United Way Campaign: What if it Started With You?

What if it started with you? Like everyone these, days, United Way is stretching its dollars to make their funds go as far as possible. Your gift, when combined with thousands of others, enables them to continue their important work to meet the growing needs of our community. Do more to make West Michigan a better place to live. Please submit pledge forms by November 12th to your team captain or Mansfield Matthewson.

Video: GRCC / Lawrence Tech Architectural Degree Partnership

GRCC formed a new partnership with Lawrence Technical University; video of the press conference announcing the partnership is available courtesy of the Media Technologies Department:

GRCC Foundation Board Thanks Fred van Hartesveldt and Bob Partridge for Service

The Grand Rapids Community College Foundation recently awarded two outgoing board members with a plaque for service:

Fred van Hartesveldt | Director, 2002-2010

Bob Partridge | Assistant Treasurer, 1987-2010

Below is a list of the newly elected GRCC Foundation Board of Directors

David Custer – Chairperson

Jeff Gietzen – Vice Chairperson

Douglas M. Klein – Treasurer

Glen V. Borre – Secretary

Robert Partridge – Assistant Treasurer

Andrew W. Bowne, Ed.D. – Executive Director

Olivia Margo Anderson
George Aquino
Nancy Ayres
Deb Bailey
David C. Bottrall
James V. Buzzitta, M.D.
Michael Despres
Beverly Drake
Steven C. Ender, Ed.D.
Joseph J. Hesse, Ph.D.
Ellen M. James
Mike Lloyd
Walter Lodes, Jr.
Elias Lumpkins
James E. Marosi
Mark A. Michon
Larry Murphy
Richard Ortega
Ana L. Ramirez-Saenz
Lisa A. Shannon
Dan Webb
Nicholas P. Wikar

Barbara J. DeMoor – Director Emeritus

James M. LaFleur – Director Emeritus

Photos: Psychology Dept. Lecture Series – Joy Spahn / Alzheimer’s Disease

These photos come from Tuesday’s Psychology Department Speakers Series. Joy Spahn spoke on the topic of Alzheimer’s Disease to a standing room only crowd. A video of the presentation will be available on the Psychology Department’s Web page at www.grcc.edu/psychology in the next few days. The next speaker is Dr. Joseph Krainin on December 1st, from 1:15 – 2:15. This presentation will be on Parasomnias (sleep disorders). More information can be found on the Psychology Department web page.

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GRCC Transfer Fair 11/8/10

GRCC will hold a Transfer Fair on Monday, November 8, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Wisner-Bottrall Applied Technology Center (ATC).  Thirty-three colleges and universities will be in attendance; for a complete list of who is or isn’t attending click here.

At the Transfer Fair, student can:

• learn about transfer requirements
• shop around and pick up transfer information
• meet with college/university representatives

The fair is sponsored by GRCC’s Counseling, Advising & Retention Services.

GRCC in the News: 11/4/10

Jimmy Klunder, 20-year-old son of blues guitarist Jimmie Stagger, dies of cancer
Published: Wednesday, November 03, 2010, 12:34 PM | John Sinkevics | The Grand Rapids Press

ROCKFORD — Jimmy Klunder was a young man filled with “love of life, family, friends, food, music and humor” who “always will be an uplifting and positive force in my life and the lives of those he touched.” […] Klunder, who graduated from Rockford High School in 2009 with summa cum laude honors, had carried a 4.0 GPA at Grand Rapids Community College when he was forced to suspend his schooling due to intense treatments for the cancer, first diagnosed in December 2009.  (More)

Davenport University plans to return to downtown Grand Rapids with health care MBA program
Published: Thursday, November 04, 2010, 8:35 AM | Dave Murray | The Grand Rapids Press

GRAND RAPIDS — Davenport University’s move away from downtown could be short-lived.  The school today is revealing plans to open a downtown center aimed at offering master’s degrees in business, especially those geared toward students who want to work in the region’s growing health care field.  (More)

Grand Rapids Community College, Lawrence Tech team up to offer architectural degree
Thursday, November 04, 2010 | Rapid Growth

The Business Review West Michigan reports that students from Grand Rapids Community College will soon have an opportunity to complete an architectural degree at Southfield’s Lawrence Technological University.  (More)

Daylight Savings Time 11/7/10

Thanks to Maggie Koron in the Child Development department for the reminder that this week Sunday, November 7, is the date to “Fall Back” and turn your clocks back an hour for daylight savings time.

Raider Salute to Mike Rowe and Vern Vandevooren

This salute came in recently:

The Biology Department would like to thank Vern and Mike for the tables and chairs placed on the second floor student area of the Calkins Science Center.  Students have been caught studying already!  Thanks for your quick response to this request!

Great American Smokeout (11/18/10) – Health Effects of Smoking in Children

Health Effects of Secondhand Smoke in Children (excerpt from A Report of the Surgeon General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

• Both babies whose mothers smoke while pregnant and babies who are exposed to secondhand smoke after birth are more likely to die from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) than babies who are not exposed to cigarette smoke.
• Mothers who are exposed to secondhand smoke while pregnant are more likely to have lower birth weight babies, which makes babies weaker and increases the risk for many health problems.
• Babies whose mothers smoke while pregnant or who are exposed to secondhand smoke after birth have weaker lungs than other babies.
• Secondhand smoke exposure causes acute lower respiratory infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia in infants and young children.
• Secondhand smoke exposure causes respiratory symptoms, including cough, phlegm, wheeze, and breathlessness, among school-aged children.
• Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at increased risk for ear infections and are more likely to need an operation to insert ear tubes for drainage.

In addition to the above, second hand smoke causes:

Cognitive Impairments

• Secondhand smoke exposure impairs a child’s ability to learn. It is neurotoxic even at extremely low levels. More than 21.9 million children are estimated to be at risk of reading deficits because of secondhand smoke. Higher levels of exposure to secondhand smoke are also associated with greater deficits in math and visuospatial reasoning.
• The offspring of mothers who smoke one pack of cigarettes per day during pregnancy have an IQ score that is, on average, 2.87 points lower than children born to nonsmoking mothers.
  Behavioral Problems
• Children born to women nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke during pregnancy and to women who smoked during pregnancy are more likely to suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and conduct disorder.
• Girls are exposed to higher rates of secondhand smoke than boys, but boys have greater problems with hyperactivity, aggression, depression, and other behavioral problems.

(American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation,© 2009)

GRCC Volleyball Heads to Regionals (11/5/10-11/6/10)

GRCC’s Volleyball team will be competing next Friday and Saturday, Nov. 5th and 6th, at Ford Fieldhouse in the Regional Volleyball tournament to see who will qualify for the National Tournament. Competition begins Friday, Nov. 5th at 4:00 p.m.