Home for the ‘HoliDAZE’

While many look forward to the holiday season as a time for rest, reconnection, and reflection, for some, the pressure to navigate interaction with family and friends can bring on a great deal of anxiety that can leave one dazed and confused. 

In partnership with United Campus Christian Fellowship, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) developed a shortlist of resources to lessen the stress.

Visit our resources at **Home for the HoliDAZE on our Social Justice and Equity Resources webpage

John Doane retirement party

Date:  Monday, Dec. 20

Time:  3 -5 PM

Location: 204/206 Tassell M-TEC

Important 2021 year-end payroll information

2021 W-2 Availability

• Electronic W-2’s will be made available to employees who have given consent by January 14, 2022.
• Paper W-2’s will be mailed to employees who have not given consent to receive them electronically on January 31, 2022. Paper W-2’s will not be available for pick up in Human Resources.

Verify Your Personal Information

• Verify and update your personal information through the Online Center by following the instructions found at http://www.grcc.edu/payrollandbenefits/forms/yearend. For assistance with personal information changes, please email Human Resources at hr@grcc.edu no later than January 7, 2022 to have the changes on your W-2.

Update your Tax Withholding Forms

• NEW 2022 tax forms will be available in January on the payroll web page at https://www.grcc.edu/humanresources/forms/payrollforms. New tax forms should be completed if:
  • You moved in or out of the cities of Grand Rapids or Walker.
  • Your filing status has changed.
  • You are currently claiming exempt, to not have any withholding for Federal or State taxes, you are required to complete a new 2022 W-4 no later than February 5, 2022.

1095-C Tax Form

• All benefited employees will have a tax form 1095-C mailed to them on January 31 from PlanSource. You do not need this form to file your tax return, but you should keep this form with your tax records. 

For Informational Purposes Only

• The 2022 Social Security tax rate is schedule to remain 6.2%, and the Medicare tax rate remains 1.45%.
• The 2022 social security wage base will increase to $147,000.00.
• The 2022 limitation for elective deferrals under a 403(b) or 457(b) will increase to $20,500.00 and the additional catch up provision for individuals age 50 and over remains unchanged at $6,500.00, for a total of $27,000.00

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.”

See Full Article

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.

GRCC alumna Dayanny De La Cruz featured on Forbes cover

GRCC alumna Dayanny De La Cruz is on the cover of the Latin American edition of Forbes magazine, celebrating her leadership and trail-blazing role as executive chef for the Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium.

De La Cruz supervised meals for the February 2020 Super Bowl. She guided 100 chefs and 2,400 culinary staff members in preparing a menu that included 2,700 Maine lobster tails, 6,000 servings of short ribs and 10,000 hot dogs.

But the Super Bowl experience was just the latest in a series of “firsts” in De La Cruz’s career.

“I’m the first Latina, the first female heading up a Super Bowl,” she said. “Besides that, I’m the first female to head an NFL stadium. The NFL has trusted me to give me an amazing stage, an amazing platform to make changes, to be able to touch the community.”

De La Cruz credits what she learned as a student at GRCC’s Secchia Institute for Culinary Education with giving her skills — and confidence.

“This was my safe haven,” she said. “This was my place for me to grow, but at the same time, develop the best thing I have today, which is my career. And, also, the love that I have for food and everything I learned through the process from my mentors.”

De La Cruz, a native of the Dominican Republic, attended GRCC for a semester in 2003, then needed time to help her husband through a health issue and care for her young children.

Professors kept in touch, encouraging her to come back and complete her degree. When she returned in 2005, faculty understood the challenges she was facing. She used to support her family by working overnight making empanadas to sell at the farmers market for $1 each, starting at 6 a.m. before heading to class.

“They made me who I am today,” she said of the GRCC faculty. “They saw something in me I didn’t know I had. That’s something I can still be thankful for. I couldn’t have finished school without them – without each and every one of them. Each one of them played a special part in my life.”

De La Cruz graduated with honors: She was the first Latina and second woman to receive the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education’s Director’s Award.

