Condolences to Cathy Noviskey

Condolences to Cathy Noviskey, ESP for the Associate Provost and Dean of Student Affairs, on the death of her mother, Margaret Abbott, on August 6, 2013. Her obituary can be read here.

Visitation is Monday from 11:00 – 1:00 p.m. with the funeral immediately after the Visitation at 1:00 p.m.

GRCC In the News, 8-9-13

Rockford Garden Club awards scholarship

August 8, 2013; The Rockford Squire

The Rockford Garden Club is pleased to announce our 2013 Scholarship recipient. Emily Sjuerdsma, along with her parents, attended the May meeting to receive her $1,000 scholarship.

…Emily will attend GRCC to study plant biology. She was a student at KCTC, volunteers at Meijer Gardens, FAA Nursery and works in garden sales at Knapp Valley Gardens. She would like to discover medicines and general uses of plants to benefit mankind.

 

Rockford athlete claims national titles in gymnastics

August 8, 2013; The Rockford Squire

Rockford has seen it’s fair share of athletes achieve national prominence over the last decade or so.

…Showers has the inherent advantage of coming from an extremely athletic family. She is the fourth of five children of Scot and Nancy Showers of Belmont. Her siblings include Karliane, who played softball at Grand Rapids Community College, Shain, who just finished his freshman season as the starting shortstop for the University of Evansville, Brent, who will be a senior at Rockford and is an All-Stater in both football and baseball, and youngest brother Kahle, who also is a multiple sport standout but has a bit to go before leaving his mark at RHS.

 

Primary election in Grand Rapids: See who funded Senita Lenear, Michael Tuffelmire campaigns

8/8/13 MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Michael Tuffelmire’s campaign raised and spent more money than Third Ward Commissioner-elect Senita Lenear, according to campaign finance reports filed in late July, two weeks before the Tuesday, Aug. 6, primary election.

…Here’s a partial list of the donors to Lenear’s campaign:

•Steven Ender, Grand Rapids Community College president – $100

 

The Great(er) Grand Rapids Tour Returns

Ever wonder where your trash goes?

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

The Great(er) Grand Rapids Garbage Tour takes you on a 5.5 hour
journey through the main Kent County facilities which manage
post-consumer waste.

Your expedition warms up at the incinerator, where trash becomes
electricity. Bring a sack lunch. We’ll eat at the recycle center,
learn from the experts, and follow the garbage produced from our
picnic. We’ll see mountains of yard waste diverted for compost and
mulch before getting up-close and personal at the local landfill.
Sells out fast, so register now!

We will visit:
-Waste to Energy Incinerator
-Recycling Facility
-Butterworth Yard Waste Site
-South Kent Landfill
-Free parking
-Wear long sleeves, long pants, and closed toe shoes
-Don’t forget your sack lunch
-Cost: $43 per person, $33 for GRCC students

grcc.edu/garbagetour
(616) 234-3400
October 22, 2013
10:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

The bus tour will start and end at the Leslie E. Tassell M-TEC,622
Godfrey Ave. SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

REMINDER: Steam Shutdown Tonight

There will be a campus wide steam shutdown beginning at 8pm Friday through 6pm Saturday. The air conditioning in the Learning Center, Calkins Science, and Cook Academic will be off during this time. Hot water may or may not be available, depending on the location during this time as well.

Questions may be directed to Joe Milito in Facilities at 4118.

Changes made to college policies

A summary of recent changes to several college policies:

FMLA Policy (revised)

• Updated to provide more detailed information around the federal guidelines, procedures, and the process.
• Newly added provisions related to military service
• Measurement period changed from rolling calendar year to fiscal year effective July 1, 2013.

Open Flame policy (revised)

• Added Sneden and White Halls

Energy Conservation (revised)

• Revised policy statement for greater clarity
• Changes are noted in Section XIII

Tuition Refund Policy (revised – last revised in 1995)

• Policy re-written to:

—  Ensure consistency in administering refunds.

—  Inform students of the circumstances under which refunds may be granted.

—  Inform students of the process to seek refunds.

• Requests for refunds outside of the withdrawal periods must be made using the refund appeal process.
• Refund appeals will be granted for fewer extenuating circumstances (e.g. job change, relocation, loss of transportation). Extenuating circumstances for which refunds will be considered are listed on the appeal form for a student to review when considering making an appeal.
• (process change) Data coding for refunds was changed to improve future tracking of number of students, extenuating circumstances and refund amounts.
• (process change) Letters will be sent to each student documenting appeal outcome for tracking and improved communication
• (process change) There is now a single point of contact for students to initiate an appeal.
• (process change) New standardized form and access on web
• Timelines for appeals have been added

 

Medical Withdrawal Policy:

• Changes were made to ensure consistency between Tuition Refund Policy and Medical Withdrawal policy.

Criminal Background Check Policy (revised):

• Policy Statement modified to expand the scope of the policy to address all circumstances when background checks will be used for both students and staff.
• Included information regarding background checks for study away programs throughout the policy.