Monthly Archives: August 2017

GRCC In the News, 8-31-17

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Stabenow touts careers in the skilled trades during West Michigan visit

Aug. 30, 2017; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, held a  discussion Wednesday, Aug. 30, with West Michigan business, education, and labor leaders about how to better meet the ongoing challenge employers have finding enough skilled workers to fill positions.

… Grand Rapids Community College President Bill Pink said serving the community and its workforce needs is an import role of the college.

Spotlight on medical apprenticeships

Aug. 30, 2017; aacc21stcenturycenter.org (American Association of Community Colleges newsletter)

U.S. Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta on Monday joined Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder at Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) where they discussed the importance of apprenticeships before touring the colleges healthcare training facilities.

Market Musings: Adrian’s Fine Woodworking carving up unique pieces sold to shoppers from around the world

Aug. 30, 2017; therapidian.org

The Fulton Street Farmers Market is pretty true to its name. If you need meat, cheese, greens, or other assorted delicacies, you’re in the right place. However, every once in a while a different type of stand will pop up on a busy Saturday morning — a diamond in the rough, if you will. Or, in the case of Adrian Callaghan, wood in the rough.

Callaghan is the woodworking wizard behind Adrian’s Fine Woodworking, based here in Grand Rapids. After teaching woodworking at Western Michigan and part time at Grand Rapids Community College, Callaghan suffered a spinal cord injury in 2000, and uses his talents in woodworking as his rehab. He credits where he’s at now to the helping hands at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital.

Betsy DeVos to speak at Michigan GOP conference

Aug. 30, 2017; The Holland Sentinel

Education secretary Betsy DeVos is returning to her home state to speak at the 32nd Biennial Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference on Sept. 22-24 at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.

DeVos was last in Michigan in early August. On Aug. 1, she visited Grand Rapids with stops at the Van Andel Institute and Grand Rapids Community College, and she came to Holland on Aug. 2 to read to children at Degraaf Nature Center.

Column: Charters can help parents’ dreams come true

Aug. 31, 2017; The Detroit News

As another exciting school year begins across the state, we’re reflecting on the fact that it’s been a spring and summer of great news for the charter school world especially in Michigan. In late April, U.S. News and World Report released its highly respected rankings of the Best High Schools in America. The rankings showed that the top three high schools in Michigan were all charter schools, led by No. 1 Wellspring Preparatory High School in Grand Rapids. The top three high schools nationally were also charter schools.

… He (Ariel de la Paz-Solorza) got it at Wellspring Prep. He found a teaching staff that never gave up on him and gave him all the extra tutoring and support he needed. He took and passed three Advanced Placement classes. He was accepted at seven colleges and universities, and ended up earning a full-ride scholarship to Grand Rapids Community College. His plan is to graduate from there and then transfer to a four-year university to become a nurse.

Exercise Science, Athletic departments organize collection for University of Houston

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The Athletic Department and the Exercise Science Department are teaming up to donate shirts, uniforms and anything we can to the University of Houston — they have nothing.

If you have any T-shirts or clothes that you would like to donate, please bring them to Athletic Director Billy Firn’s office in Ford Fieldhouse, Room 211. All items must be collected by Wednesday, September 6.  We will ship everything we gather to the University of Houston on Thursday, September 7.  Thanks in advance for your support!

Professional development opportunities are now available

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Professional Development Learning Opportunities are now open for registration.  Many classes have been added over the past few days.  Check them out and be one of the first to register.  Please contact Staff Development at ext. 2223 if you are not able to register online.  We will be happy to add you to the list.

Keep an eye on the website – classes will be added as they are scheduled.

Our 2017-2018 Learning Opportunities flier coming soon!

GRCC In the News, 8-30-17

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GRCC names recipients of 2017 Excellence in Education Awards

Aug. 29, 2017; La Prensa

GRAND RAPIDS, Aug. 28, 2017 — Grand Rapids Community College is honoring three employees who have gone above and beyond in making meaningful connections with their students.

$1.5M FEMA grant to fund more Kalamazoo public safety officers

Aug. 29, 2017; MLive

KALAMAZOO, MI — A $1.5 million grant will allow the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety to hire 12 full-time officers.

