Code Maroon Emergency Notification Service
Texas A&M University

Frequently Asked Questions about Code Maroon

Code Maroon Test Reports
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General FAQs

Q: What is Code Maroon?
A: Code Maroon is Texas A&M University's emergency notification system that gives the University the ability to communicate health and safety emergency information– by SMS text message, Texas A&M Email (Neo), KAMU-FM radio, campus cable television, Emergency Alert System radios, RSS and Twitter.

Q: When will Code Maroon be used?
A: In situations that are judged to present a threat of imminent danger. Examples include, but are not limited to: A confirmed building fire, toxic gas leak, report of violent criminal activity, or a tornado sighting on or near campus.

Q: When won't Code Maroon be used?
A: When there is no perceived imminent danger, such as, but not limited to, University closure due to ice/snow or thunder/lightning storms. Code Maroon will not be used to send other University messages.

Q: Where can I find information about campus emergency preparedness?
A: For information about campus emergency preparedness, visit the Texas A&M University Emergency Preparedness home page.

Q: Will the Code Maroon text messages cost me anything?
 A: Charges will depend on your wireless provider and plan. You may be charged a nominal fee (e.g., twenty cents per message) to receive text messages. For those with unlimited text messaging plans, there would be no additional charge.

Q: What should I do when I get an alert?
A: Follow the directions communicated in the alert. Emergency updates will be posted at www.tamu.edu as they become available.  For more information, visit http://codemaroon.tamu.edu.

Q: Will my contact information be transferred from the old Code Maroon system?
A: No. If you registered for Code Maroon before July 21, 2009, you must enroll in the new Code Maroon system to continue receiving text message alerts. Contact information cannot be transferred from the old system.

Q: How will I know the text message and email message are legitimate?
A: All Code Maroon text messages will be sent from Short Code number: 24639. You may want to save this number in your mobile address book under the name "Code Maroon" for easy identification. Code Maroon emails will automatically be sent to all Texas A&M Email (Neo) accounts ending with "@neo.tamu.edu."  Email messages will be sent from CodeMaroon@tamu.edu. You can verify any message you receive by checking http://codemaroon.tamu.edu or https://howdy.tamu.edu/ to see if an alert was issued.

Q: Where will I be able to get more information during an emergency?
A: For more information during an emergency, visit http://codemaroon.tamu.edu or http://www.tamu.edu/. Additional information will be posted at www.tamu.edu when it becomes available. Click the "Code Maroon" link below the "News Headlines" section to access emergency updates. If the link is not present, continue checking back.

Q: How will I know when an emergency is over and it is safe to resume normal activities?
A: You will receive an "All Clear" message from the Code Maroon system. It is also recommended that you check other communication outlets like the local news and www.tamu.edu to stay informed.

Q: Where can I find information about testing of the Code Maroon system?
A: To view the latest test report, visit the Test Reports page.

Q: Where can I find information about the Emergency Alert System radios?
A: The EAS radio quick guide and work order form are posted at http://telecom.tamu.edu/Home/Services/Emergency_Alert_System_Radios.php.

Enrolling in Code Maroon

Q: How do I sign up for text message alerts?
A: Texas A&M University students, faculty and staff who have a NetID and password may register one number to receive text message alerts. You must visit http://codemaroon.tamu.edu and follow the simple sign-up process. For informational purposes, you will also need to submit an email address. Emergency email alerts will only be sent to Texas A&M Email (Neo) addresses ending with "@neo.tamu.edu." After registering, you will receive a confirmation email and text message within ten minutes verifying that you have successfully registered. If you do not receive either confirmation message, please see the "Troubleshooting" section below.

Q: Why can't I sign up for email alerts?
A: There is no sign-up process to receive email alerts. Code Maroon automatically sends email alerts to all Texas A&M Email addresses ending with "@neo.tamu.edu." If you use Microsoft Outlook or Novell GroupWise, you can receive alerts in your inbox by subscribing to Code Maroon's RSS feed. Visit Code Maroon's Public Access page to learn how.

Q: How do parents and other non-Texas A&M affiliates sign up to receive Code Maroon alerts?
A: Parents, family and friends of Texas A&M can receive Code Maroon text message alerts by setting up a Twitter account and enabling device updates. It takes about five minutes to set up an account, and step-by-step instructions are provided at Code Maroon's Public Access page.

You can receive alerts on your computer by subscribing to Code Maroon's RSS feed. To learn how, visit Code Maroon's Public Access page. If you would like someone to walk you through setting up Twitter or RSS, please call Help Desk Central at 979.845.8300.


To receive alerts:

Q: Does Code Maroon support all cell phone networks?
A: Yes. All cell phone networks and carriers are supported by Code Maroon.

