Daily Archives: April 22, 2013

Spring & Summer Workshops offered through Staff Development and The Bob & Alecia Woodrick Diversity Learning Center

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The Bob and Aleicia Woodrick Diversity Learning Center provides tools that help promote a greater and deeper understanding of others, their cultures and requirements. Businesses, educational and health care institutions, governmental agencies and non-profit organizations benefit from an informed employee base able to consider multiple perspectives and address conflicts with conscious intentional process.

Please consider participating in one or more of the workshops detailed below. GRCC employees may register online at http://cms.grcc.edu/currentlearning or by calling Staff Development at ext. 4285.

Rethinking Body Image

Wed May 22, 2013

11:30 AM – 1:30 PM

Room 122 LRC

This learning session will explore the power of body image and women. Are we trapped in society’s definition of beauty? Has the concept of beauty changed over time? What affect does media play on self-esteem and self-concept? Is individual potential hindered by these beauty concepts? Is it dangerous? This workshop will feature contemporary statistics and explore possible responses to the particular pressures weighing on women.

Boundaries in the Workplace

Tue May 28, 2013

11:30 AM – 1:30 PM

Room 122 LRC

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.

Bullying in the Workplace

Tue June 4, 2013

11:30 AM – 1:30 PM

Room 122 LRC

GRCC is committed to providing an academic and work environment that respects the dignity of individuals and groups. All forms of harassment are contrary to basic standards of acceptable conduct between individuals. This training helps participants recognize and react to workplace bullying.

Facilitating Difficult Conversations (Part 1)

Thu June 13, 2013

11:30 AM – 1:30 PM

Room 122 LRC

Participant discussion in response to short vignettes related to critical teaching moments in classrooms and raises issues of free speech/hate speech, classroom climate, pedagogy, confronting oppressive behavior and a host of other topics related to learning environments.

SafeZone Training

Wed June 19, 2013

8:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Room 122 LRC

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.

Facilitating Difficult Conversations Part 2

Tue June 25, 2013

11:30 AM – 1:30 PM

Room 122 LRC

This course builds upon skills learned in Part 1, and participant discussion centers on when to apply dialog, debate or discussion. Participants determine strategies for dealing with disruptive behaviors. Learning Objectives: Help facilitators gain tools to design and deliver cultural communication presentations; Practice facilitating difficult conversations.

German Class Service Learning Project

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Seventeen students in Aleta Anderson’s German class participated in an Service Learning project at Palmer Elementary School. GRCC students prepared props and read books to first grade students in German. The books helped elementary students to learn numbers, colors, family members, animals in another language. GRCC students “have an opportunity to grow in accountability, independence, and experience in team work,” said Anderson. Andrea Cook from Palmer Elementary said: “WOW! What an experience:) The kids loved this!…Thank you for considering Palmer!”

Service Learning at GRCC is supported by the Department of Experiential Learning. For more updates and pictures of service learning events, like us on Facebook!

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GRCC In the News, 4-22-13

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Hundreds of high school students to gather at GRCC for skilled trades competition

April 19, 2013; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – High school and college students from throughout the region will gather this weekend at Grand Rapids Community College for a skilled trades competition.

How KVCC’s graduation, transfer rates compare to other Michigan community colleges

April 22, 2013; MLive

KALAMAZOO, MI — Of Michigan’s 28 community colleges, Kalamazoo Valley Community College had the fourth-lowest graduation rate in the state, tied with Oakland Community College, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

… Like KVCC, those are all urban community colleges with more than 10,000 students enrolled. Grand Rapids Community College and Lansing Community College, both of which are larger than KVCC, graduate 15.5 percent and 14.8 percent of their students, respectively.

GVSU Walk/Run Held Saturday

April 22, 2013; WIN 98.5

KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO) — Despite some unseasonably frosty weather, hundreds of runners turned out to participate in the 2nd Annual EZ Memorial Run, staged at the Kalamazoo Valley Community College campus Saturday morning.

The event is held to honor the memory of slain Kalamazoo Public Safety Officer Eric Zapata. Proceeds from the 5-Kilometer walk/run go to the EZ Memorial Foundation to provide scholarships for students in the Law Enforcement programs at K.V.C.C. and Grand Rapids Community College.

Music of Johann Sebastian Bach is the special guest for Grand Rapids Bach Festival opening today

April 21, 2013; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — The Bach is back in town.

… Young Keyboard Artists Competition Winners Recital is at 2 p.m. today, April, 21, in the Grand Rapids Community College Music Center Auditorium, Ransom Avenue at Lyon Street, Room 200. Free admission.

Perfecting the little things key to Three Rivers’ diamond success

April 22, 2013; Three Rivers Commercial News

THREE RIVERS — An ability to execute little things efficiently out on the diamond should determine how far the Three Rivers Wildcat baseball team goes this spring.

… Kane, who played the game in college at Grand Rapids Community College and Austin Peay State University, is excited about the Wildcats’ capabilities.

