The second 8-week wellness class sessions start this week! Come join us for some stress reduction, fitness and fun!
To see current offerings go to: http://www.grcc.edu/staffdevelopment/employeewellnessenrichment/winter2015groupexercisewellnessofferings
The Excellence in Education award nomination deadline is March 15, 2015. Recipients of the full-time faculty award and staff award each receive $1,000, and a $1,000 contribution to the GRCC Foundation is made in the recipient’s name. The recipient of the adjunct award receives $750. Click here to learn more.
Saturday will be Pi Day of the century: 3/14/15 9:26:53 represents the first ten digits of pi. Happy Pi Day!
For the thirteenth year we are pleased to offer a unique form of professional development for GRCC employees.
This work has grown out of the Formation work of Dr. Parker J. Palmer, noted educational leader and author, and builds upon a decade of Formation work at GRCC for leaders, faculty, and staff. In addition, Grand Rapids Community College is part of a network of colleges, health care organizations, K-12 districts, philanthropic organizations, law firms, government agencies, and community leaders engaged in this form of deep professional development. More info on the national work can be found at the Center for Courage and Renewal and Richland Colleges Center for Renewal and Wholeness in Higher Education.
For three days, GRCC faculty and staff are invited to step away from their daily work activities to consider the personal and professional questions of working at the college. The themes and questions to consider Include:
These retreats offer a safe space to pose questions, seek answers, examine motives, and explore new ideas about the most important work we do at the college. The goal is to help those who work at GRCC sustain and renew their passion, enthusiasm, and commitment to the students, their colleagues, the college, and the communities they serve.
In this retreat, skilled facilitators help create a quiet, focused, and disciplined space in which participants can pause and reflect on their own beliefs about working at the college. In large group, small group, and solitary settings, we will explore the intersection of our personal and professional lives, making use of stories from our own journeys, and insights from poets, storytellers, and various wisdom traditions. These retreats strive to develop a deeper understanding of how your role at the college intersects with who you are as a person.
Grounded in reflective practice, these retreats have sufficient research based evidence supporting a positive impact on the development of employees and their organization(s).
Introduction to Formation Retreat:
Begins at 5:00 PM Wed, May 13, 2015 and ends with lunch on Fri, May 15, 2015
Location: The Gilchrist Retreat Center near Three Rivers, MI http://www.fetzer.org/retreat-facilities/gilchrist/overview.
This retreat is for any Faculty or Staff member who HAS NOT PARTICIPATED in a previous Formation Retreat.
Continuing Formation Retreat:
Begins at 5:00 PM Sunday May 10, 2015 and ends with lunch on Tuesday May 12, 2015
Location: The Gilchrist Retreat Center near Three Rivers, MI http://www.fetzer.org/retreat-facilities/gilchrist/overview.
This retreat is for any Faculty or Staff member who HAS PARTICIPATED in a previous Formation Retreat, and would like to revisit the experience.
You can register for either retreat at http://www.grcc.edu/staffdevelopment/currentlearningopportunitiesregistration or call Staff Development at 616.234.4285. If you have questions about the retreat, feel free to email Frank Conner at fconner@grcc.edu, call him at 616.234.3612, or contact Judy Jankowski at jjankows@grcc.edu or call her at 616.234.4409.
Participation is open to all GRCC employees who have participated in an introductory retreat. However, we can only accommodate 10 participants. Given this, out of fairness, priority will be given to those faculty and staff who have not participated in previous continuing retreats. If you are interested and have participated in previous continuing retreats, please sign-up. You will be notified as soon as possible if there is an opening. Participants must commit to all three days of the series.
There is still time to get involved in Grad Fest 2015. What is Grad Fest? Grad Fest is a celebratory event for graduates participating in our commencement ceremony. Graduates get everything they need for commencement, in one day and one location.
In the past, different departments around campus have hosted tables that day to provide graduates with information about the commencement ceremony and other information regarding their graduation and future. To get your department involved and for more information, please contact Erin Cisler at x3931 or ecisler@grcc.edu.
Congratulations to Luba Petrash, Secchia Banquets & Catering head chef and SICE adjunct instructor, who just returned from the 2015 BP World Ice Art Championships in Fairbanks Alaska. Luba carved, moved, and stacked 46,000 pounds of ice for 6 days, 15-16 hours each day, to create a 18′ wide, 15′ tall sculpture – “Dancing Lessons.” Luba won Artist’s Choice in the multiblock classic category.
GRCC Bookstore Clearance Sale!
Today until March 20
Get an EXTRA 30% off on already reduced Clearance items*
(While supplies last)
Example!
The GRCC Puffer Coat
Original Price – $39.95
Clearance Price – $19.95
Clearance Sale Price – $13.97 (while supplies last)
*The sale includes some clearance laptops
You are invited to the Open Door – The Musical “encore” screening!
Where: ATC Auditorium (168)
When: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm Friday April 3, 2015
Why: Because it’s an amazing show that we don’t want anyone to miss!
Questions? Contact Shelly Urbane or Julie Otte
Thank you all for your support for FUNderwear Run and supporting our community! We raised $1,350 this year and we were once again the top fundraiser for Gilda’s Club of Grand Rapids through the FUNderwear Run. Laughfest coordinators send their thanks and appreciate the support GRCC shows the community!
If you’re inspired, it’s not too late to donate at http://www.active.com/donate/funderwear2015/GRCCFaculty.
And a serious Thank You to 2015 runners!
Sean Mackey, Monica Stevens, Fred van Hartesveldt, Sarah Laycock, Katie Vander Meer, Michelle Allen, Ann Alexander, Christina McElwee, AndrewRozema, Rosario Montes-Sutton, Alejandro Saldivar, and Dan Groh!
The Grand Rapids Historical Society will host a presentation by Mike Klawitter and Walter Lockwood on “Open Door: The 100-Year History of Grand Rapids Junior College/Community College at 7 p.m. March 12 at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, 303 Pearl St. NW.
Their presentation will explore the college’s origins and its importance to the central city through the years. Included will be a look at the expansion of programs, enrollment and facilities; the challenges and successes GRCC has experienced; and some of the personalities involved.
To learn more, click here or visit the society’s Facebook page here. To read a review of Open Door by society member Tom Dilley, click here.
Do you know a student who plans to participate in our 100th anniversary year commencement ceremony at Van Andel arena? Anyone who plans to graduate winter 2015 or summer 2015 will qualify! Encourage students to get started by filling out a graduation application. They should also plan to attend GradFest Tuesday, April 7, 2015 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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