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NORSE A!ERT Frequently Asked Questions

NKU Emergency Contact System

Providing a safe and secure environment for our students, faculty and staff is a top priority at Northern Kentucky University. In light of the tragic situations at Virginia Tech and other colleges, the University has partnered with First Call to create NORSE A!ERT, which will contact members of the campus community through voice and text messages in the event of an emergency.

What is NORSE A!ERT?
NORSE A!ERT is an emergency notification system that allows for the dissemination of vital information quickly to students, faculty and staff. NORSE A!ERT allows you to sign up to receive voice and text messages in the event of an emergency on campus or weather-related closings. For more information on how to subscribe to NORSE A!ERT click here.

When will the university activate NORSE A!ERT?
NORSE A!ERT will be activated when the University determines that a serious threat exists and the campus community must take immediate action to remain safe and secure. The system will also be used to announce any unscheduled university closing or cancellation of classes due to severe weather. When a threat to the campus community is identified, NORSE A!ERT will be able to simultaneously send thousands of individual messages directly to registered participants. Notification will go out within minutes. Members of the campus community are notified by whatever contact information they've provided during their on-line registration. For example, a staff member might be notified simultaneously by e-mail, office phone, and cell phone. In conjunction with NORSE A!ERT, the University is installing a series of notification sirens and voice alert systems that also will help ensure that those on campus hear alerts and warnings.

How does NORSE A!ERT work?
NORSE A!ERT will make up to three attempts to call each phone number in the call distribution list. This means that some phones will receive the message almost immediately while other phones will receive the message within several minutes. For those phones numbers not reached because of a busy signal or no answer, the system will make up to two additional attempts. Once a call is answered by a human or voice message, the system will not call that phone number again. Text messages will only be sent once.

How will I know the call is a NORSE A!ERT?
The University records a voice message and a text message to be sent out to the distribution list. All messages sent out by this system will come from caller NORSE A!ERT. In order to see "NORSE A!ERT" on your caller ID, you must program (225) 612-5725 as "NORSE A!ERT". Otherwise, (225) 612-5725 will be the number displayed when an alert is sent. The call is coming from Baton Rouge, Louisiana which is where the vendor is located. For text messages, program 91492 as "NORSE A!ERT". We recommend that you also program a unique and audible ring tone for calls coming from this number, especially if you normally have your mobile phone on vibrate mode (for instance, when you’re in a class or meeting). Your wireless carrier should be able to provide you with instructions on how to do this on your particular phone model.

Is it called NORSE ALERT so we can get updates on basketball scores?
No, based on survey results students only want the system to be used for notification of emergencies or to announce an unscheduled university closing or cancellation of classes. We are committed to honoring that request and keeping the system to be used only for those purposes. You will not receive any promotional calls or text messages through NORSE A!ERT.

Will NKU test the notification system?
The University will test the system at least once per semester. We will notify the campus community in advance of tests.

How will I know the difference between a test message and a real emergency message?
If the message is a test of the system, it will be delivered as “This is a test of NORSE A!ERT. This is only a test.”

How do I use the NORSE A!ERT system if I’m visually- or hearing-impaired?
The visually-impaired will be able to rely upon the recorded emergency messages by phone, while the hearing impaired can receive text and e-mail messages.

Will my cell phone automatically receive text messages?
Your cell phone will receive a text message unless you have blocked text messaging through your wireless carrier. If you do not have a text messaging package on your phone, you can still receive NORSE A!ERT, but your wireless carrier may charge an additional fee for receiving individual text messages. This varies by wireless carriers, and if you are not sure we recommend you contact your wireless carrier.

Other members of the University community received emergency notification messages, but I did not. What should I do?
First, check that your phone number or email where you expected to receive the notification is correct and that it was not accidentally keyed in wrong. (It happens.) Go to norsealert.nku.edu where you signed up for NORSE A!ERT, to check. If it is correct, file a problem ticket with the help desk at (859)572-6911 asking that it be routed to the ‘IT Web Team’ and the team will work with you to determine the issue and correct it.

Is there a fee to subscribe to NORSE A!ERT?
NKU charges no fee to subscribe to this notification system or receive messages. You are responsible for any charges from your wireless service provider associated with receiving voice or text messages.

