NOVA Alerts

The primary method of communication during an emergency is the University's NOVA Alert system, which sends messages to registered mobile devices and emails. 

Villanova students, faculty and staff are able to register up to: 5 phone numbers to receive text messages; 6 phone numbers to receive voice messages; 2 email addresses; and a TTY device.

It is recommended that your first device, typically your personal cell phone, has "SMS & PHONE MESSAGE" selected so you can receive text messages and phone calls to this number.

While opting in with preferred devices makes the NOVA Alert system most effective, there are communication channels that are automatically registered:

• villanova.edu email addresses for current students, faculty and staff
• Zoom work phone numbers for faculty and staff

There are also NOVA Alert sign-up options for Villanova families, friends and visitors that can be found on the sign-up page.

In addition to NOVA Alert - which can push out messages through text, phone and email - Villanova also takes advantages of a variety of additional communication channels in emergency situations. These many include:

• Villanova University homepage (www.villanova.edu) and Public Safety homepage (www.villanova.edu/publicsafety)
• Social Media: Follow @NOVA_Alert on X (Twitter) 
• Announcements through University Call Boxes on South Campus
• Digital signage

Villanova treats any threat to our campus with the utmost seriousness and has comprehensive safety and emergency protocols, including a fully developed Emergency Management Plan. We continuously evaluate and strengthen our safety policies in line with best practices. Villanova Police Officers regularly train for a variety of emergency situations, including trainings side-by-side with Radnor Township Police. The University also utilizes outside law enforcement specialists and security consultants to continually evaluate security measures on campus.

The Department of Public Safety is a more than 75-member team made up of sworn police officers and safety officers, who serve the University community 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.