Photos: Blackboard Day Camp

Over the weekend, 45 adjunct faculty members attended the Blackboard Day Camp – a three-hour tour of the course management system.  The attendees received training and support from fellow faculty and instructors Melanie Forbes, Chad Sytsma, Tamara Szost, and Bethann Talsma.

Dr. Ric Underhile, GRCC’s Associate Dean of Instructional Support and Interdisciplinary Studies, welcomed everyone to the workshop and his remarks are available on his blog: runderhile.wordpress.com/

Another learning opportunity will be available on February 13 at an Adjunct Faculty Learning Day focusing on classroom teaching and support services for students.  Adjunct Faculty Flyer February 13 2010.

Actors’ Theatre Presents Mr. Marmalade (Preview Video)

Actors’ Theatre presents Mr. Marmalade by Noah Haidle, January 28-30 & February 4-6, 2010 at 8pm.  From the description:

“Lucy is a four-year-old girl with a very active imagination. Unfortunately, her imaginary friend Mr. Marmalade doesn’t have much time for her. Not to mention he beats up his personal assistant, has a cocaine addiction and a penchant for pornography. Larry, her only real friend, is the youngest suicide attempt in the history of New Jersey. You won’t want to miss this hilarious dark comedy about what it takes to grow up in these difficult times.”

Call now for tickets to Actors’ at Spectrum Theatre’s production of Mr. Marmalade 616.234.3946 or visit www.actorstheatregrandrapids.com

GRCC in the News: 1/29/10

College cash crunch – Financial aid applications up 40%
By BLAKE THORNE and STEPHEN KLOOSTERMAN | The Holland Sentinel | Posted Jan 28, 2010 @ 05:30 AM

Holland, MI – With college costs rising and Michigan’s economy sinking, Chris Flournoy knew funding college would be tough.  “I always thought about going to college, but I didn’t think I’d be able to afford it,” the Fennville High School senior said.  […]  “We’ve seen almost a 40 percent increase this year in the number of financial aid applications,” said Jill Nutt, executive director of student financial services at Grand Rapids Community College.  (More)

Learning Academy Offerings: 2/3/10-2/11/10

These are the latest offerings from the Learning Academy:

Wednesday, February 3

• Introducing the Innovation Process  9-11 a.m.
• Resumes and Cover Letters  2-3:30 p.m.

Friday, February 5 | Students’ Classroom Behavior — A Case Study Experience  11 a.m-12:30 p.m.

Tuesday, February 9

• Strengths 101  9-11 a.m.
• CWEST Overview  2-3 p.m.

Wednesday, February 10 | FERPA — The Mystery Revealed  10-11 a.m. or 2-3 p.m.

Thursday, February 11 | Conflict Resolution  1-3 p.m.

For details on these courses or to register, go to www.grcc.edu/currentlearning

GRCC in the News: 1/28/10

Grand Rapids Community College students propose $10 activities fee
By Dave Murray | The Grand Rapids Press | January 28, 2010, 7:59AM

GRAND RAPIDS — Grand Rapids Community College students would pay a mandatory $10 per-semester fee to fund activities under a plan floated by the Student Congress.  College trustees need to sign off on the plan, and several expressed concerns. And the proposed fee drew mixed reaction from students on campus this week.  (More)

GRCC likely sees first winter enrollment gain
By Dave Murray | The Grand Rapids Press | January 28, 2010, 8:16AM

GRAND RAPIDS — Grand Rapids Community College continues to grow at a historic pace, gaining students for the winter semester — likely for the first time.  The college in the fall logged 16,992 students, a campus record. While enrollment typically dips by 20 percent by the winter, this year GRCC gained about 260 students Registrar Howard Shanken said.  “That is probably a first for us, but certainly by this margin,” he said.  The fall count was a 10 percent increase over the previous year. When part-time and non-credit students are included, more than 30,000 people are expected to fill the campus and its satellites.  (More)

Grand Rapids schools schedule community forum on budget cuts
By Kym Reinstadler | The Grand Rapids Press | January 27, 2010, 2:04PM

GRAND RAPIDS — A forum on the school district’s efforts to cut $9 million from its budget will be held 6:30-8:30 p.m. Feb. 1 at Central High School’s auditorium, 421 Fountain St. NE. The forum is sponsored by the Board of Education’s ad hoc advisory committee and will be led by Steven Ender, president of Grand Rapids Community College.  (More)

Photos From Yesterday’s Student Technology Expo

Grand Rapids Community College staff held a Student Technology Expo in the Raider Grille to help familiarize students with the numerous tools they have available to them to study and learn more effectively. Students who visited several tables to learn were entered into a drawing to win, among other things, an HD Flip Camera.  For a slideshow of more photos from the event, click here.

