As part of the UMass Amherst Alerts system, emergency text messages provide time-sensitive notifications to subscribers' cell phones about situations that pose an immediate risk to the safety of the campus or could significantly disrupt its activities. More about UMass Amherst Alerts.

Members of the University community are not required to subscribe to this service. However, we urge you to subscribe because text messages provide a critical method of emergency communications.

Don’t have a cell phone? For the latest emergency information, refer to your campus email account or the UMass Web site.

Subscribe to UMass Amherst Alerts

To subscribe to UMass Amherst Alerts, you need:

A UMass Amherst IT or SPIRE Account. If you do not have an IT or a SPIRE Account, contact the IT Service Desk.

A cell phone that can receive text messages. Check with your carrier for more information.

• In the SPIRE Menu, go to UMass Amherst Alerts > Sign Up for Alerts.

     Note: You must have a U.S.-based phone number in order to subscribe.

• In the Cell Phone Number Primary field, enter your cell phone number, starting with the area code (e.g., 413/222-3333). All 10 digits of your phone number are required. You also have the option to enter a Secondary Cell Phone Number.
• Click Save.

Manage Your Subscription

To ensure you are receiving UMass Amherst Alerts text messages, it is important that you keep your cell phone number up-to-date in SPIRE.

Update Your Subscription

Remember to update SPIRE if your cell phone number changes.

• To edit your subscription, make your changes directly on the UMass Amherst Alerts Sign Up page, then click Save.

Unsubscribe

You may wish to unsubscribe from UMass Amherst Alerts text messages during the summer or any other time you are going to be away from campus for an extended period of time (e.g., semester abroad). Your subscription to UMass Amherst Alerts will end automatically when you leave the University (e.g., graduate, etc.).

To unsubscribe:

• In the SPIRE Menu, go to UMass Amherst Alerts > Sign Up for Alerts.
• Select the Opt Out checkbox at the bottom of the page. 
• Click the Opt Out button.

When You Receive a 'UMass Amherst Alert'

The message, labeled UMass Amherst Alert, will include instructions about what you should do. If you are a student and are in class, tell your instructor about the message. Note: Please adhere to your instructors’ policies about cell phone use.