Safety and emergency notification practices are top priorities at Hawai‘i Pacific University. As such, communicating to students, faculty and staff in an efficient and expeditious manner about safety and emergency situations is paramount.
HPU requires all admitted and enrolled students of the university to provide at least one emergency contact person. This provides a way for university personnel to notify a student’s designated emergency contact in the event of personal distress or missing person status.
In addition, students are automatically enrolled in the Rave Alert emergency text program, the university’s primary notification system for making students aware of critical information via text messaging and email. HPU will use the mobile phone number currently on file (go to MyHPU Portal to update your phone number). Those who wish to opt-out of the Rave Alert text program may do so by going to http://phone.hpu.edu.
Emergency Contact Information and Notification: In cases when the student’s health and safety are of concern, HPU will notify the emergency contact designee. Every student must provide HPU with the name and contact information of at least one individual who could be contacted in the event of an individual emergency:
Those under the age of 18 (unless emancipated) must provide contact information of at least one custodial parent/guardian.
Those over the age of 18 may designate anyone of their choosing to be the emergency contact.
Students are required to update their primary cell phone and emergency contact information in order to keep the information current. Students will be prompted once a semester during the registration period to make updates via MyHPU Portal. Questions about updating addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and an emergency contact can be directed to the Registrar’s Office at (808) 544-0239 or email registrar@hpu.edu. Questions about when the university is permitted to contact a parent/guardian is located in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) section of the Student Handbook.
RAVE Alert Program: As noted above, HPU uses Rave Alert text messaging and email system as a primary means of making students aware of critical safety and emergency information. There is no additional cost to HPU community members to participate in this program; their regular phone text rates with their mobile service providers apply. HPU will not send students spam texts; only test messages once per fall and spring semesters, as well as emergency messages themselves. If you have not already updated/verified your cell phone number in order to receive RAVE emergency text messages, we request you do so in MyHPU Portal.
Log into MyHPU Portal (https://my.hpu.edu)
Click on General Person Info
Click on Personal Information
Update your Cellular phone number; set as Primary if preferred
Privacy and Confidentiality: Official use of emergency contact information is subject to the same privacy and record retention requirements as other official university information.
Authoritative Source: The authoritative source of this policy and responsibility for its implementation rests with the Provost.
University Communication of Emergency: HPU has a variety of tools to communicate with students, faculty, staff and the public in the event of emergencies, which range from natural disasters and fires to acts of violence that require building evacuations and campus closures. The Hawai‘i Pacific University comprehensive emergency communications system consists of the following:
1. Rave Alert: Registered members receive emergency information via text messaging and email.
2. Website: Emergency notifications will be posted on MyHPU Portal; or the HPU Security and Safety website (https://www.hpu.edu/security/index.html).
3. Email: Messages will be sent to all HPU students via their university email addresses.
4. Social media: In the event of emergencies, the university’s main www.facebook.com/hawaiipacific and Twitter (@HPU) accounts may be used as part of the notification process.
5. News Media: If deemed necessary, the Strategic Communications staff will facilitate media relations.
Fire Alarm Systems: All HPU facilities are equipped with fire alarm systems. In the event a fire alarm is activated, members follow the evacuation procedures in place. Also, the Hawaii Loa campus residence halls and Waterfront Lofts at the Aloha Tower Marketplace are equipped with fire alarm systems. The residence hall Community Advisors are trained to evacuate the halls in emergency situations and find shelter in place.
Emergency Procedures: In the event of an emergency, students must follow university emergency protocol and directions given by HPU security, other university employees, and/or local enforcement. Each building may have additional emergency procedures. Please consult any posted emergency plans, shelter in place procedures where applicable, and all other university emergency procedures as set forth in the university’s emergency response manual.
Questions: Access to emergency contact information is protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA); if you have questions pertaining to FERPA, contact the Registrar’s office at (808) 544-0239. Questions about acceptable use standards should be directed to the Dean of Students Office at (808) 687-7014. For more information about the Rave Alert program, contact the Director of Security at (808) 236-3597.