She worked as executive chef at Doubletree Hotels in the Chicago area before becoming interested in the sports and entertainment industry, overseeing food preparation for large events. That led to working in Miami and American Airlines Arena and the Heat basketball team, which awarded her a championship ring.

De La Cruz has been with Centerplate, the company providing meals at Hard Rock Stadium, since 2017.

“I’m very driven,” she said. “For me, it’s about challenging myself on a daily basis. I call it the magic of game day. You realize that for all the things to work, all the things you planned for, for days and days come to fruition. You look down and say somehow, I touched each and every one of those 57,000 people sitting in those seats. It’s great.”

Congratulations new retirees

Dawn Zuidgeest Craft – Nursing
James Schafer – Media Technologies
John Doane – Job Training
Jeff Smoes – Grounds/Maintenance
Sang Lee – Mathematics
Anne Meilof – IRP

GRCC In the News 12/16/2021

Kent County Veterans Services teams up with Grand Rapids Community College vet center

12/15/21 eightWest

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) – Kent County Veterans Services is our Veterans Expert and their mission is to bring quality resources to local veterans, including a variety of virtual services.

Rachel joins us today and joining her is Patrick from Grand Rapids Community College to explain a special partnership between the vet center and GRCC.

FACULTY FOCUS: Peter Murr teaches advanced manufacturing and welding technology at Montcalm Community College

12/16/21 The Daily News (Greenville)

Peter Murr is a full-time advanced manufacturing and welding technology instructor at Montcalm Community College.  

He earned an associate degree from Grand Rapids Community College in welding technology, is certified as a welding inspector and welding educator through the American Welding Society and is trained in ArcTool programming and maintenance through FANUC. 

How to get your department webpages ready for 2022

As we’re wrapping up our fall 2021 semester, take a look at your department’s webpages to make sure everything is up-to-date for our return in 2022! 

• Are there any deadlines or date-oriented information on your webpages that have passed or need to be updated?
• Is your bio/contact information still correct? If you want to make changes to your bio, simply log in at grcc.edu/user, navigate to your bio and submit the form for changes.
• Are there any outdated events that need to be hidden or new events that need to be promoted?
• Are your department’s office hours and contact information updated for holiday break and beyond?

If you need help with any of these updates, contact your department web editor, or email webhelp@grcc.edu and we’ll be happy to assist you.

Thank you for helping us keep grcc.edu up to date for students and our community.

GRCC In the News 12/15/2021

GRCC to add new wayfinding system to campus

12/7/21 WOOD TV

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Some new changes are coming to the Grand Rapids Community College campus.

Map highlights how GRCC brewers help Grand Rapids earn its Beer City USA title

12/7/21 secondwavemedia.com

Everyone knows about the region’s reputation as Beer City USA, but did you know about the Grand Rapids Community College connection?

Signage installation will aid campus wayfinding at Michigan community college

12/8/21 American School & University

Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) in Grand Rapids, Mich.,is installing a comprehensive wayfinding system that will help pedestrians and motorists navigate the campus. 

Good things on The Lakeshore

12/8/21 WHTC

HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — Each week, Shandra Martinez, managing editor of The Lakeshore, talks with morning news host Peg McNichol about people and organizations making a positive difference along the Lakeshore.

… Map highlights how GRCC brewers help Grand Rapids earn its Beer City USA title. The Grand Rapids Community College Foundation’s alumni relations team created a map of local craft breweries owned or operated by GRCC alums. It’s a fun way to create your own brewery tour and support GRCC alumni.

GRCC, City of Grand Rapids host training for chefs to help after disasters

12/8/21 MLive

Area chefs will be ready to help the community in an emergency through special training hosted by Grand Rapids Community College’s Secchia Institute for Culinary Education and the City of Grand Rapids on Nov. 22 and 23.

Newsmakers

12/8/21 Community College Daily (American Association of Community Colleges)

… Ashlee Mishler is the new director of the Grand Rapids Promise Zone, the scholarship program that covers all costs of a Grand Rapids Community College education for city students. She previously served for more than four years at Ferris State University as a marketing manager and marketing communications specialist.

