The UI Department of Public Safety and UI Information Technology Services have partnered up to expand Hawk Alert emergency messaging options on campus by adding a desktop “pop-up” notification option through a client called Alertus desktop.

The emergency desktop notification option will be installed on centrally supported computers in campus classrooms and lecture halls over winter break.

Computers that will be impacted during the automated distribution over winter break include:

The university is implementing this notification option because it is committed to notifying faculty, staff, and students of emergency events that are currently occurring on, or imminently threatening the UI campus. There will be no user impact or downtime during the distribution.

This service will help maximize the safety and protection of our campus community to ensure wider dissemination for the UI Hawk Alert system by providing an additional layer of coverage in areas of campus where cell signal is degraded and in situations where faculty, staff, and students may not have immediate access to their cell phones. This service will also improve the accessibility of emergency communications for campus.

Faculty, staff, and students will have the option to download the desktop notification client on their computers beginning in January 2020. Individuals will also have the option to install it on their personal devices if they choose to. If desired by a college/unit, Alertus will be available in the standard, “Software Center” for optional install.

To learn more about Alertus, see: Alertus Desktop FAQ

For additional questions about the functionality of this service, contact: