Dates, locations added to pre-retirement meetings schedule

New dates and locations have been added to the schedule of pre-retirement information meetings.

The Office of Retirement Services recommends that anyone who is within four to five years of retirement attend a meeting. The session lasts about two hours and is an opportunity to learn more about your retirement plan so you can make informed decisions about your future.

Topics include:

• reform information.
• choosing a pension payment option.
• eligibility requirements.
• calculating retirement benefits.
• insurance after retirement.
• questions and answers.

Registration is required: click here.

Workforce Training staff shares course offerings at Great Lakes Expo

Sara Yob and others from the GRCC Workforce Training staff are at the Great Lakes Expo through December 6.

The Expo is the premier show for fruit and vegetable growers, farm marketers and greenhouse operators. The Workforce Training staff is promoting its Food Safety, GAP, root camps and culinary offerings. More than 4,000 people from 42 states and six Canadian provinces registered for the expo last year.

PeopleSoft Student to be off-line for year-end maintenance

PeopleSoft Student (CWIS), including the Online Center, will be down starting at 8 a.m. on December 9, 2012, for year-end scheduled maintenance. The system will be available by 7 a.m. December 10. This does not include BlackBoard or Financials.

Commercial Refrigeration Class tackles ‘Big Chill’ challenge

One of the required projects for students enrolled in Don Steeby’s Commercial Refrigeration Class is constructing individual refrigeration units. This assignment has driven some students to work in teams to find out how cold they can get their freezer. From there, it has become a competition to see who can get their unit to be the coldest — the “Big Chill Challenge.”

Using conventional freezer and refrigerator cabinets, students apply what they’ve learned about refrigeration components to build up these units by using accessories to subcool the refrigerant to temperatures reaching well below zero.

This year, Cody Bomers and Derrick Wiest came out on top with their custom-build freezer bottoming out at 35 degrees below zero! The runner-up team of Al Harig, Armando Echabarria and Todd Ter Molen were able to reach a temperature of 25 degrees below zero.

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Christian Fellowship invites faculty, staff to Christmas party

GRCC Christian Fellowship invites all faculty and staff to its annual Christmas party, from 3-5 p.m. December 5, 2012, in the multipurpose room on the second floor of the Student Center (around the corner from the Quiet Cafe).

You can meet GRCC Christian Fellowship student members and advisers Paul Phifer and Harry Lew while enjoying delicious food and drinks.

GRCC Christian Fellowship has been the interdenominational campus ministry at the college since 1946. GRCC Christian Fellowship wishes all faculty and staff a blessed holiday season!

Biology Department faculty member Matt Douglas publishes children’s book

Biology Department faculty member Matt Douglas and Brandy Van Zalen, a former biodiversity student, have published a children’s book, “Buddy the Buzzbomber.”

This title joins “Mattie the Monarch,” which was published last spring.  Both books will be on sale for $12.95 for the next few weeks in GRCC conference rooms and lounge areas. An accompanying coloring book will also be on sale for $5.95.  An order form is available at each location to sign up for delivery of signed copies of the children’s books, which are geared toward ages 4 to 12.