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.