Achieving the Dream is the Focus of Michigan Trustee Institute Being Held Today at GRCC

The Michigan Trustee Institute for Student Success is underway on our campus with representatives of community colleges across the state. This morning the group of about 150 gathered to hear Carol Lincoln, Senior Vice President, Achieving the Dream, Inc., discuss “Challenging The Status Quo.”

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GRCC is an Achieving The Dream College, joining the ranks of 160 community colleges across 30 states. Their initiative has been around closing the achievement gap between low income and minority students and others – which constitutes a majority population at most community colleges.

Preceding Lincoln was Byron McClenney, a 32-year community college chief executive from University of Texas Austin, who said his more than 50 years in education had taught him that community colleges can make important decisions with good data to base them upon. McClenney exhorted the audience members to break the pattern of taking on initiatives that end when funding ends.

The group broke into small groups after the plenary session to discuss what is being learned from ATD colleges that are making progress, putting student success in the heart of strategic planning and challenges ahead.

GRCC Wellness Faculty Take Advantage of ArtPrize for Fitness Scavenger Hunt – Photos

Wellness Professors Jodi Kuyt and Jocelyn Bunce have created an Artprize 2011 Fitness Scavenger Hunt. Students in WE 165, Dynamics of Fitness, and WE 125, Aerobic Conditioning classes will be put in teams and given a scavenger hunt. (Similar to the Amazing Race).

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The scavenger hunt took place during these classes this week. The scavenger hunt asked various questions about different ArtPrize pieces in the community that students will have to run/race to get the answers. The first team back to the Ford Fieldhouse with the correct answers won the hunt for each class.

This Week at the Center for Teaching and Learning – 9/29/11-10/7/11

The Center for Teaching Excellence is pleased to offer the following Faculty Professional Development opportunities in the next two weeks. Unless otherwise noted, our offerings are open to any full- or part-time faculty at GRCC or any institution of higher learning. For more information or registration assistance, please contact the Center for Teaching Excellence at teachexcellence@grcc.edu or (616) 234-2278.

Blackboard Basics for Faculty
Online Open entry, open exit
Register via email teachexcellence@grcc.edu

Blackboard is a web-based course management system that can be used in a variety of ways. Faculty can use the simple “point and click” tools to create an online course Web site that includes content delivery, grading, assessment, and communication.

GRCC Faculty Members With ArtPrize Works on Display

The following faculty members from the School of Arts and Sciences have their work displayed in ArtPrize 2011. Please be sure to make their displays part of your ArtPrize itinerary:

• Frank Conner (Psychology Dept.) – sculpture – Cathedral Square
• Scott Garrard (Visual Arts Dept.) – 3D – GVSU Exhibition Center
• Filippo Tagliati (Visual Arts Dept.) – film/video – Mercantile Bank
• Nick Antonakis (Visual Arts Dept.) – painting – CODA (gallery operated by Kendall College of Art and Design, 44 Division St.)
• Mursalata Muhammad (English Dept.) and Carol VanRandwyk (Music Dept.) – Haiku Middle Passage Exhibit – Fountain Street Church
• Tamara Fox (Visual Arts Dept.) – 3D – Women’s City Club
• Dianne Carroll Burdick (Visual Arts Dept.) – photography – Cathedral Square
• Robert Burdick (Visual Arts Dept.) – 2D – Westminster Presbyterian Church
• Carol Jurgens (Language and Thought Dept.) – painting – Cathedral Square

GRCC in the News – 9/27/11

Grand Rapids Community College receives $2 million federal grant to target unprepared students
Published: Tuesday, September 27, 2011, 7:00 PM | Monica Scott | The Grand Rapids Press

GRAND RAPIDS – Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) has received a grant award of nearly $2 million from the U. S. Department of Education to increase the number of students who stay in college and graduate with a degree.  (More)

GRCC program targets academically unprepared students
By Staff reports | The Holland Sentinel | Posted Sep 27, 2011 @ 04:48 PM

Grand Rapids — Grand Rapids Community College received a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education Title III program to increase the number of students who stay in college and graduate with a degree. The program will focus on helping developmental education students or those needing extra courses and support to be successful college students.  (More)

Davenport, GRCC Partnering on Nursing Program
WOOD Radio | Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Davenport University and Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) are signing an articulation agreement that will allow GRCC nursing students, working toward their associate degree in nursing, to complete courses toward a bachelor’s degree at Davenport while simultaneously continuing classes at GRCC.  (More)

Davenport, GRCC sign nursing deal – Dual enrollment program benefits students
Tuesday, 27 Sep 2011, 2:03 PM EDT

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) – GRCC nursing students can now complete courses toward a bachelor’s degree at Davenport while continuing their classes at GRCC under an agreement signed Tuesday.  (More)

Haley named NSIC Offensive Player of the Week
By Derek Martin, Sports Editor | Crookston Daily Times | Posted Sep 27, 2011 @ 10:36 AM

CROOKSTON, Minn. — Golden Eagle junior running back Richard Haley has been named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Offensive Player of the Week for his 237 rushing yards on 43 carries against MSU Moorhead Saturday. The Detroit, Mich. native and Grand Rapids Community College transfer averaged 5.5 yards per carry and scored a touchdown in Minnesota, Crookston’s 29-22 overtime loss to the Dragons.  (More)

ArtPrize exhibition center review: GVSU is an exhibit worth our gratitude
Published: Tuesday, September 27, 2011, 1:23 PM | Joseph Becherer | The Grand Rapids Press

Any visit to a Grand Valley State University campus or building is certain to be an art adventure. The university’s commitment to place students, staff and visitors in direct contact with original works of art has led to an astonishing permanent collection that lives, breathes and grows. […] Multi-dimensional: Emily Purwin, 19, a Grand Rapids Community College student looks at “Galatea,” a bronze by Adam Schulz.  (More)

Edye Evans Hyde Named West Michigan Jazz Musician of the Year
Posted September 22, 2011 | Hope College Press Release

HOLLAND – Edye Evans Hyde of the Hope College music faculty has been named the 2011 Musician of the Year by the West Michigan Jazz Society. […] A 1975 graduate of Creston High School in Grand Rapids, she holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from Aquinas College, has taught K-12 vocal music, and also served as the assistant director of admissions at Grand Rapids Community College.  (More)