Mathematics Seminar to look at electronic safety

The Grand Rapids Community College Mathematics Department will host its next Mathematics Seminar on Tuesday, March 19, 3:00 – 4:00 PM in 107 Cook.  Our speaker will be GRCC Adjunct Mathematics Instructor Roger Berry.  The title and abstract for Roger’s talk are at the bottom.

Mathematics plays a crucial role in determining safety standards for all manner of electronics, and is an indispensable tool for analyzing causes and consequences of electrical failure.  Roger brings many years of experience as an electrical engineer and instructor to this month’s seminar.  Knowledge of algebra will be helpful, but of course everyone is welcome to attend.

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

Catastrophic Electrical Damage took place — let’s check the Math to see why!

All protection from damage or injury due to electrical faults begins with determining the amount of potential fault current. Mechanical and thermal energy released in less than 4 milliseconds can produce catastrophic results. Electrical equipment and protective devices must be tested and rated to withstand the potential forces involved.

Electrical designs are evaluated for worst-case conditions to insure that equipment and people are adequately protected. Fault currents on both sides of the decimal point can result in destructive forces. Short circuits can result in destructive currents over 200,000 amps producing a blast that results in equipment damage and potential injury to personnel due to flash burns and sound, while ground faults as low as five milliamps can produce fibrillation resulting in death.  In addition, lower level arcing faults can destroy electrical equipment or start a fire.

How do we do the math?

‘Worn In, Not Out!’ fashion show set for March 13, 2013

GRCC’s Fashion Production class will present its “Worn In, Not Out!” fashion show at 7 p.m. March 13 at the Salvation Army Thrift Store, 1491 S. Division Ave.

For every $10 you spend at the store that night — or for every 10 items you donate — you can win prizes!

GRCC In the News, 3-11-13

Shaquille ONeal All-Star comedians skewer Grand Rapids in LaughFest appearance

March 9, 2013; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Gilda’s LaughFest welcomed the Shaquille ONeal All-Star Comedy Jam to town, and Grand Rapids took it on the chin from comedians D.L. Hughley, Bruce Bruce, Finesse Mitchell and Gary Owen.

… “I think I’m at an Ottawa Hills/Catholic Central basketball game,” said Owen, surveying the multicultural audience of 2,503 in the Grand Rapids Community College Ford Fieldhouse.

“You guys sure are starved for entertainment if you come here for entertainment,” Owen said. “There’s no field, ther/es no house. It’s a gym.”

After inconclusive results, Division Avenue ‘road diet’ test will continue for at least another year

March 8, 2013; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — An 18-month road diet along Division Avenue is going to continue for at least one more year after city planners said the first phase of the test was inconclusive.

… Tom Tilma, interim director of the Greater Grand Rapids Bicycle Coalition, urged city officials to keep the bicycle lanes in place. Schools and colleges along South Division are using the amenities as recruiting tools, he said.

“The Kendall (College) students bicycle parking is always full, at the Community College, their bicycle ranks are always full,” Tilma said. “What students want is a community that is bicycle and transit friendly.”

Joel McHale fixates on Amway, David and Carol Van Andel at LaughFest

March 10, 2013; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Joel McHale’s signature skinny tie may have been absent but his snarky, cutting comments were in full force during his LaughFest show for a sold-out crowd Saturday in Grand Rapids Community College’s Ford Fieldhouse.

BallInMichigan: Michigan small college basketball weekly power rankings

March 11, 2013; Detroit Free Press

BallinMichigan’s weekly look at the top four JUCO, NAIA, Division III and Division II college teams in Michigan.

… 2. Grand Rapids Community College (NR): Grand Rapids earned the states other trip to nationals with an upset win over Glen Oaks in their District 9 final. Grand Rapids gave Glen Oaks two of its four losses this season. Deontae Hudson was named the District 9 MVP with 24 points and 10 rebounds in the title game.

GRCC Online Store Public Sale!

