Job Training Graduation 12/7/11 – Photos

Yesterday, GRCC’s Job Training program held another successful graduation ceremony as approximately 100 students graduated in the areas of: Automotive Technician, Welding/Fabrication, Introduction to Construction, Green Construction Remodeling, Residential Construction, Construction Electrical, Computer Applications Specialist, Computer Support Technician and Machinist/CNC.

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Speakers at the event included:

• Scott Mattson- Job Training Manager
• George Waite – Director, Leslie E Tassell M-TEC
• Fiona Hert – Dean, School of Workforce Development
• Mike Julian – Board Member, Tassell-Wisner-Botrall Foundation
• Richard Ryskamp – Trustee, GRCC BOT

Also in attendance was GRCC  Board of Trustees member Richard Verburg.

 

Windows 7 Upgrade Information – Part 3

Click here to view the third of three training videos to help faculty and staff prepare for the Windows 7 upgrade that will begin in January 2012. In this video, MaryBeth and Fred explain what to do with your GRCC files.

Peoplesoft Outage Sunday 12/11/11

The PeopleSoft Campus Solutions system will be down from 6:00 PM to 12:00 PM Sunday December 11th, 2011 for patching. This includes the both student and faculty online centers.

Dental Assistants Holding Annual Toothbrush Sale

The Dental Assisting department students are selling regular toothbrushes, Crest Whitestrips and electric toothbrushes to benefit the program.  The products are already here, so place your order with Julie Bera and she will deliver them until they are gone.

Toothbrushes: The brushes are Oral B Advantage brushes; Price: $10.00/dozen, $5.00 for half dozen, cash or checks to GRCC DA Club.  Several sizes are available:

• Full size adult
• Compact size adult
• Child size Stage 3 – ages 3-8
• Child size Stage 4 – ages 8 and up

Whitestrips: The DA program has Crest Professional Whitestrips (not available in retail): $30.00

Electric Toothbrushes: 4 Oral-B Professional 5000 electric toothbrushes are available (they retail at Target for $139.99) and are on sale for $75.00.

Employees Invited to GRCC Christian Fellowship Christmas Drop-in Party – 12/7/11

The GRCC Christian Fellowship invites all faculty, administrators, trustees, and staff to its Christmas Drop-In Party, today (Wednesday, December 7), from 3:30 to 5 PM in Room 205 in the Raider Grille, 2nd Floor of the Student Center.  The GRCC Christian Fellowship is the Christian student organization on campus.

Join them as they celebrate the mystery and miracle of the incarnation: the Word becoming flesh. Enjoy good company and delicious snacks and drink catered by the GRCC Dining Service.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

 

GRCC in the News – 12/8/11

‘Spring Awakening’ playing in GR
The Holland Sentinel | Posted Dec 08, 2011 @ 05:34 AM

Grand Rapids — Actors’ Theatre Grand Rapids presents the Grand Rapids premiere of “Spring Awakening,” a musical based on the controversial 1892 play by Frank Wedekind. With music written by recording artist Duncan Sheik and lyrics by Steven Sater, this original staging is by veteran director (and Actors’ Theatre founder) Fred Sebulske. Instrumental and vocal music direction is by Scott Patrick Bell. “Spring Awakening” will be presented through Dec. 17 at GRCC Spectrum Theater, 160 Fountain St. N.E., Grand Rapids. All currently scheduled performances begin at 8 p.m. Additional performances may be added as demand and availability permit.  (More)

HollyJolly: A Fresh Perspective on Community Building
CHELSEA SLOCUM OF THEMODELIFE | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 08, 2011 | Rapid Growth

Last Friday evening, families gathered in downtown Grand Rapids to hear choirs sing, enjoy a visit from Santa Claus and watch the traditional Christmas tree lighting ceremony (40,000 lights!). But unlike years past, many chose to stay past the carols and visit one of over 45 downtown retailers during the first annual HollyJolly event, presented by Independent Bank. […] HollyJolly went a step further and enlisted the help of local fashion students from Grand Rapids Community College. Marianne Bockheim, Professor at GRCC, partnered students from the fashion program with businesses to assist with designing and implementing the window displays.  (More)

