GRCC In the News, 12-22-17

GRCC (7-2) off to hot start in 2017-18 season

Dec. 20, 2017; beercityhoops.com

The GRCC Raiders men’s basketball team (7-2) is off to a hot start on the court this season.

Santa Claus Girls: Friendships old and new

Dec. 21, 2017; MLive

Volunteers for the Santa Claus Girls often talk about the camaraderie at the charity’s headquarters, where hundreds of people are united in a common cause. They say many friendships are forged over the sorting, wrapping, packaging and routing of gifts for needy children.

… For (Linda) Stewart, a retired nursing professor at Grand Rapids Community College, volunteering offers her a way to continue serving children in need of help. When she worked as a nursing professor, one of her assignments was in pediatric nursing.

… It’s also a place where volunteers can reconnect with old friends, sometimes in surprising ways. Stewart and a fellow nursing professor from GRCC, Edith Miller, were once carrying on a conversation around a corner from each other without realizing they were talking to someone they already knew. Surrounded by mountains of packages, volunteers might be able to hear their fellow workers, but not necessarily see them.

College Channel programming through Jan. 5

The latest schedule, through Jan. 5, for the College Channel includes the Job Training graduation.

Update to Drupal 8 migration

In an effort to better support the work of our web editors going into the winter semester, we have rescheduled the Drupal 8 migration to take place at the end of January.

Web users will see slight changes in the font and appearance of the navigation menus found in the left-hand sidebar, but this upgrade is really intended to enhance web editors’ current toolset and add features that will help them manage their content workflow.

Training will be offered as scheduled in January. If you would like to sign up for a training session, please register through Staff Development. If you have any questions or comments, please contact webteam@grcc.edu.

GRCC In the News, 12-21-17

Be consistent: Artist-entrepreneur Steve Vinson models versatility necessary to thrive

Dec. 20, 2017; Cultured GR

Soft spoken and easy going, Steve Vinson models the versatility necessary to thrive as a contemporary creative. When he’s not doing the grunt work to install a Fed Galleries exhibition, you might find him teaching two-dimensional design at Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) …or GVSU or KCAD, or you might find him creating a Facebook event for the next opening at Spiral, his storefront gallery on South Division. In the midst of it, Vinson has also managed to produce a body of work currently on display at 337 Project Space. Painter, professor, preparator, and curator, Steve Vinson makes stuff happen.

Winter 2018 wellness schedule now available

Come get healthy and strong with us in 2018! The winter schedule is now available and classes begin January 8. No need to sign up in advance, just join in on the fun! All are welcome to attend, and non-GRCC employees are simply asked to pay a small $20 fee per semester for unlimited access to all employee wellness classes. Questions? Contact Nicole Dekker (nicoledekker2@grcc.edu, x3848).

Finance and Administration hosts cookie exchange, sweater contest

On Friday, December 15th, the Finance and Administration (Fun Team) hosted an annual Holiday Cookie Exchange and Ugly Sweater contest. Many delicious cookies were on hand to be enjoyed and a great time was had by all. The Ugly Sweater winner was Tess Dodd and the door prizes went to Scott Martin and Sally Zokoe.

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Google Team Drives arrives at GRCC

We’ve got some great news!

Google Team Drives have arrived at GRCC!

Team Drives is a team based take on Google’s popular My Drive storage solution. These shared spaces allow teams to store, search, and access their files anywhere, from any device! Unlike files in My Drive, files in Team Drive belong to the team instead of an individual. Even if members leave, the files stay exactly where they are so your team can continue to share information and get work done.

Let’s get started!

Team Drives is found alongside My Drive. Just visit drive.google.com and log in with your staff email address and Campus Network password.

Need help with Team Drives?

Visit the G Suite Learning Center provided for by Google for tutorials and inspiration.

Some things to keep in mind

• Grand Rapids Community College’s Acceptable Use Agreement (AUA) and Personally Identifiable Information (PII) Policy govern the use of Google Team Drives. We’ve attached these policies for convenience.
• Information Technology is not responsible for adding, removing, or managing your members and/or content.
• Google Team Drives is not a Shared (S:) Drive replacement.

Blackboard to undergo maintenance on Dec. 21

Blackboard will undergo scheduled maintenance on Thursday, December 21, 2017. This maintenance will run from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Blackboard will be unavailable during this time.

Raider Salute for Facilities

A Raider Salute from Amy Koning:

A big thank you to the facilities crew in the ATC. Last week’s weather provided for some tricky cleanup, and each and every time I went outside the sidewalks were clear! 

GRCC In the News, 12-18-17

Kalamazoo Township police chief retiring, lieutenant to take over

Dec. 18, 2017; MLive

KALAMAZOO TOWNSHIP, MI – Coming with the new year is a new chief for the Kalamazoo Township Police Department.