How is my contact information updated for NORSE A!ERT?
You are responsible for updating and making sure that your contact information is accurate at all times. To update your contact information visit the on-line site – Sign Up Now!

When entering data for NORSE A!ERT, may a person only include an e-mail address but no phone numbers?
Yes, you may include just your e-mail address. However, it is not recommended to do so unless you have quick and easy access to your email all the time (by carrying a Blackberry or similar mobile device). Emails will come from Norse Alert@firstcall.net

Will my contact information be shared with anyone outside the University?
The contact information that you enter will only be provided to First Call for the purpose of notifying you in the event of an emergency. It will NOT be shared with anyone else and you will NOT receive promotional communications from anyone.

How long is my emergency notification information kept? What happens to this information when I leave the university?
Emergency notification information will be retained for four years from the time you ‘opt in.’ If you wish to remain notified beyond that time period you will need to re-enter the information. You may remove your emergency notification information at any time. Additionally, we will remind students each academic year to update their emergency notification information.

What if my parents want to receive messages from NORSE A!ERT?
Multiple voice and text phone numbers can be entered by each student. Feel free to enter your parent’s number(s) as well as your own. Keep in mind, though, that you are not establishing a priority of numbers to be called. ALL numbers you provide will receive a NORSE A!ERT when a message is sent out.

Whom can I contact with additional questions?
For more information, please contact: Harold Todd, director of NKU Public Safety, at (859)572-5746 or toddh1@nku.edu. For issues regarding the NORSE A!ERT enrollment form, contact IT Services through the help desk at (859)572-6911.

How do I sign up for NORSE A!ERT?
The sign-up process is free and easy. Click here and follow the instructions.

How do I unsubscribe from NORSE A!ERT?
Unsubscribing from NORSE A!ERT is easy. Simply log into NORSE A!ERT as you would to alter your contact information. In the upper left corner of the form will be a link to 'Unsubscribe from NORSE A!ERT'. Simply confirm your identity and you will be immediately removed from the NORSE A!ERT database.

Can you clarify what type of situation will warrant the issuance of a NORSE A!ERT?
To avoid any confusion, it is important to remember that NORSE A!ERT is an emergency notification service that will only be utilized for school closings (weather or otherwise) or when there is the potential for imminent danger to NKU students, faculty, staff and campus visitors. This would include situations such as a gunman on campus, a severe weather emergency, a biochemical spill, etc. Campus crimes or other situations that are not considered to pose an imminent threat of danger will not activate the NORSE A!ERT.

What are the details behind issuing of text messages?

  1. NKU submits request for message to be issued.
  2. First Call will then distribute the messages to the cellular providers.
  3. The providers then process the messages and deliver them to individual subscribers.
  4. The message goes through towers and to the individual subscribers' devices.
  5. Industry standards show that we should expect about 100 messages will be delivered to subscriber phones/devices per minute.
  6. Cellular networks are tuned for voice services; text messaging is an ancillary function built "on the side." So, while individual messages sent phone-to-phone may be near-instantaneous, mass-mailings "flood" the system and slow results. In short, the networks are not designed for mass "floods" of text messages.

I am registered but didn't receive a call/text - what happened?

  1. First of all, verify your phone number is entered correctly in Norse A!ert. It is very easy to transpose numbers when keying in your phone number.
  2. Factors on the subscriber's end may also impact receipt of the message:
    • Is the phone turned on and charged?
    • Does it have signal strength?
    • Is text message receipt enabled?
    • Is the user monitoring the device?
    These factors will lead to a number of enrolled users not actually receiving messages, or not receiving them in a timely fashion.
  3. A portion of the messages sent will fail to be accepted by the carriers; this could be approximately 3 percent of enrolled individuals who will be expecting a message, but won't get it due to various issues beyond the control of NKU or its provider. Remember, Norse A!ert is ONLY 1 of the means by which NKU is communicating with students, faculty, and staff.
  4. The cellular providers will also have a percentage of "failures", or messages successfully accepted by the carrier, but not processed to the end-user device. An additional 3 percent may not receive a message.
  5. It is also possible that peculiarities of timing, devices and carriers may lead to "fractured" messages, such as only partial delivery of the 140 characters in the message.