Alert text message account will be much easier with this new system. Subscribers may add or change a cell phone number, or add email addresses, via a link in the myVCU Portal.

Additionally this summer, a related service will enable subscribers to reset their eID password themselves via their cell phone. Should you forget your password, no matter the time of the day, subscribers to the VCU Alert text messaging service will be able to reset their eID password without having to call anyone. We will make announcements to the VCU community once the new service is active this summer.

Should you have any questions about these changes, please contact the VCU helpIT Center via phone at 828-2227 or email at helpIT@vcu.edu.

VCU and the VCU Medical Center are operating on a regular academic and work schedule.

emergency directory

Fire/Police: 828-1234
Medical Emergency: 828-1234
Bomb Threat: 828-1234
Sexual Assault: 828-1234
Poison Control: 828-9123
Chemical/Radiological: 828-9834

Electrical/Mechanical: 828-9364
Security Escort Service: 828-WALK/9255
Telecommunications Device for the Deaf:     Voice:1-800-828-1140
    TTY: 1-800-828-1120

 

critical links

Campus Resources
Student Response and Support
Campus Housing
Commons and Activities
Counseling Services
Disability Support Services
Emergency Communications
Multicultural Student Affairs
Communications and Public Relations
Student Affairs
Student Government Association
Student Health Services
VCU Inclement Weather and Office Closing Information
VCU Dining Services
VCU Parking and Transportation
  Parking Facility Status
   - Monroe Park Campus
   - MCV Campus
  Transit Service Status
VCU Technology
Computer Security
Systems and Network Status
VCU Alert Alternative website

 


Community Resources
Richmond Police
Richmond Fire and Emergency Services
Greater Richmond Red Cross Chapter

State and Federal Resources
Virginia Department of Emergency Management
Virginia Department of Transportation
Office of Commonwealth Preparedness
Virginia Department of Health
Virginia State Police
Federal Department of Homeland Security
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Travel Warnings

Hear Sample Warning Sirens
Event Alert Wail
Event 'All Clear' Wail

Virginia Commonwealth University
Facilities Management | Office of Planning and Design | Emergency Preparedness Planning
vcualert@vcu.edu