Grand Rapids Community College is having a public sale as indicated below:

Date/Time: Thursday, March 14, 2013 ~ 07:00 AM – 07:00 PM

Location: GRCC Online Store – www.grcc.edu/onlinestore

http://store01.prostores.com/servlet/grcconlinestore/StoreFront
(please navigate to this website on the day of the sale to shop for items that will be available)

Visit our Google+ page to see photo’s of featured items:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/117203353050341645535/117203353050341645535/posts

Open Pickup: Items available for pick up beginning the next day (Friday) after the sale from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at GRCC, 133 Winchester Place NE, Grand Rapids, MI. After Friday pick up by appointment only! Please email msutherland@grcc.edu to request an appointment. See www.grcc.edu/onlinestore for location and pick up details.

This sale will contain limited computers, electronics, technology, books, lost & found, etc. Grand Rapids Community College cannot guarantee complete sets. All items will be sold as is. Purchased items must be removed from the college campus within two weeks from date of sale as indicated above (by appointment). Purchased items not picked up will be returned to stock.

Questions should be directed to, Mansfield Matthewson, Director of Purchasing at (616) 234-3850 or email purchasing@grcc.edu.

Grand Rapids Community College has the right to reject any or all bids as deemed necessary in the best interest of the college.

This Week in the Center for Teaching Excellence

Spring Break is now over and the Center for Teaching Excellence is jumping into the second half of the semester head first! This week we are hosting two accessibility webinars, as well as starting a new cohort of the OHCC and offering a section of Blackboard Basics. We hope you will join us for some or all of these sessions, if your schedule allows! The details on our upcoming events are all provided below. We also now have an events calendar on our website at www.grcc.edu/ctecalendar. Check it out for an easy-to-navigate overview of our events. You can register for all events at www.grcc.edu/ctereg.

Universal Design Webinar: Wednesday, March 13 from 12:00 – 1:00 in 123 LRC (in the Library).

This webinar will offer an overview of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), an approach to course design based on flexible, multi-modal, methods that increase course accessibility for a variety of learners. The webinar will discuss some specific strategies for implementing UDL principles. Bring your lunch!

What Faculty with Disabilities Want Institutions to Know (Webinar): Thursday, March 14 from 12:00 – 1:30 in 123 LRC.

This panel includes four faculty with expertise in accessibility. During the first 60 minutes, each faculty member will provide a self-introduction and discuss their position within higher education. The panel will then share recommendations and resources for supporting faculty (full-time, part-time, and adjunct) success in online education. The last 20 minutes will be open to questions from attendees. Bring your lunch!

Blackboard Basics: Friday, March 15 from 11:30 – 12:30 in 351 Main.

If you are new to Blackboard or just need a refresher, this course will give you an overview of all the basic features.

Online Hybrid Certification Course (OHCC) Session 1: Friday, March 15 from 1:00 – 2:30 in 351 Main

If you are looking to get certified to teach online at GRCC, our second OHCC cohort of Winter term will launch on Friday. The pre-requisite is Blackboard Basics, so if you haven’t taken Basics yet, be sure to register for that as well.

All sessions are open to both full-time and adjunct faculty. You can register for all sessions at www.grcc.edu/ctereg. You can also “like” us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/teachexcellence to receive the latest information on sessions, news, conferences, and other noteworthy happenings.

If you have any questions or have problems registering, contact us at teachexcellence@grcc.edu. Register now, as space in each session is limited.

Personal Trainer course begins April 2013

If you enjoy helping others and are passionate about good health, you could become a certified personal trainer!

GRCC’s Personal Trainer Certification Course gives you hands-on, interactive learning opportunities, including knowledge of overall wellness components. Our training prepares you to take the National Strength and Conditioning Association’s Certified Personal Trainer (NSCA-CPT) Certification exam. The exam fee and a one-year membership in the National Strength and Conditioning Association are included in the tuition. A competency-based, 36-hour internship gives you real-life skills application.

Many people who receive the NSCA Personal Trainer certification go on to work in an entry-level position at a fitness center, health club, or corporate wellness department. You can even start your own business!

Classes start April 29, 2013. To register, click here.

Reception to welcome Don MacKenzie

Join us in welcoming Don MacKenzie, the new Associate Vice President for College Advancement/Executive Director of the GRCC Foundation, this Wednesday March 13, from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Wisner-Bottrall ATC rooms 118 & 120.  The afternoon will feature coffee and punch, with desserts by world-renowned dessert and pastry chef Gilles Renusson.

We hope to see you there!

Susan Cain to speak at Diversity Lecture Series

Susan Cain

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.
• The lecture begins at 7:00 p.m. March 13 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