Players’ old houses not code-compliant – 9 properties owned by Beckett have violations
Wednesday, 07 Dec 2011, 10:55 PM EST | By Marlee Ginter

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Homes that dozens of Grand Rapids Community College football players were ejected from are in violation of city codes. The students were evicted because, according to landlord Josh Beckett, the rent had not been paid. But Target 8 discovered on Wednesday that nine properties recommended to students in a letter from the Director of Football Operations had code violations. The homes are owned by Beckett Property Management. Some are so behind on getting up to code that they’ve been sent to the city attorney for legal action.  (More)

College Launches Investigation Into Landlord’s Claim Of Unpaid Rent
Jonathan Seely | FOX 17 Web Producer | 9:29 p.m. EST, December 7, 2011

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich— Grand Rapids Community College is dealing with a housing controversy that involves the school’s football team, after 20 people were evicted from a rental property. As of Wednesday, however, it is looking more and more like the situation may be a big misunderstanding rather than some sort of a scandal.  (More)

Penning sings in the season – Soprano reunites with LSO for a holiday pops concert
by Carlee Schepeler | Lansing City Pulse | Wednesday, December 7,2011

Vocalist Diane Penning has a Christmas party to plan for her husband, three sons and 35 of their closest family members. But not until she sings with three Michigan orchestras at their holiday pops concerts. […] The Grand Rapids native has a bachelor’s in music and voice from the University of Michigan and a master’s of music degree in voice performance from Western Michigan University. She teaches private lessons and is an adjunct voice instructor at Grand Rapids Community College, but she never turns down the chance to perform.  (More)

Sports programs rare at junior colleges – GRCC’s football team one in 3 surrounding states
Wednesday, 07 Dec 2011, 4:58 PM EST | By Dani Carlson

More information is becoming available about the dozens of Grand Rapids Community College football players were kicked out of their northeast Grand Rapids homes because their rent wasn’t paid.  (More)

Music for the Holidays – Video

GRCC’s Media Technologies Department was able to capture this holiday concert that included the college’s Choral and Instrumental Ensembles.

Board of Trustees Open Meeting 12/6/11 – Video

In case you weren’t able to attend the Board of Trustees Open Meeting held Monday, December 6, 2011 – the full meeting is available here via the Media Technologies Department:

United Way Total for 12/8/11

[Corrected] GRCC has collected $38,116 for United Way from donations and the auction. Of our 697 employees, 181 have contributed, giving GRCC a 26 percent participation level.

You can still send a contribution to Christine Davis in our HR Dept. through this Friday, December 18.

Poetry Night Downtown With Barbara Saunier and Kim Wyngarden Tonight – 12/8/11

Two GRCC poets, Barbara Saunier and Kim Wyngarden, will be featured at Poetry Night Downtown tonight, December 8 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Schuler Books (40 Fountain St. NW).

Barbara Saunier taught writing for over twenty-five years at Grand Rapids Community College, retiring to her farm and horses in 2010. Her poems have appeared most recently in Poet Lore, The South Loop Review and The South Carolina Review. They have also received two Pushcart nominations and this fall won first prize in the MacGuffin 16th national Poet Hunt contest. She is working on her first full-length collection of poems.

Kim Wyngarden is a Professor of English at GRCC. She is a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, A Fulbright Scholar, and most recently a 2011 Lake Michigan Writing Project Fellow. her interests include world travel and Russian literature. Her poetry often focuses on giving voice to people who speak but are seldom heard.

2011 Year-End To Do List From Payroll

GRCC’s Payroll Department wants to make employees aware of these three important steps they need to take as the year comes to a close:

1. Using your most recent check or payroll advice, please verify the spelling of your first and last name, mailing address and withholding allowances. If any information is incorrect, please immediately contact the Payroll Office at ext. 4038, 3965 or 4018. The information on your paycheck/advice is what will be printed on your W-2. If your W-2 is different than your social security card, your earnings may not be credited properly into your social security account.

2. New W-4’s should be filled out if you’re filing status or exemption allowances have changed. Forms are available on the payroll web site, www.grcc.edu/payroll or stop by the payroll office.

3. If you are currently filing “exempt” on your W-4 (State and/or Federal), you are required to complete a new W-4 no later than February 1, 2012.