Emergency notifications are critical for safety, security, and response to incidents/events impacting the College's campuses, educational sites, students, faculty, staff, and guests. Gator Alert is Virginia Peninsula Community College’s (VPCC) Emergency Notification System (ENS) capable of delivering messages to VPCC faculty, staff and students email addresses, voice announcements via land-line and cell phones, cell text messages, desktop alerts, webpages and some social media platform integration. Gator Alert messaging and notifications require faculty, staff, students, and guests to self-register (opt-in) to receive notifications and alerts. Messages are periodically sent on an as-needed basis. Message frequency may vary. Messages may include, but not be limited to emergency communications and other important information.
Register for VPCC Gator Alerts or Log-in and Manage Your Current Account
When issued, Gator Alerts may be issued by authorized VPCC officials. Gator Alert is provided at no charge by the College or the College's notification/communications vendor, Rave Mobile Safety, meaning you are not charged a subscriber's fee. Standard text message, data, and/or phone rates from your wireless carrier or phone provider will apply and are not the responsibility of Virginia Peninsula Community College, their employees, agents, and/or contracted service providers.
Gator Alert Frequently Asked Questions:
- I am only on campus or attending a special function for a short period of time, can I recieve alerts and notifications while I am here? Yes, if you are visiting with us today, conducting business, completing work, or engaging in one of our events, activities, and/or athletic competitions on one of our campuses, educational sites, or controlled venues, please know that we value your safety and security and strongly encourage you to text gatoralert (all one word) to 67283. By completing this process, you are self-registering your mobile device to receive text alerts from Virginia Peninsula Community College for a 24-hour period that begins from the time you text to opt-in for notifications. Message and data rates may apply. We do not charge for this service, however your mobile phone company may charge for text messages. Please refer to your mobile phone's service plan for more information. This service is provided per the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
- What is the Virginia Peninsula Community College Emergency Notification System? The College’s Emergency Notification System (ENS), known as VPCC Gator Alert, employs multiple notification resources, which may include, but not be limited to, Short Message/Messaging Service (SMS) , more commonly known as “text messages,” voice, desktop, webpage, and/or email notifications/alerts, etc.) that Virginia Peninsula Community College safety officials can use to notify you of important non-emergent and/or critical-emergent information i.e., alternate operating hours, safety notifications/alerts (acts of violence, hazardous conditions, etc.), campus or building closure, shelter-in-place or evacuation notifications.
- When is the system used? Gator Alert may be used to convey information as determined necessary and/or appropriate by the College. The intention of the system is to share information that helps our campus community maintain situational awareness, health, safety, and security. Certain components of the system may only be activated as determined appropriate for immediate public safety concerns. The Gator Alert SMS/Text component will be used primarily for critical and/or public safety notifications.
- In most other cases where there is not an emergency or immediate threat, information will be sent by email to Virginia Peninsula Community College students, faculty and/or staff via the College’s issued student and/or faculty/staff assigned email.
- It is important to note that this system may or may not be used in conjunction with other building safety notification systems i.e., fire alarm systems, etc.
- Is the system only used for college, campus, or site notifications/alerts? While the primary intention of the system is to share information that helps our campus community maintain situational awareness, health, safety, and security. Certain components of the system may only be activated as determined appropriate for immediate public safety concerns; it is possible that the system or components thereof, as determined necessary and/or appropriate may be activated to share information related to public safety or other notifications for adjacent and/or surrounding incidents, events, and/or information of importance.
- How is the system activated? Designated Virginia Peninsula Community College officials determine when and what components of the Gator Alert ENS require activation.
- Is the system tested or used during exercises? Yes, the system will be tested and used during exercises. Gator Alert ENS system tests will be scheduled, communicated, and alerts/notifications will be preceded with the verbiage TEST. When the Gator Alert ENS is being used in conjunction with and exercise, alerts/notifications will be preceded with the verbiage “EXERCISE” or “THIS IS AN EXERCISE MESSAGE.”
- Can I sign up for Gator Alert text messages? Gator Alert (SMS/Text) notification is intended only for members of the Virginia Peninsula Community College community who attend classes or work on campus so that they may make plans regarding their daily activities. All students, faculty, staff, and guests are strongly encouraged to sign-up (opt-in) to receive Gator Alert text notifications. We also understand that visitors, parents, loved ones of students and/or employees of Virginia Peninsula Community College, as well as adjacent neighbors and members of our extended Virginia Peninsula Community College gator community may have a need or desire to maintain situational awareness as it relates to our College and/or campuses and educational sites; therefore, we welcome you to “opt-in” to receiving our Gator Alerts via SMS/Text.
- Please consult your wireless carrier or other cell phone provider to determine data and/or messaging rates. Virginia Peninsula Community College, nor any of its employees, agents, and/or contracted service providers are responsible for charges, data, and/or messaging rates billed or charged to recipients of Gator Alert ENS messages including, but not limited to SMS, text, voice, video, and/or email. You can sign-up for Gator Alert (SMS/Text) by returning to the top of this webpage.
- How do I opt out of the system? You can unsubscribe or “opt-out” of Gator Alert (SMS/Text) messaging by texting STOP to 67283 or 226787 from your registered mobile phone. You will no longer receive ANY text messages from VPCC Gator Alert or Rave Alert (Rave Mobile Safety).
Use the STOP command with caution, as this will also block the delivery of Broadcast Alert messages.
NOTE: Please know that the VPCC Gator Alert System is a muti-delivery system, texting STOP only unsubscribes you from reciept of text messages. If you have provided email addresses, telephone numbers for voice alerts, etc. You must email optoutvpccgatoralert@vpcc.edu. Once you have sent your email, please provide 48-72 business hours for your unsubscribe request to be processed.
- Is there a subscriber fee for signing-up (opting-in) to receive SMS/Text notification/Alerts? No, there is no subscriber fee associated with your registration to receive notifications from VPCC Gator Alert. However, Standard SMS/text message, data, and/or phone rates from your wireless carrier or phone provider will apply and are not the responsibility of Virginia Peninsula Community College, their employees, agents, and/or contracted service providers.
- Is there a subscriber fee for signing-up (opting-in) to receive SMS/Text notification/Alerts? No, there is no subscriber fee associated with your registration to receive notifications from VPCC Gator Alert. However, Standard SMS/text message, data, and/or phone rates from your wireless carrier or phone provider will apply and are not the responsibility of Virginia Peninsula Community College, their employees, agents, and/or contracted service providers.
- What if my service provider is not listed when I self-register? In many instances, cell service providers may provide service as part of an agreement to use another service providers infrastrucutre. If you are unable to find your service provider listed, please visit your prodivers webpage, call them, or perform an internet search to help you determine which company's infrastructure your service is using.