Raider Salute to 70 Refund Check Volunteers

This Raider Salute comes from the Financial Aid and Cashier’s Office staff members:

“A big Raider Salute to the nearly 70 staff members from all across campus who volunteered their time to assist with student refund check distribution last week.  Over 3,800 students descended on the ATC, wound their way through the hallways and ultimately picked up their checks.  We could not make this happen without the help of so many friends.  We are truly grateful!”

Reminder Call for GRAHEN Outstanding Adult Learner Award

Please support our adult students at GRCC by nominating them for the Grand Rapids Area Higher Education (GRAHEN) Outstanding Adult Learner (OAL) award, which recognizes and honors the academic achievements and community contributions of local adult students; individuals who are exceptional inside the classroom and out and have demonstrated the ability to successfully juggle career, school, family and community.

The Friday February 5 deadline is fast approaching.  To request a nomination form and/or more information contact Angela Zainea at 3420 or azainea@grcc.edu

International Guitar Series Presents Chris Proctor (1/28/10)

Tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the GRCC Recital Hall, GRCC’s Music Department will hold another concert as part of its International Guitar Series featuring Chris Proctor.

From Proctor’s bio: Critics call his guitar playing “breathtaking,” “haunting,” and “rich.” They describe his compositions as “spectacular,” “elegant,” and “exquisite.” They trace the roots of his style to folk, jazz, pop, and classical music, and, when all else fails, they try and categorize his playing as “baroque folk,” or “Instrumental Americana.” The guitar press compares him to Leo Kottke and Michael Hedges. Another reviewer ventures this analysis: “In his taut, faceted compositions, Chris gives the guitar sole responsibility for a piece’s rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic components, and in the process creates full-voiced ‘guitar songs.’ His playing illuminates the instrument’s deepest voices and most sonorous qualities, rendering a pop-folk equivalent of the classical guitar sonata.”

$ 7.00 for students and seniors
$10.00 general admission

For more information, click here.

GRCC College Channel Special Listings: 1/25/10-2/7/10

The latest offerings from GRCC’s cable channel (Channel 28 / HETA) are now available at www.grcc.edu/channel28

Of special interest is the 2010 MLK Evening event, the GRCC Works Campaign Kick-off , the most recent installment of the GRCC Psychology Lecture Series and much more.  You can also check out GRCC’s downloadable podcasts at www.grcc.edu/raidercast

Space Still Available at Adjunct Faculty Blackboard Day Camp

Spaces are still available for Adjunct Faculty Blackboard Day Camp to be held this Saturday morning, January 30, from 8:15 am to 12 noon at the Applied Technology Center.   Adjuncts are invited to register online at www.grcc.edu/adjunctfacultylearningday to reserve a spot in one of these hands-on training sessions:

• Blackboard Basics Plus
• Blackboard Intermediate

For more information, BbCampAdjunct_013010 or contact Penni Weninger at 234-4547.

“Dump Your Plump” Deadline Friday

The deadline to register your team for Dump your Plump is this Friday, January 29.  If you haven’t done so already, captains, contact Liz Timmer and let her know you have a team.  She will then send you an appointment to the captain’s meeting being held on February 4.

Health Programs Sponsoring “Health for Haiti”

The GRCC Health students are sponsoring “Health for Haiti” – enjoy a healthy snack for $1.00 – donations will go to the Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti.  Baskets of fruit are available at

• 307 Cook
• 419 Cook
• 502 College Park Plaza
• Enrollment Center

Nearly 200 Students Pass it Forward in Honor of Martin Luther King (Photos)

Students, faculty, staff, friends and family joined the Academic Service Learning Center for an ePIfanyNow event Saturday January 23. Groups of 8-10 students went into the community with a mission to create a chain of positive actions in honor of Martin Luther King.

(Photos Courtesy Seth Bender)

Students returned to GRCC after completing their service and shared what they did, how it affected them personally, and how they can tie what they did to their course curriculum. Students came from a variety of courses including: Business Administration, Communications, Psychology, Physical Education, Medical Terminology, Humanities, and Sign Language. The Hispanic Student Organization also formed a group for the event.

The day was hugely successful and students really got into the spirit of giving. The ASLC would like to send a huge thank-you to One Stop Coney Shop and the Grand Rapids Griffins for donating items that students could give community members. A big raider salute goes out to Chaz Rodriguez, president of Black Student Union, for getting the crowd excited for the day and Aaron Chew, Director of Food Services, for organizing the food/drinks and set-up of the rooms. Another raider salute to all the faculty and staff that helped to get the word out about this event- thank you!

Raider Salute to Matt Coulliard

Christine Davis sent this Raider Salute in for Matt Coulliard in Graphic and Printing Solutions:

“Matt,  You did such a great job working to get our students used in GRCC advertising materials!  The initiative you took to get photos taken here on cmpus has created a new wave of GRCC pride, as shown by one of our students on YouTube! Great Job! “