Alertus e-Panic Button – Frequently Asked Questions

Attention: UTSA Community

The UTSA Office of Emergency Management and Office of Information Technology (OIT) have teamed up to make available a new emergency communication tool: Alertus e-Panic Button.  The e-panic button has been installed on all OIT managed classroom computers, including those in common meeting spaces.  The Alertus client has also been installed on faculty/staff computers – please check and verify your computer has the Alertus icon as noted below.

Where is the e-panic button located?

  • The e-panic button is located on the taskbar in the bottom, right-hand corner of your screen near the digital clock, or by clicking the upward arrow ^ on the taskbar, then selecting the red button.
  • A yellow Alertus icon with a red button will also be installed on your desktop; you can activate the system from there as well.e-Panic Button - Taskbar

To activate the e-panic button, please follow these simple steps:

  • Select the e-panic button as noted above – a pop-up window will open.
  • Enter the information in the “Request Emergency Assistance” pop-up window.  Three fields are *required:  1) building name, 2) room number, and 3) incident type.  If you do not know the exact room number, please list floor or office suite name to identify your whereabouts.  If time permits, include your name, phone number, and a brief description of the emergency you are reporting.  This info helps Dispatchers and Police Officers determine what resources would be needed.
  • When complete, press “Send Alert.”  The e-panic button message will be immediately sent to UTSA Police Dispatch.  Click “ok” on the confirmation page to dismiss the message.

Q & A’s:

What if the Alertus e-panic button doesn’t activate properly?

  • If the e-panic button malfunctions in an emergency, please immediately call UTSA Police at (210) 458-4911.  If you are testing your e-panic button and experience an issue in a non-emergency setting, please call OIT at (210) 458-5555 or open a trouble ticket at oitconnect@utsa.edu.  

What if my computer is department managed and not supported by OIT?  Can I get the e-panic button?

  • Yes.  Please coordinate with your department IT administrator and with OIT.  They can work together to get the client installed on your computer.

Does my work laptop have the e-panic button?

  • It depends.  Again, if your l aptop is OIT supported, then you should have the client.  If it is department managed, refer to the question above for installation.

Will my e-panic button on my laptop work if I’m at home?

  • No.  This function is only available when you are on the UTSA network.  Also, if you keep your laptop at home, please bring it in so you can run necessary updates on the network, otherwise the e-panic button will not be installed.  You must plug-in your laptop to a landline ethernet cable and restart the device to receive updates; please leave it plugged in for at least an hour.

I have Windows 10, and my Alertus is prompting me with an administrator error – what do I do?

  • Some users of Windows 10 (not all) may get a prompt requiring an administrator approval; however, you can click “approve” at the bottom of the prompt to proceed.  You do not need administrator approval to utilize Alertus.

Tip for Faculty:

  • If you are using a projector in classrooms, you can deactivate the projector screen prior to activating the e-panic button for discretion purposes.  On podiums with touchscreens, select the “Projector Mute” button; on older podiums with manual buttons, select “Pic Mute” next to the projector on/off buttons.  Not all classrooms have these projector options, so please familiarize yourself with classroom technology.
  •   projector-mute-touchscreen           pic-mute-console

What if I don’t know my room number?

  • Labels with room numbers are being installed on classroom monitors, and on other computers in common spaces for convenience.  On podiums with touchscreens, the room number is also located on the touchscreen – see top right corner of the pic above.room-number-label

 

For technical/installation questions, please contact the OIT helpdesk at oitconnect@utsa.edu or by calling 458-5555.  For all other Alertus questions, please contact the UTSA Office of Emergency Management at BePrepared@utsa.edu or by calling 458-6851.  Be safe UTSA!