At the University of Utah, the safety of our students, faculty, staff and community is our highest priority. We understand that in moments of uncertainty or fear, clear and timely information is essential. We also recognize that the process of sending campus alerts can sometimes be confusing or frustrating—especially when information seems delayed or incomplete.

The following explains how the university determines what to communicate, when to send alerts and what circumstances require, or do not require, university-wide notification.

Understanding timely warnings and emergency alerts

There are several categories of alerts sent to the campus community:

• Emergency Alert (Red Alerts): Issued immediately for critical emergencies requiring urgent action such as an active threat, natural disaster or major safety hazard.
• Safety Warnings (Orange Alerts): Safety warnings include when a Clery-defined crime has occurred on or near campus and poses a serious or continuing threat to the community.
• General Safety Information (Yellow Alerts): Shared for non-urgent matters, such as weather impacts, road closures or other safety advisories.

These alerts can be sent via text, email, the alert.utah.edu website and/or other official university channels.

How decisions are made

Determining whether and when to send a safety warning is a careful and collaborative process. The University of Utah Police Department (UUPD), other involved safety and campus partners, the Clery Compliance Officer and the Office of General Counsel work together to evaluate each incident that is reported. Factors considered include the nature of the incident, its location, the timing of the report and whether there remains a credible, ongoing threat to the campus community.

Because investigations are methodical, this process takes time. Police must first verify reports, confirm details and rule out false alarms or swatting incidents. Invalid reports are received and reviewed by UUPD on a regular basis. For example, a recent report of a “man with a rifle” was quickly investigated and determined to be an individual carrying an umbrella. In such situations, sending a premature message could cause unnecessary panic, confusion or harm.

Experience shows that a heavy police response and presence creates alarm so the U is developing an updated campus safety framework that will include sending information out immediately when police have been dispatched. UUPD expects this new and improved communication response to roll out in January 2026.

The U’s goal is to communicate as quickly as possible once credible, confirmed information is available. Most alerts are issued as soon as possible after the initial report, though the timing can vary depending on when police receive information and the severity of the incident and what the investigation reveals.

Why immediate communication isn’t always possible

Utah Code Section 69-2-201 requires that all 911 calls are received through primary dispatch centers. In the case of incidents on the U campus, those calls are routed to the Salt Lake City Police Department (SLCPD) and are then transferred to UUPD and the agencies collaborate to determine if UUPD needs additional assistance and if SLCPD officers should be dispatched.

Once that transfer of information about the emergency reported occurs, UUPD and other first responders must first ensure safety and confirm facts. That may include going room by room or building by building and verifying what is happening before sending an alert. Sharing incomplete or inaccurate information too early can compromise safety, hinder emergency response, cause panic and spread misinformation.

The U’s communications around an emergency must balance speed with accuracy to ensure the campus community receives information that is both timely and trustworthy.

What the U is required to communicate

The U follows federal requirements under the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). This law requires institutions of higher education to notify their campus communities when certain types of crimes present a serious or ongoing threat.

Under the Clery Act, universities must send timely warnings for specific, defined crimes that pose a serious or ongoing threat. These include, but are not limited to: aggravated assault, robbery, sexual assault, arson and certain types of violence or weapon-related crimes.

There are also situations the university does not communicate broadly about, including:

• Suicides or suicide attempts
• Unattended deaths or lab accidents not posing a broader safety threat
• Isolated medical emergencies
• Crimes occurring outside Clery geography that do not impact campus safety

These events are deeply tragic, and support is always available for those affected. However, out of respect for privacy and to prevent potential harm, the U does not issue public alerts about such incidents unless they present an ongoing danger to others.

Weather alerts and other emergency communications

The university also issues weather-related alerts when severe conditions are expected to impact campus operations or safety. These may include heavy snow, extreme heat or severe storms. Depending on severity, these alerts may be sent by text, email, Utah360 app or posted on the alert.utah.edu website.

In all cases, the goal is to help our community make informed decisions (class delays or cancellations) and take appropriate protective actions.

Committed to continuous improvement

The U acknowledges that receiving or not receiving alerts can cause anxiety and frustration for students, parents, staff, faculty and the surrounding community. “We are continually improving our emergency communication systems to be faster, clearer and more transparent,” said Keith Squires, Chief Safety Officer. “UUPD is implementing a dispatch-generated alert system to speed notifications, and we regularly review our policies based on community feedback and evolving best practices. We listen, we learn and we adapt because the safety of our campus community is of utmost importance.”

The U community can also refer to the Daily Crime and Fire Log that includes all criminal incidents and alleged criminal incidents that are reported to UUPD and any fires that occur in on-campus student housing facilities. While aggregated crime statistics are reported annually in the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, the Daily Crime and Fire Log is designed to provide information to the campus community more frequently and includes information about each criminal incident rather than statistics. Crimes are entered into the log within two business days of when they are reported. This includes all crimes reported to UUPD or Campus Security. If multiple criminal offenses are committed during a single incident, all of them are recorded in the log.

Communitycrimemap.com is available to any member of community. The interactive map allows users to zoom to the university campus and see incidents that can be filtered by date, crimes, etc.

Stay informed and connected

The best way for students, faculty and staff to stay informed during an emergency is to sign up for text alerts through your CIS account:

1. Visit cis.utah.edu
2. Log in and select “Campus Alert”
3. Add your mobile phone number (you may register up to three)

If you are a parent or community member, you can still receive notifications through the Utah360 and SafeU apps.

Active alerts and updates are available at alert.utah.edu.

Keeping campus safe

Emergency communication at a large university is complex. UUPD strives to keep the U community safe and informed. Your participation, patience and understanding help the entire campus achieve this important goal.