CSUCI Alert FAQs

Questions & Answers

1. What is CSUCI Alert?
2. Where did you get my contact information?
3. Is my contact information secure?
4. Am I automatically enrolled to receive messages from CSUCI Alert?
5. I would like to receive CSUCI Alert text messages, how do I set this up?
6. What will the confirmation message say?
7. What if I reply “HELP” to the confirmation message?
8. What number will these text messages display?
9. I did not receive a confirmation message. What happened?
10. I did not receive a confirmation message because my cell phone wasn't text enabled. I have since contacted my cell phone provider to enable it; do I need another confirmation message to be sent?
11. How do I opt-out of receiving CSUCI Alert messages, calls or text messages?
12. What if I opted-out of receiving text messages but later decide I would like to opt-in again?
13. If I change cell phone providers but keep the same number, do I need to opt-in again?
14. What are the advantages of providing my cell phone number?
15. How will I be contacted if I don't have a cell phone?
16. What does it cost to get the CSUCI Alert messages?
17. Why does the University have to test the CSUCI Alert system?
18. I heard there was a CSUCI Alert message. Why didn’t I receive a message?
19. What if I received a message and I am not affiliated with CSU Channel Islands or I opted out of the service?
20. How does the system respond to busy signals or no-answer situations?
21. My telephone has a routing message, e.g., press "1" for Mary, press "2" for John. Will we get the alert?
22. I share the same phone number as my roommate/colleague, will it call me twice?
23. I provided the phone number and I have verified that it is correct. The call report indicates that you are reaching me live at that number. Why do I still not receive any calls from you?

1. What is CSUCI Alert? [top]

CSUCI Alert is an emergency messaging system that simultaneously sends alerts to telephones, email addresses, and text/SMS messaging.

2. Where did you get my contact information? [top]

CSUCI Alert uses contact information from your myCI account. Updates can be made by visiting myCI and clicking on your profile name, and selecting "Alert Settings." If the information shown is incorrect, please update and click “Save” at the bottom of the page before exiting.

Your preferred telephone number is the default number noted in CI Records (for students) or CHRS (for faculty and staff). To make changes to your preferred telephone number visit CI Records (students) or CHRS (faculty/staff). You may add two (2) additional telephone numbers to receive calls and/or text messages (make sure to check the “Voice Mail” and/or “Send Text Messages”). Your campus email is the default address to receive emergency notifications. You can add up to two (2) additional email accounts in your CSUCI Alert Settings accessed via myCI. Make sure you click “Save” before exiting. The information provided will remain confidential and will not be released to anyone.

3. Is my contact information secure? [top]

Yes. Since CSUCI Alert uses contact information from your myCI account, your personal information is protected by the same CI Records system for student registration, and CHRS personnel processing for faculty and staff. This information is always stored securely; at no time is your personal information shared with others. You can update your preferred phone number in CI Records (for students) and CHRS (for faculty and staff). Including additional emails or mobile devices can be added as noted in FAQ #2.

4. Am I automatically enrolled to receive messages from CSUCI Alert? [top]

CSUCI students, faculty and staff are automatically enrolled to receive messages to their campus email (@csuci.edu for faculty and staff and @myci.csuci.edu for students). However, we ask that you review and update your information periodically in myCI. Updates can be made by visiting myCI (see instructions in FAQ #2)
Please note: you will not receive calls or text messages to your mobile device unless you have opted-in your cell number and have enabled those options in myCI CSUCI Alert Settings as noted in FAQ #2. [top]

5. I would like to receive CSUCI Alert text messages, how do I set this up? [top]

CSUCI students, faculty and staff can make updates by visiting myCI (see instructions in FAQ #2). New information can take up to 24 hours to be fully processed. The CSUCI Alert system will automatically send a text message within 24 hours to your mobile phone to confirm your request. If you do not receive a text message confirmation, contact Marketing & Communications at 805-437-8415 or csuci.news@csuci.edu.

6. What will the confirmation message say? [top]

The confirmation message will read as follows: Welcome to CSUCI. Reply LEAVE CSUCI to Leave list, STOP to Stop all Msgs, HELP for technical support. MSG&Data Rates May Apply. Message freq may vary. Thank you for opting into CSUCI campus alerts.

7. What if I reply “HELP” to the confirmation message? [top]

If you reply HELP, that is only for technical support. If you have an emergency, dial 911. 