… (Lt. Bryan) Ergang received an associate’s degree from Grand Rapids Community College, a bachelor’s degree from Siena Heights College and a master’s degree in public administration from Western Michigan University. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va.

Inside Track: Leading by example

Dec. 15, 2017; Grand Rapids Business Journal

At the 2017 Excellence in Construction Awards, the Associated Builders and Contractors West Michigan Chapter (ABC/WMC) honored Van Dyken Mechanical’s Jeff Dickman with the Craft Professional of the Year (CPOY) award for outstanding craftsmanship and leadership.

… After spending almost a year working for his father’s business full time, Dickman left to pursue a degree in business administration, which he did not finish. He bounced around several colleges, including Grand Rapids Community College, Cornerstone University and Grand Valley State University.

Meet the 2017 Battle Creek Enquirer All-Area Volleyball Team

Dec. 17, 2017; Battle Creek Enquirer

… Jamie Wellet, Coldwater

Coldwater experienced a lot of success with Wellet on the court. The senior setter/outside hitter helped guide the Cardinals to a 43-win season – including a perfect 10-0 mark in Interstate 8 Conference play – by capping off her career with a well-rounded season that included 435 assists, 383 digs, 186 kills and 35 aces. She has committed to play at Grand Rapids Community College.

… Jasmine Wellet, Coldwater

Wellet gave Coldwater some serious firepower at the net, turning in her best season in a standout four-year career. The senior outside hitter led the Cardinals to 43 victories and the Interstate 8 Conference title, finishing with a team-best 364 kills and 496 digs while ranking second in blocks with 42. She is committed to play at Grand Rapids Community College.

Drupal 8 web editor training this January

This week the Web Team will be migrating to Drupal 8, and are excited for the improvements this will bring to our website and web editor interface.

Website updates include a slight tweak in the font and appearance of our navigation menus found in the left-hand sidebar. This will give users a clean menu presentation that is easy to navigate.

Web users will see some slight changes, but this upgrade is intended to enhance web editors’ current toolset and add features that will help them manage their content workflow.

Training for web editors will be offered twice in January through Staff Development. If you have any questions or comments, please contact webteam@grcc.edu.

Policies updated

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

November and December 2017 Policy Meetings

12.10 Furniture Policy (NEW)

• Reason for new policy: Procedures to request/purchase furnishings and asset protection.
• Following faculty input, this policy was edited to include a reference that classroom ADA accommodation furniture is not to be removed from classrooms.

11.16 Tax Sheltered Annuities – no changes

14.3 Complaints Regarding Violations of Privacy (HIPAA) – no changes

4.1 Development & Issuance of College Administrative Policies

• Added “Director of EO Compliance” as a new role on the Policy Advisory Committee to assure policies and processes are consistent with GRCC ADA obligations.
• Removed references to obsolete “Policy Development Flow Chart”.
• Added language to remind policy owners to include reps from constituent employee groups that might be affected by the policy.  Removed language requiring a faculty member to be on each editorial review group.
• Added a requirement to provide a “bullet point” list of changes to an existing policy or the salient points of a new policy.

For more information, visit the policy website.

College Channel programming through Dec. 22

The latest schedule, through Dec. 22, for the College Channel includes “Songs for the Holidays” and the Instrumental Ensembles Winter Concert.

Employees on the Move through Dec. 1

GRCC Employees on the Move through December 1, 2017

Please congratulate those who have moved and been promoted.

WELCOME TO GRCC

Douglas Heintzleman

Custodian, Preschool/Theater

Effective 12-5-17

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW POSITION

Elino Cortes Figuereo

From:   Contingency

To:       Support Professional, Admissions & Enrollment Center

Effective 11-27-17

 

Erin McGill

From:    Contingency

To:        Support Professional, Financial Aid

Effective 11-27-17

 

Joselina Gomez

From:    Contingency

To:        Support Professional, Financial Aid

Effective 11-27-17

 

Delicia Wilondja

From:    Contingency

To:        Support Professional, Human Resources

Effective 12-11-17

GRCC In the News, 12-15-17

Tommy John surgery is risk for baseball players, but part of the game, pitching coach says

Dec. 14, 2017; Spartan Newsroom (Michigan State University School of Journalism)
Mike Steele was a three-time minor league all-star before Tommy John surgery put his pitching career on hold.

… Steele, a native of Midland, Michigan, went to St. Clair County Community College his freshman year and Grand Rapids Community College his sophomore year. He transferred to Central Michigan University, where he played collegiate baseball. He was a Junior College All-American as a pitcher and outfielder and an All-MAC Second Team pitcher at CMU before being drafted in the 29th round by the Detroit Tigers.