SafeZone Learning Opportunity for Employees 11/8/12

The SafeZone program is a diversity education program that includes all individuals in a personal journey toward greater understanding and inclusion (regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, weight, height, marital status, status as a Vietnam era veteran, and disability, as a reflection of the GRCC EEOC statement). The program philosophy provides not only a safe space for all people, but also increases communication and understanding among people. One of the goals of SafeZone is to emphasize that all individuals will be treated and respected as human beings. Further, the program emphasizes that ignorance, bigotry, and harassment will not be tolerated in an environment of learning.

The next session will be held on: Thursday, November 8, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., in the Diversity Learning Center conference room, please register at dlcregistration@grcc.edu

 

Leadership Institute 2013 – This Means you!

This institute is open to all full-time employees. Whether you are a entering a new leadership role, or aspiring to become a leader one day, this Institute is designed for you. This Institute focuses on leadership development as well as addressing the unique challenges of a community of higher education. Our facilitators include both internal and external experts in the field, including Varnum Consulting and Executive Excellence.

For more information and application material, please see grcc.edu/leadershipinstitute. Leadership Applications are due 10/19/2012

Farewell Celebration for Andy Bowne (Photos)

 

The GRCC family bid farewell to Andy Bowne, whose tenure as the college’s associate vice president for college advancement and foundation executive director officially ends today, and he prepares to take on executive leadership responsibilities at Ivy Tech Community College in Indiana. We wish Andy well in his new role, and him and his family all the best in their community.

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Thank You From Andy Bowne

Thank you for allowing me to be a part of the GRCC team for the past nine years. Thank you for all of the conversations, emails, cards, phone calls, and to all who stopped by during the open house yesterday. I am humbled by all of these gestures of support, encouragement, and friendship.

GRCC is made up of really incredible people doing exceptional work. I say it often, we have such talented faculty who love to teach and help students. And, that we are blessed with gifted staff across the college… across all employee groups!

I’ve been blessed to lead two fantastic teams of people who roll up their sleeves and go to work- Training Solutions & Job Training and the College Advancement. The success that has been achieved by these teams is the result of good people, good planning, and good execution. Thanks for all you do.

I’m not good at saying good-bye. So, it is with incredibly mixed emotions that I say “see you later”. I trust that you’ll continue the excellent work that you’ve all been doing for many, many years.

In humble and sincere gratitude –

Andy

The Great Grand Rapids Garbage Tour 2012

Ever wonder where your trash goes?  If you’re looking for ways to reduce waste for your business or home, this expedition will take you where most are forbidden to go!

On November 14, 2012 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. GRCC is hosting its “Great(er) Grand Rapids Garbage Tour 2012” and tour local waste management facilities to give participants an inside look into the impact of the waste we produce throughout the day.

The bus tour will start and end up at the Leslie E. Tassell M-TEC (622 Godfrey Ave. SW).  Seating is limited so register now at www.grcc.edu/garbagetour or call (616) 234-3400.

17 GRCC Faculty Participate in MOOC on Building Exemplary Courses in Blackboard

More than 2300 faculty and staff at educational institutions around the world are participating in a Massive Open Online Course “MOOC” through Blackboard. The 4 week online course is entitled: “Designing an Exemplary Course” and 17 faculty and staff are enrolled from GRCC including: Daniel Anderson; David Knoll; David Lange; Eric J. Kunnen; Garret Brand; Gary Ebels; Hope Hagan; Jennifer Sobie; John Doneth; Kate Byerwalter; Lisa Gloege; Meegan Willi; Mike Light; Paula Sullivan; Robert Sawall; Sophie Rubin; and Szymon Machajewski.

This exemplary course uses the Blackboard Exemplary Course Program (ECP) Rubric as a guide and covers theoretical concepts and practical tools for instructors to recognize, organize, and build online courses for both blended learners and online learners. The course is taught by faculty and previous ECP award winners from colleges such as Wayne State, Capella, Georgetown University, and California Baptist University.

What is a MOOC? In short a MOOC is a Massive Open Online Course where large numbers of students enroll and learn online. In most cases, MOOCs don’t offer credits and may require additional assessments for certification. You may have already heard about Coursera (along with similar programs by Harvard, MIT, and University of California Berkeley’s EdX) which now hosts about 200 courses from 33 schools such as: Stanford, Duke University, Princeton, Johns Hopkins, Columbia, Brown, Michigan, Ohio State University, Vanderbilt, University of Maryland, University of Florida, University of California, and Emory University. Coursera reports that over 1.3 million students around the world are participating in the online courses.

