GRCC In the News, 1-3-14

South Sudan’s warring factions meet in Ethiopia

Jan. 3, 2014; The Washington Post

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — South Sudan’s warring factions held preliminary meetings Friday ahead of the official start of negotiations in neighboring Ethiopia, mediators said.

… “It’s hard to get medical (treatment) now,” said (Phillip) Madol, who studied at Grand Rapids Community College in Michigan. “All this place is way dirty. All the children are getting dirtier and sick. It’s kind of hard to tell how people survived and made it through to this side of the river.”

Cesar E. Chavez scholarships making a difference in the lives of GRCC, Davenport students

Dec. 31, 2013; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Davenport University sophomore Belinda Reyes says she is grateful to be one of the recipients of a César E. Chávez scholarship because it is making a difference in her life and that of her children.

Reyes, 44, of Holland, was recognized this fall at the annual César E. Chávez Hispanic Excellence Scholarship and Awards Gala, along with another Davenport scholarship winner, Angela Garcia, and six Grand Rapids Community College scholarship recipients.

TC West to host annual winter softball clinic

Jan. 2, 2014; upnorthlive.com

TRAVERSE CITY — Softball and the snow usually don’t go together. Unless you’re referring to a near 20 year tradition involving Grand Rapids Community College and several local high schools.

Start 2014 with MIOSHA training

The MIOSHA Construction-Part 32 Aerial Work Platforms & Devices seminar will provide an overview of the common hazards associated with aerial work platforms using case studies of actual accidents or photos of hazardous conditions. MIOSHA Construction Safety Standards and how they apply will be discussed, as well as, development and the importance of implementation of an accident prevention program. The class runs 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. January 14 at Tassell M-TEC. To register, click here.

Excavations-The Grave Danger will provide an overview of MIOSHA rules for excavations, trenching and shoring. Electrical hazards and associated regulations will also be discussed. The class runs 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 4 at Tassell M-TEC. To register, click here.

MIOSHA Construction – Part 2 Masonry Wall Bracing will review the MIOSHA regulations found in Part 2 – Masonry Wall Bracing and is designed to teach the training requirements for working in the restricted zones, identification of the proper external bracing, and minimum standards for bracing and securing unsupported masonry walls until final stability is achieved. The class runs 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. April 30 at Tassell M-TEC. To register, click here.

Learn more about healthcare programs in January, February

You can learn about GRCC’s healthcare programs and get your questions answered at an information session from noon to 1 p.m. January 6 or 4-5 p.m. Feburary 12 at Tassell M-TEC.

Health Certification Programs that will be covered in this information session are:

• Medical Assistant
• Personal Trainer
• Pharmacy Technician
• Phlebotomy

All information sessions are free, and you are under no obligation to enroll in a course when you attend these sessions. To register, click here.

Changes made to policies

A summary of recent changes to several college policies:

Summary of Changes to Policy 3.5 Tobacco Free Environment

• Updated title to reference Tobacco and E-Cigarette Free
• Updated to include medical marijuana
• Updated to include e-cigarettes
• Added definitions for medical marijuana and e-cigarettes
• Struck outdated term “Learning Academy”
• Struck information related to tobacco free card distribution
• Struck the word “tobacco” to refer to the policy being inclusive of more than tobacco

11.3 Professional and Institutional Memberships

• III.           Add and any applicable employee reimbursement to last sentence
• VIII.        Change to Vice President for Finance and Administration
• IX.           Change NA to None
• X.            Change personal to personnel in the last sentence
• XI.           Delete Professional
• XIII.        Add Updated December 2013
• XIV.        Change to December 2018

12.7 State of Michigan Capital Outlay Request Process

Committee proposes to eliminate this policy as it is no longer necessary and the College does not have official policies for many of our other required state/federal submissions.