Emergency Procedures and Safety Information - UAlerts, Department Plan, Emergency Contacts, and more

Engaging Building Managers to partner with the University of Arizona Police Department (UAPD) to conduct an up-to-date security assessment of University buildings, as well as to create a Building Emergency Plan for each building by the conclusion of the Spring 2023 semester.

Building Emergency Plans will be consistent with the University’s Campus Emergency Response Plan.

 Installing fire and safety compliant locks to classroom doors and expand keyless access to more buildings for building security.

There are a selection of different lock types across campus. To know how to secure your particular lock, review the campus lock instructions.

Updated: 08/22/23

 Expanding current employee criminal background check process to include all Graduate Assistants/Associates (GAs).

The new process will take effect for GAs hired or experiencing a qualified job change beginning July 1, 2023. *Currently, criminal background checks are only conducted for GAs in security-sensitive positions or who disclose prior felony convictions.

All students, employees, and DCCs will soon be automatically registered to receive UAlert messages through both their University email addresses and cell phone numbers, if provided to the University. These registrations will never expire while people are active members of the University community.

All users will be notified when their cell phone numbers are registered and will be given the option to opt out of text messages.

*UAlerts are sent only in emergency situations.

In addition, a new Campus Incidents page will have up-to-date information on any campus emergencies.

More information can be found in an FAQ on the UAlert website.

New as of June 20, 2023

The email accounts of all University of Arizona students, employees and designated campus colleagues have been added to an email list and will automatically receive UAlert email notifications. There is no option to opt out.

Also on June 28, all active students, employees and DCCs will be registered to receive UAlert text notifications, which will be sent to the 10-digit U.S. cellphone number listed in in UAccess. All users in this group will be able to opt out of receiving text messages at any time. 

For those who previously opted out of receiving text messages from UAlert, their opted-out cellphone numbers will not be automatically registered for UAlerts, but can re-register starting June 29 by going to the UAlert portal.

Family members, friends and community members will continue to have the option to register for UAlert notifications via email and text messages. Those added members who registered for UAlert prior to April 1, 2018, will be removed from the system in late June.

Updated: 06/28/23

 It is strongly encouraged that every student, employee, and Designated Campus Colleague view the 12-minute online Safety Preparedness Training: Active Shooter.

*For any individuals who feel uncomfortable watching the video version, there is an alternative option to read important safety information. Additional trainings on campus safety will be developed as requested by our community.

Asking all departments and units that have not had an in-person Active Shooter Response Training provided by UAPD since the start of the Fall 2022 semester to schedule training during the Spring 2023 semester. UAPD will provide guidance on each unit’s unique office space and building and answer questions about active shooter preparedness.

Beginning Thursday, June 15, 2023: The University of Arizona phonebook will require a University NetID and password to access individual contact information for students, faculty, staff and designated campus colleagues. This change will help strengthen data privacy and security, limit access to physical location information, and protect against email phishing attempts.

Please note that the Campus Directory, which includes contact information for academic and administrative units, will continue to be publicly available.

For any technical questions or concerns with the University phonebook, contact the 24/7 Support Center at 520-626-TECH (8324).

Updated: 06/28/23

UAlerts:

UA Alert is a FREE service that delivers emergency alerts to registered UA students, faculty and staff – as well as their friends and family – via their cell phones, mobile devices and/or email accounts during a campus emergency.

Once enrolled, UAlert accounts are set to never expire. We recommend signing up for alerts via email AND text message. Users have encountered that text messages may appear more quickly than email notices.

Sign up for UAlerts

More information can be found in an FAQ on the UAlert website.

New as of Jan 18, 2023 

All students, employees, and DCCs will soon be automatically registered to receive UAlert messages through both their University email addresses and cell phone numbers, if provided to the University. These registrations will never expire while people are active members of the University community.

All users will be notified when their cell phone numbers are registered and will be given the option to opt out of text messages.

*UAlerts are sent only in emergency situations.

In addition, a new Campus Incidents page will have up-to-date information on any campus emergencies.

New as of June 20, 2023

The email accounts of all University of Arizona students, employees and designated campus colleagues have been added to an email list and will automatically receive UAlert email notifications. There is no option to opt out.

Also on June 28, all active students, employees and DCCs will be registered to receive UAlert text notifications, which will be sent to the 10-digit U.S. cellphone number listed in in UAccess. All users in this group will be able to opt out of receiving text messages at any time. 