Phi Theta Kappa Honors Induction

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On April 17th, 2013, 25 GRCC students were inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) National Honor Society. PTK is a national organization which recognizes high achieving community college students and provides leadership opportunities as well as scholarships. GRCC has a local chapter, Alpha Upsilon Kappa (AUK), and members & chapter advisors presented the inductee’s their awards during a night created to celebrate their achievement. Guest Speaker, Gary Schenk, GRCC Alumnus and former Board of Trustees Chair, spoke about the lifelong value and addictive nature of academic achievement and encouraged these students to continue on to challenge themselves along their academic, career & life path.

A special “THANKS” goes out to the AUK members for their work in preparing the ceremony: Allie Graff, Marc Lehman, Ben Golder, Abby Klett, Clare Kolenda, Shannon Gamel, Duncan MacLeod, and Kelli Pascucci.

CONGRATULATIONS goes out to the GRCC students inducted into Phi Theta Kappa: Rachel Alberta, Jon Becker, Samantha Brown, Ryan Collins, Breanna Cook, Monique Daigneault, Shannon Gamel, BritNora Gauthier, Benjamin Golder, Alexandria Graff, Taylor Kinney, Katrina Kochin, Clare Kolenda, Marc Lehman , Duncan MacLeod, Kellie Pascucci, SueEllen Skiles, Kaylee Stonerock, Gregory Terry, Krystal Troyer, Robert VanderZwaag, Tom VanKuiken, Victoria Vitales-Lanuza, Samantha Wiers, and Julie Yates.

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Vending equipment on Main’s fourth floor to make way for construction

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In order to make way for the Summer renovation projects scheduled in the Main Building this Summer, all of the vending equipment on fourth floor Main will be removed during the week of April 29, 2013.  It will return to fourth floor Main following the renovation work this Summer in late August. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.  All other vending locations on Campus will remain in full service through the Summer.

Wellness Department has 3 Instructors attend Spinning Instructor Training

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On Saturday April 20, Wellness Instructors Melanie Schiele Gady, Lannie (Lynnae) Collard, and Beth Damon completed Phase 1 of the Spinning Instructor Training (over 9 hours of class time). Over the summer months, the three Wellness Instructors will complete Phase 2, 3 and the final assessment. Once all of these Phases/Assessments are complete, the Wellness Instructors will be certified Spinning Instructors. They will all be ready to teach the new Spinning classes coming on to the GRCC campus Fall 2013. Congratulations to the Wellness Department.

Active Commute Week challenge starts May 13, 2013

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Active Commute Week is coming up quickly! During the week of May 13-17, you are invited to participate in the Active Commute Week challenge. Some of the other schools and businesses competing in the challenge are Steelcase, Cascade Engineering, Meijer, GVSU and the Greater Grand Rapids Bicycle Coalition.

“Active commuting” refers to anything that does not involve driving your own car (or van or bus or motor home) to do your daily tasks such as getting to work, running to the grocery store etc. Active Commuting is riding the city bus, walking, biking, rollerblading or skateboarding. It is being an active participant in your transportation; expending human energy and reducing consumption of fossil fuels and air pollution.

At the end of that week, on May 17 is National Ride Your Bike To Work Day.

To track your participation, visit http://acwgr.org/ and click on Active Commute Week Challenge (under the photos that are scrolling) and then on the right hand side of that page, sign up under Part Of Employer Challenge Team under GRCC.

If you have any questions call or email Julie Otte x3490 or jotte@grcc.edu

 

Garbage Tour scheduled for April 24, 2013

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Find out where your garbage goes! GRCC’s popular Garbage Tour takes you on a five and a half hour educational journey of the main facilities in Kent County that deal with post-consumer waste, i.e., garbage.

Whether you are looking for ways to reduce waste for your business or home, this expedition will take you where most are forbidden to go!

We will start with a visit to the Covanta Energy plant, also known as the waste to energy facility incinerator. WTE experts will describe the inputs (garbage) and outputs (electricity) for this facility and what it provides for Greater Grand Rapids. Our second stop is the materials recovery facility. Here we will be guided on a walking tour and educational discussion of Kent County’s state of the art recycling efforts. There will also be an opportunity to eat your sack lunch here. We’ll see the mountains of yard waste diverted for composting, and learn how and where this is done.

Our final stop is an up-close and personal bus tour of the local landfill. Enjoy the view while professional landfill personnel describe the engineering features and local statistics for use of the South Kent Landfill.

The bus boards at 10:30 a.m. April 24, 2013, at Tassell M-TEC. It returns to Tassell M-TEC by 4 p.m. Casual dress, with closed-toe shoes, is recommended. Please bring your own sack lunch.

To register, click here.

Intern Karri Cagney appears on WOOD TV’s ‘Where You Live’

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The following is from Ray Sierengowski, corporate research chef with Meijer. For several years, he has been hiring students from GRCC’s Secchia Institute for Culinary Education as interns. One of the first interns, Jenn Gritters, went on to achieve her food science degree from Michigan State University.

“The photos enclosed here are of Karri Cagney doing a spot on the Maranda show yesterday,” Chef Sierengowski wrote. “Not only did she prep and food style great food, she was very articulate and is what I consider ‘camera ready.’ A great spokesperson in the making.”

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