GET ORGANIZED!!

Staff Development is excited to offer two new courses that will give you direction and ideas to create an uncluttered, organized home and office environment. Please register online at http://cms.grcc.edu/currentlearning or call Staff Development at ext. 4285.

Home Organization 101

Mon Mar. 11, 2013

10AM-12PM

Room 125/127 Science

Running a home is very similar to running a small business. You need tools, routines, detailed schedules, supplies, consistency, and order, to operate successfully. Moreover, having a “Home Office” where the household files, bill paying, and office supplies are kept saves time and eliminates late fees assessed on misplaced bills. Your home is your physical and emotional haven. It’s the place for you to unwind and rejuvenate. It should be welcoming and visually comforting. Facilitator, Mary Dykstra gives you tools and ideas to help you create an uncluttered environment where you know where everything is and you can feel comfortable with drop-in visitors.

Work/Office Organizing 101

Fri Mar. 22, 2013

10AM-12PM

125/127 Science

Facilitator, Mary Dykstra works with individuals in the work environment struggling with ‘having to do it all.’ She helps you set up systems that can help you keep on top of the daily details when you need to focus on the big picture or the details. Mary can identify timesaving strategies and efficient office and storage space configurations that maximize workflow and productivity. In this workshop you will learn how to effectively organize your workspace and how to effectively prioritize your work/workflow.

 

Facilities/Apartment Maintenance Technician program starts in March 2013

Get trained now as a facilities/apartment maintenance technician!

GRCC’s new training program gives you the potential to earn certifications in:

• lead renovation, repair, and painting.
• HVAC Environmental Protection Agency.
• Certified Pool Operator.
• Certified Apartment Maintenance Technician.
• Home Building Institute Facilities Maintenance Technician.
• OSHA 10-hour Construction Safety.

A special one-time scholarship of $500 is available for a limited time. All you need to do is take the ACT Workkeys Talent and Fit Assessment. Call 234-3400 for information.

Classes will be held 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, and 7:30-11:30 a.m. Fridays from March 4, 2013, to May 13 at Tassell M-TEC. The program costs $3,150 (payment plan available). To register, click here.

GRCC In the News, 2-20-13

Young undocumented immigrants in West Michigan apply for driver’s licenses on first day of eligibility

February 19, 2013; MLive

WYOMING, MI — A group of Grand Rapids area young undocumented immigrants applied for their drivers licenses today, Tuesday, Feb. 19, the first day the Michigan Secretary of State will issue the limited-term licenses.

… “I am going to be able drive at last and not depend on my parents,” said Elizabeth Morales, 24.

She said she attends Grand Rapids Community College and works at Steak ‘n Shake.

Louis Farrakhan to speak in Grand Rapids

February 19, 2013; WKZO

GRAND RAPIDS (WKZO) — Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan is set to speak in March at Fountain Street Church in Grand Rapids.

Farrakhan spoke at the same church a year ago, offering his view of what he called the “decline” of the United States. He has been invited to speak by the Black Student Union at Grand Rapids Community College.

Evening classes canceled at Grand Valley State University and Grand Rapids Community College

February 19, 2013; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Icy roads and snow showers have led administrators at two Grand Rapids colleges to cancel evening classes.

Administrators at Grand Valley State University and Grand Rapids Community College issued alerts this afternoon telling students that classes at all campuses starting after 4 p.m. have been called off.

Two College Action Projects updated

At the February 15, 2013, meeting of the Strategic Leadership Team, updates were provided for two current College Action Projects:

• 5.3.2 – Develop/implement a New Model of Program Review (Patti Trepkowski – Champion).
• 5.3.3 – Establish an assessment and reporting process for Institutional Learning Outcomes (Katie Daniels – Champion).

Learning Opportunities from Staff Development for the week of February 25-March 1

You may review these and all winter semester offerings and register at http://cms.grcc.edu/currentlearning.

Problem Solving Techniques

Mon Feb 25, 2013

2-3:30 PM

103 Sneden

This course helps participants solve problems both as an individual and as part of a group. Tools to increase focus and organize complex problems are explored. Methods for enhancing problem solving in groups are examined. This session is being facilitated by Kathy Pyatt.

Disability 101

Wed Feb 27, 2013

9-11:00 AM

124 ATC

This session will emphasize the function of the GRCC Disability Support Services Office, ADA law, civil rights issues, common types of disabilities seen in a college setting, available accommodations, determination of appropriate accommodations, faculty and staff responsibilities, consultation opportunities, and considerations for faculty/staff while assisting students. This session is being facilitated by Sarah Rose and Karen Murphy.

