We’re proud to provide you with the comprehensive PennWest Shield Safety System!

Your PennWest Shield Safety System contains a mobile safety app and a mass notification system

PennWest Shield logo

The PennWest Shield Safety App

Protect yourself with the PennWest Shield safety app today! It’s completely FREE and contains no in app purchases. Learn more and download below.

PennWest Shield home screen

Your PennWest Shield mobile safety app contains the following features:

  1. Emergency Slider: Think of this as your ‘digital blue light’. If you ever need the help of University Police, swipe from left to right while on campus.
  2. Report a Tip: This is your ‘See Something, Say Something’ feature while around campus. If you see safety concerns, you can quickly and easily send text, photo and videos, directly to University Police. University Police may respond to your tip, even if submitted anonymously, to request more information.
  3. Friend Watch: This feature enables you to select up to 5 personal contacts (think, family, friends, etc.) who can all virtually monitor your safety during activities of your choosing. Contacts you select will be able to view the activities description, as well as your current location until you end the timer.
  4. Emergency Resources: University Police has taken the time to make important safety resources, such as emergency response procedures, available to you from within the app. Should you find yourself wondering what to do during an emergency, the answer may be within this section of the app.
  5. Safety Map: An interactive map that allows you to view the locations of important campus safety tools, such as defibrillators, weather shelters, and nearby clinics.

Does the app passively track me?

No, the app is specifically designed to only track location after an emergency activation. Even so, users can cancel the alert to immediately cease tracking functionality.

Emergency Slider

What happens if I use the emergency feature from off campus?

The app will automatically recognise that you’re not on campus and instead of sending the alert to University Police, the app will generate a 911 call that you can place with an additional tap.

What information is sent to University Police when I use the slider from on campus?

Your current location (if you’ve enabled the app to access location services) and your profile (first name, last name and email address).

Does the app track my location after using the Emergency Slider?

Yes. You can stop this location tracking by pressing the ‘End Alert’ button.

Report a Tip

Is my location information shared with University Police when I submit a tip?

Only if you allow location sharing by toggling this option ON.

Can I submit a tip even if I’m off campus?

Yes, tips can be shared from off campus.

Can I share a photo and/or video?

Yes, as long as you allow the application to access your files, you can upload existing photos/videos or capture a new photo/video in real time.

Friend Watch

What happens when I start a timer?

An SMS message, containing a description of your activity and a link to your location, is sent to the contacts you selected.

What happens if I don’t cancel a timer before it expires?

An SMS alert will be sent to your contacts.

Mass Notification System

We’re proud to be leveraging a mass notification system as our primary means of communicating with you during an emergency. This section contains important information about the mass notification system, like how to enroll and what to expect when an alert is triggered. 

What is the Mass Notification System?

Through this system, you will receive important updates about safety/security related incidents in and around our campus.

In what ways are alerts distributed?

Alerts can be sent via the following methods:

  • Email
  • SMS message
  • Voice call
  • PennWest Shield App Alerts
  • RSS feeds (in other words, posts to our web pages)
  • Social media platforms (Facebook and X)
  • Computer screen takeover alerts

How do I enroll to receive alerts?

There are multiple ways to register to receive alerts:

  1. By downloading the PennWest Shield mobile app and selecting the Group(s) that best describe your affiliations with our university. You may already be registered to receive alerts.
  2. Via the community registration page, which can be accessed by visiting this URL https://portal.publicsafetycloud.net/community-alerts/penn-west-university

What number are text messages sent from?

All emergency text messages are sent from 588-43.

What Email address are alerts sent from?

Emails are sent from no-reply@alerts.pennwest.edu

What phone number are voice calls sent from?

  • +1-877-350-2329
  • +1-855-703-1780
  • +1-877-324-2576
  • +1-877-311-3004

How do I opt out?

You can opt out of SMS messages by replying ‘STOP’ to the message. As well, you can opt out of email by clicking the ‘Unsubscribe’ button at the bottom of the message. If you wish to opt out of all communications, log into the Community Registration Page and click ‘Opt Out’.