Q: Do I need to install software on my phone to receive Code Maroon text messages?
A: No. However, your text device must be able to accept text messages. If you do not receive the confirmation test message after registering for Code Maroon, please see the "Troubleshooting" section for further instructions.

Q: If my text device is on a "Do-Not-Call" list, can I still receive Code Maroon alerts?
A: It is possible that Code Maroon text message alerts may be blocked by certain "Do-Not-Call" lists. If you don't receive the test message confirmation when you register on the Code Maroon website, please contact Help Desk Central for assistance. Code Maroon will not send other University messages or sell your phone number to third-party marketers.

Q: Will the privacy of my personal information be protected?
A: Yes. Your personal information will not be released or sold to any third party.

Q: Will I receive unsolicited messages ("SPAM") on my mobile phone or email account?
A: No. Code Maroon enforces a ZERO SPAM policy that clearly prohibits unsolicited messages. Furthermore, our vendor is prohibited from selling the contact information of Code Maroon subscribers to third-party marketers.

Q: Why can I register only one mobile phone number?
A: Texas A&M's goal is to reach as many people on campus as quickly as possible in the event of an emergency. By limiting text message alerts to Texas A&M students and employees, the messages can be sent faster. Anyone can receive text message notifications by following "TAMUCodeMaroon" on Twitter and enabling device updates. To learn how, visit Code Maroon's Public Access page.

Q: Why can't I register a non-Texas A&M email address to receive Code Maroon alerts?
A: Texas A&M's goal is to reach as many people on campus as quickly as possible in the event of an emergency. By limiting email alerts to official Texas A&M Email addresses, the messages can be sent more quickly. Anyone can receive alerts on their computer by subscribing to Code Maroon's RSS feed or following "TAMUCodeMaroon" on Twitter. To learn how, visit Code Maroon's Public Access page.

Code Maroon Account

Q: Can I change my mobile phone number or informational email address?
A: Yes. Log in to your Code Maroon account using your NetID and password to change your mobile phone number, or informational email address.  To change your contact information:

  1. Visit codemaroon.tamu.edu.
  2. Click "Manage my account."
  3. Log in with your NetID and password.
  4. Update your contact information.
  5. Click "Save Changes."
You will recieve a confirmation email and text message within ten minutes.

Q: How do I disable my Code Maroon account (stop receiving text message or email alerts)?
A: You can disable text message alerts only. Email alerts are automatically sent to official Texas A&M Email (Neo) addresses ending with "@neo.tamu.edu." We strongly recommend that you do not disable text message alerts unless you will no longer be on campus. To disable text message alerts:

  1. Visit http://codemaroon.tamu.edu.
  2. Click "Manage my account."
  3. Log in with your NetID and password.
  4. Click the radio button next to "Disable Code Maroon Text Message Alerts," and then click "Save Changes."

If you later decide that you want to receive Code Maroon text message alerts, you can repeat the steps above, but click "Enable Code Maroon Text Message Alerts" to re-activate your account.

Q: How do I control what device receives the text alerts?
A: You supply the phone number of the text device that you want to receive the text alerts.

Q: Can I receive Code Maroon alerts somewhere else besides a pager or cell phone?
A: The text messaging component of the Code Maroon emergency system allows you to specify one text device for receiving alerts. Code Maroon alerts are also sent to a publicly accessible Code Maroon RSS feed and Twitter account.

To learn how to receive alerts via Code Maroon's RSS feed and Twitter account, visit the Public Access page.

Q: Will I be notified before my account expires?
A: No. Once you register to receive text message alerts, your account will exist as long as you are a student or employee at Texas A&M University. Your account will be automatically deleted a short time thereafter. To disable your account, see "How do I disable (remove myself) text message or email alerts?" above.

Q: What should I do if my mobile phone number or informational email address changes?
A: You are responsible for updating your information in Code Maroon if your contact information changes. To change your contact information, see the instructions below the questions "Can I change my mobile phone number or informational email address" above.

Q: What is the difference between my Code Maroon contact information and the more detailed Personal Emergency Contact information required by the University?
A: Code Maroon is a standalone system that requires very little personal information to be effective. The detailed Personal Emergency Contact information is not used as part of the Code Maroon system. If you want Code Maroon alert notifications sent to your text device, you must register separately at http://codemaroon.tamu.edu.

Q: What do I do if I forget or don't know my NetID or password?
A: Call Help Desk Central at 979.845.8300.

Code Maroon Tests

Q: Will Texas A&M University send Code Maroon "test" messages?
A: Yes, Texas A&M will send at least two test messages per year in mid-September and early February. Test dates will be announced beforehand via various outlets including Texas A&M Email (Neo), The Battalion and http://codemaroon.tamu.edu. The test messages' content will make it obvious the message is only a test. An "ALL CLEAR" message may not be sent as part of a test.

