GRCC In The News, 12-03-18

Colleges receive $5.6M to support underserved students
11/30/18 Grand Rapids Business Journal
Four area colleges have received $5.6 million in federal grants for programs to help cohorts of underserved students graduate and succeed in the workplace.
Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Valley State University, Ferris State University and Calvin College each received grants for programs that together support education from middle school through doctorate degrees, each using mentorship and hands-on learning to improve results.

2nd problem: Some couldn’t vote for GRCC trustee
11/30/18 WOOD TV
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Officials have discovered a second, unrelated error in the election for the Grand Rapids Community College Board of Trustees.

Kent County Clerk apologizes for second election mistake in GRCC race
12/1/18 MLive
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – For the second time this week, Kent County Clerk Lisa Posthumus Lyons is apologizing for an election mistake involving the Nov. 6 Grand Rapids Community College Board of Trustees race.

Clerks: Voters in two Allegan Co. precincts had race omitted from Nov. ballot
11/30/18 FOX 17
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Kent County and Allegan County Clerks have found that voters in two Allegan County precincts did not get to vote in a race in November for Grand Rapids Community College trustee.

GRCC Trustee election left off ballots in two Allegan County townships
11/30/18 WZZM
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – In the Nov. 6 midterm election, the Grand Rapids Community College Board of Trustees race was not included on ballots in two Allegan County Townships, Leighton and Wayland. One precinct within each township falls in the GRCC election district.

Kings Brewery announces new name, talks bringing African American owned brewer to GR
11/30/18 Grand Rapids Magazine
After finding out a brewery in California already has the name Kings Brewery, Terry Rostic and Jamaal Ewing launched a contest to rename their soon to open Grand Rapids brewery.
… Along with hoping to attract other businesses back to the area, he (Rostic) hopes to foster more entrepreneurial or brewing minds. One of his major goals for the brewery is to put a student through the Grand Rapids Community College brewing program every year.
(This article doesn’t mention it, but Terry Rostic is a GRCC alumnus.)

Take advantage of global engagement opportunities in December
11/18/18 wmich.edu
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Western Michigan University and the extended Kalamazoo community will offer numerous global engagement opportunities in December. Highlights include West African drumming classes, Kalamazoo Institute of Art tours and the Rootead Youth Dance Showcase.
… Thursday, December 6
… “Separatist Movements and the Quest for Independence: A Case Study in the South Pacific” lecture 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Sneden Hall, Grand Rapids Community College, hosted by Grand Rapids Community College Social Sciences Department. This lecture will be led by Dr. Cadey Korson from Massey University of New Zealand. Free.

Free-throw shooting hurts Lumberjacks in loss to GRCC
12/3/18 The Alpena News
It was an uncharacteristic Saturday night for the Alpena Community College men’s basketball team.
Generally, the Lumberjacks are usually a strong free-throw shooting team, but on Saturday, Alpena had an off night from the charity stripe, going 2-10 from the line down the stretch and lost a close hard-fought game to Grand Rapids Community College by a final score of 87-80 at Park Arena.

Mott Community College faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in college VP
11/30/18 MLive
FLINT, MI – Mott Community College unionized faculty members have voted “no confidence” in one of the college’s top administrators.
… (Amy) Fugate was a finalist for the Kalamazoo Valley Community College president job earlier this year. In 2016, she was named one of three finalists for the Grand Rapids Community College presidency, but withdrew from further consideration.

Social Sciences lecture this Thursday with GRCC alumna Dr. Cadey Korson

The Social Sciences Department is hosting a guest lecturer, Dr. Cadey Korson, on Thursday, December 6, starting at 6 p.m. in 108 Sneden Hall.

Dr. Korson is a Rockford native and alumna of GRCC, and she will speaking on separatist movements with special reference to the French dependency of New Caledonia in the South Pacific. The lecture is a collaborative effort between the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan and the GRCC Social Sciences Department. World Michigan provides some information concerning Dr. Korson’s talk.

Retirement party for Ron Graves on December 13

Ron Graves Retirement Party

Please join us for a Retirement party for Ron Graves in the Financial Services department:

• When: Thursday, December 13, 3-5 p.m.
• Where: White Hall Dining Room

Come and celebrate Ron’s retirement and thank him for his years of service!

