GRCC boosting access to COVID-19 vaccine through clinics at Main Campus, Tassell M-TEC, and GRCC Lakeshore Campus

Grand Rapids Community College is planning vaccination clinics at two Grand Rapids locations on Sept. 8 and at the new GRCC Lakeshore Campus on Sept. 14, part of an effort to help students, employees and community members have access to an effective COVID-fighting tool.

Vaccines were administered to 25 people at the Aug. 28 Raider Rally event, helping students take advantage of a $200 vaccination incentive.

More than 2,000 students have registered so far for the incentive, one of several measures GRCC has taken to promote safety and wellness as students returned to campus for the fall 2021 semester.

The upcoming clinics are open to the public, as well as students and employees.

The Sept. 8 clinics are planned for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall, 143 Bostwick Ave. NE in Grand Rapids as part of an Involvement Day activity, and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Leslie E. Tassell M-TEC, 622 Godfrey Ave. SW in Grand Rapids.

Another vaccination clinic is planned for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 14 at the GRCC Lakeshore Campus, 12335 James Street in Holland.  

Eligible students can receive a $200 credit on their RaiderCards to use for campus dining, parking, printing, and in the bookstore.

The vaccination incentive program is available to students enrolled in an in-person, hybrid, virtual, or online credit course, clock-hour Job Training program, or apprenticeship program that begins between Aug. 30 and Dec. 16, 2021. Eligible students must meet this enrollment definition at the time incentive funds are disbursed to their RaiderCards and have achieved fully vaccinated status any time on or before Nov. 15, 2021.

To be considered for the incentive, students should log into their Online Center, select the “GRCC Vaccine Incentive” tile, and complete a brief form. There will be a place for students to upload a photo of their COVID-19 vaccination record card.

Credits will be added to RaiderCards in September for students who have completed the process, and weekly thereafter as students become fully vaccinated and upload a photo of their card.

The incentives are limited to GRCC students. Employees are ineligible. Additional information is available on the GRCC COVID information page.

Additional vaccination location information is available at vaccinatewestmi.com.

GRCC earns $1.2 million grant from U.S. Education Department to help adult learners connect with resources to be successful

A five-year, $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education will allow Grand Rapids Community College to help adult learners enter or return to higher education.

GRCC will use the grant to create a TRIO Educational Opportunities Center, where unemployed or low-wage workers and other adult students can work with campus specialists to connect with counseling and receive information on admissions and support services.

Educational Opportunities Center programs offer academic and personal counseling, tutoring and mentoring, career workshops, student financial assistance and help with completing the college admission process.

The centers support a range of adult learners, including those with limited proficiency in English, those with disabilities, those facing housing insecurity, people aging out of the foster care system, and other members of groups that are traditionally underrepresented in postsecondary education. The TRIO program also supports students who are low-income or are potential first-generation college students.

“A community thrives when all of its members have access to higher education,” GRCC President Bill Pink said. “We appreciate this support from the U.S. Education Department to help GRCC connect residents with services that can help them be successful on their educational pathway.” 

Educational Opportunities Centers, launched in 1972, are part of a set of federal programs known as TRIO, which is authorized by the Higher Education Act to help low-income, first-generation students and those with disabilities succeed in higher education.

During the 2020-2021 fiscal year, 139 Educational Opportunity Centers served more than 192,000 adult learners.

“As systemic inequality and financial hardship discourage students from succeeding in college, TRIO programs like EOC take on new importance because they continue to help guide unemployed and underemployed workers and returning high school and college students toward earning a degree,” said Maureen Hoyler, president of the nonprofit Council for Opportunity in Education in Washington, D.C.

College Channel programming through Sept. 03

The College Channel schedule, through Aug. 28, includes “GRCC Police Academy Graduation 2021.”  

There are also three Ribbon Cutting ceremonies to celebrate renovations in the Wisner-Bottrall Applied Technology Center, Steven C. Ender Hall and Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall. Check them out!

GRCC Police Academy Graduation 2021

Want more? Check out videos from your local Colleges and Universities.

START at GRCC and GO ANYWHERE

Staff and faculty, please share this information with your students.

Attend the 2021 GRCC Transfer Fair and talk to admissions counselor to get information about transfer requirements.
Date: Monday, Oct 18
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: GRCC Main: Applied Technology Center, ATC.

• Learn about transfer requirements.
• Obtain transfer resources.
• Meet with College/University representatives.
• Learn about important transfer dates and deadlines.
• Get your transfer questions answered.

Over 20 other schools from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Michigan.

Tech Tip: Experiencing a technical outage

Is a GRCC system not working right or appear to be down? Please visit GRCC IT Status for at-a-glance status updates of all Information Technology’s services – from Blackboard to PeopleSoft. From this website, you will be able to see the current status of all of our services, and a historical record of any service disruption or maintenance. The website is available to both students and employees and is designed to be accessible even in the event of a major network outage. 

Are you trying to run reports from CSProd but everything is moving at a snail’s pace? Maybe it’s heavy traffic, something on your local computer, or a campus wide issue. GRCC IT Status will let you know of any problems we’re detecting. Don’t see anything posted to GRCC IT Status? Then give us a call. You may be the first one to experience an issue that we need to look into. 

For more information, please visit the Status Hub or contact the IT Customer Support Desk.

If you have a suggestion or a Technology Tip you think can be useful, you can submit them by emailing techtips@grcc.edu 

National Payroll Week

The Payroll Team would like to remind you all that next week is National Payroll Week. It’s no coincidence that the week coincides with the week of Labor Day since it highlights the achievements and symbiotic partnerships between America’s employees, payroll professionals, and various government programs and agencies.

Since Monday, 9/6/21, is the Labor Day holiday and GRCC is closed, this is also your reminder to please submit your timesheet for the 9/17/21 pay date (for the pay period of 8/23-9/5/21) so you don’t forget over the long weekend.

Welcome Week: September 7-9

GRCC Campus Activities Board presents Welcome Week 2021, September 7-9!

If you are staff or faculty, please inform your student about these activities.

~ Get to know campus ~ Make friends ~ Have fun ~ Eat food ~

Tuesday: Open House at Student Life

Wednesday: Involvement Day & Virtual Scavenger Hunt

Thursday: Outdoor Movie Night

Campus Events

Reminder: GRCC to host blood drive on Sept. 16

GRCC will host a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 16 in the Multi-purpose room on the 2cd floor of the Student Center. All donors will receive a $10 e-gift card and a limited-edition sickle cell awareness t-shirt.

We have openings for 30 registered donors, to ensure we meet our goal of 18 pints!