UTPD - Types of Alerts
Emergency Alert
What it is:
Emergency Alerts go out to campus when there is a confirmed, immediate threat to the safety of those on campus, or near campus in areas of high student populations, or if there is a change to the University’s operating status due to weather. You may receive these by text, LiveSafe app, email, and social media (Facebook and X: @UTAustinPolice).
When we do it:
Emergency threats include active threats, natural disasters, severe weather, time-sensitive safety concerns, campus closures, delayed starts, and other on-campus emergencies.
Safety Notification
What it is:
Safety Notifications are issued to the community when a crime presents an ongoing concern on or near campus. Increasing community awareness can help prevent further crimes or protect them from potentially dangerous situations. You may receive these on the LiveSafe app, social media, and email.
When we do it:
UTPD Safety Notifications may include criminal investigations such as aggravated or simple assault, arson, burglary, hate crimes, homicide, motor vehicle theft, robbery, and sexual assault.
Advisory
What it is:
Advisory notices may not rise to the level of an emergency notification or safety alert but is high-profile enough that our campus community benefits from awareness. You may receive these through social media and the LiveSafe app.
When we do it:
UTPD advisories are for incidents that do not pose a serious or ongoing threat to campus or could potentially impact campus. Examples could include police activity, extended power failures, building evacuations, sudden road closures, or other traffic/construction impacts on or near campus.
UTPD has a responsibility to comply with Clery Act requirements, releasing timely warnings about reported crimes to the campus community in a manner that will aid in the prevention of similar crimes, as well as providing emergency notifications within Clery Act geography when the health and safety of the campus community is at risk. The department utilizes one or more of the following methods of communication to post warnings: text messages, campus wide email, social media (Facebook & Twitter), UT Emergency and home page, campus siren system, and closed circuit television systems in residence halls and other buildings.
- Text alerts
- Used to communicate a credible, immediate, ongoing threat to campus
- Alerts provide immediate direction to students, faculty and staff with specific actions to take
- Students must sign up to receive text alerts before they can register for classes at orientation. Text alerts are optional for faculty and staff.
- Emails
- Used to communicate crimes and incidents on and immediately near campus
- Emails provide details and updates that can aid in the prevention of similar incidents
- All UT community members automatically receive email notifications
- Outdoor Warning Siren
- Activated in the event of certain emergencies, such as severe weather, that require people to seek shelter immediately
- Social Media and Emergency Website
- Twitter: @UTAustinPolice, @UTAustin and @AustinPolice
- Facebook: UT Austin Police, The University of Texas at Austin
- emergency.utexas.edu
Alerts issued for incidents beyond UTPD jurisdiction are dependent upon notification from outside agencies. UTPD is not obligated to issue alerts outside Clery geography, but will relay safety messaging from other agencies as a courtesy to our community.
The University of Texas at Austin Police Department submits crime data to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Crime statistics are then published in the Crime in Texas (CIT) Online Portal. The Portal was developed to provide a platform for the public to access online and on demand statistical and analytical information about crime reported in the state.
Any questions regarding the statistics found in the link below should be directed to UTPD Records, 512-232-9615.
https://www.dps.texas.gov/administration/crime_records/pages/crimestati…
Clery Reports
University Risk and Compliance Services compiles Campus Crime Statistics. You may find the published Annual Security and Fire Safety Report here.