GRCC In the News, 1-17-18

Grand Rapids School Board applying to offer tuition-free pathway to college

Jan. 16, 2018; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – The Grand Rapids School Board passed a resolution Tuesday, Jan. 16, to apply to the Michigan Department of Treasury to become a Promise Zone to offer students free college tuition.

… However, community stakeholders were present, including Grand Rapids Community College President Bill Pink; 3rd Ward City Commissioner Senita Lenear; and Michele Suchovsky, executive director of the Student Advancement Foundation, the district’s strategic fundraising partner.

Democrat to challenge Jim Lilly for 89th House District seat

Jan. 17, 2018; The Holland Sentinel

Jerry Sias, a Democratic candidate running for Michigan’s 89th House District seat in 2018, said he wants to represent the people — specifically the working and middle class people.

… He then learned the electrical trade, attended Grand Rapids Community College and worked as a union foreman.

Michael Santana to lead Mathematics Seminar on Jan. 18

The Grand Rapids Community College Mathematics Department is pleased to announce that it will host its first Mathematics Seminar of 2018 on Thursday, January 18, 3:00-4:00 PM in 103 Cook.

Our speaker, GVSU Mathematics Instructor Michael Santana, will discuss mathematics underlying the sometimes vexing problem of seating arrangements at tables.  For the title and abstract of Michael’s talk, please see below.

Very little mathematics background is needed to appreciate this talk, making it accessible to a wide range of students and faculty.  All are welcome!

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

A graph theory approach to seating people at parties

You’re hosting a party with at least three people, and you want to seat everyone around a large table so that each person is friends with the person on their left and the person on their right. How do you know when you can do this? This seemingly innocent question turns out to be quite difficult to answer! On the other hand, the question becomes (MUCH) easier when you don’t require that everyone be seated at the table (so you’re okay with some people standing around). In this talk we’ll consider both questions (focusing mainly on the second question), look at several extensions of these questions, and see how doing research in mathematics can be like playing the wooden block game, Jenga.

 

 

TRIO to hold Summer Research Fair

TRIO/Student Support Services is holding a Summer Research Fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 24 in room 336 of the Student Center.

Participating programs include:

• University of Michigan UROP Community College Summer Fellowship.
• Michigan Technological University MICUP
• University of Michigan School of Information
• Van Andel Institute
• Summer Health Professions Education Program
• PTK/Office of Experiential Learning

Information on a variety of opportunities will be available. Stop by, learn, get involved and make a difference! Snacks will be provided.