8. What numbers will CSUCI Alert text messages display? [top]

Messages will display either as 77295 or 67283. Save these numbers and program as CSUCI Alert so you can quickly recognize as the official source of alerts from CSUCI.

9. I did not receive a confirmation message. What happened? [top]

Check with your cell phone provider to find out if your device accepts text messages. You may also want to check with your provider to see if text messaging has been enabled or to subscribe to a text messaging plan in order to receive or reply to text messages.

10. I did not receive a confirmation message because my cell phone wasn't text enabled. I have since contacted my cell phone provider to enable it; do I need another confirmation message to be sent? [top]

No. If your cell phone number/SMS was already entered into myCI you should be confirmed to receive text/SMS alerts. However, you may also request a test by contacting csuci.news@csuci.edu and requesting for a text test message be sent to your text-enabled mobile device.

11. How do I opt-out of receiving CSUCI Alert messages, calls or text messages? [top]

All CSUCI students, faculty and staff are required to receive alerts to their campus email address (@csuci.edu or @myci.csuci.edu). However, if you wish to opt-out from receiving telephone calls or text messages, you may remove those numbers or non-campus email addresses by visiting myCI (see instructions in FAQ #2). Remember to click “Save” before exiting.

12. What if I opted-out of receiving text messages but later decide I would like to opt-in again? [top]

You may request to begin receiving text messages again by visiting myCI (see instructions in FAQ #2).

13. If I change cell phone providers but keep the same number, do I need to opt-in again? [top]

No. Once your cell number has been opted-in, it stays registered within the system. If you change phone numbers you’ll need to update your contact information with your new phone number (see instructions in FAQ #2).

14. What are the advantages of providing my cell phone number? [top]

CSUCI Alert messages will generally be urgent or time sensitive. Providing us more options to reach you, such as calling your cell phone or sending a text message, increases our ability to communicate important information to you in a timely manner.

15. How will I be contacted if I don't have a cell phone? [top]

CSUCI Alert messages will be sent to your campus email address, or other emails addresses you may have added, or to a landline (non-cell phone) if you have included that information in myCI. Additionally, messages may be posted as a banner at the top of all website pages, Emergency Information webpage, and the University’s information hotline at 805-437-3911. The University may also use loudspeakers that will broadcast in all classrooms, outdoor speakers, or campus computers via Teams.

16. What does it cost to get the CSUCI Alert messages? [top]

There is no charge to subscribe to the service, but call and text messaging fees from cell phone service providers may apply. Please contact your cell phone provider directly for your specific rate and billing information.

17. Why does the University have to test the CSUCI Alert system? [top]

The University must test CSUCI Alert to ensure it is working properly and to familiarize the campus community with this important communication tool. Tests are conducted annually during the Fall semester.

18. I heard there was a CSUCI Alert message. Why didn't I receive a message? [top]

It's possible that your information is incorrect in the University’s database. Updates can be made by visiting myCI (see instructions in FAQ #2). Please note it can take up to 24 hours for your updated details to be processed in the system. If your information is correct in myCI, but you did not receive a text message, please contact Marketing & Communications at 805-437-8415 or csuci.news@csuci.edu for assistance.

19. What if I received a message and I am no longer affiliated with CSUCI or I opted out of the service? [top]

If you erroneously receive a message, please contact Marketing & Communications at 805-437-8415 or csuci.news@csuci.edu for assistance.

20. How does the system respond to busy signals or no-answer situations? [top]

For busy signals, the call will be repeated twice in an attempt to reach you. The same is true for no-answer and call-waiting. If the phone is answered by a message recorder for a landline, the message will be left on the answering device. If, after several attempts the call does not successfully go through, the system will stop attempting and report your number to be busy.

21. My telephone has a routing message, e.g., press "1" for Mary, press "2" for John. Will we get the alert? [top]

No. CSUCI Alert cannot traverse an automated answering system. Mary and John will not receive the alert.

22. I share the same phone number as my roommate or a colleague, will it call me twice? [top]

No, the system will remove duplicate phone numbers during call delivery. Note: If you have multiple voicemail boxes at one telephone number, the system is unable to leave a voicemail message as noted in FAQ #21.

23.I provided the number and I have verified that it is correct. Why am I still not receiving any calls from you? [top]

This might happen if you have call forwarding activated to forward calls to another telephone number or voicemail. By deactivating this feature, you should resume receiving messages from us.