… Recruits are hired by KDPS and then sent to a police academy either at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Kellogg Community College, Grand Rapids Community College or Grand Valley State University.

Magna, KraussMaffei help push college program forward

Aug. 28, 2017; Plastics News

Rochester, Mich. — As Mark Richardson has talked to more and more companies about how they’re working to attack the skills gap, he hears about homegrown programs.

… Richardson said the program will partner with existing two-year programs to help create a funnel of students that want to continue their education. The list of potential partners currently includes Schoolcraft College, Mott Community College, Grand Rapids Community College and Bay Mills Community College — all Michigan schools. He has also spoken to representatives from Ferris State University, the state’s biggest plastics program.

Undocumented: One immigrant’s story of life under DACA

Aug. 29, 2017; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – At 8 years old, Kevin Vazquez did not know what it meant to live in the shadows.

… Vazquez, a recent Grand Rapids Community College graduate, will be working on a bachelor’s degree in organizational communications at Western Michigan University this fall.

Former Grand Rapids Community College Football Player Makes NFL Debut

Aug. 28, 2017; WGRD FM

Grand Rapids Community College’s football program was discontinued in January of 2012, but before it ended, it had three former players who have a played in the NFL.  One of these athletes, Nick Truesdell, made his NFL debut on Sunday night with the Minnesota Vikings.

Policies updated

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

Revised Policy – effective August 28, 2017

Note:  This policy was expedited as changes were necessary to be in compliance with current federal regulations for financial aid.

10.5 Student Refund Policy

  • D: Refund appeals: Added 70% drop deadline to qualify to apply for tuition and fee refund.
  • E: Transcript: Added clarification that instead of wiping classes off transcript when appeal is granted, classes will remain on transcript with a “W” grade.

For more information, visit the policy website.

 

Registration for Involvement Day still open

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Involvement Day is a traditional event that the Campus Activities Board sponsors during Welcome Week. This year, the event will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 6, from 11 a.m. -2 p.m. We ask student organizations and departments to set up a table along the Juan Olivarez Student Plaza to promote their organization and department. This allows new and returning students to engage with student leaders and departments, which, in turn, creates connections that last for a lifetime.

If you are interested in registering your department or organization, please RSVP via OrgSync. Deadline to register is Sept. 1. Faculty and ataff can access OrgSync with their GRCC user name and password.

Culinary students to meet chef Rick Bayless

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Rick Bayless

Rick Bayless

Culinary students will meet with award-winning chef and author Rick Bayless on Aug. 31 before he speaks at a dinner to benefit scholarships for the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education.

Bayless has written nine best-selling cookbooks, including Mexico — One Plate at a Time, which was named James Beard Best International Cookbook of the Year in 2001. Most of his award-winning restaurants – including Toplobampo, the 2017 Beard Foundation Outstanding Restaurant – are in Chicago.

In 2003, he and his staff established the Frontera Farmer Foundation, which has awarded almost 200 grants totaling nearly $2 million in support of small Midwestern farms. In 2007, he and his team started the Frontera Scholarship, which supports a Mexican-American from the Chicago school district who plans to study culinary arts. Bayless has won many awards for his humanitarian efforts, including the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle, the highest decoration bestowed on foreigners whose work has benefitted Mexico and its people.

The GRCC Foundation and retirement community Beacon Hill at Eastgate are co-hosting a dinner that will feature remarks by Bayless and a panel discussion with chefs Tim England, Adam Watts Jay Sharkey, Austin Gresham, Andrew Eggert, Keith Bryant and Doug Orr, and winemaker Nancie Oxley. Proceeds will fund culinary scholarships.

Fall wellness schedule now available

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Kick off a new semester in a healthy way! Grab a friend and come sweat at one of our many group fitness classes. There’s something for everyone! No need to sign up, just show up and see what the fun is all about. As always, you are welcome to bring your spouse, a child over 18, or friend(s) to these classes. Non-GRCC participants are asked to pay a small $20 fee per semester. All are welcome!

