Older Learner Center’s Mike Faber Honored

Kudos to Mike Faber of GRCC’s Older Learner Center – he was recently honored by being named a Fellow of the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE).  From the AGHE’s description:

“Fellow status is an honor conferred by the Association which recognizes outstanding leadership in gerontology and geriatrics education by established scholars/educators. […] Qualifications include noteworthy achievements in teaching, scholarship, and research on educational issues…”

Mike will be recognized in Reno, Nevada at the 36th annual meeting of the AGHE.  The AGHE is the educational branch of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA), the nation’s oldest and largest organization devoted to studying aging.

GRCC on Holiday Shutdown From 12/23/09 – 1/3/10

Reminder:  Grand Rapids Community College will close for its annual “Holiday Shutdown” on December 23, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. and re-open on January 4, 2010.  During this time GRCC’s facilities will be inaccessible.  The Holiday Shutdown was established several years ago as part of a number of efforts to reduce the cost of operating the college.

Employees may visit www.grcc.edu/shutdown for instructions on how to record Holiday Shutdown hours on their timesheets.

2009 Holiday Breakfast Photos

These photos come from this morning’s Employee Holiday Breakfast, which featured great food, the annual hazing of the new employees (by having them sing a festive song), and the comedy stylings of GRCC’s own James Schafer.

Raider Spirit Award Winner – Janet Paasche

Congratulations to Janet Paasche, English Department Chair, on receiving the Raider Spirit Award for the month of December.  Janet was honored this morning at the Holiday Breakfast.

Sounds of the Season: GRCC Winter Music Concert

As GRCC prepares for the upcoming Holiday Shutdown, the Performing Arts department presents the soundtrack for the season…

IT Dept. Scheduled Maintenance: Phone Lines

On Monday, December 28, beginning at 9:00 a.m., GRCC will be moving some of the phone lines that come into the college to new circuits.  As a result, the following services will be affected during the reprogramming cycle:

• Main phone lines to the college will be reduced to 48 incoming/outgoing lines.
• Long distance service will be rerouted through local lines when unavailable.
• Ferris State University Grand Rapids will lose phone service periodically during this time
• The connection between Wealthy Learning Corner and the main campus will be disrupted periodically during this time.

All services should return to normal by noon the same day.  This action is being taken due to a failure of some old equipment that took these lines out of service earlier this year.  The circuits are being moved to new equipment to avoid additional failures in the old equipment.

GRCC Gives a Ton to United Way Food Drive

GRCC’s United Way team and the Academic Service Learning Center would like to thank the following groups for helping the college give a ton of food to the SECOM and North Kent Service Center pantries:  Counseling, Financial Services, Ferris- GR, Institutional Research & Planning, Tassel M-Tec, Music Department, Organizational Development, Psychology, Sneden Hall, Spectrum Theatre, Center for Inquiry, Westside Learning Corner, and Workforce Training.

An extra-large thank you to the following:

• 1^st Place: Westside Learning Corner (30.67 pounds per person) winning a Catered Event  courtesy of Aaron Chew & Food Services
• 2^nd Place: Financial Services (23.18 pounds per person) winning a basket of gift cards from local area businesses including: Grand Rapids Griffins, Vans Pastry,  CFI Michigan, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Public Museum, San Chez, Schnitz Deli/Common Ground Coffee House, Mad Cap Coffee, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, and a handmade wristlet from Amy Sprouse
• 3^rd Place: Spectrum Theatre (22.33 pounds per person) $50 giftcard to Papa Johns courtesy of Student Congress & Eric Mullen
• Largest student group donation: Center for Inquiry(10.36 pounds per person) winning a Catered Event courtesy of Aaron Chew & Food Services
• Most Pounds Donated: Financial Services (440.4 pounds) getting a little extra in their gift basket

And a GIANT Thank you to:

• Penni Weninger: for sending her student employee James to us to help us move the boxes!
• James: for moving the boxes of food!

New Topics for Teacher Education Seminars

GRCC’s Education Department offers “Teacher Education Seminars” to prepare students for careers in education.  Some of the topics have now been firmed up:

• Tuesday, February 23, 2010 | The Joys and Challenges of Teaching the Gifted and Talented
  Presented by Marcie Woods
  3:30-5:00pm
  Room 302 Main
• Tuesday, March 23, 2010 | Developing and Using Your Teaching Portfolio
  Presented by Amy Kavanaugh of Ferris State University–Grand Rapids
  3:30-5:00pm
  Room 302 Main
• Tuesday, April 13, 2010 | Sundae at the Movies
  Ice Cream Social/Video Seminar Followed by Group Discussion Facilitated by Carole Redwine
  3:30-5:00pm
  Room 120 ATC

Take Care of the Fridge Before you Leave

In accordance with the Energy Conservation Program, during the holiday shutdown all refrigerators should be unplugged, cleaned out with their doors propped open.  It is recommended that this is done at least one day prior to staff leaving for the shutdown so the unit can be monitored for excessive melting of built up ice in the freezer area.

To prep your fridge for the shutdown:

1. Unplug the unit
2. Empty the appliance of all food
3. Block the door open so air can circulate and discourage mildew

Also, please be aware that personally owned space heaters are prohibited. If you have a personally owned space heater on campus it is recommended that you take it with you when you leave for the holiday break.