• What is GC ALERT? GC ALERT is an emergency messaging system that can send text messages and text to speech calls directly to your cell phone in the event of severe weather, campus emergency or emergency closing. It will not be used for routine communications. 
  
  
• Am I automatically enrolled to receive the emergency text messages? No, you must sign up. Simply go to www.gcsu.edu/alert, read the instructions for students or faculty/staff and click on the appropriate button to proceed. Your number will be removed automatically from the system if you are no longer a student or employee of the college. 
  
  
• What does it cost? The only cost is the amount your cell phone company may charge you to receive a text message - usually just a few cents. However, Georgia College will ONLY use the GC ALERT system for emergency notifications - NOT routine communications or announcements. 
  
  
• Who else will have access to my cell phone number? No one. The cell phone number you provide for your text messaging will remain confidential and will NOT be released to anyone else. 
  
  
• What if my cell phone number changes? You must update your cell phone number by going to the GC ALERT link on the Georgia College website. 
  
  
• How will I be alerted if I don't have a cell phone?Alert messages will continue to be sent via campus e-mail and will be placed on the Georgia College website. GC ALERT also uses campus landlines as a form of communication
  
  
• Will the GC ALERT system cover the other Georgia College locations in Macon and Warner Robbins? Yes, all students, faculty and staff can receive emergency messages, regardless of their location. 
  
  
• Can my family sign up for GC ALERT? At this point GC ALERT is only designed to reach students, faculty and staff. 
  
  
• What kinds of messages will I get through GC ALERT? We will only send you a  message in the event of a severe weather warning, a campus emergency or an emergency closing. The system WILL NOT be used for routine communications. 
  
  

• Question: How do I opt-in to receive text messages from my school? 
  
  
• Answer: Students, staff and faculty can opt-in by providing a text-enabled phone number via the GC web portal at www.gcsu.edu/alert. 
  
  
• Question: What happens after I sign up via the web portal? 
  
  
• Answer: After you sign up online, the GC ALERT service automatically sends a text message to that phone with a confirmation request during business hours (10am - 6pm PST).  You will be instructed to reply to the text message by texting "YES GC" or "Y GC" to complete the opt-in process (NOTE: there MUST be a SPACE between the YES and the GC -- or the Y and GC). 
  
  
• Question: If I sign up at night, when will I receive the confirmation request? 
  
  
• Answer: The confirmation requests are sent during business hours (10am to 6pm PST). Since we upload data into the GC ALERT service only once per week, your confirmation message may take up to seven days to arrive after you sign up. 
  
  
• Question: What happens if I'm unavailable to reply to the confirmation request? 
  
  
• Answer: You do not need to immediately reply to the confirmation request and you are allowed to reply at any time. However, you will NOT be able to receive GC ALERT text messages to you until you respond. If you lose the original opt-in confirmation request, text "SUBSCRIBE GC" to 23177. 
  
  
• Question: I did not receive a confirmation request.  What happened? 
  
  
• Answer: Please check with your mobile phone provider to find out if your device accepts text messages.  You may also want to check with your provider to see if text messaging has been enabled.  You may need to subscribe to a text messaging plan in order to receive or reply to text messages. 
  
  
• Question: I have text messaging enabled on my mobile phone, how come I did not receive a confirmation? 
  
  
• Answer: Currently subscribers of T-Mobile, Metro PCS, Cricket and some others are not able to receive confirmation requests.  However, you may still receive GC ALERT text messages from your school.  And in the future, these mobile phone providers may require confirmation and you will be sent a confirmation request then.  Please reply with the appropriate text shown on your mobile phone if that occurs. 
  
  
• Question: I did not receive a confirmation request because my phone wasn't text enabled.  I have since contacted my mobile phone provider to enable it.  How do I send a reply even though I didn't receive one? 
  
  
• Answer: Simply text "SUBSCRIBE GC" to 23177 and you will be included in future text messages.  The GC ALERT service will then re-initiate the opt-in process and send you a confirmation request. You must reply by texting "YES GC" to 23177 or "Y GC" to complete the opt-in process.  It is also important to make sure you have provided your mobile phone information within your school's web portal at www.gcsu.edu/alert. 
  
  
• Question: How do I opt-out? 
  
  
• Answer: You may opt-out at any time by texting "STOP GC" to 23177" or "QUIT GC" to 23177.
  
  
• Question: What if I opted-out but later decide I would like to opt-in again? 
  
  
• Answer: You may request to begin receiving text messages by texting "SUBSCRIBE GC" to 23177. The Connect-ED service will then re-initiate the opt-in process and send you a confirmation request. You must reply by texting "YES GC" to 23177." or "Y GC" to complete the opt-in process. 
  
  
• Question: If I change mobile phone providers, do I need to opt-in again? 
  
  
• Answer: No.  Once your phone number has been opted-in, it stays registered within the system.

You will need to know your GCID and password, then proceed as follows:
1. Login to PAWS.
2. Click Personal Information tab.
3. Click CONNECT FOR SAFETY.
4. Enter you cell phone number and click SUBMIT CAMPUS ALERT NUMBER.
5. Ready? Click the button to proceed.

Faculty/Staff Instructions

1. E-Mail Justin Gaines at Justin.Gaines@gcsu.edu attn: GC ALERT 

2. Include your name, cell phone number, and email address

3. Please allow 3 business days for processing. A test message will be sent to ensure your subscription. If you do not receive a message within a week, please send another email.

4. To opt out of GC ALERT, simply send an email to Justin.Gaines@gcsu.edu attn: Opt-Out GC ALERT