Transformation of GRCC’s Ender Hall earns national honors for project architect Progressive AE

The transformation of the Mable Engle House into Grand Rapids Community College’s Steven C. Ender Hall has earned project architect Progressive AE national honors for historic preservation. 

American School & University, a magazine covering operations of educational facilities, saluted the project in its 2021 Architectural Portfolio edition, highlighting it in the Outstanding Design in Historic Preservation category.

“Steven C. Ender Hall looks wonderful,” GRCC President Bill Pink said. “But more importantly, it helps our college meet our students’ needs. We are grateful for Progressive AE’s thoughtful collaboration on this project, making Ender Hall a place that will serve our students and community for decades to come.”

The building, 455 E. Fulton St., was constructed early in the 20th Century by a lumber baron for his family. GRCC purchased it from Davenport University for use as offices.

The 3,850-square-foot Steven C. Ender Hall is used for student-focused departments, including the Experiential Learning and the Honors programs, and Student Employment Services. It also provides space for Student Life clubs and organizations to meet. A ribbon-cutting was held in August.

“Preserving landmark buildings like this is the right solution for maintaining a connection to the past, while making a strong commitment to the future,” Progressive practice leader Tod Stevens told the publication. “One of the best ways to be sustainable is to renovate rather than building new, so giving new life to the historic structure was a great first step.”

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Here to Help: Wayne Hsieh helps students connect math to their daily lives

Always remember, at GRCC, you are surrounded by people who want you to be successful and are ready to walk with you on your educational pathway. We are here to help!

Meet Wayne Hsieh. You will find Wayne in the Math Department or in the Math Prep & Learning Lab at GRCC. Wayne teaches courses from algebra to precalculus, but primarily teaches MA 97 and MA 98 classes, which the Math Prep and Learning Lab supports.

When asked his favorite class he shared, “I think I’d pick MA 97 because it has a lot of daily applications like percentages, rates and geometry.”

Helping students connect math to their daily lives is just one of the ways Wayne connects students to the material when he is teaching and tutoring.

“I get to help students from a variety of math backgrounds and it can be very challenging at times,” he says. “Tutoring helps me realize that it’s not only about knowledge in math, but also about presenting information in multiple views that the student can understand — since no one learns the same way.”

Wayne is also the Coordinator of the Math Prep & Learning Lab, where he helps students in developmental math classes with homework questions. He also helps students in other programs that are trying to brush-up on their math skills.

The Math Prep and Learning Lab offers both in-person and online tutoring support for students to:

• Get help navigating the study tool in ALEKS PPL in order to improve their math placement score.
• Brush up on their skills before enrolling in MA 97.
• Access services specifically designed to help students prepare for and succeed in MA 97 and MA 98.

Wayne, and tutors across campus, are focused on meeting the needs of individual students.

“I really enjoy it when students come back and tell us they passed the test or class, and show us how important the lab is to them,” he said. “In the lab, all we want to do is to help students learn and be more successful. We are a fun bunch to work with!”

Wayne has been tutoring throughout his educational and professional career, with a brief stop when he took a position in global supply chain procurement — specializing in China and Taiwan.

“I’ve always enjoyed tutoring,” he said. “I was a student tutor at GRCC and at GVSU. When I had to do my internship, I became a professional tutor at GRCC. I left GRCC for a full-time position with benefits, was laid off, and came back to GRCC and have been here since.”

Wayne attended GRCC after high school. This was the right choice for him because the cost was low and he was able to live at home. He earned his associate degree from GRCC before attending Western Michigan University, and then earned a bachelor’s degree in Math and Psychology from Grand Valley State University. He returned to GVSU to earn a Master’s of Education, Adult and Higher Education with an emphasis in mathematics.

You can contact the Math Prep and Learning Lab through email at MathPrepLab@grcc.edu and by phone at (616) 234-4729. Additional information is here.

Raider Salute from Student Life and Conduct

Student Life and Conduct would love to give a Raider Salute to Finance and Administration for the holiday gift bags that were created and given to the Student Food Pantry.

We would also love to thank everyone that has donated to the Student Food Pantry and Snack pantry this semester.

Our office is truly grateful for all the love and support that has been put into these efforts to help our students in need.

Again, thank you to everyone.
Student Life

Tech Tips: Computer Reboot

When is the last time you rebooted your computer? Not sure? We totally understand! It is very easy to get into a routine of putting your computer to sleep every day so you can keep things open that you are currently using. It makes the start of the next day feel productive by continuing where we left off. The truth is, we may actually be slowing ourselves down.

Rebooting makes our computer run more efficiently and it can also fix problems we may be encountering. Please take the time to restart your computer at least once a week which will save you time in the long run.

Check out this article Why Does Rebooting Your Computer Fix So Many Issues?

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 

GRCC Today: December 17, 2021

 Morley Stanwood All-Stater announces college volleyball choice

12/16/21 The Pioneer (Big Rapids)

MORLEY – She’s been a All-State volleyball player four seasons and is also a four-time Pioneer Dream Player of the Year.

On Thursday, Morley Stanwood senior Braelyn Berry announced where she’ll be playing collegiately: Grand Rapids Community College.

