Daily Archives: September 20, 2012

Policy Update Highlights – Foundation, Contributions, Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Cut-off Date, Late Enrollment, Maximum Credit Load

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9.3 Grand Rapids Community College Foundation (Full Policy Here)

  • There are no substantive changes to the policy.
  • The policy recognizes that the GRCC Foundation exists to support the College.
  • The GRCC Foundation’s By-Laws establish it as a Michigan non-profit organization that exists to support the College. The Policy indicates the dates the By-Laws were most recently modified.
  • GRCC employees, the GRCC Board of Trustees, and the GRCC Foundation Board of Directors should be aware of the policy.

9.10 Contributions to the College (Full Policy Here)

  • The primary changes to the policy include: 1) moving it from the “old” format to the “new format; and, 2) changing the numbering and associated sections/subsections (11.10 to 9.10).
  • The policy communicates the process for receiving and documenting gifts to the College.

6.24 Drug and Alcohol Abuse Policy Highlights (Full Policy Here)

  • The policy has been updated and modified to provide greater clarity to supervisors regarding concerning behaviors that may indicate substance abuse.
  • Provides students and employees with information regarding how to access community resources if they have a substance abuse problem.
  • Provides required warning regarding the dangers of alcohol and substance abuse to students and staff In compliance with the Clery Act.
  • Policy is required by the Drug-Free Workplace Act and Drug Free Schools and Communities Act
  • The use of alcohol on campus is prohibited unless specifically permitted for work or educational events or at the Heritage during regular hours.
  • Covered substances and exceptions are outlined in the policy
  • Identifies actions to be taken for refusal of pre-employment drug-screening

Admissions Cut-off Date (Full Policy Here)
GRCC will not accept new student applications five business days prior to the start of a semester.

  • Allows opportunity for academic advising
  • Allows more time to deliver other needed services to students

Blocking Late Enrollment (Full Policy Here)
GRCC will not allow students to enroll in a class after midnight of the day before the class meets for the second time.

  • Allows for limited swaps if the second class has not met
  • Promotes student responsibility and planning
  • Facilitates building a learning community from the start of a class

Maximum Student Credit Hour Load Per Semester (Full Policy Here)
Students who want to enroll in more than 18 hours in a semester must get permission from the appropriate Associate Dean.

  • Student success rates are negatively impacted when students enroll in too many credits in a given semester.

Scholarfest – It’s About the Students

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scholarfestPlease join us for the 6th annual Grand Rapids Community College Foundation event along with other supporters, community leaders and friends of GRCC on October 11 at the GRCC Wisner-Bottrall Applied Technology Center.

Won’t you join us in recognizing Fred & Linn Keller while at the same time providing scholarship support for GRCC students?

This isn’t your typical fundraising event! Come enjoy a casual, fun-filled evening as you experience fabulous tastes and sounds of GRCC among friends. GRCC’s Secchia Institute for Culinary Education faculty and students will prepare food in front of you while you enjoy the sounds of the incredibly talented GRCC Music Department faculty and students.

We are sure that you will have a great time as we party “GRCC style!”

Tickets are $150 each and a variety of sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more event information, please contact the GRCC Foundation at 616.234.3939 or grcc.edu/scholarfest

GRCC in the News – 9/20/12

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GRCC lifts hiring freeze, but administration mum on when vacant positions will be filled
Published: Wednesday, September 19, 2012, 12:00 PM | Grand Rapids Press | By Brian McVicar

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Grand Rapids Community College has lifted a hiring freeze, but it’s unclear when administrators will begin filling the vacant positions. In a statement, President Steven Ender said he decided to lift the hiring freeze – implemented in June – because enrollment for fall semester was higher than expected. This summer, administrators said the college could face a budget deficit if more students didn’t sign up for classes.  (More)

Culinary institute at Kalamazoo Valley Community College still in planning phase
Published: Wednesday, September 19, 2012, 12:01 PM | Kalamazoo Gazette | By Ursula Zerilli

KALAMAZOO, MI – Kalamazoo Valley Community College administrators are back at the drawing board stages for creating a culinary institute. Building a $16 million culinary program tops its five-year master plan and has topped the community college’s capital outlay request list for state funding for the past two years. […] Schoolcraft College in Livonia, the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education at Grand Rapids Community College and Baker College’s Culinary Institute of Michigan in Muskegon are some of the best known culinary schools in the state.   (More)

Watch transgender speaker push for LGBT protections in state civil rights law
Published: Wednesday, September 19, 2012, 6:58 PM | Grand Rapids Press | By Matt Vande Bunte

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – If protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people were included in Michigan’s civil rights law, then Rhonda Bacon thinks she would be a foster grandparent. […] Bacon was among a handful of speakers at a Michigan Department of Civil Rights hearing this afternoon at Grand Rapids Community College.  (More)

Hearing in Grand Rapids to consider adding LGBT language to Michigan’s civil rights law
Published: Wednesday, September 19, 2012, 11:12 AM | Grand Rapids Press | By Matt Vande Bunte

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Got an opinion on whether lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people should be protected under the state’s anti-discrimination law? The Michigan Department of Civil Rights will host a hearing today in Grand Rapids.   (More)

Take Five Jaye Beeler’s Sun-Dried Tomato Torte – 9/18/2012
2:36 PM, Sep 19, 2012 | WZZM 13

Jaye Beeler’s book — Tasting and Touring Michigan’s Homegrown Food: A Culinary Roadtrip — is having a fabulous run! Wednesday Sept. 19, she’s at the Okemos library and Saturday Sept. 22 at Spring Lake District Library. […] Oct. 3 (5:30 pm) at the Secchia Instutite for Culinary Education at Grand Rapids Community College, Jaye will host a tasting and demonstration seminar titled Tasting and Touring Michigan’s Homegrown Food: A Culinary Roadtrip. Call 616-234-3690 to register.   (More)

Learning Opportunities from Staff Development for the week of September 24, 2012

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Please register online for any of the sessions detailed below at grcc.edu/currentlearning or call Staff Development at ext. 4285.

Bullying in the Workplace
Mon. Sept 24, 2012 | 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM | 122 LRC (Multi-purpose room in the Diversity Learning Center)

This learning session is built on participant discussion detailing and defining the role of supervisors of student employees. Supervisors may play many roles some of those roles may lead to conflict or complications. Learning Objectives: Upon completion of this session, learners will: understand the importance of boundary setting in the work place; recognize a new awareness of unintentional consequences to blurred boundaries; have an opportunity to discover how other supervisors handle awkward or upsetting situations/relationships with student employees; begin to develop strategies and create tools to address the value of clear protected boundaries.

M&C Pay for Performance Overview
Tue Sept 25, 2012 | 8:30-10:00 AM | 124 ATC

TARGET AUDIENCE: ALL MEET & CONFER EMPLOYEES AND THEIR SUPERVISORS. Performance management is about creating a work environment that helps GRCC meets its goals. Our performance evaluation tool is intended to engage employees and inspire greater employee commitment, clarify roles and responsibilities and hold our employees accountable, and improve the overall performance of GRCC and our goals for student success. The session will be an overview of the pay for performance evaluation system. Continue reading →

Leadership Institute Criteria Correction

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The criteria wording for the Leadership Institute is causing some confusion. Please disregard the criteria that states “exceptional employee in excellent standing – exceeds expectations…” We encourage ALL employees to apply for this program. We are excited about the changes and new additions that we are making to the 2013 institute progam. For more information grcc.edu/leadershipinstitute.