Notice of Availability of Annual Security Report

A copy of GRCC’s 2012 Annual Security Report is available for review. This report is required by federal law and contains statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on-campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by GRCC; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning sexual assaults, inclement weather, emergency situations, and other matters.

This report is available online at grcc.edu/securityreport

You can also request a paper copy by visiting the GRCC Campus Police Department.

During October GRCC Celebrates National Disability Awareness Month

Did you know…

• In the US: Number of people with reported disabilities is 11.9% (36,399,700 people)**
• In Michigan: Number of people with reported disabilities is 13.5% (1,316,600 people)**
• Just over 1 in 4 of today’s 20 year-olds will become disabled before they retire*
• GRCC has about 600 students who have self-identified with the Disability Support Office
• Students with disabilities are enrolled in 1730 sections of GRCC classes this Fall 2012

What are your chances of having a disability during your lifetime? How would this disability affect you financially? Take the Personal Disability Quotient to find out! whatsmypdq.org

Statistics:

*Council for Disability Awareness, http://www.disabilitycanhappen.org , 2012
**US Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2010

Disability Awareness information provided by Disability Support Services, 616.234.4140

GRCC Diversity Lecture Series 2012-2013

GRCC’s Diversity Lecture Series for 2012-2013 has announced its roster of amazing speakers:

JEFF CHANG – Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Author, Historian, Music Critic
Who We Be: The Colorization of America

Jeff Chang is a radical historian with both street cred and academic chops, Chang addresses multiculturalism, race relations, student activism, political engagement, the state of the arts, and the politics of abandonment. His book, Can’t Stop Won’t Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation is only ostensibly about hip-hop; it’s really a cultural history.

In his follow-up, Who We Be, he traces the rise of multiculturalism—its roots, its triumphs, its commercialization—to tell a new, vibrant, and necessary people’s history. Jeff Chang is the Executive Director of the Institute for Diversity in the Arts at Stanford University.

KAMBRI CREWS – Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Author, Comedic Storyteller, Producer
Burn Down the Ground

Kambri Crews once lived with her deaf parents in a tin shed in Montgomery, Texas. She now runs her own PR and production company in New York City and is the author of the critically acclaimed memoir, Burn Down the Ground, her story of overcoming poverty, violence and near-crippling adversity.

Crews uses comedic storytelling with brutal honesty and fearless humor and inspires with her motto and guiding philosophy, “Life’s Tough, Laugh More.” She is a co-producer of the ECNY Awards and has produced dozens of shows featuring comedians and writers from The Onion, The Daily Show to Saturday Night Live.

DOUGLAS RUSHKOFF – Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Author, Media Theorist, Lecturer
Digital Nation

Douglas Rushkoff, Ph.D. is a graphic novelist and globally recognized media and technology theorist specializing in new media and internet culture. He originated several ideas ranging from “viral media” to “social currency” with insight on how interactive communications affect our society as we create, share, and influence each other’s values.

Rushkoff is a CNN commentator, author of 12 books, including the Gen-X Reader, Screenagers, Life Inc.: How Corporatism Conquered the World, and How We Can Take It Back. He is best known for his association with the early cyberpunk culture, and his advocacy of open source solutions to social problems.

LZ GRANDERSON – Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Journalist, Commentator, Sports Writer
Dare You to Move

LZ Granderson writes a weekly column for CNN.com, and is a senior writer and columnist for ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com. He is a contributor to ESPN’s Sports Center, Outside the Lines and First Take. This former Detroit gang member rose to be selected a Hechinger Fellow at Columbia University.

LZ’s commentary, reaches well beyond the world of athletics tackling subjects such as use of the N-word in the black community, the presence of gays in the locker room, and the truths and lies of reverse racism. Prior to joining ESPN, Mr. Granderson was a sports columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and The Grand Rapids Press.

SUSAN CAIN – Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Author, Lecturer
Quiet, The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking

Susan Cain is a former corporate lawyer and negotiations consultant—and a self-described introvert. Her book has sparked a genuine national conversation about introverts. Although our culture undervalues them dramatically, introverts have made some of the great contributions to society—from Chopin’s nocturnes to the invention of the personal computer to Gandhi’s transformative leadership. Based on intensive research in psychology and neurobiology, Cain argues that we design our schools, workplaces, and religious institutions for extroverts, and that this bias creates a waste of talent, energy, and happiness.

For more information, please call (616) 234-3390

• All lectures begin at 7:00 p.m. at Fountain Street Church, 24 Fountain St. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
• Free and open to all
• On-campus parking $3.00 (with discount pass)
• ASL interpreted
• Book signing follows authors’ lectures