New learning opportunity for employees

Lisa Dopke, Grants Coordinator for GRCC, has created a new learning opportunity for all employees titled “Support Staff Professional Development (SSPD).”

This learning session is designed for staff members interested in learning more about applying for a Support Staff Professional Development (SSPD) grant to fund their external professional development activity.

Questions to be answered include:

• What is the SSPD program and what can I use an SSPD grant for?
• How are grant awardees selected?
• Where do I find information about the program and upcoming deadlines?
• What are the steps for applying for an SSPD grant?
• How are SSPD reimbursements processed?

Participants will also have the opportunity to ask questions, and begin completing their SSPD application during the session.

Two sessions are scheduled in September:

• Tues. Sept 17 from 9-10 AM in Room 351 Main
• Mon. Sept 23 from 2-3 PM in Room 351 Main

If you’re interested in attending, please register online at http://cms.grcc.edu/currentlearning.

GRCC In the News, 5-24-13

See how Michigan’s community colleges fare under state’s budget plan

May 23, 2013; MLive

LANSING, MI – Michigan’s community colleges remain in line for an average 2 percent increase in state support for the next fiscal year.

… Grand Rapids: $17.5 million, up 1.9 percent

GRCC considers project to renovate Belknap Park ballfields

May 22, 2013; WZZM

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Grand Rapids Community College is considering a $315,000 project to renovate the Belknap Park ballfields.

Ionia County Sheriff’s Office welcomes two new deputies

May 23, 2013; Sentinel-Standard (Ionia County)

IONIA COUNTY, Mich. — Two new deputies have joined the Ionia County Sheriff’s Office.

… When Baarda finished high school, he was not sure what career path to pursue. He talked with his school liaison officer about the Metro High School Police Academy, a week-long mini-academy that was held at Grandville High School.

“After doing that, I really enjoyed it, and decided I wanted to go further into it,” Baarda said. “I started taking criminal justice classes at Grand Rapids Community College, and then joined the police academy there.”

Baarda has an associate’s degree in criminal justice from GRCC, and is a 2007 graduate of its police academy.

20th Annual Bee Dazzling Spellebration

May 22, 2013; MLive

(Photo of Ric Underhile and Patti Trepkowski competing in the Literacy Center of West Michigan’s spelling bee.)

Grand Rapids Community College: A Case Study in Longevity

May 23, 2013; carlwalker.com (Carl Walker Inc. company newsletter)

The Bostwick Parking Structure at Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) was at a crossroads in 1987.

NJCAA Division II World Series opens in Enid

May 23, 2013; enidnews.com

ENID, Okla. — It’s that time of year again. For the fifth-straight year, Enid will serve as the host city for the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II World Series with 10 district championship baseball teams from around the nation converging on David Allen Memorial Ballpark. The World Series runs through June 1.

… Seven teams are making return trips to the Series, with three newcomers (Murray State, Brunswick, North Iowa) joining the party. Three of the seven returning teams account for 12 previous World Series titles with Grand Rapids (Mich.) Community College leading the way with five titles, followed by LSU-Eunice with four and Madison (Wis.) College with three. The other returning contenders are Heartland (Ill.) Community College, UConn-Avery Point, Lackawana and Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College.

Delta’s Schoof, Gurnee earn honors in baseball

May 23, 2013; Midland Daily News

Two area baseball players were among award winners for Delta College recently.

Merrill’s Jimmy Schoof, a pitcher for the Pioneers, was named to the Region XII All-Tournament Team, while Bay City Western’s Tyler Gurnee, who plays first base for Delta, received Michigan Community College Athletic Association Third Team honors.

Delta finished its season 31-20 and finished runner-up to Grand Rapids Community College at the Region XII tournament.

Preschool kids visit fire station

The Bear Room children from the Laboratory Preschool visited the fire station on LaGrave last week. We had a great time learning about the equipment that the firefighters have to carry on each call. One of our teachers even dressed up in the firefighter gear. The children now know how a firefighter is dressed, so if they ever need to be rescued, they will understand that the firefighter, dressed in all of this scary-looking gear, is there to help them. Each child also got a hat and a badge from the firefighters. It was a lot of fun!

