Fayetteville Policies and Procedures  205.0 

Emergency Notification Systems

It is the policy of the University of Arkansas to issue emergency notification alerts in an effort to notify community members about certain crimes in and around our community in timely a manner. For the purposes of this policy, "timely manner" means that upon confirmation by University of Arkansas Police Department (UAPD), the campus community will be immediately notified of any significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or staff. Warnings may only be withheld if they would compromise efforts to contain the emergency.

The University of Arkansas complies with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act as mandated by the Department of Education.

In the event a situation arises either on or off campus that, in the judgment of the Chief of Police or designee, University of Arkansas Police Department, constitutes an ongoing or continuing threat to safety of persons or property, the Chief of University of Arkansas Police Department and/or designee, Dean of Students and/or designee, and the Associate Vice Chancellor for University Relations and/or designee are responsible for consulting on a case-by-case basis when information in the form of an alert should be disseminated and will consult for a final approval before the release is made. However, if those individuals or designees are unavailable or immediate notification is necessary, for example, an active shooter situation, the Chief of the University of Arkansas Police Department or designee may issue the emergency notification without such review. 

Students, faculty and staff set their notifications preferences in either ISIS or BASIS.

The definitions of emergency notifications and timely warnings are as follows:

Emergency Notifications - SMS, email from RazALERT@uark.edu, social media, phone call.
Notification of crimes or dangerous situations that are currently occurring on or imminently threatening the campus. Notifications will be made to the entire camps for any significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees. The notification will be made immediately upon confirmation that a dangerous situation exists. UAPD will have primary responsibility for initiating the alert.

The emergency notification will be issued via email, SMS text message, and phone call through the University’s emergency communications system, RazALERT, to students, faculty, staff and other affected parties, or by other means deemed appropriate. 

If a tornado warning is issued by the National Weather Service for any part of Washington County, UAPD will issue a RazALERT message. If a tornado threatens the campus directly, UAPD will sound campus warning sirens and activate the RazALERT system at the same time. The message will come via SMS text message, email and phone .

Timely Warnings – email from UAPD@uark.edu, phone and social media. 
Warnings regarding crimes that have already occurred but represent an ongoing threat to the campus community.  The crime or threat could be reported to University Police, other Campus Security Authorities or a local law enforcement agency, and is considered by the institution to represent a serious or continuing threat to students and employees. The warning will be issued via email, phone and social media only to all campus users as soon as the pertinent information is available.  UAPD will have a primary responsibility for initiating the alert. University Relations will have a secondary responsibility for initiating the alert if necessary.

Decided on a case-by-case basis depending on the particular circumstances of the crime or emergency, bulletins may be posted at appropriate locations around campus including bulletin boards, electronic bulletin boards, residence halls, entrances to buildings and other available electronic media. Timely warnings will contain information to promote safety and allows individuals to protect themselves and will contain the time, location, type of crime, and available descriptive information of suspect(s).

 Status updates will be disseminated as soon as possible during regular business hours via Community Outreach message from URELinfo@uark.edu through the Associate Vice Chancellor for University Relations and/or designee.

 Anyone with information warranting an Emergency Notification or a Timely Warning should report the circumstances to the University of Arkansas Police Department at 479-575-2222 or call 911. Call extension 5-2222 if using campus phone system.

Revised August 24, 2015
Reformatted for Web May 13, 2014
November 2008