For those who previously opted out of receiving text messages from UAlert, their opted-out cellphone numbers will not be automatically registered for UAlerts, but can re-register starting June 29 by going to the UAlert portal.

Family members, friends and community members will continue to have the option to register for UAlert notifications via email and text messages. Those added members who registered for UAlert prior to April 1, 2018, will be removed from the system in late June.

LiveSafe App:

The LiveSafe app provides real-time interaction for those reporting security and safety concerns. Download the LiveSafe app for FREE on Apple and Android devices.

Listserv:

All Psychology employees should be automatically enrolled to our department Listserv during their hiring & onboarding process. In addition to the above resources, we will work to send our own communications during times of concern. If you suspect you are not receiving these emails, please ensure that "psy_all@list.arizona.edu" is not blocked by Spam or other filters, then contact Melissa Pili to ensure you are programmed properly.

Updated: 06/28/23

A formal "Departmental Emergency Plan" document is sent out via email from our listserv to all faculty, staff (including postdocs), and graduate students when it is updated. It will include key personnel within our department and their phone numbers for you to contact when an urgent matter arises, as well as protocol for what information to include in incident announcements. Each Fall, we recommend you update these key phone numbers in your personal phone and familiarize yourself with the added content.

*We will create a ‘safe zone’ in the front office and advising area that can be locked down securely, while allowing department members to gain entrance in an emergency situation.  Renovations are already in the planning stage.

Updated: 01/03/23

Faculty – do you have contacts for all of your lab staff, grads & undergrads?

This will be integral in executing our department communication tree - we will use text messaging to contact all members of the department.

• Make sure you have your team's or lab's contact information (specifically phone numbers) to call or text in case of an emergency.
  • Grad students
  • Postdocs
  • Staff
  • Undergrads
• Attention:  Identify a backup person that will communicate to your teams or labs in the event of your absence.
• Program Directors - do you have contacts for all of the Faculty in your Program?

The Goal of the Communication Tree:

• Ensure that everyone knows the nature and severity of the alert.
• Identify who is in the building and their locations.

Contact

Vanessa Noonkester will coordinate this communication.  If she is not available, another office staff member will be her backup.

Updated: 12/21/22 

Please consider the various tips within these reference materials to quickly determine the most reasonable way to protect life when an active shooter is in your vicinity.

UA Resources:

• EDGE Learning video - Active Shooter Preparedness training 
  • 12-minute online video
    OR
  • For any individuals who feel uncomfortable watching the video version, there is an alternative option to read important safety information. 
• UAPD - FBI's "Run, Hide, Fight" video

External Resources:

• FBI - Active Shooter Safety resources
• Department of Homeland Security (DHS) - Active Shooter: How to Respond guide (PDF)
  • Guidelines formatted as pocket-sized card (PDF)
• Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) - Active Shooter Preparedness resources

Updated 03/31/23 

Critical Incident Response:

The Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) at UA has additional resources for best practices regarding:

• Bomb Threats/Suspicious Objects
• Building Evacuations
• Chemical Exposure
• Fire
• Personal Injury
• Power Outages
• and more!

Familiarize yourself with these definitions:

• Shelter In Place or Lockdown = Do not leave your space, close and lock the door.  Or, move to a secure location (see below) if the room does not lock.
• Evacuate = Leave the building immediately.  If the fire alarm goes off, LEAVE ALL BELONGINGS BEHIND AND EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY.
• Note: When it is not clear what should be done, the default for our building is to shelter in place/lockdown.​

Do what is necessary to protect life and health:

• Attend to injured or contaminated persons and remove them from danger.
• Alert people to evacuate the area.
• Close doors to the affected area.

Notify your supervisor and emergency personnel of the situation.

Be aware of your surroundings:

Wherever you are on campus. 

Especially for classrooms, make sure you know:

• Where the exits are & where they lead
• Where the fire alarm is located in the room
• Whether the doors are lockable or not. Also consider whether they can be barricaded, be reinforced with a chair under the door handle, and other precautionary actions.

*We will create a ‘safe zone’ in the front office and advising area that can be locked down securely, while allowing department members to gain entrance in an emergency situation.  Renovations are already in the planning stage.

9-1-1 Call Ettiquette

When calling to report an emergency:

• Stay calm
• Identify yourself
• Carefully explain the problem and location to the dispatcher.

Remain on the phone until the dispatcher tells you to hang up. If you cannot stay on the line, tell the dispatcher that you must leave and where you can be reached. *NOTE* You can now also send text messages to dispatchers via 9-1-1.

Updated 12/21/22