CWRU Alerts

Informs the campus community of any emergency or dangerous situation. Examples of situations in which an emergency notification would be issued include:

• An active aggressor on or near campus
• A major chemical spill or hazard
• A tornado warning

Though Public Safety issues a range of messages depending on the emergency and action required, there are four common types of emergency notifications to be aware of:

• Emergency: This alert is issued when there have been reports of a possible threat or a serious threat with limited information. It is intended to make the campus community aware that an emergency is occurring and first responders are investigating. More information will follow.
• Lockdown: This message is only issued for an active aggressor situation (individual armed with a weapon or vehicle who is actively attempting to cause severe harm or death).
• Shelter in Place: This alert is issued when law enforcement believes there is a serious or imminent threat to the campus community that requires action to be taken. All buildings are only able to be accessed with CWRU IDs, and people outdoors should seek shelter indoors or off campus immediately. 
• All Clear: This message is issued when it is believed that the threat is no longer in the area or the suspect(s) have been arrested. All Clear messages are not sent for severe weather. 

The university communicates emergency notifications by:

• Outdoor speakers
• Text messages to those who add their mobile phone numbers in Rave
• Banners on most CWRU websites
• Notices to CWRU's Facebook / X accounts and, in some situations, via Instagram stories.
• Campus-wide email
• Digital signage on campus
• Mobile safety app (Spartan Safe) push notification
• Additional messaging to campus and local media, as needed

NOTE: The outdoor speakers are only used in the event of a lockdown or severe weather. 

Notifies the campus community of any Clery Act crime that occurs within specific campus boundaries as soon as the information is available so people can protect themselves and/or their property from similar crimes. Intended to inform people to be cautious, not to take action.

The university sends alerts by:

• Campus-wide email
• Text messages to those who add their mobile phone numbers in Rave

A security alert will be issued if the CWRU Division of Public Safety determines:

• There is a continuing danger to the campus community, and
• Issuing the crime alert will not compromise law enforcement efforts to address the crime

Clery Act crimes include:

• Criminal homicide, including murder and manslaughter (negligent and non-negligent)
• Sex offenses (forcible and non-forcible)
• Dating violence
• Domestic violence
• Stalking
• Robbery
• Aggravated assault
• Burglary
• Motor vehicle theft
• Arson
• Hate Crimes (including any of the above offenses, as well as any incidents of larceny / theft, simple assault, intimidation or destruction / damage / vandalism of property that were motivated by bias)

If the CWRU Division of Public Safety believes issuing a security alert would compromise the efforts to address the crime, the notification may be delayed until the situation has been addressed.

Notifies the campus community of a situation that is not an emergency or does not pose an immediate threat to campus, but is significant interest to the CWRU community.

The university sends neighborhood safety advisory messages by campus-wide email.

Examples of incidents that may require a neighborhood safety advisory:

• An increased presence of first responders
• Trends in crimes on or near campus
• Off-campus criminal activity