September Fire Pump tests on Friday, 09/24

Facility Maintenance is planning to perform the monthly fire pump tests this Friday, 09/24/2021.

We plan to start at the ATC, at 7 a.m., then proceed to the Science Center, and finish at College Park. During the tests, the outside horns and strobes may go off for up to 20 minutes, at each location. 

Employees: You do not need to evacuate if you hear the fire alarm system during this time.

In the event of a real emergency during this testing time, we will use the Emergency Phone Alert System as well as internal fire alarms.

Patrick Coleman heading GRCC’s new Veterans Center, helping students transition from the military to college

Patrick Coleman wasn’t sure what to do with his life after leaving the U.S. Army in 1995, and didn’t know where he could turn to for help.

“There were no doors for me to walk through,” he said.

Coleman now will be able to help fellow veterans who are GRCC students find those doors. As GRCC’s new veteran’s success coordinator, he is overseeing the college’s new Veterans Center, opening next month in the newly renovated G2 floor of Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall.

The U.S. Education Department in January awarded GRCC a grant to create the center, which will serve as a hub for planning and delivering services to students who have served in the armed services.

The center will serve as a single point of contact, connecting veterans with campus resources including financial aid, advising and disability support. The project also will help GRCC expand its partnerships with state and local veterans’ agencies, helping students access benefits and support in the community.

The center also will help with outreach efforts, making veterans in the community aware of opportunities at GRCC to earn credits for degrees or transfer and in-demand career skills.

The Veterans Success Center will host workshops and speakers, and provide opportunities for networking and social events for the students.

“I’m here to help our veterans after they leave the service – anything they need,” Coleman said. “Being a veteran myself, I learned there was a lot to navigate when I began my college education. There were no clear instructions on how to transition from combat to college. I can help them get around any detours they encounter. I’m the resource guy!”

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Understand the GRCC Foundation

Are you looking for a fun and interactive professional development opportunity? Well you are in luck!

The GRCC Foundation is hosting the following session: “Everything you ever wanted to know about the GRCC Foundation and the students we serve.”

This session will be hosted at the Custer Alumni House and will introduce you to the inner workings of the GRCC Foundation – highlighting its impact on students, faculty, staff, and the community at large.

Participants will gain a better understanding of the financial needs of the students we serve, as well as the scope of work that the foundation does that positively impacts not only the students, but faculty and staff, as well as the physical campus here in Grand Rapids and out on the Lakeshore.

We look forward to seeing you there on Friday, October 1! Register via the Professional Development tile in your Online Center account.

New Payroll Department location

Payroll has moved….

Our HR/payroll employees have moved to join spaces with student employment services in Ender Hall.

If you need to meet with Becky Bailey, Rachel Paulucci or Stacia Barczak, please send them an email to set up a time.  

Becky is located in room 201 and can be reached at bbailey@grcc.edu

Rachel is located in room 202 and can be reached at rpaulucci@grcc.edu

Stacia is located in room 203 and can be reached at staciabarczak@grcc.edu

GRCC Transfer Fair October 18

There are about 50 institutions participating. The Academic Advising and Transfer Center would like faculty and staff to encourage students to attend and gather information from the transfer schools they plan to transfer to.

College Channel programming through Sept. 23

The College Channel schedule, through Sept. 23, includes the GRCC Board of Trustees September 2021 meeting and Marisel Herrera @ Latino Heritage Month.

GRCC Board of Trustees September 2021

GRCC-ODEI Marisel Herrera 09/21/21

Tech Tip: Google Calendar Work Locations

Google has been working on updating various applications to make them more accessible for users no matter where they are working. The latest update is the ability to add working locations within Google Calendar.

Google Calendar now allows users to set where they will be working on specific days. You can set your location as working in the office, at home, or specify a specific location. This is helpful so people know your location when they’re inviting you to an event or appointment. 

To set up working locations:

1. Navigate to Google Calendar
2. Click on the gear icon in the top right corner
3. Select Settings
4. Click Working Hours and Locations under the general tab
5. Check the box that reads Enable working location
6. You may enable working hours if you would like to include the times you will be working
7. Choose the days you will be working
8. On each day using the drop-down menu select where you will be working
9. You may choose Office, Home, Unspecified, or Somewhere else
   1. If you choose somewhere else you will be required to enter the location 

Once this is set, locations you will be working on a specific day will display to anyone who access to your calendar.