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Teachers can earn continuing education credits with online courses

Grand Rapids Community College offers Michigan teachers and educational professionals the opportunity to earn state continuing education clock hours online through a partnership with Cengage Learning’s Ed2Go.

Sharpen your skills, or learn new ones any time of the day or night. You can complete any course entirely from your home or office. Earn state continuing education clock hours online with our instructor-facilitated online courses specifically designed for teachers!  Choose from more than 45 courses already approved by the state!

To register, click here.

Fall 2013 Tuition Due Dates

Based on feedback from students and our service areas, we have changed our tuition deadlines for Fall 2013.  For students who have registered for fall prior to July 31, tuition is due by midnight July 31.  If students register for Fall 2013 classes after the 31st, tuition for the class they just registered for is due weekly  – by midnight the Wednesday of each week.  Between August 22 and August 30, tuition is due by midnight the day a student signs up for classes.  See the chart below for details.

Fall Tuition is Due July 31, 2013
If you enroll before or on July 31
Tuition is due by midnight July 31

If you enroll August 1- 7
Tuition is due by midnight August 7

If you enroll August 8-14
Tuition is due by midnight August 14

If you enroll August 15-21
Tuition is due by midnight August 21

If you enroll August 22-30
Tuition is due by midnight the day you sign up for classes

GRCC In the News, 5-23-13

The Factory’s coLearning graduates to more tech courses

May 22, 2013; Grand Rapids Business Journal

The Factory’s education arm is growing stronger and even starting to see some tone.

The first class of The Factory’s coLearning Intro to Ruby course has completed its work.

… Mary Brown, adjunct professor in the psychology department at Grand Rapids Community College, is advising Schaap on developing coLearning.

GRCC wins second in spelling bee fundraiser

The GRCC team of Ric Underhile, of the Center for Teaching Excellence, and Patti Trepkowski, from Instructional Support and Interdisciplinary Studies, took second place in a benefit spelling bee for the Literacy Center of West Michigan.

The enthusiastic support of Provost Gilda Gely, Aleta Anderson, Fiona Hert, Tina Hoxie and John Cowles also won GRCC the Spirit Award.

Congratulations to both spellers and cheerleaders!

All Employees Enrolled in a MESSA Health Plan Please Attend a MESSA ABC INFORMATIONAL MEETING

To learn about the MESSA ABC Health Plan and understand how the health plan works, you are encouraged to attend one of the scheduled meetings listed below. You will be able to ask questions about the health plan and get your answers directly from a MESSA representative. You can also visit the MESSA ABC Website for more details about this health plan.

MESSA ABC Informational Meetings

Date: Thursday, May 23, 2013

Location: ATC Banquet Rooms 120,122 & 124

AM Session 9:00-10:30

PM Session 3:30 -5:00

MESSA ABC Informational Meetings

Date: Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Location: Science Building Auditorium-Room 348

AM Session 6:00-7:30

AM Session 9:00-10:30

PM Session 1:00 -2:30

GRCC In the News, 5-22-13

Energy efficiency: New provider expected to save GRCC $850,000 over 15 years

May 21, 2013; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Grand Rapids Community College expects to save more than $850,000 over a 15-year period by mothballing its boilers and purchasing steam from a local provider.

GRCC President Ender ‘embarrassed’ by Belknap Park field, considers $315,000 upgrade

May 22, 2013; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Grand Rapids Community College is looking to make $315,000 worth of upgrades to two baseball fields at Belknap Park, a city-owned facility that GRCC athletic teams use for practice and games.

Professor Assists in Biographical Research about Inventor Grandfather

Betty DeRamus

Claude Harvard

Veteran, award winning journalist, author and biographer, Betty DeRamus, explains the following about her writing: “Usually somebody tells me a story. That’s where some of my best ideas have come from, I’ve heard something and it caught my attention.” The life of Professor Mursalata Muhammad’s inventor grandfather, Claude Harvard, is the subject of Deramus’ latest biography. DeRamus visits campus this week for their first in-person meeting since DeRamus secured a publisher for the biography tentatively titled: The African American Inventor Who “Educated” Henry Ford.

TRiO Student Support Services Kayak Excursion

A former GRCC professor, Jeff Neumann, is a new proprietor with GR Paddling LLC. Jeff provides kayak and canoe excursions in and around the greater Grand Rapids area.

