Now open: Safety alert text message enrollment for parents and guardians

Safety alert text message enrollment is now available for parents and guardians, allowing them to receive the same accurate, timely texts their students do. Interested parents and guardians should be prepared for signup in this voluntary offering with their student’s nine-digit MUID number, which is required for enrollment authentication.

Parents and guardians have always been able to receive safety alert notifications via the EagleEye app, but we know people prefer different modes of communication. This new offering, a result of the President’s Task Force on Community Safety, was informed by feedback from parents, peer benchmarking and an assessment from the Marquette University Police Department, Information Technology Services and University Relations team members who are actively involved in the safety alert process.

How to enroll — step-by-step process:

  1. Parents and guardians of current, active students should visit the Family Safety Texts webpage and enter their student’s MUID number.
  2. After submitting, the authentication process will confirm (or deny) the request and provide further instruction for enrolling your mobile number.
  3. Upon receiving a confirmation text message of enrollment, your mobile number is immediately active and will receive future safety alert text messages.

To stop the messages at any point, parents and guardians can text STOP in reply to any Marquette safety alert.

Parents and guardians must enroll in this voluntary service annually.

Questions & Answers:

How many parents or guardians can sign up for text alerts?

Any legal parent or guardian may sign up for text alerts with their student’s valid MUID number.

Do I need to sign up for safety alert texts by a certain time?

No, parents and guardians of current, enrolled students can use the Family Safety Texts webpage anytime throughout the year to enroll with their student’s valid MUID number.

Once I sign up, how long will it take before my number is active to receive alerts?

The confirmation text message means your mobile number is immediately active, and you will be included in any future safety alert text messages.

I have an international mobile number. Will I be able to receive these texts?

This service supports U.S. 10-digit mobile numbers. International messages to mobile phones are delivered on a best-effort basis by the supplier, Rave Mobile Safety. If you have an international number, consider downloading the free EagleEye app via the App Store or Google Play to receive the same information via push notifications.

What is Rave Mobile Safety?

Rave Mobile Safety is a university supplier that provides the Rave Alert platform for Marquette’s safety alert messages.

Will I be charged for these texts?

The university and the platform do not charge for these text messages. However, standard messaging rates for your mobile plan may apply. Please consult your mobile carrier for details. Remember you can always download the free EagleEye app via the App Store or Google Play to receive the same information via push notifications.

Will my phone number be used in any other way?

No, you will not receive unsolicited messages. This is only used for Marquette’s safety alert texts.

What if I texted the keyword to the proper number and did not get the confirmation text in response?

If you did not receive a confirmation text message, it might be due to a premium messaging block placed by your mobile carrier. Please contact your carrier, letting them know these text messages do not incur premium charges. Ask to have messages from 226787, 67283, 78015 and 77295 delivered to your mobile device.

What if I change cell phone providers?

As long as your mobile number remains the same, you will receive these text messages.

I entered my student’s MUID number and received an error page. What should I do?

This sign-up portal accepts MUID numbers of current, active students. Confirm your student’s MUID number with your student and try again. If you have the correct MUID number but still receive an error, you may contact Marquette Central. To comply with federal privacy regulations, Marquette Central requires parents or others to provide their student’s MUID number and Marquette Central Access Number (MCAN) to discuss their student’s information by phone. If you do not have these numbers, contact your student.

Why do parents and guardians need to re-enroll in safety text alerts each year?

This process ensures parents and guardians don’t receive messages when their students graduate or unenroll from the university. (The university has other list management protocols to ensure accurate information for students, faculty and staff when there are changes in enrollment or employment status.) Enrolled parents will receive a message to alert them of the expiration and prompt them to re-enroll.

Why are there multiple text numbers from which the alerts are sent?

With the new Rave Alert platform, text alerts can come from any of the following: 226787, 67283, 78015 and 77295. We use multiple short codes to ensure rapid delivery.

I signed up for safety alert text messages and decided I don’t want them anymore. How do I stop receiving messages?

Reply STOP to the confirmation message or to any recent safety alert text message, and your number will no longer receive the messages.

Can I respond to a safety alert text to ask a question or share more information?

Safety alert text messages broadcast information to subscribers quickly, but the channel is not monitored for responses. As always, if you are in danger and need help, please call 911 for those off-campus; for those on campus, call MUPD’s emergency number: (414) 288-1911.

You can reply with the keyword STOP to no longer receive messages and you will be automatically unenrolled. Learn more about why we issue safety alerts and our criteria for them.

Can I call MUPD dispatch for further information on the alert?

Please do not call MUPD dispatch, as it will delay the ability of staff to gather up-to-date information and direct resources in resolving the emergency. Only call MUPD dispatch if you have direct first-hand information about an incident.

What prompts a safety alert text message?

The Marquette University Police Department issues a safety alert text message only if there is an active threat to campus or if there is a significant police presence. Occasionally an alert may be sent if there is a building or weather-related issue.

Text alerts inform the campus community of immediate steps to preserve safety and generally fall into one of the following categories:

  • Active threats – use caution: Incidents requiring campus community members to use caution and be aware of surroundings. Examples include armed robberies and shots fired with no victims.
  • Ongoing active threats: Indicates emergency situations that are currently unfolding and likely to evolve. Typically include instructions to seek shelter or avoid areas. Examples include severe weather, fires and hazmat situations, and active shooters.
  • Campus facility responses: Notifications of building closures and evacuations, typically due to utility outages and fire alarms.
  • Significant police presence: Indicates an on-campus or nearby incident requiring multiple squad cars and/or emergency vehicles; asks community members to avoid the area. Used when there is no threat to campus.
  • Updates – situation resolved: Used to indicate no further threat to campus. Examples include suspects in custody, secured emergency scenes and severe weather threat expirations.

What does NOT prompt a text alert?

Because MUPD is a commissioned police force, it responds to many incidents each day that do not pose a threat to campus and, therefore, do not warrant a text alert. MUPD keeps a daily log of all crimes or serious incidents that occur within its patrol boundaries, which extend blocks beyond campus.

MUPD typically does not issue a safety alert if they apprehend a subject(s) and the threat of imminent danger for members of the Marquette community has been mitigated by the apprehension. An exception may be made when there is a significant police presence at the scene or an investigation area that the public is requested to avoid.

Why don’t we get safety text alerts for notable safety situations elsewhere in the city?

Marquette University Police Department issues safety alerts only for incidents within its patrol boundaries that pose an immediate threat to campus. The Milwaukee Police Department, Milwaukee Fire Department, the Milwaukee County Sherriff’s Office and other emergency management agencies respond to and communicate issues throughout the city and county. There are also many media outlets in the city that diligently cover breaking news.

To help stay safe no matter where you travel, live or work, the university offers a self-defense program, personal security awareness training and an active shooter presentation to help everyone learn important skills that are beneficial for situations beyond campus.

Why don’t parents receive safety alerts emails after the text message is sent?

Email information informs those living and working on campus with any further direction to stay safe or with suspect or vehicle details that may aid police with an investigation. All safety alert emails are posted online in Marquette Today, and alerts may be updated with new information if it becomes available. If interested, parents and guardians can find more information by visiting this Marquette Today page or by following the MUPD Twitter account.