GRCC In the News, 3-12-14

GRCC to host 2nd Annual West Michigan Construction Summit this Thursday

March 11, 2014; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Grand Rapids Community College is hosting its second annual West Michigan Construction Summit on Thursday, March 13. The event allows skilled trades suppliers to meet with project managers and buyers from the public and private sectors.

Employers Hope to Fill 600 Positions with Job Fair

March 11, 2014; FOX 17

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Mar 11, 2014) — It’s considered their biggest job fair to date as employers hoped to fill 600 jobs during the Grand Rapids Community College annual job fair.

Michigan community colleges beset by cuts in aid, loss of tax revenues

March 12, 2014; The Detroit Free Press

Two days before the deadline for students to apply for Oakland Community College’s licensed practical nursing program for last fall, the faculty got shocking news the program was being shut down immediately.

Numbers: Headcount shows declining enrollment at Michigan community colleges

March 12, 2014; The Detroit Free Press

Michigan’s community colleges are seeing a dip in student enrollment partly because of an improving economy, as shown from the fall headcount in the last two years.

… Grand Rapids — 16,613 (2013) 17,465 (2012)

(This is a sidebar to the previous article.)

Rachel Hood sustains community

March 11, 2014; Grand Rapids Business Journal

Rachel Hood, executive director for the West Michigan Environmental Action Council since 2007, is an unapologetic greenie.

… Hood has also served on a number of boards: the West Michigan Strategic Alliance Green Infrastructure Task Force, Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds Development Team, West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum Board, Green Grand Rapids Advisory Committee, Grand Rapids Community College Sustainability Team, Greater Grand Rapids Children’s Environmental Health Steering Committee, Grand Rapids Youth Boxing Foundation, Progressive Womens Alliance Candidate Committee and Michigan Clean Water Fund PAC.

Open house provides Heartlands, college information

March 11, 2014; Ionia Sentinel-Standard

Ionia, Mich. — The Heartlands Institute of Technology hosted an open house Thursday to introduce current students to colleges and to provide incoming students with an opportunity to explore Heartlands programs.

… Students enrolled in a Heartlands Institute of Technology can earn free college credits with Ferris State University, Baker College, Davenport University, Grand Rapids Community College, Lansing Community College and Montcalm Community College.

KVCC Board of Trustees votes to ban tobacco use on campus

March 11, 2014; MLive

KALAMAZOO, MI — The days of being able to light up at Kalamazoo Valley Community College are coming to an end.

… As of January, more than 1,180 U.S. colleges and universities had gone smoke-free, with more than 800 of those banning all on-campus tobacco use. In Michigan, nine community colleges have banned tobacco use outright, including Grand Rapids Community College, Lansing Community College, Jackson Community College, Muskegon Community College and Glen Oaks Community College. Another three community colleges, including Henry Ford, have adopted smoke-free policies.

Jared Bradford, small in stature, has big impact on Grace Bible’s run to national tournament

March 11, 2014; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Gary Bailey likes to recruit big point guards. Or at least that’s what he’s been used to during his coaching career.

… “He’s a force inside,” Jesky said of the Jenison graduate (Kyle Hoek). “We lucked out with him. He was driving a buddy to an open gym at Kuyper. He was just taking classes at GRCC and now he’s playing with us.”

Chris Tucker interview: Star brings movie memories to stage in LaughFest act

March 12, 2014; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Chris Tucker is alive and well, even if you haven’t seen him in a while.

… He will perform during LaughFest 2014 at the GRCC Ford Fieldhouse, 111 Lyon St. NE, on Friday, March 14, at 8 p.m. It will be Tucker’s first visit to Grand Rapids and he admits he isn’t familiar with the city.

Students Making an Impact at Immaculate Heart of Mary School

Sarah Krajewski’s Biology 101 for Elementary Educators (BI 101E) class has partnered with Immaculate Heart of Mary School (IHM) in a service learning experience as part of the Armen Awards. GRCC students are challenged to not only learn the biology content but also to transfer what they learned into age appropriate lesson plans for early elementary or middle school children including a lesson on owls, the life cycle of a bean plant and DNA, DNA extraction, and DNA fingerprinting.

Professor Krajewski stated that this service learning project has been a wonderful partnership. The GRCC students were given an authentic teaching experience and an opportunity to meet and get feedback from professionals in the field of education. This experience has enhanced the IHM science curriculum because it provided the students with an opportunity to engage in a laboratory experience with lab equipment that would normally not be available.

Save the date: Friday, April 25^th from 3-5pm.

Come hear the results of this years Armen Awards and support the great work being done by faculty and students in our community.

Two new yoga classes offered

Two new yoga classes offered through Staff Development

People often think that you need to be flexible to go to a yoga class. But that is not the case yoga is how you can gain more flexibility. As we age, our bodies become less flexible and our muscles tighten up with less use.

Join us for some stretching, breathing and moving on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Wednesdays 12:15-1:00 Yoga Flow in the Calkins Science Center Room 202

Fridays 6:15-7:15 am for Vinyasa Flow (more of an active workout) in the Ford Fieldhouse Balcony.

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

PACE survey results released

GRCC has received our PACE survey results. You will find two reports on the Human Resources reports page: http://grcc.edu/humanresources/reports

The first report shows our data collected in the NILIE personnel classification format. This allows for our data to be compared with the norm data (69 other two year institutions participated in PACE). The second report shows our data collected by our GRCC divisions, employee groups and ethnicity.