Contact Nicole Dekker (nicoledekker2@grcc.edu, x3848) with any questions.

We hope to see you soon!

GRCC In the News, 8-28-17

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Morning News

Aug. 28, 2017; WZZM

Kamady Rudd: “It looks pretty nice out now — a beautiful way to start off the school year. We’re joined by Superintendent Weatherall Neal.”

… Weatherall Neal: “I guess going into this school year, I’m really excited for the students and staff members … We are starting middle college this year, which is awesome. Our seniors will be able to graduate with an associate degree from Grand Rapids Community College. So that’s nice — it’s free of charge, actually, to parents.”

Street Talk: The fountain of youth

Aug. 25, 2017; Grand Rapids Business Journal

… U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta joined Gov. Rick Snyder at Grand Rapids Community College last week, where they discussed the importance of apprenticeships before touring the third and fourth floors of the colleges Peter and Pat Cook Academic Hall.

Craft brewing makes its way to Michigan college campuses

Aug. 27, 2017; The Lanthorn (GVSU student newspaper)

A new trend has been brewing on college campuses around Michigan, and that trend is craft brewing.

… Western Michigan University, Michigan State University, Ferris State University and Grand Rapids Community College are just a few examples of colleges in Michigan that offer a craft brewing program.

New York Times online available to students, faculty and staff

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The New York Times Online is available to all GRCC students, faculty and staff when you sign up with your GRCC email address.

NYTimes.com Group Passes are provided by GRCC’s Library and Learning Commons and the Social Sciences Department on a one-year trial. GRCC students, faculty and staff have free access to the extensive news, multimedia and archives of The New York Times without needing to pay for their own subscription!

To activate your pass:

  • While physically on campus on GRCC’s network, visit http://nytimes.com/grouppass
  • Click on [CREATE ACCOUNT], then use your GRCC email address to create an NYTimes.com account.
  • You’re done! After your pass has been activated, you can enjoy access to NYTimes.com from any network or location

To download the free NYTimes smartphone app: Visit http://nytimes.com/mobile

Other questions?  Take a look at GRCC’s New York Times Subject Guide, or, call a reference librarian at 616-234-3868.

GRCC In the News, 8-25-17

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Which Michigan colleges draw the most state grads?

Aug. 23, 2017; The Detroit Free Press

Thousands of Michigan students who graduated from high school this spring will be arriving on college campuses this month, ready to begin their college careers.

… These schools round out the top 10:

… 10. Grand Rapids Community College 1,914

Family of man who drowned in Richmond Park Pool seeking more answers

Aug. 23, 2017; FOX 17

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The family of a man who drowned Tuesday morning in the Richmond Park Pool is saying that their son was a good swimmer and details of his death aren’t adding up.

… (Damon) Phillips’ family tells FOX 17 that he was attending Grand Rapids Community College and studying video game design.

Grand Rapids Sweeps GOCC Spikers

Aug. 23, 2017; Three Rivers Commercial-News

CENTREVILLE — The Glen Oaks Community College volleyball team opened the season Tuesday with a Western Conference loss at home to Grand Rapids Community College.
Vince Strefling’s Lady Vikings were defeated by the visiting Lady Raiders 19-25, 16-25, 13-25.

Author joins local leaders for forum on race, class and success

Aug. 24, 2017; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – The leaders of a half dozen churches are inviting the public to attend a forum Saturday, Aug. 25, featuring the author of a book that utilized psychoanalytic theory to examine subjective experiences of social factors such as race, gender, and social class.

… (Mead) Goedert will be joined by a panel of educators, city and community leaders for a discussion about the interconnected nature of psychodynamics and social factors in relation to experiences with success, including Grand Rapids City Commissioner Senita Lenear and Grand Rapids Community College President Bill Pink.

GRCC building addresses

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Hosting a meeting?  Ordering food delivery?

With the widespread use of Google Maps and GPS location services, Facilities has posted the actual building addresses for all campus buildings on their webpage.

If you’re hosting a meeting for external guests, trying to give directions to applicants or students, or expecting delivery for lunch, you may want to share the real address for your building so people can plug that into their GPS!