News 8 at Noon

12/8/21 WOOD TV

(Vaccination clinic.)

No. 1 Mott men’s basketball team stays unbeaten with 22-point win over Grand Rapids

12/8/21 MLive

FLINT – The Mott Community College men’s basketball express continued to roll Wednesday night.

The Bears, who are ranked No. 1 in the nation, remained unbeaten in eight games by beating Grand Rapids Community College 86-64 at Ballenger Field House.

For booming Grand Rapids, a larger ambition: Midwest technology hub

12/8/21 Bridge Magazine

Business growth in the Grand Rapids region has taken deliberate paths for decades, from development of downtown attractions that fueled nightlife to creation of the “Medical Mile” area filled with medical research and care facilities.

… (Randy Thelen, CEO of The Right Place) We’re working with our companies, talking with them already about what we can do to secure that job growth here versus other markets around the country. And we just submitted a grant to the U.S. Economic Development Administration with partners at Grand Rapids Community College and Grand Valley State University. 

Nueva beca disponible para trabajadores de primera linea que no sean elegibles para recibir ayuda federal

12/10/21 El Vocero

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN- Una nueva beca creará un camino gratuito para los trabajadores esenciales que no son elegibles para recibir ayuda financiera federal.

… En Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC), la beca se puede utilizar a partir del semestre de invierno de 2022, y la inscripción para las clases ya está abierta.

(GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN- A new grant will create a free pathway for essential workers who are not eligible for federal financial aid.

… At Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC), the scholarship can be used starting in the winter semester of 2022, and registration for classes is now open.)

Autocam Medical recognizes apprenticeship grads

12/10/21 Grand Rapids Business Journal

The Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (AMP) Lab has churned out another group of CNC machinists from its apprenticeship program.

… The event, recognizing the company’s fourth class of graduates, included a few words of motivation and inspiration by John Kennedy IV, general manager of Autocam Medical, and Bill Pink, president of Grand Rapids Community College.

Autocam Medical recognizes latest apprenticeship program graduates

12/10/21 todaysmedicaldevelopments.com

Autocam Medical, a global contract manufacturer of precision surgical and medical components and devices, presented 11 students with certificates of completion for their CNC Machinist Apprentice Program during a November 10th ceremony at the AMP Lab at Western Michigan University in Grand Rapids.

The event, recognizing the company’s fourth class of graduates, was kicked off with a few words of motivation and inspiration by John Kennedy, IV, General Manager of Autocam Medical, and Dr. Bill Pink, President of Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC).

GRCC to make navigating campus easier

12/13/21 Grand Rapids Business Journal

A $600,000 construction project is underway on the Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) downtown campus.

More housing coming to West Michigan, still more needed

12/14/21 secondwavemedia.com

Thousands of new homes are set to come on the market in Ottawa County in the next 18 months, HousingNext Executive Director Ryan Kilpatrick says.

… 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 households earning 40% to 80% of the area median income. It will be located on a primary MAX bus route and is accessible to the new Grand Rapids Community College Lakeshore Campus and a majority of the retail and manufacturing jobs in the community. 

… Lakewood Flats, Holland Township — Midwest Construction has zoning approval and is nearing completion of their financing to begin construction on 190 units of affordable housing on Lakewood Blvd east of US-31. The project would include apartments for households earning 40% to 80% area median income 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 creek and several acres of green space. The project is located on a MAX transit line with close proximity to downtown, the new Grand Rapids Community College Lakeshore Campus, and several job centers.

Nominations being sought for 2022 Emeritus Faculty Award

You are invited to nominate a GRCC retired faculty or administrator for the Emeritus Faculty Award.

This award was established in 1985 to honor those instructors and administrators whose dedication and creativity have left an indelible mark on the lives of students and colleagues at GRCC. 

During their tenure at GRCC and since their retirement, they have continued to promote GRCC’s “Commitment to Excellence.”

Please submit online nominations by noon on Friday, February 11, 2022.  For more information, please visit the website.