Reminder: Test of Wake Alert to be held Sept. 5

September 4, 2018

This announcement was e-mailed to faculty and staff on Sept. 4 by Communications and External Relations:

This is a reminder that Wake Forest will conduct a test of its Wake Alert emergency notification system on Wednesday, Sept. 5. The test is intended for faculty and staff only.

The test message Sept. 5 will clearly state that is being sent as part of a test of Wake Alert. No action will be required by any recipient. The sender of the test message will be identified as Wake Alert. The exact time of the test on Sept. 5 will not be announced in advance.

Testing of Wake Alert is being conducted as Wake Forest prepares to launch a new mass notification software acquired this summer to improve Wake Alert.  The software will enable the rapid distribution of an emergency Wake Alert message through several communication methods, simultaneously.

The following communication methods will be used in the test:

• Wake Alert website
• Banner at the top of the University home page and many other Wake Forest web pages
• Text messaging
• E-mail
• Voice mail
• Twitter (Wake Alert account)
• Facebook (Wake Alert and Wake Forest University accounts)

The Wake Alert system will be used, also, for communicating with students, faculty and staff in certain non-emergency situations, including crime alerts in which there is not an imminent threat to the University, as well as weather-related closings and delays. All such messages will be identified as Wake Alert messages.

Another Wake Alert test is planned for Sept. 19. It will be intended for students, as well as faculty and staff. Details about that test will be announced later.