Alertus notification system enhances URI’s ability to communicate during emergencies

KINGSTON, R.I. – Feb. 6, 2026 – The University of Rhode Island has added new technology to notify the URI community and visitors immediately if there is an emergency on its campuses. Alertus, an emergency mass notification system, will augment the existing URI Alert system.

URI students and employees are automatically subscribed to URI Alert, which enables emergency notifications via text message, email, and phone. Community members should periodically verify the accuracy of their URI Alert contact information by logging in at https://www.getrave.com/login/uri.

This “Shelter in Place” message activated using Alertus is an example of what would be displayed on computer screens and message boards if there is an emergency on campus. (URI photo courtesy of Samuel Adams)

But while URI Alert notifications reach the campus community, they do not reach those who may be visiting or who aren’t subscribed to URI Alert.

“Alertus allows us to integrate existing infrastructure to provide emergency mass notification—using things like desktop alerts on all University-owned computers and the campus digital signage system so we can reach a much larger audience during life-threatening emergencies on campus,” said Samuel Adams, URI’s Emergency Management director and assistant director of Public Safety. “There isn’t a perfect solution to alerting visitors, which is why we’re layering different technologies to reach people in different ways.”

The notification system isn’t the only enhancement the Office of Emergency Management has made. The office has worked with other units within the Department of Public Safety, particularly the URI Police Department and the Public Safety Dispatch Center, to refine notification procedures to ensure timely delivery of notifications that may require immediate action.

“With the rapid response console our dispatchers have at their fingertips 24/7, they can issue a lockdown or shelter-in-place order with only a few taps of a screen,” said Adams. “That message will immediately go out over URI Alert to University-issued desktop computers, digital signage, and individuals’ text, phone, and email.”

The URI community and campus visitors don’t need to do anything to receive notifications from Alertus, which became operational at on Jan. 20.

“We worked extensively with our partners on the technical side to complete the implementation, but once it’s up and running, the tool set is very effective and easy to use,” said Adams.

Alertus is used by more than 2,500 colleges and universities, K–12 schools, corporations, government organizations, and health care facilities worldwide. URI is the first college or university in Rhode Island to use Alertus.