Preview of Race Ethnicity and Identity Speaker Susan Retik

Susan Retik will share her remarkable story of transforming personal loss into humanitarian outreach, helping others to embrace their own power to make a difference in her keynote speech for the Social Science Department’s Race, Ethnicity and Identity Conference March 26. The conference runs through March 29.

Her commitment to Afghan widows was born from her own journey into widowhood — a journey that began on September 11, 2001, when her husband David was killed.

She has received a number of honors, including a prestigious award from Search for Common Ground and Traditional Home Magazine’s Classic Woman award. The Lowell MA Police Academy recognized Susan for her work against terrorism and she received a Special Recognition Award for Activism from the Massachusetts Office of Victim Assistance. Susan has been featured in hundreds of other media pieces on television, including Oprah, and in print. She is especially proud of Beth Murphy’s award-winning documentary film Beyond Belief, which details Susan and Patti’s 2006 trip to Afghanistan.

Retik will speak Monday, March 26 from 7:30 – 9 PM in the Spectrum Theater.

Check this link to get a sneak peak at Susan Retik, and see why she is the stuff of books and documentaries.

For a complete conference schedule, go to grcc.edu/raceconference

Learning Opportunities from Staff Development 4/11/12-5/5/12

fStaff Development is excited to introduce Zoe Carmichael as a new Facilitator for the spring schedule. Zoe is a successful Communication Consultant, and will be facilitating the following five sessions detailed below:

Presentation Skills 101
Wednesday April 11, 2012 | 1-3 PM | 214 Sneden Hall

“Help, I’ve got a presentation coming up next week and don’t know what to do”. In this survival session we highlight the basic skills that YOU MUST KNOW before your next presentation. At the end of this session, participants will be able to: identify the skill required to conduct an effective presentation, establish a positive learning environment, understand participants needs and respond appropriately, apply adult learning principle to the presentation, demonstrate the appropriate use of visuals, and deliver concise, meaningful content.

The GRCC Preschool Visits Officer Robin – Photos

Attached are some photos from our visit with Officer Robin. She read the book, The Bear Snores On. We enjoyed her company and the Bunny room has set up a time each month that she will come read to us! It was a great experience and we look forward to her return.

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Coffee and Conversation – Photos and Video

[Updated] Employees gathered yesterday in the Multi-purpose room to have a dialog with GRCC President Dr. Steven Ender.  You can also view the entire discussion courtesy of GRCC’s Media Technologies Department here:

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Service Learning Faculty Professional Development 3/14/12

The Department of Experiential Learning and Center for Teaching Excellence are pleased to offer professional development in developing Academic Service Learning Curriculum. GRCC Academic Service Learning Faculty Scholars Sandy Andrews, Physical Science, Leigh Kleinert, Biological Science, and Sherry Knoppers, Nursing, will show you how to incorporate service learning into your course curriculum. The offerings are in sequence but you may attend any or all.

Academic Service Learning Curriculum Track 2
Wednesday, 3/14 2:00 – 3:00 351 Main

Explore the potential depth and breadth of serving learning projects. Emphasis will be placed on increasing project complexity, curriculum connections and interdisciplinary connections. Track 2 is designed for all adjunct and full-time GRCC faculty members with previous curriculum Academic Service Learning experience. This includes faculty members with prior ASL experience with GRCC or other institutions as well as faculty members seeking to add breadth and depth to their curriculum ASL offerings.

Academic Service Learning Curriculum Track 3
Wednesday, 3/28 2:00 – 3:00 351 Main

Review and explore ASL administrative procedures and processes. Emphasis will be placed on improving participant knowledge, access and use of curriculum ASLC procedures and processes. Track 3 is designed for all adjunct and full-time GRCC faculty members with previous curriculum Academic Service Learning experience with GRCC or other institutions.

Both tracks are eligible for Longevity Training Credit where applicable and are open to full or part-time faculty members from any institution of higher learning.
More information: Michael Schavey, Associate Director of Experiential Learning mschavey@grcc.edu or (616) 234-4180

Registration through GRCC’s Center for Teach Excellence : www.grcc.edu/ctereg Guests: teachexcellence@grcc.edu or (616) 234-2278

AGC Meeting Today 3/12/12

Academic Governing Council (AGC) meets on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room, SCC. AGC members and all faculty members may check their e-mail for agenda and supporting materials. Additional materials will posted on the AGC website here.

Most Popular Blackboard NBC Learn Videos in February

NBC Learn is a collection of video resources, primary sources, images, and text resources designed for use in K12 and higher education. Through the archives, faculty have access to thousands of video clips, including news footage of historic events, critical analysis, current events and mini-documentaries covering topics from early American history to the modern day.

Over the month of February, over 1,060 videos were used in the system and viewed for a total of 2,095 minutes. The top videos watched by students at GRCC included:

• Who Talks More, Men or Women?
• Better Communication Needed Between the Sexes in the Workplace
• Want Fries Cooked in Lard with That?
• Chinese “Tiger Mom” Defends Tough Parenting
• Free iPhone 4 Cases: Fix or Fiasco?
• Tan: “The Kitchen God’s Wife”
• Capitol Hill Sleepovers: Ethics Violation?
• Food Costs Reach Crisis Proportions
• Tourists vs. Tortoises: Visitors Threaten Galapagos Islands
• Secret Software Tracks Phone Activity
• Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Stolen Valor Act
• Supreme Court Rules Tracking Suspects via GPS Violates Privacy Laws
• SOPA Protest Grows
• Starting a Francise Business
• Inside the Teenage Brain
• Interested in learning more about how to easily access a wealth of video content in Blackboard?

Visit DLIT’s NBC Learn (grcc.edu/nbclearn) web page to learn more about NBC Learn.  Access how to tipsheets and tutorials (grcc.edu/learnbb) to learn how to insert a clip into your course in Blackboard!

GRCC in the News – 3/13/12

Grand Rapids school board endorses GRCC’s $100 million tax request
Published: Monday, March 12, 2012, 6:00 PM | Grand Rapids Press

GRAND RAPIDS – The Grand Rapids school board today voted to endorse the Grand Rapids Community College’s 20-year, $100 million tax increase request to voters May 8. GRCC President Steve Ender gave the board an overview of the building and technology needs and how the money would enhance teaching and learning. He said the college is actively seeking the support of all area school boards.  (More)

GRPS Board supports GRCC millage – GRCC to ask voters for nearly $99 million
Monday, 12 Mar 2012, 5:22 PM EDT | By Dani Carlson

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – With little discussion, the Grand Rapids Public School board unanimously carried a motion to support the Grand Rapids Community College millage on Monday afternoon. In a special board meeting/work session, members of the school board listened to a presentation from GRCC President Dr. Steven Ender about what the community college is asking voters for and why.  (More)