Questions & Answers
- What is CSUCI Alert?
- Where did you get my contact information?
- Is my contact information secure?
- Am I automatically enrolled to receive messages from CSUCI Alert?
- I would like to receive CSUCI Alert text messages, how do I set this up?
- What will the confirmation message say?
- What if I reply “HELP” to the confirmation message?
- What number will these text messages display?
- I did not receive a confirmation message. What happened?
- 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?
- How do I opt-out of receiving CSUCI Alert messages, calls or text messages?
- What if I opted-out of receiving text messages but later decide I would like to opt-in again?
- If I change cell phone providers but keep the same number, do I need to opt-in again?
- What are the advantages of providing my cell phone number?
- How will I be contacted if I don't have a cell phone?
- What does it cost to get the CSUCI Alert messages?
- Why does the University have to test the CSUCI Alert system?
- I heard there was a CSUCI Alert message. Why didn’t I receive a message?
- What if I received a message and I am not affiliated with CSU Channel Islands or I opted out of the service?
- How does the system respond to busy signals or no-answer situations?
- My telephone has a routing message, e.g., press "1" for Mary, press "2" for John. Will we get the alert?
- I share the same phone number as my roommate/colleague, will it call me twice?
- 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, text/SMS and TTY/TDD devices.
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. You may also include additional mobile numbers to receive calls and/or text messages (make sure to check the “Voice Mail” and/or “Send Text Messages”), and you may add up to three (3) additional email accounts. 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 system the campus uses for student registration, personnel processing and more. This information is always stored securely; at no time is your personal information shared with others. You can update your information at any time by following the instructions listed 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. [top]
Residents who live in the University Glen community may also sign up to receive CSUCI Alerts. They may register email addresses and phone or mobile numbers by visiting: https://go.csuci.edu/cialertuglenresidents. Residents who subsequently move out or no longer wish to receive the notifications should remove their information from the CSUCI Alert system by visiting go.csuci.edu/cialertuglenresidents.
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 30 minutes to update within the CSUCI Alert system and 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. This confirmation occurs during business hours between 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. If you do not receive a text message confirmation, contact Communication & Public Relations at 805-437-8415 or csuci.alert@csuci.edu.
6. What will the confirmation message say? [top]
The confirmation message will read as follows:
CSUCI ALERT notification. You are now confirmed to receive text alerts. Reply "HELP" for help or "STOP CSUCIALERT" to opt-out. Message and data rates from cell phone providers may apply.
7. What if I reply “HELP” to the confirmation message? [top]
If you reply HELP, you will receive the message:
CSUCI ALERT notification. Users will receive relevant alerts. For more info visit: www.blackboardconnect.com/sms, sms@blackboardconnect.com. Text “STOP CSUCI ALERT” to opt-out.
8. What numbers will CSUCI Alert text messages display? [top]
Messages will display either 23177, 63079 or 82932. Save these numbers and program as CSUCI Alert so you can quickly recognize as the official source of alerts from CSU Channel Islands.
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 test to find out by texting the word “SUBSCRIBE CSUCIALERT” to 23177, 63079 or 82932, and you will receive a reply with the following:
BbConnect Notify Alerts: This phone number has already been opted in for CSUCI ALERT. More info: reply "HELP" or "STOP CSUCIALERT" to opt-out.
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 phone calls or text messages, you may remove those numbers or non-campus email addresses by visiting myCI (see instructions in FAQ #2). Residents or tenants from the University Glen community should visit go.csuci.edu/cialertuglenresidents and remove the cell number(s) or alternate email addresses. 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.
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 on the CSU Channel Islands website home page, NewsCenter and the University’s emergency information hotline at 805-437-3911. The University may also utilize a campus loudspeaker system that automatically activates all telephone speakers in campus offices, classrooms, or outdoor speakers.
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 do not receive a text message within 24 hours, please contact Communication & Public Relations at 805-437-8415 or csuci.alert@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 Communication & Public Relations at 805-437-8415 or csuci.alert@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, 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.
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.