Grand Rapids Community College uses an emergency notification system to inform students and employees of emergency situations and other important notifications. The system allows for emergency messages to be sent via text, email and phone. The emergency notification system is ONLY used in the event of a campus closing or emergency, and to distribute required communications under the Clery Act.
Here are some examples of messages that you may receive:
- Emergency on Campus: Please Evacuate
- Classes Cancelled Due to Inclement Weather
- Emergency on Campus: Lock Down Classroom
GRCC notifies students and employees in the event of an emergency using software called Rave. Information about Rave is listed below. We do enroll students and employees in Rave every semester automatically, but you can opt out at any time. The only communication option you can't opt out of is the registration email, which will be your GRCC email (email.grcc.edu for students and grcc.edu for employees). You will not be spammed, and you will only receive information pertaining to crisis, campus closings, or other critical service announcements. The service is free, though charges from your mobile phone service carrier may apply where applicable.
What is Rave Alert?
Grand Rapids Community College has partnered with Rave Mobile Safety, the leader in mobile safety, to offer an emergency notification system, Rave Alert, capable of sending users text, voice, and email messages.
What type of messages will I receive?
Grand Rapids Community College will only send you messages related to emergencies. You will never receive advertisements and your information is never provided to advertisers.
Who can subscribe/use the service?
Any active student, staff, or faculty member of Grand Rapids Community College is automatically enrolled into to the Rave Alert service each semester. Community members, parents, and other stakeholders are also able to subscribe to the Rave Alert service at https://www.getrave.com/login/grcc.
What is my username?
For students, your username is your student email address (yourusername@email.grcc.edu). For staff and faculty, your username is your work email (yourusername@grcc.edu). For anyone else, it's the registration email you signed up with. For staff, faculty, and students, you will need to reset your password on your Rave account before accessing your account, since you were automatically enrolled. You can do this at https://www.getrave.com/login/grcc. Click "Forgot Password" under the password field. For all others, your password is at the time of registering.
What mobile phone carriers are supported?
All U.S. mobile carriers are supported.
What if my cell phone number changes?
Grand Rapids Community College will automatically create accounts each semester for students and employees with the contact information we have on file in the Online Center. If you update your cell phone or other contact information in the Online Center, GRCC will update Rave with that contact information as well. Contact information in the Online Center is synced with Rave every 24 hours. You also have the ability to change your contact preferences directly in Rave at https://www.getrave.com/login/grcc. Modifications to contact information in Rave supersedes the contact information in the Online Center. For example if you update your mobile number in Rave, the mobile number in the Online Center will not update the mobile number in Rave again until both numbers match.
What if my cell phone provider changes?
If you keep the same mobile number, and simply change cell phone provider, you do not have to change anything, however it may take several weeks for your mobile provider to update the Rave Alert system. During that time it is possible that you will not be able to receive messages unless you log into Rave to update your carrier information.
Will I receive advertisements or text messaging SPAM?
No, never. We respect your privacy and you will never receive anything besides official Grand Rapids Community College communications.
How will I identify incoming messages from Campus Alert?
You will be sent messages from what are know as short codes. The messages will come from either 226-787 or 67283. We encourage you to save these numbers into your phone so you will recognize them when messages are sent. Some smaller carriers do not support short code messaging. For these carriers, you will receive messages from @getrave.com.
How do I stop getting notifications?
To stop getting notifications, you may login to https://www.getrave.com/login/grcc and update your contact preferences. If you want to just stop text messaging, simply text the word "STOP" to 226-787 or 67283. You will receive a text notification back stating that you will no longer receive texts from Rave. If you decide later that you would like to receive text notifications again, simply text "START" to 226-787 or 67283. Please note that you will not receive a text confirming text notifications have been re-enabled.
Who do I contact for assistance?
If you need assistance, please contact ITHelp@grcc.edu.