We are very pleased with the overall results. NILIE states that “At GRCC, the overall results from the PACE instrument indicate a healthy campus climate, yielding an overall 3.63 mean score or mid consultative system.”

However, it is important that we use the data to improve as an institution. As we did with the last set of PACE results, we will be offering sessions for employees to learn more about the results and to talk about what improvement looks like. We will focus on the top ten areas of improvement (all located within the institutional structure set of questions). Sessions will be announced via the Staff Development office and one will be included in the upcoming “Coffee and Conversation with President Ender”. Hope to see you at one of our sessions and you take advantage of the opportunity to engage in the discussions around improvement. If you have any questions, please contact Cathy Wilson in Human Resources at cwilson@grcc.edu

GRCC Online Store Public Sale tomorrow! – CANCELED

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THIS SALE HAS BEEN CANCELED AND WILL BE RESCHEDULED FOR A LATER DATE.

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

Date/Time: Thursday March 13, 2013 ~ 07:00 AM – 07:00 PM
Location: GRCC Online Store – http://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.)

Inventory will be announced on March 13, 2013, http://www.grcc.edu/onlinestore

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 AM to 4 PM at GRCC, 133 Winchester Place NE, Grand Rapids, MI. After Friday pick up by appointment only! Please email kwolfson@grcc.edu to request an appointment. See http://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 transactions as deemed necessary in the best interest of the college.

IIPD Grants: March 2014 Funding Opportunity

The deadline for the submission of grant applications for the Instructional Improvement & Professional Development (IIPD) Grants program is 4:30 p.m., March 28, 2014. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications electronically. The IIPD application packet and IIPD Guidelines are available in the GRCC Internal Grants area of the Grants Office website at http://www.grcc.edu/grants. Please note that applications must include a Supervisor’s Approval form, a budget form and budget documentation. If you have any questions about IIPD grants, please contact Judith Larsen, Director, Grants and Resource Development Department, at 234-3910 or jmlarsen@grcc.edu. Good luck!

Staff Development introduces new wellness partner: Allegro Coaching

Allegro Coaching partners with employers to accomplish their wellness goals. Their programs improve productivity, build culture, morale and lower employee healthcare costs, providing tangible and intangible results. It inspires entire workplaces to happier, healthier and more energized living. Allegro is about making a CHANGE. Not just for today. Not just for tomorrow. They want to help make change for good.

Their coaching and wellness program philosophy is simple. Change comes with accountability and relationships. Change comes from providing employees a relevant lifestyle solution. Change comes with creating a real connection. They offer hope for healthier living.

Kendra Bylsma, Owner and Lead Coach, is a mom, wife and fitness enthusiast. A native to Grand Rapids, she graduated from Calvin College with a BA in Exercise Science. She started Allegro Coaching in 2009 with a goal to help clients transform their lives and their mindset through fitness. More information about Allegro can be found at http://allegrocoaching.com/.

Kendra will be facilitating the first three workshops being offered through Staff Development. The workshops are:

• Going From Good to Great – Wed. April 16, 2014 from 2-3 PM
• Aging Parents-7 Warning Signs of Declining Health – Tue. May 20, 2014 from 10:30-11:30 AM
• Strength Training 101 – Wed. June 18, 2014 from 10:30-11:30 AM

Registration is open to all Staff and Faculty at http://www.grcc.edu/staffdevelopment/currentlearningopportunitiesregistration or by calling Staff Development at ext. 4285.

GRCC offers help with FAFSA

The Financial Aid Office and the Admissions and Enrollment Center are partnering on a new event – FAFSA Fest! FAFSA Fest will take place in March and April to help students complete their 14/15 FAFSA or who simply have questions about the FAFSA process. Reminder, returning students who plan on receiving financial aid for the 14/15 academic year, which begins in the Fall, should complete their FAFSA NOW!

Students should bring their 2013 federal tax return and their parents federal tax return, if applicable, or simply come with your questions.

FAFSA Fest will take place in the Enrollment Center on the following dates and times:

• March 13 9:00 – 12:00
• March 27 2:00 – 5:00
• April 10 9:00 – 12:00
• April 24 2:00 – 5:00

Diversity Lecture Series features NPR commentator

NPR correspondent Michele Norris will talk about America’s hidden conversations about race — including secrets kept by her own family — on March 12 as part of the 2013-2014 Diversity Lecture Series. For details about the series, click here.

Mathematics seminar to look at teaching methods

The Grand Rapids Community College Mathematics Department will host its next Mathematics Seminar on Wednesday, March 19, 3:00 – 4:00 in 103 Cook.  Our presenter, GRCC Mathematics Instructor Andrea Hayes, will discuss recent developments in the teaching of arithmetic operations to elementary school students.  See below for title and abstract.

This talk should be of interest to anyone who teaches or plans to teach basic computational mathematics, and should also appeal to those looking for alternative methods of doing arithmetic.  As always, everyone is welcome to attend GRCC Mathematics Seminars.

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

 Same Result, New Approach

Basic mathematical operations such as addition, multiplication, division, and subtraction are now being presented to elementary school children using algorithms that are different than the traditional ones that many of us are used to.  This talk will look at some of these different methods of computing sum, product, quotient, and difference, as well as discuss why these methods are being taught to students and how they may actually help with number sense and mathematical comprehension.

 

CWIS to shut down for maintenance

CWIS (PeopleSoft Student and On Line Centers) will be down for scheduled maintenance on Thursday, March 13th, starting at 9:00 PM and will be available on Friday, March 14th at 2 AM.