Missouri State Alert Guidelines and Support

Missouri State Alert is used to communicate emergency notifications, timely warnings, and other information to the university community in accordance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) and the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act.

Emergency Notifications

Alerts and notifications may be issued for situations including, but not limited to:

  • Significant emergencies or dangerous situations posing an immediate or imminent threat to the health or safety of the campus community
  • Active threats or violent incidents occurring on or near campus
  • Serious crimes that may constitute an ongoing or continuing threat to the university community
  • Severe weather events or environmental hazards
  • Campus closures or operational disruptions affecting safety
  • Security and public safety advisories
  • Emergency preparedness exercises, drills, and periodic system testing

Non-Emergency Notifications

The Bear Shield App may also be used to provide non-emergency public safety information, including:

  • Safety awareness messages
  • Parking and traffic information
  • Training and drill notifications
  • General preparedness information
  • Other public safety-related updates
Missouri State Alert is not used for advertising, marketing, or promotional event messaging unrelated to public safety or university operations.

Communication Methods

Missouri State University may distribute notifications using multiple communication methods, including:

  • Text messaging
  • Email
  • Website postings
  • Desktop notifications
  • The Bear Shield App
  • Other communication technologies as available

Who Authorizes Alerts?

Emergency notifications, timely warnings, and other public safety communications may be authorized by designated university officials responsible for campus safety, emergency management, and operational continuity.

Springfield Campus:

Alerts for the Springfield campus may be authorized by the following officials or their designees:

  • President
  • Vice President for Administrative Services
  • Associate Vice President for Administrative Services
  • Director of the Office of University Safety

West Plains Campus:

Alerts for the West Plains campus may be authorized by the following officials or their designees:

  • Chancellor
  • Dean of Student Services
  • Director of Strategic Communication
  • Coordinator of Student Life and Development
  • Acting Dean of the College