Emergency Notification System I Upcoming System Test

October 26, 2026

Dear members of the Columbia community:

Columbia University will conduct a semi-annual test of the University's emergency notification system on Thursday, October 29. 

A test alert will be sent by text message to enrolled mobile numbers and by email to the Columbia community.

The test message will contain the text: 

 “CU ALERT Urgent: This is a test of the Columbia emergency notification system. No action is needed.”

If you do not receive the test text message by noon on Thursday, October 29, verify the mobile number associated with your Columbia account using the instructions on the text alert page of the Public Safety website. 

Emergency Alert Enrollment and Settings:

  • Students: Active Columbia students with a mobile number on file are automatically enrolled. This also includes eligible Barnard and Teachers College students enrolled in Columbia courses.
  • Faculty and staff: Faculty and staff with a Columbia-issued mobile device or eligible mobile number listed in PAC are automatically enrolled.

The University uses the emergency text messaging system for serious safety and emergency communications and scheduled tests. 

Emergency Alerts for Family and Friends:

Columbia affiliates may add additional mobile numbers to receive emergency alerts. Follow the instructions on the Public Safety website to add additional mobile phone numbers. 

Save Columbia Emergency Alert Numbers to Your Mobile Address Book:

We recommend that you save the “aggregator codes” to your mobile address book under a name that you will recognize when University emergency messages arrive, such as “CU Public Safety Message” or “Columbia Emergency Alert.” The codes in use are:  

  • 226787
  • 67283 
  • 77295
  • 78015 

During an emergency, Columbia may communicate through multiple channels, including text messages, email, University websites, and other available communication systems. Detailed emergency information and updates may also be posted at preparedness.columbia.edu as well as on the University and Medical Center homepages. Information may also be recorded on the University’s main telephone line, 212-854-1754. 

For questions regarding the emergency notification system, or the scheduled test on Thursday, October 29, please email [email protected]. 

Emergency Management Operations Team
Columbia University