Emergency Messaging

How to get notified in the event of an emergency

Emergency information at VIU is communicated through the university’s mass notification systems, which use multiple platforms to ensure timely and effective dissemination. In the event of an emergency, updates will be shared via:

VIU Safety App

You'll be the first to know about emergencies and you can:

  • Get notified about campus emergencies or snow closures
  • Access Safe Walk and other support services
  • Navigate campus with interactive maps
  • Check in with the work/study alone function
  • Find AED stations and naloxone kits
  • Report suspicious activity

How to get the Safety App

  1. Download from the iTunes store for iPhones
  2. Download from Google play for Android devices

Already have the app? Make sure it's up to date. Follow these instructions: 

  1. Open the VIU Safety App 
  2. Click on the VIU logo in the upper left corner of the screen 
  3. Click on the “Updates available” message that appears at the bottom of the page when you click on the logo
  4. Update complete! If no message appears, that means your app is up to date.

Or you can:

  1. Click on the “About/Preferences” button at the bottom of the main screen.  
  2. In the next screen, click on “Data Update” 
  3. In the next screen, click on “Check for Updates” 
  4. Follow the instructions on the screen that pops up
  5. Update complete! 

Troubleshooting iOS and Android Push Notifications

Disable Android App Hibernation

Alertus

Pop-up alerts on VIU-managed computers and any device on the VIU network. 

Note: Mac users are currently not able to have Alertus installed on their devices.