Mas viviendas se construyen en West Michigan, aun se necesitan

12/17/21 El Vocero

HOLLAND, MICHIGAN- Se espera que miles de casas nuevas salgan al mercado en el condado de Ottawa en los próximos 18 meses, dice el director ejecutivo de HousingNext, Ryan Kilpatrick. Aproximadamente un tercio de ellos están destinados a familias de ingresos bajos a medianos. Todo ayudará a estabilizar los precios de la vivienda en la zona.

• … Hom Flats, Holland Township: este es el primer proyecto de crédito fiscal para viviendas de bajos ingresos orientado a la familia aprobado en el condado de Ottawa en más de 20 años y proporcionará 114 unidades de alquiler asequibles para familias que ganan entre el 40% y el 80% del ingreso medio del área. Estará ubicado en una ruta de autobús MAX principal y es accesible al nuevo campus de Lakeshore de Grand Rapids Community College y a la mayoría de los trabajos de venta minorista y fabricación en la comunidad.
• … Lakewood Flats, Holland Township – Midwest Construction tiene aprobación de zonificación y está a punto de completar su financiamiento para comenzar la construcción de 190 unidades de viviendas asequibles en Lakewood Blvd al este de la US-31. El proyecto incluiría apartamentos para hogares con ingresos medios del área del 40% al 80% junto con un edificio de uso mixto con tiendas y restaurantes, una casa club comunitaria, un patio de juegos que será diseñado por Outdoor Discovery Center y la preservación de un arroyo natural. y varios acres de espacios verdes. El proyecto está ubicado en una línea de tránsito MAX cerca del centro de la ciudad, el nuevo campus Lakeshore de Grand Rapids Community College y varios centros de trabajo. 
• … Reurbanización de los terrenos en Westshore Mall, Holland Township: Versa Real Estate casi ha completado el reposicionamiento del antiguo West Shore Mall para crear un nuevo centro de uso mixto en el centro de Holland Township. The Shops at Westshore ahora incluye una amplia gama de servicios minoristas y de restaurantes más cerca de la US-31, mientras que el antiguo centro comercial se ha convertido para albergar el nuevo campus de Lakeshore de Grand Rapids Community College. Ahora, Versa cambiará sus sitios a la parte este de la propiedad donde ha recibido la aprobación preliminar de Desarrollo de Uso Planificado para construir un vecindario estilo aldea que incluye apartamentos, casas adosadas, pequeñas cabañas y casas unifamiliares. El equipo de desarrollo está buscando una amplia gama de precios que puedan servir a los hogares con ingresos medios del área del 50% hasta un AMI del 150% o más.

(HOLLAND, MICHIGAN- Thousands of new homes are expected to go on the market in Ottawa County in the next 18 months, says HousingNext CEO Ryan Kilpatrick. About a third of them are intended for low- to middle-income families. It will all help stabilize house prices in the area.

•… Hom Flats, Holland Township – This is the first family-oriented low-income housing tax credit project approved in Ottawa County in more than 20 years and will provide 114 affordable rental units for families earning between 40 % and 80% of the area’s median income. It will be located on a main MAX bus route and is accessible to Grand Rapids Community College’s new Lakeshore campus and to most retail and manufacturing jobs in the community.

•… Lakewood Flats, Holland Township – Midwest Construction has zoning approval and is nearing completion of its financing to begin construction of 190 affordable housing units on Lakewood Blvd east of US-31. The project would include apartments for area median income households of 40% to 80% along with a mixed-use building with shops and restaurants, a community clubhouse, a playground to be designed by the Outdoor Discovery Center, and the preservation of a natural stream. and several acres of green space. The project is located on a MAX transit line near downtown, Grand Rapids Community College’s new Lakeshore campus, and several job centers.

•… Land Redevelopment at Westshore Mall, Holland Township: Versa Real Estate has nearly completed the repositioning of the former West Shore Mall to create a new mixed-use center in downtown Holland Township. The Shops at Westshore now includes a wide range of retail and restaurant services closer to US-31, while the old mall has been converted to house the new Lakeshore campus of Grand Rapids Community College. Now, Versa will relocate to the eastern portion of the property where it has received preliminary Planned Use Development approval to build a village-style neighborhood that includes apartments, townhouses, small cabins and single-family homes. The development team is looking for a wide price range that can serve 50% Area Median Income Households up to an AMI of 150% or higher.)

Winter 2022 semester HR Learning Opportunities now open for enrollment

HR sponsored employee learning opportunities during the upcoming Winter semester are now open for registration. Navigate to the Professional Development tile in your Online Center account. Make sure you’re on the “Staff” tab.

For your convenience there is a variety of in person, virtual, as well as hyflex sessions planned. Hyflex refers to a session that is in person and virtual simultaneously, and those will be announced soon.

To encourage and ensure attendance, calendar appointments will be sent. Please pay close attention to the format (in person, virtual or hyflex) of the session you plan to attend.

Please be aware that last minute cancellations and no shows do interfere with the facilitation. Please register only for opportunities you can attend as your participation is important to the success of the sessions.

Please reach out for questions or further information.