On Friday, May 17th, a group of GRCC TRiO SSS students/advisors went on a Kayak guided excursion with Jeff. Though it was a cloudy day, the trip went well and they all had fun. TRiO Participants: Whitney Harper, Anna Maria Clark, Nathan Swanson, Carly Misech, Kimberly Reis, Philip Curtis, Brenda Lee, Vanessa Alvarez and Jessica McCormick

Check out the rates and excursions @ www.grpaddling.com

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Three sessions scheduled for Fast Track program

GRCC recently hosted an information session on its Fast Track program.

The free Fast Track program is targeted to incoming students who have academic potential but need further instruction in reading, writing and math to be college-ready. The intensive, three-week program strengthens their skills so they can bypass remedial courses and be ready to start regular college courses in the fall.

GRCC is offering three sessions for summer 2013: June 10 through 27, July 8 through 25, and July 29 through Aug. 15. Space is limited. For more information, call 234-2312 or register online here.

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Photos from Golden Raiders luncheon

Some photos from the recent Golden Raiders luncheon:

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GRCC alumnus to hold benefit concert

Brysien Beer, a GRCC TRiO/SSS alumni, is very excited to announce that he will be participating in Michigan State University’s “Master Classes at the Centro Studi Carlo Della Giacoma” in Todi, Italy. This program facilitates an intensive Italian language and opera prep course that will prove invaluable to Brysien, both as a student operatic vocalist now and later as a professional. Educational endeavors such as this one are always quite costly. In addition to initial program fees, there are plane tickets to be bought, food and living costs, enrichment field experiences and miscellaneous costs that are encountered during every international adventure. Brysien is holding a concert event to help raise money for this once in a lifetime opportunity. Brysien would really love it if you could join him.

The concert will be May 30, 2013, 7pm, in Grand Rapids Community College’s Music Center. It will feature operatic works by Verdi, Ravel, Schumann and more. There is no admission fee, but donations will be accepted and very much appreciated. Whether or not you can help financially, please come and support with your eyes and ears.

If you are unable to make it but would still like to make a contribution, contact Brysien at www.Brysien.com for details. Feel free to invite anyone who you think would enjoy hearing Brysien sing.

GRCC In the News, 5-21-13

Davenport, GRCC prepare for second year with high schoolers in tuition-free Middle College program

May 20, 2013; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Fifteen Kenowa Hills High School seniors will be taking classes on campus at Davenport University next school year, when the second year of Middle College kicks off.

… Davenport, which also has a program with Belding schools, and Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) in partnership with Wyoming schools brought West Michigan its first Middle College programs this academic year. The school districts are currently processing a second group of students to enter the programs, which both institutions say went very well this year.

… “It’s important to recognize that high school students, in many cases, are very capable and ready to take college courses,” said Dan Clark, dean of academic outreach at GRCC, who said 46 of the 50 first-year students plan to continue. “I am very pleased with the partnership with Wyoming schools. The students responded well to the first two courses.”

GRCC trustees expected to release President Steve Ender’s annual evaluation tonight

May 20, 2013; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – The Grand Rapids Community College Board of Trustees is expected to deliver its annual evaluation of President Steve Ender tonight.

‘Highly effective’ leadership: GRCC trustees explain how President Steve Ender is helping the college

May 20, 2013; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Grand Rapids Community College President Steve Ender is a highly effective leader, keeping the school on sound financial footing and guiding it through projects to renovate facilities and improve student performance, the board of trustees said Monday.

Eighth-graders to visit college campuses as part of Destination Education

May 21, 2013; The Holland Sentinel

Holland — For all eighth-graders at Holland High School, today is a chance to visit college campuses.

The plan is to bus 250 students to area colleges Hope, Cornerstorne, Kendall and two community colleges, Lake Michigan and Grand Rapids, and was organized by Destination Education.

White Lake Guitar Fest June 7-9

May 20, 2013; White Lake Beacon

A wonderful weekend in the White Lake area awaits guitarists of all skill levels.

… (Brian) Morris is in his 20th year as a member of the Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) Music Faculty. An associate of the Michigan Arts and Humanities Touring Program, Morris maintains an active performing schedule performing both as a soloist and with the Grand Rapids Quarts.