GRCC In the News, 9-15-16

College fair to aid former ITT Tech students

9/14/16 MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Seven West Michigan colleges and universities will host a college fair for former ITT Technical Institutes students at the Kroc Center on Thursday, Sept. 15.

… The colleges and universities participating in the fair are: Aquinas College, Davenport University, Ferris State University, Calvin College, Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Valley State University, and Western Michigan University.

WMCAT announces $7.5M capital campaign, West Side relocation

9/14/16 MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -The West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology (WMCAT) needs the community to contribute another $1 million to reach a $7.5 million fundraising goal to secure a new home on the reinvigorated West Side, officials announced Wednesday, Sept. 14.

… He (WMCAT Executive Director Daniel Williams) said the nonprofit is also developing a partnership with Grand Rapids Community College for programming in advanced manufacturing.

Best buds forever

9/14/16 Herald-Journal (Oceana County)

Chris Contreras gave his pal Dustin Carlson a kidney, and a life

… Then, things changed. They came to the fork in the road, and took different paths. Chris moved to Grand Rapids in 2009, to attend Grand Rapids Community College, and later, Ferris, where hes finishing his BA in business. Dustin took a job with ADAC Automotive in Muskegon, got married and had two sons. They kept in contact through social media, but saw each other less and less frequently. As so often happens in life, time increased the distance between them; they were young, active and consumed by their own busy lives.

MMCC competes at Bulldog Invite

9/14/16 Record & Clarion (Gladwin County)

HARRISON — The MMCC cross-country team ran at the Bulldog Invitational in Big Rapids on Saturday, Sept. 10.

… The Lakers will run next on Friday, Sept. 23, at 3:30 p.m. at Grand Rapids Community College for the GRCC Invitational.

Policies updated

The following policies have been updated or added and recently approved:

2015-2016 AGC Policies

7.15 Prior Learning Assessment–Revision

• The rewritten policy is more specific and provides more complete information and guidance for students who wish to use PLA to gain academic credit.  Further, this policy will help faculty better advise students who seek information on and credit through PLA.

 7.16 Common Syllabus Components– Revision

General Information and Section Policies

• Contact Information and Availability – GRCC email address required
• Student Learning Outcomes – updated language by replacing CARP with Curriculum Document

College Policies

• GRCC Email and Course Communications – added GRCC email requirement
• Disability Support Services – updated language
• Added Campus Police/Emergency Resources
• Added Title IX Reporting Policy
• Changes to Syllabus – updated ‘voice’
• Updated hyperlinks for consistency

Updated accessible syllabus template link:  http://grcc.edu/provost/facultyresources/syllabustemplate

7.19 Course Substitutions and Course Waiver—New

Course Substitutions—A course substitution allows a student to use an alternative course to meet a program requirement

• Course substitutions are made in the context of the program requirements.
• Course substitutions must maintain the integrity of the program.
• Substituted courses must include substantially the same learning outcomes as the required course.
• Students who are granted substitutions must still earn the total credit hours required for their academic program.

Course Waiver—

• A course waiver allows students to graduate without completing a graduation requirement or a program requirement.
• Students who are granted waivers must still earn the total credit hours required for their academic program.
• Need for standards and criteria that are consistent across the College in order to ensure the integrity of GRCC Degrees.

8.22 Maximum Student Credit Hour Load Per Semester—No Changes

8.23 Student Medical/Hardship Withdrawal—Revision

• Changed name to include “hardship”.
• Reasons for withdrawal past the 70% mark expanded to include hardship beyond a student’s control that negatively impacts attendance and/or academic success.
• The approved Grading Policy (7.10) makes reference to students having the option to withdraw due to hardship after the 70% date; however, there was no process or policy that considers hardships outside of health related issues. The approved proposal will expand the medical withdrawal process to include other types of significant hardships and align with Grading Policy 7.10.

8.29 Transfer Course Credit-Institutions of Higher Education—Revision

• Revised policy to accurately reflect our current practice.
• Revised policy statement to now reflect GRCC awards course credit for “equivalent courses from any regionally accredited institution”
• Provide the Registrar’s Office with guidelines for awarding credit.

• The rewritten policy is more specific and provides more complete information and guidance for students who wish to receive credit for courses transferred to GRCC.

8.33 Industry Recognized Credentials/Test Credit Policy—New

Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) awards course credit for external nationally recognized industry or professional credentials and accredited or nationally recognized exams and tests.  When equivalence between a credential or test and a GRCC course(s) has been established by the academic department (in which the course(s) resides) and the College, the GRCC Registrar’s Office will award credit for the course(s), if the following guidelines are met:

• The course alignment with external credential has been formally documented in the Registrar’s Office prior to student request for course credit.
• The credential is current/valid at the time the credit is awarded (has not expired).
• Students provide original verification to the GRCC Registrar’s Office.
• All established requirements (for example, minimum acceptable test scores) are met.
• This policy identifies the guidelines for and circumstances under which the Registrar’s Office may award course credit to students who have taken and passed external tests, exams, or industry credentials.

For more information, see the policy website.

Online sale starts today

Grand Rapids Community College will be hosting an Online Sale on September 15. This sale, running from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., will feature retired College technology and resources including laptops, desktops, monitors, electronics, lost & found items, and many others! A specific inventory listing will be available the day of the sale.

The online sale may be accessed by visiting GRCC’s Online Store http://grcconlinestore.pixafyhosting.com/index.php. Please keep in mind that no inventory will be displayed until 7 am. For more information please visit GRCC’s Purchasing Department website http://www.grcc.edu/purchasing/onlinestore.

Disclaimer: Grand Rapids Community College does not guarantee complete sets. All items will be sold as is. Inventory must be picked up the following day of the sale. Purchased items must be removed from the college campus within two weeks from date of sale as indicated above (by appt).