In the event of a university wide emergency, WashU students, faculty and staff will receive an emergency message, or WashUAlert, providing basic information about the type of emergency, safety instructions and how/where to get additional information.

The university has determined WashUAlerts will only be used for emergencies that pose an “immediate threat” to the campus community, in life-threatening situations, and when the safety of the members of our community could be in serious danger. In less urgent situations, the university may issue additional message types which can be posted or emailed depending on the nature and scope of the incident.

When you receive an alert, TAKE ACTION:

  • Check this site for additional information or instructions as it becomes available.
  • Ensure others in your location received the message and, if not, inform them of the alert and the instructions.
  • Do NOT go to the location of the incident. Follow instructions to “shelter in place,” “evacuate immediately,” or other instructions until the “all clear” message is received.

This site will be the best source of the most current and accurate information, safety instructions and educational materials in an emergency. It will be continually updated during an incident. The Emergency Management web page can be found at emergency.washu.edu or linked at the bottom of the University’s home page.

About the system

WashU students, faculty and staff are automatically enrolled in the system and contact information is pulled out and maintained in Workday for employees and Workday Students for students.

WashU students, faculty and staff with an @wustl.edu address will automatically receive emergency messages via email. To receive text messages to cell phones and voice calls, your phone number(s) must be entered in Workday. Faculty and staff may also enter their campus and/or home phone numbers (in addition to their cell phone numbers) in Workday. Only those who have provided their cell phone numbers for text-enabled phones will receive WashUAlerts emergency text messages.

WashU Safe app

The WashU Safe app includes important safety alerts and access to campus safety resources. The app offers offers enhanced features such as Friend Walk, Mobile Bluelight, safety notifications, access to emergency procedures and more. Download the WashU Safe App on Android or iOS or visit SafeApp.washu.edu to learn more.

Students

You are already registered to receive emails with important information in the event of a campus emergency. When you add your cell phone number to Workday Student you will automatically be signed up for the emergency text message option. Follow these instructions to add your contact information:

  1. Log into Workday Student.
  2. Click ‘Addresses’ under ‘Contact Information’ in the ‘Welcome to Workday Student’ column on the left side of the website.
  3. Add the cell phone information you want contacted in an emergency to either ‘Home’ or ‘Local’ addresses.

In order to remain current in the WashU ENS, please be sure you keep your contact information updated in Workday Student.

Faculty and staff

You are already registered to receive emails with important information in the event of a campus emergency. When you add your cell phone number to the Workday system you will automatically be signed up for the emergency text message option. Follow these instructions to add your contact information:

  1. Log into Workday.
  2. Click on ‘Personal Information’.
  3. Under the ‘Change’ box, Click on ‘Contact Information’.
  4. Click the ‘Edit’ button at the top of the page.
  5. Under the ‘Phone’ box, click the pencil icon to edit an existing number or ‘Add’ to add a new number.
  6. Click the orange ‘Submit’ box.
  7. If you have any problems, please call the Help Desk at 314-935-WDAY.

In order to remain current in the WashU ENS, please be sure you keep your contact information updated in Workday.

Opting out

The Higher Education Opportunity Act requires that we notify you in the event of an emergency. Therefore, we have revised the policy so that we only allow you to opt out of personal types of devices, such as individual cell phone and home phone, and we reserve the right to send emergency communications through university-owned pathways of communication. If you wish to opt out of any of the available methods of communication, please go to your WUSTL Connect Profile to do so.