CMU ALERT Frequently Asked Questions
I want to add/change my phone number to receive CMU ALERTS. What should I do?
You can register and make changes to your information for the service online at https://my.cmu.edu/site/main/page.alert (when you click on this link, you will need to login with your username and password to access this page).
What contact data should I provide the university?
Students can supply two phone numbers we may use to contact you in the event of an emergency. One number is for text messaging the other for voice messaging. Please complete both sides (Voice Alert and Text Alert) of the registration website.
How do I terminate the service when I graduate or go on an extended leave?
You can unsubscribe from this service at this website (https://my.cmu.edu/site/main/page.alert) as well.
If I see a caller ID display of 411-000-0000. Who is this?
When the university sends an emergency alert call it will always display this caller ID number. Please save this number (411-000-0000) on your cell phone contact list (e.g., "CMU ALERT") so it will display "CMU ALERT" when the university calls you during an emergency.
I heard that my classmate received a voice message from the university, but I did not. Why?
It is possible that you did not register to receive CMU ALERTs, or your information may be inaccurate. Please check the registration website to make sure you are registered and to ensure your correct information is listed.
If your information is correct, the delay could be because we're experiencing a bottleneck due to the more than 10,000 messages going out to our subscribers. Cellular and land phone lines technically limit the number of calls that can be received at any given time, and therefore we have to "pulse" the calls, or send several hundred at a time, so we don't crash our local cell and landline carriers. Once deployed, it can take 20 minutes for the last calls to be received as a result of the pulsed messages.
I heard that my classmate received a SMS (text) message on the cell phone from the university, but I did not. Why?
It is possible that you did not register to receive CMU ALERTs, or your information may be inaccurate. Please check the registration website to make sure you are registered and to ensure your correct information is listed.
To receive text messages, you will need to check the box under "text alert" on the right side of the registration website. You will also need to provide the university with your mobile phone number and carrier. Plus the phone needs to be "text enabled."
My cellular carrier is not listed. Why?
SMS aggregators have direct connections to carriers that sign on with them to deliver text messages through their gateways. Such gateways are necessary because it is virtually impossible to connect directly to the carriers as a single company. It is not worth it to the carriers to manage such small chunk of SMS traffic so instead, it is necessary use the gateways that have already been established by these aggregators.
As for Google Voice, it is such a new technology that we have not heard of any aggregators signing agreements with them. If at some point in the future they do, we will most definitely be able to support them.
I received a call but the message didn’t start at the beginning.
Press #1 to replay the message from the beginning.
When I answered my phone there was no response, even though it showed the 411-000-0000 on my caller ID. Why didn’t I get my message?
There may be a delay of a few seconds on Alert calls so the computer can be sure your phone has been properly answered. Wait for at least 5 seconds before hanging up. Most likely the message will begin within that time. You may also Press #1 at any time to restart the message from the beginning.
What if I have a problem and need technical support. Who do I call?
Where do I go for more information about an emergency?
Please check for updates about emergencies on our www.cmu.edu/alert website. Do not call 9-911 or CMU University Police to get information. These phone lines are only for reporting life safety emergencies.