How can I register for AppState-ALERT text and/or voice messaging?
Registering your cell phone numbers with AppState-ALERT (the Appalachian State University 24/7 emergency messaging system) is quick and easy. Just sign in Banner Self Service and register or update your information. (This system is also available within AppalNET.)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Please follow these instructions. For your convenience, all links will open in a new browser window.
- Go to Banner Self Service.
- Login using your Banner username and password.
- Click on the "General" tab (screenshot).
- Click on the "General Self-Service" button (screenshot).
- This will take you to the Personal Information menu, where you will click the "AppState-ALERT" selection at the bottom of the menu (screenshot).
- A menu will populate where you may enter your phone information for voice and text alerts (screenshot). You may choose to register for Boone or Hickory campus alerts. Make your selection in the location drop-down menu. Choose "ALL" if you would like to receive alerts for both campus locations.
- Be sure to click the "submit" button when you have entered your information.
Note: If you choose to receive emergency notifications via text and/or voice messaging, you agree to incur any applicable costs from your carrier for receiving these messages. Registered cell phone numbers should become active in the AppState-ALERT system within one (1) business day of completion of the above registration steps.
Step-by-Step instructions for App State families
As a family member, you can register to receive the same real-time alerts sent to students, faculty and staff via text.
For registered family members, AppState-ALERTs are sent via text and posted to appstatealert.com. You can always check appstatealert.com for campus emergency updates and resources.
How to register: Text “appstatefamily” to 67283
All cell phone numbers that are registered with AppState-ALERT are kept confidential. You only need to register once each academic year. Registrations remain in the system for the rest of the academic year, or until you opt out. You will receive a notification text when it is time to re-register. Registered family members will receive both Boone and Hickory messages.
When does the registration take effect?
Students and Employees
Once you register in Banner Self Service or AppalNET, the number is uploaded to the alert system the next day at 5 a.m. Eastern time. For instance, if you register using Banner Self Service at 10 a.m. on a Tuesday, the number will not be uploaded until 5 a.m. on Wednesday, the next day. You will not receive emergency messages until your number is uploaded.
For students, the cell phone number you register is tied to your Banner Self Service account, but the registration is not finalized until your account is "active," which means you are enrolled in a class and classes have started. If you are planning to attend App State but have not yet started classes, your number will not be active in the system yet.
Students and employees only have to register a cell phone number once. If a student registers their freshman year, that registration will stay active as long as they are affiliated with the University. An employee's registration will remain active for as long as they are employed by the unveristy. There is no need to register every academic year unless your number changes.
How will I know that an incoming text/voice message is from AppState-ALERT?
Emergency messages sent to registered cell phone numbers will display a caller ID of "828-262-2000." The body of a text message will also contain the verbiage "AppstateALERT Boone" or "AppstateALERT Hickory."
If you receive an Appstate-ALERT via text message, the SMS Operator ID number may vary, but will always be 5 digits.
How much does AppState-ALERT cost?
Appalachian State University does not charge for participation in AppState-ALERT. However, if you choose to receive emergency notifications via text and/or voice messaging, you agree to incur any applicable costs from your carrier for receiving these messages.
How does AppState-ALERT protect my privacy?
All cell phone numbers that are registered with AppState-ALERT for emergency notification purposes are confidential. For employees (including faculty, staff and administrators), they are protected by the State Personnel Act; for students, they are protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act ("FERPA"). For all registered users, your location is not visible to the system unless you call 911 or turn on location sharing in the RAVE Guardian app AND add App State Police as a contact.
In addition, cell phone numbers registered with AppState-ALERT will be used solely for the purpose of emergency and safety alert notifications. Emergency notifications (AppState-ALERTs) and safety alert notifications may include information about emergencies or serious criminal acts (clery crimes), natural disasters or other emergencies, including but not limited to acts of terrorism, an active assailant/shooter, hazardous material spills, fires, severe weather and significant utility outages.
Solving Common Registration Problems
If you have registered for voice and text AppState-ALERTs but did not receive a voice and/or text message during a publicized test, there are several things you can do to verify that your registration is valid:
- Make sure that you have entered numbers for "Emergency Cell-Voice" and "Emergency Cell-Text" contacts. The numbers will be entered in the Area Code and Phone Number fields per the instructions detailed above.
- Make sure that the numbers you entered for "Emergency Cell-Voice" and "Emergency Cell-Text" contacts are both cell telephone numbers. Do not use landline telephone numbers to register for AppState-ALERTs.
- If you have a new cell phone number or carrier, check to make sure that you still have the correct number registered in the system.
- Make sure that the numbers you entered for "Emergency Cell-Voice" and "Emergency Cell-Text" contacts DO NOT contain any letters, spaces or punctuation. All characters entered in either the Area Code or Phone Number fields must be digits (0-9). Hyphens, dashes and all other non-numeric characters are not recognized by the AppState-ALERT system, and will usually lead to dialing errors.
- Make sure that the numbers you entered for "Emergency Cell-Voice" and "Emergency Cell-Text" contacts are of the correct length. Area Code is three digits. Phone Number is seven digits. Remember, use only digits (0-9)—do not use letters, spaces or punctuation.
- Students and employees should check to make sure that you have chosen the correct campus location when they register. Students and employees may register for either Boone or Hickory campus alerts, or you may register for both. Registered family members will receive both Boone and Hickory alerts.