Recap: Breakfast with Santa at the ATC

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On Saturday, December 1, GRCC Foundation’s Alumni Association hosted a Breakfast with Santa event with the help of Student and Alumni Philanthropy Club.

GRCC students, employees, and alumni brought their families to campus to enjoy festive food, games, and crafts. The highlight was having Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive to welcome the children and take photos. Thank you to all that attended and helped to make the day special!

College Channel programming through Dec. 7

The latest schedule, through December 7, includes the GRCC Board of Trustees meeting and the GRCC NASO panel discussion.

Next on the DLIT Webinar Series: Accessible PowerPoints

Accessible Powerpoints

This Wednesday (12/5), 3-4 p.m.

Do you use Powerpoint slides in your campus or online courses? Do you distribute them after a meeting or conference presentation? Don’t forget that Powerpoint presentations are highly “visual” and need to be accessible to the blind and those with low vision. This webinar will be administered through Zoom.

To access this webinar, please visit the Zoom website.

GRCC seismometer records last Friday’s Anchorage earthquake

At 8:29 a.m. this past Friday, November 30, a magnitude 7 earthquake sent Anchorage residents scurrying out of buildings and under desks. Six minutes later, GRCC’s seismometer picked up the primary waves that traveled from Alaska to Michigan at a speed of over 13,000 miles per hour. There are preliminary reports of damage in Alaska’s largest city and the surrounding communities. A Tsunami warning was issued and then canceled later in the day.

The image above shows GRMI’s seismic record of the magnitude 7 earthquake in Alaska on Friday morning, November 30, 2018. The two red arrows indicate arrival of the P-body wave and the surface waves.

Calkins Science Center at GRCC hosts a seismometer (GRMI) that is part of the MIQuakes network, a group of high schools, community colleges and universities in Michigan that host seismometers designed to record earthquake activity both locally and worldwide. The stations are sponsored by IRIS – Incorporated Research Institutes in Seismology and MESTA – the Michigan Earth Science Teachers Association.

If you are interested in or other earthquakes recorded by the GRCC seismometer, you can find them on the MIQuakes website.

GRCC Golden Raider Happy Hour happening this Thursday

The GRCC Golden Raider Happy Hour is back! The first happy hour was a great success and left everyone wanting more, so come connect with colleagues and friends, and throw a few bucks into the collection box for the Golden Raider Scholarship while you’re at it.

This Thursday, December 6, from 3-6 p.m. at Derby Station (2237 Wealthy St SE #130, East Grand Rapids, MI 49506)

• Cash bar and food
• Free parking in the ramp behind the restaurant

Folks who are planning on retiring are most welcome, and current retirees are welcome to bring friends!

If you have any questions, please contact Diane Sparks at (616) 690-0009 or Sparkle6045@gmail.com

Exam Cram begins today at the GRCC Library

What is it?

Think extended quiet study hours in the library, smiling tutors and librarians, stress-relieving workshops, along with beverages and snacks to keep study strength up and stress levels down!

When is it?

• This week, Monday, December 3 – Sunday, December 9

• EXTENDED WEEKEND hours: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. on both Saturday, December 8, and Sunday, December 9

ALSO! Be sure to take advantage of the fun and relaxing (and free!) workshops that will be held during the week:

Meditation Sessions:

Monday (12/3) 12–12:30 p.m.

• Weekly Mindfulness Meditation: This week’s practice will be a loving-kindness meditation, which cultivates feelings of kindness and compassion for ourselves and others. Regular practice is known to increase experiences of positive emotions such as joy, gratitude, hope, and love.

Wednesday (12/5) 10–10:30 a.m.

• The Mountain Meditation: This guided visualization promotes feelings of calm grounding, inner strength, and stability in the midst of challenging circumstances and stress.

Thursday (12/6) 10:30–11 a.m.

• Body Scan Meditation: In this guided meditation, we bring our awareness to each part of the body, sequentially and then as a whole, non – judgmentally, with opportunities to soften any tension found along the way. Many people find this produces deep physical relaxation and a sense of mental calm.

Weaving Workshop:

Wednesday (12/5) 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

• Feeling stressed about final exams? Treat yourself to a free make & take weaving workshop with Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood, host of the CraftSanity Podcast and GRCC adjunct journalism professor. Bring an open mind and good vibes. No experience necessary. Looms and yarn will be provided.

More information is available on the GRCC Library and Learning Commons Exam Cram page.