Photos: GRCC Unveils New DeVos Campus

Grand Rapids Community College officially unveiled the GRCC DeVos Campus on Thursday, August 25, 2010 during a reception and tour event.

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(For more photos, click here)

“The Grand Rapids Community College DeVos Campus brings a new level of commitment to our community and higher education.” said Dr. Steven C. Ender, President, Grand Rapids Community College.  “We purchased the former Davenport campus with the premise we would be able to open our doors to more students who need distinctive, valuable, quality education.  Gifts from the DeVos and VanderWeide families ensure our ability to open new doors and amazing learning opportunities to students this fall.”

The 7-acre campus was purchased by GRCC in June 2009.  Partial renovations to the first floor of the classroom building were completed and GRCC welcomed 1200 students for the fall semester. The current renovation allows for 4700 students to experience and learn in innovative ways. During this past summer, major renovations were completed on both floors of the classroom building, including new infrastructure, HVAC, wi-fi, décor, furniture and new technology in the 25 new classrooms. In addition to expanded space for classrooms and student services, the Grand Rapids Community College DeVos Campus will ease transportation and parking congestion. The DeVos Campus provides 540 parking spaces to students who attend GRCC classes in the densely populated downtown area. A shuttle passes between the GRCC DeVos and Main campuses at 20-minute intervals to assist students in travel between classes.

To read the full press release, click here…

Employees on the Move: 8/26/10

Golden Raider

• Kathleen Owens, Professor, Counseling and Career Center, 22 Years of Service

Welcome to GRCC

• Anthony Dykema-VanderArk, Assistant Professor, English Department
• Sheryl York, Assistant Professor, English Department
• Megan Coakley, Assistant Professor, English Department
• Nora Neill, Assistant Professor, English Department
• Stephen Barton, Assistant Professor, Performing Arts Department
• Troy Giambernardi, Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences Department
• Jodi Kuyt, Assistant Professor, Wellness Department
• Robert Gideon Carlstrom III, Assistant Professor, Applied Technology Department
• Scott Garrard, Assistant Professor, Visual Arts Department
• Ashlee Pipoly, Student Life Coordinator, Student Life

Thank you for your Service

• Tore Skogseth, Assistant Professor, Counseling and Career Center

GRCC in the News: 8/26/10

It’s the DeVos Campus for GRCC; don’t call it Davenport University anymore!
Published: Wednesday, August 25, 2010, 7:17 PM  | Rick Wilson | The Grand Rapids Press

GRAND RAPIDS — Grand Rapids Community College‘s newest campus now has a very familiar name: The DeVos Campus.  College leaders on Wednesday named the former Davenport University campus at 415 E. Fulton St. for the DeVos family, major donors to a campaign that will pay for the campus’ $34 million renovation. (More)

GRCC kicks off new season
Jack Doles | August 26, 2010 | WOOD TV 8

Other cities want to rent Grand Rapids’ 500-foot waterslide
Published: Wednesday, August 25, 2010, 11:28 AM | Rachael Recker | The Grand Rapids Press

GRAND RAPIDS — Utah, Hawaii and St. Joseph, Mich., want in.  Ryan Strayhorn, general manager of Byron Center’s ACP Entertainment, already has fielded three calls this week from cities interested in renting Grand Rapids’ 500-Foot Lyon Street Waterslide, which has garnered national attention.  (More)

GRCC Surpasses 250,000 Scanned Documents With ImageNow

Pictured: Financial Aid Work-Study Kipchumba Chelilim back-scanning old files.

By the end of this week, GRCC will have scanned over a quarter million documents since implementing ImageNow in mid-2009.  Departments now using ImageNow include Accounts Payable, General Counsel, Human Resources, Printing Services, Student Records, and Financial Aid.

“GRCC has made a significant investment in document imaging not only with scan stations, but also the software that ties in nicely with PeopleSoft” according to David Anderson, Administrative Applications Manager for GRCC’s I.T. Department.

Placed end to end, the departments have scanned almost 230,000 feet of paper which can now be recycled.

“The pace of scanning continues to increase as department’s online work to eliminate old files and open up space in their offices.”  David continued, “Each month since we have implemented electronic content management (ECM), the number of documents scanned continues to increase.”

ImageNow allows immediate access to electronic documents scanned and linked to any other person in their respective department.  This has allowed greater productivity and department develop workflow to move “electronic paper” through a department.

“Providing one electronic source for documents that can be searched and accessed by multiple users at the same time has enabled Financial Services to reduce the amount of time spent searching for, reviewing, and filing paper documents”, said Todd Hurley, GRCC Controller.  “Linking receipts and invoices electronically to accounts payable transactions in PeopleSoft allows my staff to quickly answer vendor inquiries.  We have also piloted ImageNow workflow and have measurable data showing a significant shortening of the approval cycle.”

Raider Salute From Criminal Justice

This Raider Salute comes from Fawn Tobolic in the Criminal Justice department:

“The Criminal Justice Dept. would like to give a “BIG” Raider Salute to Bryan Wible and Mike Kidder. We held an open house for all CJ adjunct and faculty at our new location, Mable Engle. There was a huge turnout at 5pm and without Bryan and Mike assisting at the grill, we would not have been able to keep up with the demand! Thank you Bryan and Mike!

We would also like to take the time to thank everyone involved with the move to Mable Engle making this transition as smooth as possible for the CJ dept and a select few from Social Science dept: Bryan Wible and his team, the IT team, Dan Cook, Admissions staff, Kathy Kolehouse and all the “movers and shakers” here at Sneden.”