About Notifications

The UCI Alert system was created to enhance and promote safety on campus by providing students, faculty, and staff with timely access to important information. The system sends two types of communications to the campus community, Timely Warnings (Crime Alerts) and Emergency Notifications (zotALERTS), as required by the Jeanne Clery Campus Security Act (the Clery Act). The Clery Act requires federally-funded universities to share information about campus crime and safety, and requires issuing alerts for certain incidents that happen on campus or on campus-associated property. Community Alerts are not required by the Clery Act but are sent under certain circumstances.

• Timely Warnings are issued when a report is received of a Clery Act crime(s) on UCI or UCI Health associated property and the reported incident represents a serious or continuing threat to the UCI or UCI Health community.
  
  Even if the university does not have all the facts surrounding the incident, a timely warning must still be sent as soon as pertinent information is available. In addition to warning community members, these alerts can aid in crime prevention. The decision to issue a Timely Warning is made on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration the facts surrounding the Clery Act crime, including, but not limited to, such factors as: the nature of the crime, the serious or continuing threat to the campus community, and the possible risk of compromising law enforcement efforts.
  
  
• Emergency Notifications have a wider focus than the Timely Warnings and are issued for any significant emergency or dangerous situation occurring on campus that involves an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees. Examples of types of situations that may warrant an Emergency Notification include an active shooter, bomb threat, natural disaster, etc. The purpose of Emergency Notifications is to provide life-saving information and instructions during an active emergency situation.
  
  
• Community Advisories are not required by the Clery Act. Community advisories are released with certain events that warrant an advisory are reported on or near UCI property, as deemed necessary by the UCI Police Department. These advisories are intended to raise awareness about safety – related incidents among the UCI and UCI Health community.