Drupal Basics Refresher

Thu Feb 28, 2013

10-11:00 AM

351 Main

In this refresher course, participants will review to navigation in the Drupal system, understand and use content types, and edit existing content. A new feature – creating tables – will be introduced. Instruction on compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act will also be covered. This session is being facilitated by Patrick Lapenna.

Juicing 101

Fri Mar 1, 2013

10-11:30 AM

130 ATC (Culinary Amphitheater)

Come learn about the health benefits of juicing from Jennifer Pohlman, Owner of Sip Organic Juice Bar. This session will introduce healthy options for participants who are interested in increasing fruit and vegetable intake. Jennifer will cover both the benefits and precautions inherent to the consumption of any fresh produce.

Advanced Manufacturing Series classes begin in March 2013

Classes in GRCC’s Advanced Manufacturing Series begin in March 2013:

• Print Reading for Manufacturing I runs 1-5 p.m. March 5. Engineering drawings detail what your customer requires for product specifications. Ensuring that all on the manufacturing team can read and interpret prints may prevent errors, rework, and waste. Module I covers basic print features common to most drawings. Module II expands to interpreting a variety of symbols used to further specify requirements. Both modules include practice exercises to ensure accurate interpretation. The class costs $65; to register, click here.
• Print Reading for Manufacturing II runs 1-5 p.m. March 12. It costs $65; to register, click here.
• Measuring and Gaging for Manufacturing runs 8 a.m. to noon March 21. Measurements provide evidence to your customer that your parts meet the specification. Accurate use and effective care of instruments and gages is essential for operators and inspectors. It costs $65; to register, click here.
• Problem Solving – 8 Steps & 5 Whys Overview runs 2-6 p.m. March 27.  A standard process for solving problems and generating corrective actions allows your company to respond quickly, consistently and effectively when issues arise. Experience with the techniques, analysis and structure of problem-solving models helps maximize team members’ contribution to the effort. It costs $65; to register, click here.
• 5S – Organizing the Workplace Overview runs 8 a.m. to noon March 28. The 5S is a foundational technique in lean manufacturing. This module is a simulation designed to create an awareness of the impact of a clean, organized workplace on attitudes, safety, quality and productivity. It costs $65; to register, click here.

 

Saturday With the CTE

Does your hectic schedule make it hard to attend faculty development sessions during the week? Do you wish you had more opportunities to network with colleagues from other departments and other institutions? The Center for Teaching Excellence at Grand Rapids Community College has the perfect solution—Saturday with the CTE! On Saturday, February 23, 2013 join us for a morning of networking, refreshments, and learning opportunities. Coffee, bagels, donuts, and muffins will be available in Main 347 beginning at 8:30 a.m., and sessions will begin at 8:45. You may attend one session, two, or all three. All full-time and adjunct faculty are welcome!

This month our topics and presenters are…

• Classroom Assessment Techniques II, by Ann Alexander, Professor of Business. 8:45 – 9:45 in 306 Main
• Creating Accessible Courses and Content, by Meegan Willi, Instructional Designer. 10:00 – 11:00 in 351 Main
• The Office of Student Life and Conduct, by Sara Dorer, Director of the Office of Student Life and Conduct. 11:15 – 12:15 in 306 Main

More information is available at www.grcc.edu/SaturdayWithCTE and you can register for the sessions at www.grcc.edu/ctereg. If you have problems with registration or questions, contact the Center for Teaching Excellence at TeachExcellence@grcc.edu or 234-2278.

Mathematics Seminar to focus on polynomials

The Grand Rapids Community College Mathematics Department will host its next Mathematics Seminar on Wednesday, February 20, 3:00 – 4:00 PM in 107 Cook.  Our speaker will be GRCC Mathematics Instructor Sang Lee.  The title and abstract for Sang’s talk are at the bottom.

This talk will take a very common idea from basic algebra, multiplying polynomials, and examine its relationship to something even more fundamental, counting.  Knowledge of mathematics at the level of Intermediate Algebra (Ma 107) or above will be helpful, as would some familiarity with counting techniques.  As always, everyone is welcome to attend.

Pop and cookies will be served at 2:45 PM.

Counting with Polynomials

Do we obtain any valuable information from the product of polynomials?  Specifically, what do coefficients and exponents tell us when polynomials are multiplied?  In this talk, we introduce a counting technique that utilizes the coefficients and exponents in the product of polynomials.  We then examine some counting problems such as determining the number of ways for different routes, muffin orders, changing a dollar, solutions to an equation, and partitions of an integer.