For more information and helpful tips, please visit the IT Customer Support Portal or contact the IT Customer Support Desk at x4357.

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

IT Notification – Apple Update

Apple released several critical software updates Monday, September 13, 2021 to address recently discovered vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities, if exploited, could allow attackers to gain control of an affected device. MacOS Big Sur, macOS Catalina, iOS, iPadOS, Safari, and watchOS devices are all affected by these vulnerabilities.

Information Technology has issued guidance to College owned devices to install the relevant updates as soon as their workload allows. Devices will try their best not to interrupt your work but you may receive notifications prompting you to install and/or restart your device. We ask that you take the requested action as soon as you can.

If you’d like to verify that your device is running the latest and greatest from Apple, you can always ask your device to perform a software update check. We’ve included instructions below on how you can do this on both macOS and iPadOS.

Information Technology encourages you to also update your personal devices to minimize any risk to your personal data. If you have a device running an operating system we don’t cover in our instructions below, please visit Apple’s knowledge base – accessible by the links following our instructions.

Installing Software Updates on macOS:

1. Launch the ‘System Preferences‘ app.
2. Click the ‘Software Update‘ button.
3. Your device will now check for any relevant updates. Click the ‘Update Now‘ button, if prompted.

Installing Software Updates on iPadOS:

1. Tap the ‘Settings• app.
2. Tap ‘General‘
3. Tap ‘Software Update‘
4. Your device will now check for any relevant updates. Click the ‘Update Now‘ button, if prompted.

Installing Software Updates On Other Devices

• iOS: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204204 
• watchOS: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204641

As always, we encourage you to reach out to Information Technology if you have any questions, concerns, or just want to say hi! We’d also like to take a moment to thank you for taking the time and effort to ensure GRCC’s technology is operated safely and securely!

GRCC In the News, 09/23/2021

Grand Rapids Community College has been selected as a national partner addressing student food and housing insecurity

September 22, 2021; WGVU

According to the Hope Center for College, Community and Justice, nearly three in five students experience housing and food insecurity. A few years ago, Grand Rapids Community College began assisting its students when the Student Life and Conduct office identified the need for a food pantry.

State programs credited for community colleges’ enrollment bump

September 22, 2021; WLNS

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — West Michigan community colleges are seeing an increase in enrollment this school year with two state programs being credited for driving the numbers.

Enrollment at Grand Rapids Community College is up 4.4% compared with the fall semester last year. This year the college is offering in-person classes, in addition to online courses.

Jill Biden visiting Michigan to discuss safely reopening schools

September 22, 2021; MLive

First Lady Jill Biden and U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona will visit Oakland Community College on Friday to wrap up a bus tour highlighting communities that are safely returning to in-person learning.

… The first lady last visited Michigan in May, when she attended a vaccination clinic at Grand Rapids Community College.

2020 Greenville grad crowned Miss Flat River Heritage

September 22, 2021; The Daily News (Greenville)

Kayla Mann doesn’t really consider herself a typical pageant girl. After being a part of the 2013 Miss Danish Festival court, she didn’t pursue the pageant world.

… The daughter of Pam and Gerald Mann, she is currently a sophomore at Grand Rapids Community College, studying political science and business administration.

BWW Interview: From Head to Toe – Everything HAIR

September 22, 2021; Broadway World Detroit

Hair, running through September 25th at Circle Theatre in Grand Rapids, is a real blast to a very specific era – and we wanted to catch up with the crew in charge of putting together that look for this latest production. Below we’re chatting with the design team!

Kelly Lucus
Co-Costume Designer

Tell us a little about yourself. How did you get started in costume design/hair and makeup?

I kind of fell into it. Started helping out a friend and taught myself how to sew along the way. Worked with the Flat River Community Players in Greenville, Michigan for many years. Then got involved with Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, and learned much more working along with Bob Fowle. After a while, branched out and worked with Circle Theatre, Actors Theatre, Grand Rapids Community College, and Cornerstone College to name a few.