Photos: White House Community College Summit

Yesterday, GRCC employees and students gathered in the Cafeteria to participate in the White House Community College educational summit.  The event covered topics including Industry Partnerships, Pathway to a Baccalaureate, Increasing Graduation Rates, Affordability/Financial Aid, Innovation: Community Colleges of the Future, Supporting Military Families and Veterans.  It also featured an impressive roster of participants such as Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, and a community college English professor, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, and Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, among others.

For more information, including video, visit www.whitehouse.gov/communitycollege

Dinner Music at the Heritage Restaurant

Jeremy Verwys, guitarist, will be playing in GRCC’s student-run Heritage Restaurant (www.grcc.edu/heritage) Thursday night from 6-8 p.m. In addition, he will also be playing next Thursday from 6-8 p.m. as well. If you’d like a preview of his fretwork, check out this video:

Are you Participating in an Upcoming Fitness Event?

The GRCC WE Team’s Run, Walk, Roll, or Cheer program is looking for GRCC students, alumni, faculty, staff, and retirees who may be participating in one of these upcoming events:

• Participate in the oldest race in Michigan, Run Thru The Rapids, on Saturday, October 9, 2010 as the race celebrates its 40th anniversary. All proceeds to benefit the YMCA Camp Manitou-lin Scholarship Fund, which helps send children to summer camp and reduces tuition costs for all young campers. For more information go visit: www.runthrutherapids.com/
• The Lowell Community Wellness Harvest Hustle (5K) family fun run/walk event is happening at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 9, 2010. Participate in this run/walk event just for fun. Run, walk or jog – have fun and get moving! The focus of this event is to encourage families to lead a healthy and active lifestyle together. For more information click here.

Please e-mail Employee Professional Development & Enrichment if you’d like to communicate a run/walk event or would like support in organizing or connecting with run/walk groups that are participating in these, or other, local events (employeedevelopment@grcc.edu).

GRCC in the News: 10/6/10

Ex-Grand Rapids Community College QB Casey Therriault making noise at Jackson State
Published: Tuesday, October 05, 2010, 11:30 AM | Jane Bos | The Grand Rapids Press

Rick Comegy, the football coach at Jackson State University, softly and slowly talked about his junior quarterback, Casey Therriault. […] Yes, the first-year player was doing great. While recruiting the 6-foot-3, 205-pounder from Grand Rapids Community College, Comegy and his staff knew he had talent. Therriault was doing well on school, had made friends and was contributing to the team.  (More)

2010 Intercultural Learning Workshop Evolves for 2011

This year, the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE)  introduced a new benefit for participants of International Faculty Development Seminars; an Intercultural Learning Workshop designed to inspire and guide participants about ways to explore the intercultural dimension of the IFDS experience and discuss ways to apply it in a classroom setting. Offered free of charge, the workshop included readings, on-site assignments, and a post-program webinar that encouraged participants to analyze their own observations and reactions to culture, and to consider ways to translate a sometimes very personal experience into an academic context.

To allow for a more reflective and flexible study of this topic, CIEE will continue to offer this optional workshop in 2011 with revisions. More information on rationale and 2011 plans for the IFDS Intercultural Learning Workshop will be announced in the spring. Questions can be directed to Aleta Anderson at x4879.

Flu Shot Clinic for Employees: 10/11/10

Flu injections will be provided to GRCC staff (excluding students) on Monday, October 11th, between 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM in the Bookstore (Student Community Center). The cost to staff will be $17 cash or check payable to GRCC. We have contracted with Spectrum Health Visiting Nurses to provide the flu shots this year. If you have any questions about the clinic, please contact me at 234-3905 or at jabenham@grcc.edu.

The following information clarifies insurance coverage for GRCC employees:

Priority Health Flu Shot Coverage
Priority Health participants will be covered for flu shots administered on-site October 11, 2010. Please have your Priority Health card with you and Spectrum Health will bill on your behalf.

MESSA Flu Shot Coverage
MESSA participants can be reimbursed directly from MESSA for flu shots given on-site October 11, 2010. You will need to submit a copy of your insurance card, and your receipt. You can fax or mail in your reimbursement request to:

Fax:
(517) 333-6229
Attn: Laurie Merritt
(Personal & Confidential)
MESSA

Or Mail to:
Attn: Laurie Merritt
(Personal & Confidential)
1475 Kendale Blvd
P.O. Box 2560
East Lansing, MI 48826-2560

West Michigan Health Insurance Pool (BC/BS) Flu Shot Coverage
Flu shots administered on-site October 11, 2010 will not be covered by WMHIP. WMHIP participants must have flu shot administered at a participating provider.

Grand Valley Health Flu Shot Coverage
Grand Valley Health Participants must have flu shots administered at a Grand Valley Health Center. For further information contact your Grand Valley Health Center.