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Notification FAQs

Have questions about NinerNotices or NinerAlerts? This page covers the most common questions about the University’s text alert systems — how they work, who receives them and how to make sure you’re signed up.

NinerNotice and NinerAlert FAQs

Review these questions and responses to understand more about NinerNotices and NinerAlerts.

What are NinerNotices?

NinerNotices are messages sent to the campus community to provide information about incidents that do not pose a threat to the University community or its operations, but may be helpful for interested campus members to know about. These messages are sent via email.

Note: NinerNotices are for informational purposes only; no action is required from the University community. In the case of a threat to campus safety or operations, a NinerAlert will be issued.

What are NinerAlerts?

NinerAlerts are messages sent to the campus community when there is a threat to campus safety or operations. NinerAlerts are sent using a variety of methods, which are determined based on the nature of the threat. NinerAlerts are sent via University email, text message, digital screen take-over, the LiveSafe App, social media and/or alert sirens. This mixture of communication avenues allows the University to reach the widest number of people during an emergency.

What is the difference between a NinerNotice and a NinerAlert?

NinerNotices are sent via email and social media to inform the community of incidents that do not pose a threat to the campus, but may be helpful information for the community to know about. Such incidents could be severe weather; impactful construction updates; recovery efforts; outages to light rail, phone service, power, etc.

NinerAlerts can be sent via University email, text message, digital screen take-over, the LiveSafe App, social media and/or alert sirens to inform the community when there is a threat to campus safety or operations. Such incidents could be campus operating status changes, severe weather, active assailant, campus lockdown, etc.

How do I sign up for NinerNotices?

Learn more about signing up for NinerNotices.

How do I sign up for NinerAlerts?

Learn more about signing up for NinerAlerts.

Where can I view past NinerNotices?

Previous NinerNotices are posted online after their deployment. Generally, NinerAlerts are not archived online, but active alerts may be posted on the Campus Disruptions page.

Text Alert FAQs

Students, faculty and staff automatically receive text NinerAlerts, as long as their phone number is in Banner.

Family members and visitors of the University can sign up to receive NinerAlerts that are sent via text message. Learn more about receiving those alerts below.

How do I sign up for NinerAlert text messages?

Learn more about signing up for NinerAlerts.

What happens when I sign up for NinerAlert texts?

You will receive two responses, one confirming your opt-in request and another describing how to opt-out in the future. Message and data rates may apply.

How often will I receive messages?

NinerAlerts are only sent for the most urgent, potentially life-threatening events affecting UNC Charlotte and for campus condition changes. There is no way to be certain how often these messages will be sent as they are incident specific.

Not all NinerAlerts will include text messaging. Each scenario is a case-by-case basis on how to best reach our Niner community.

Additionally, text NinerAlerts regarding weather warnings in the University areas (main campus and uptown) are automatically sent via the National Weather Service. Users may receive multiple alerts per weather event, as the NWS updates the warnings. These do not include weather advisories and watches, only warnings.

Who can sign up for UNC Charlotte emergency text alerts?

Families and visitors may sign up to receive the most urgent NinerAlerts messages. UNC Charlotte students, faculty and staff are automatically signed up for emergency text alerts.

A NinerAlert was issued, but I didn’t receive an emergency text alert. Why?

If you signed up to receive the alerts more than 365 days ago
The system resets after one year and your subscription expires automatically. Desired users must sign up each year for the emergency text alerts.

If you have not signed up for the alerts
Desired users must sign up to receive the alerts.

If you are a student, faculty or staff member at UNC Charlotte
If you did not receive a NinerAlert via text message, one of the following will be true:

  • You haven’t provided your cell phone number in Banner
  • The NinerAlert wasn’t sent via text message for that specific incident
Why do the alert messages come from different short code numbers?

The software behind NinerAlerts uses four different short code numbers to send out messages. This increases the capabilities of sending large amounts of messages during emergencies. You may receive messages from: 67283, 78015, 77295 or 226787.

Can I opt-out of receiving these messages?

If you no longer wish to receive emergency text alerts, simply reply to any of the text messages sent from the above short code numbers with STOP UNCCharlotteAlerts. If you choose to opt-in at a later date, you can sign up again.

Who can I contact if there is a problem?

If you experience problems signing up or removing your number, please contact the Office of Emergency Management at emergency@charlotte.edu.