Booster shots available for students, employees, community at Oct. 27 vaccination clinic

Grand Rapids Community College is planning a COVID-19 vaccination clinic for students, employees and community members that includes booster shots for those who are eligible.

The clinic comes as the deadline approaches for students to take advantage of a $200 incentive to receive the vaccine. More than 4,200 students so far have gained the incentive payment. Students must be fully vaccinated by Nov. 15 to be eligible.

The clinic is planned for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 27 at the Wisner-Bottrall Applied Technology Center auditorium, 151 Fountain St. NE.  A parking pass will be provided for individuals getting the vaccine.

The clinics are part of an effort to help students, employees and community members have access to an effective COVID-fighting tool. All three COVID-19 vaccine options will be available.

It is recommended that people bring their vaccine card if they are getting a second vaccine dose or Pfizer booster vaccine.

The Pfizer booster vaccine will also be available for those who qualify. Eligibility information is here.

Walk-ins are welcome.

GRCC choral students celebrating Dia de los Muertos, Latin American heritage with bilingual concert

Grand Rapids Community College choral students are celebrating Día de los Muertos, and Latin American heritage and culture with a bilingual concert on Friday.

Caleb Wenzel, GRCC’s director of Choral and Vocal Activities, said while choirs often perform in multiple languages, this program is specifically focused on Latin American languages. Songs will be performed in Castilian Spanish, but also Nahuatl, the native language of Mexico; and Quechua, the native language of Perú.

The program will feature reading of poetry and short stories in English and Spanish in between musical selections. Most of the reading literature comes from award-winning author Sandra Cisneros.

Wenzel noted the bilingual performance comes just after the end of Hispanic Heritage Month and a couple weeks before the celebration of Los Muertos.  

He said the choral music of Mexico remains one of the most overlooked portions of North American choral literature, and the goal is to expand the canon of what music professionals consider standard repertoire. Wenzel also noted GRCC and the greater community has a growing and vibrant Hispanic community.

“We want our students to have bold imaginations,” he said. “Being able to see themselves and their family history as crucial to the arts life of today is critical. In the same way, it’s about expanding the imagination of our students whose families have lived in West Michigan for many generations. We often think of classical music in America as something that started on the East Coast, but as we will teach our audience on Friday night, the first piece of music published in the Americas came from Perú and was a composition not in Latin, English, or even Spanish; it was a composition in Quechua!”

Professional development breakfast sponsored by GEAR UP Wyoming

Asking for help is a privilege.

This week at Sneden Hall guidance counselors and support staff from Wyoming districts attended a professional development breakfast sponsored by GEAR UP Wyoming.

GRCC’s Admissions and Enrollment Director Lori Cook, GVSU’s Associate Vice President and Director of Admissions Jodi Chycinski, and Calvin University’s Director of Undergraduate Admissions Melissa Rousseau discussed admissibility for first-generation students.

Cook emphasized the importance of completing the FAFSA and noted the college’s flexibility to accept applications throughout the year for fall, winter, or summer enrollment.

Chycinski noted that first-generation parents need both support and knowledge to understand the value of higher education. She added that institutions that mandate mentors for first-generation students, who may not otherwise ask for help, show higher completion rates.

For her part, Rousseau spoke about doubts students have when writing application essays. She said students must consider both content and style to represent themselves to admissions officers well.

Tuesday’s event marked the first in a series of three professional development sessions for middle and high school counselors and support staff at Kelloggsville, Godwin Heights, Godfrey Lee, and Wyoming as part of the GEAR UP Wyoming federal grant to support 850 students in the Class of 2024.

November HR sponsored employee learning opportunities

November 2
Data Literacy – virtual

November 4
Google Tips & Tricks – in person

November 5
Student Records & Privacy – in person
and
Building Blocks for Social Equity Series: It Starts With You – Self- Identity – in person

November 9
GRCC Reimbursement Policy – virtual

November 11
Overcoming Emotional Hijacking – in person
and
25Live Searches and Reports – virtual

November 12
Be Healthy At Your Desk – in person

November 15
Active Shooter Response Training – in person

November 16
Evidence Based Selection Process training – virtual

November 17
Setting Healthy Boundaries – virtual

November 18
GRCC Accounts Explained – virtual

November 19
Mindfulness Made Simple – virtual
and
All About CBD – virtual

Join us by registering online in the Professional Development tile of your Online Center account.

College Channel programming through Oct. 22

The College Channel Guide schedule, through October 22, includes the 10/18/21 GRCC Board of Trustees Meeting and the 10/19/21 GRCC ODEI present Ebony O. McGee videos.

Board of Trustees Meeting October 2021

GRCC ODEI present Ebony O. McGee 10/19/21

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

New CAP 3.4: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Fundamentals Team – Celebrate Spirit Day on Oct. 21

The purpose of the new CAP 3.4 LGBTQ+ Inclusive Fundamentals Team is to celebrate GRCC as a college of choice by providing a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive experience for LGBTQ+ faculty, staff, students, and the larger GRCC Family.

CAP 3.4 is dedicated to support GRCC’s greater commitment to equity and GRCC’s values of diversity, innovation, respect, and responsiveness. Through a data-driven and culturally competent approach, we will ensure our LGBTQ+ family is both celebrated and protected.

Celebrate Spirit Day with us by wearing purple or adding a purple border to your Facebook picture.

GLAAD, an advocacy group, says LGBTQ youth disproportionately face bullying and harassment because of their identities. Each year, millions of people wear purple for Spirit Day to support LGBTQ youth in a united stand against bullying.

The group says pledging to “go purple” on Spirit Day is a way for everyone — global and local brands and companies, world leaders, celebrities, neighbors, parents, classmates, and friends — to visibly show solidarity with youth and to take part in the largest, most visible LGBTQ anti-bullying campaign in the world.

Learn more about Spirit Day

Take a stand against bullying and support #LGBTQ youth by going purple for #SpiritDay on Oct. 21 (glaad.org/spiritday)

GRCC In the News 10/21/2021

GRCC offering new industrial sewing certificate program

October 20, 2021; WOOD TV

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Grand Rapids Community College is offering a new industrial sewing class to help train students for the profession.

Former football star from the 1940’s takes the field at Homecoming game

October 20,2021;  schoolnewsnetwork.org (Kent Intermediate School District)

Caledonia — Eugene “Gene” Raab graduated from Caledonia High School in 1948 with only 45 students in his class. 

… “We were going to live at home and go to junior college – what GRCC is now – but I was fortunate enough to get a scholarship to Michigan State with the help of the superintendent,” Raab said. “That was my ticket.”