Student Services
WENS
The Wireless Emergency Notification System (WENS) allows Rend Lake College students, family and friends — as well as faculty, staff and administration — to receive text and email notifications. The WENS system allows an “RLC Alert” to be sent to your cell phone as a text-message and an e-mail to your e-mail address, if you choose.
About WENS
When we typically use WENS:
- Emergency and significant event notification
- Weather warnings
- School closings
- Emergencies on campus
Emergency messages are short and meant only as an initial notification. For more detailed information, RLC uses telephone, the RLC website, e-mail, radio and television media, social media and person-to person contact to distribute news and instructions during an emergency.
When we typically use WENS:
- Emergency and significant event notification
- Weather warnings
- School closings
- Emergencies on campus
Emergency messages are short and meant only as an initial notification. For more detailed information, RLC uses telephone, the RLC website, e-mail, radio and television media, social media and person-to person contact to distribute news and instructions during an emergency.
Requirements:
Requirements:
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why should I register?
Although RLC employs other emergency notification means such as sirens, in classroom phones, telephone alerts and use of local media, using WENS could save you critical time depending upon your location.
Can I register through WENS to receive just an e-mail?
No. The WENS system requires you to register a telephone number, and then you may register an e-mail address. You cannot register an e-mail address alone.
Is there a charge for registering to receive messages through WENS?
This is a free service provided by RLC. However, your cell phone provider may charge you for receiving text messages (SMS). Check your service agreement for details. Service costs from your cellular provider are your responsibility.
Why are you sending a text-message and not calling me?
Attempting to call everyone could take hours. This is an important factor especially during a time sensitive emergency. RLC Alerts will be short and are meant to make registrants aware that there is an emergency and direct them to other information resources for additional information.
Under what circumstances will I receive an RLC Alert?
RLC Alerts are used during emergencies that threaten life, safety, or property and/or severely impacts normal campus/college operations. Additionally, you will also receive warnings of flash flood, severe thunderstorm, winter storm, and tornado warnings.
Will RLC periodically test the system?
RLC plans to conduct a monthly test message to verify your subscription to this service and to ensure the system is working properly.
Will the WENS system work if there is a power failure?
All systems, including email and text message systems are subject to failure due to emergencies or disasters. While WENS is a valuable addition to our existing emergency notification systems, we cannot guarantee that it will work in all emergencies. This is why we employ redundant emergency notification systems.
I don't want to receive messages anymore. How do I unsubscribe?
At any time, you can simply return to the WENS website and click the unsubscribe button or click here. Enter the contact information you used to register and then select the unsubscribe box at the bottom of the page. Additionally, you can reply to a text message with either “Stop” or “Quit” to unsubscribe as well.
How do I update my information if my email address, cell phone number or pager number has changed?
If your contact information has changed, follow the instructions above to unsubscribe the information that has changed. You must register again with your new contact information.