As new notification methods become available, additional testing may be needed to measure performance. In these instances, only certain notification methods may be tested, so you may not receive the tests unless you have registered to receive alerts from that notification outlet. You may also receive more than one test message if you registered for multiple notification methods (i.e., you registered to receive text alerts and follow Code Maroon on Twitter.)

Q: What is the purpose of the test?
A: A test of the system and its various components provides valuable data on the performance of the system and associated procedures. These tests allow Emergency Management officials to refine and improve various procedures.

Q: How will I know the difference between a test message and a real emergency alert?
A: Code Maroon test messages will always indicate that "This is only a test." Test messages will be announced beforehand via various media outlets including: Texas A&M University Email (Neo), The Battalion, and http://codemaroon.tamu.edu.

Q: What happens if I don't receive the campus-wide test message on my text device?
A: If you don't receive the campus-wide test message, please see the "Troubleshooting" section below.

Troubleshooting For Code Maroon

Q: What should I do if I do not receive the confirmation text message when I sign up for Code Maroon?
A: If you do not receive the confirmation text message within ten minutes of registering, follow the steps below:

  1. Have someone send you a text message from their mobile phone. If this works, proceed to step two. If this does not work, then contact your mobile service provider for assistance with your service, plan or device. Please note that text messages can be blocked if you recently changed carriers or have a delinquent bill with your carrier.
  2. Visit http://codemaroon.tamu.edu and click "Manage my account." Log in with your NetID and password. Verify that your mobile phone number was entered correctly, and then click "Save Changes." If this works, you should receive a confirmation text message from Code Maroon within ten minutes. If you do not receive the confirmation, then proceed to step three
  3. It is possible that Code Maroon text alerts may be blocked by certain "Do-Not-Call" lists. If you are still not able to receive a confirmation text message, contact Help Desk Central at 979.845.8300.

Q: What should I do if I do not receive the confirmation email when I sign up for Code Maroon?
A: Visit codemaroon.tamu.edu and click "Manage my account." Log in with your NetID and password. Verify that your informational email address was entered correctly. If the address is incorrect, correct it and click "Save changes." If you still do not receive a confirmation email, contact Help Desk Central at 979.845.8300.

Q: Is there any way to test my phone to see if text messaging works on my phone?
A: The easiest way to check is to have a colleague or friend attempt to send you a text message, and in return, send them a text message. If either does not work, you should check with your mobile provider to verify whether your plan or service includes text messaging. If you still have questions, contact Help Desk Central at 979.845.8300.

Changes to Code Maroon Effective August 31, 2009

Q: Why did Code Maroon switch from E2Campus to AtHoc?
A: Code Maroon chose AtHoc as its new vendor because their system uses a single, integrated system to send alerts. Instead of having to send separate alerts to each notification outlet, Code Maroon can send one message that will be distributed to all of its notification outlets. The system can also send desktop pop-up alerts, which Code Maroon plans to activate soon. Texas A&M University's goal is to reach as many people as possible in an emergency, and AtHoc provided the most robust system. The decision was based on input from students, faculty, staff and emergency personnel. AtHoc is based in San Mateo, California and is at the forefront of mass notification systems. Some of Code Maroon's new features are listed below.

  1. Code Maroon automatically sends alerts to all Texas A&M Email (Neo) accounts ending with "@neo.tamu.edu."
  2. Texas A&M students, faculty and staff can register one number to receive text message alerts from Code Maroon.
  3. For informational purposes, you will be asked to provide an email address that will only be used to send informational and confirmation emails to you. Emergency alerts will only be sent to Texas A&M Email (Neo) addresses ending with "@neo.tamu.edu."
  4. When you are no longer a student or employee at Texas A&M University, your Code Maroon registration will automatically be deleted a short time after you leave.
  5. The general public (i.e., parents, local residents, family, news media) cannot sign up to receive text message alerts in Code Maroon. By limiting registration to Texas A&M students, faculty and staff, the alerts can be sent more quickly to those nearest to the emergency. Anyone can receive text message alerts by setting up a Twitter account and enabling device updates. This takes about five minutes, and step-by-step instructions are provided at Code Maroon's Public Access page. Anyone can receive alerts on their computer by subscribing to Code Maroon's RSS feed. The same alerts sent to Code Maroon's registered users will be sent to these communication channels; however, we cannot guarantee the delivery of these alerts since Code Maroon does not manage these outlets. To learn how to set up a Twitter account or subscribe to Code Maroon's RSS feed, visit Public Access.. If you would like someone to walk you through setting up Twitter or RSS, please call Help Desk Central at 979.845.8300.