Understanding CU Boulder鈥檚 alert system can keep you informed and empowered to make personal safety decisions.
For starters, bookmark the university鈥檚 , which outlines the that can be sent, depending on the nature, location and severity of an incident.听The website also outlines how to receive alerts, which can differ depending upon the type of alert that is sent.听
For a review of all three notification levels and how each type of alert is shared, keep reading!听
听CU听Alert
CU Boulder issues emergency notifications, called CU Emergency Alerts, to the campus community when there is a confirmed immediate threat to the safety of those on our campus (or near campus in areas of high student populations).
Such threats may include an active harmer, a natural disaster, severe weather or other time-sensitive life safety concerns. CU Emergency Alerts can also be used in the event of campus closures or delayed starts.
These alerts are sent out via text message, email, social media and posted to the alerts site.
听CU Safety Alert
Along with CU Emergency Alerts, campus also issues CU Safety Alerts in accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act ().听
CU Safety Alerts are notifications to campus community members, sent to their colorado.edu email accounts, for certain reported crimes committed on or near campus that represent a serious or ongoing threat. These include: criminal homicide, sex offenses, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson, hate crimes, domestic/dating violence and stalking.
听CU Advisory
For non-immediate threats or other incidents that may impact the daily lives of our university community, CU Boulder has a tier of notifications called CU Advisories.听
CU Advisories are notifications to the campus that do not rise to the level of an emergency notification or safety alert but are high-profile enough that our campus community benefits from awareness. These are shared via social media and on our alerts site.听
Find additional information
In the case of campus emergencies, the听university鈥檚 will be updated with community information as soon as it is available, usually within 15 to 20 minutes of the first text message alert. All official alerts shared on social media will also be on this page along with links to additional听 including the听CU Boulder Police website and听Emergency Management website.
How to receive alerts
Anyone with a colorado.edu email address is automatically registered to receive emergency and safety alert emails. Additionally, we highly encourage you to to receive text alerts by going to the Buff Portal or your MyCUInfo portal. Alerts are always posted on .
If you're in Boulder regularly, sign up for to ensure you鈥檙e receiving the latest emergency updates as they happen.听
Read听more
Aug. 24, 2023: Expanded emergency notification moves from pilot phase to adoption
Feb. 22, 2023: What to know about how campus emergency notifications work
Feb. 6, 2023:听Want to be more aware when CU sends alerts and advisories?
Sept. 14, 2022: CU Boulder rolls out new alerts site, emergency notification level
