Friday, Feb. 18
Additional information is available at grcc.edu/homecoming.
Grand Rapids Community College is a proud partner of the Grand Rapids Griffins! The hockey team is celebrating by offering GRCC employees and students a special ticket discount. Members of the GRCC family can save $8 per ticket for select Griffins Friday and Saturday games in February and March.
The games included in this offer feature some of the Griffins most popular giveaways, theme nights, and concession promotions of the season. A GRCC Student of the Month is scheduled to ride a Zamboni between periods on Feb. 25.
To view the game dates, discounted seating options, and promotions included in this offer, tap or click on the link: Griffins Partners Exclusive Offer.
If you have any questions regarding this offer, please contact the Griffins at 616.774.4585 ext. 1.
Hours before ringing in 2022, Grand Rapids Community College graduate Amer Bektaš sat in the announcers’ booth in Miami, calling the Orange Bowl football game for the University of Michigan student radio program, WCBN Sports.
His broadcast broke the record for all-time listenership at U of M, with more than 80,000 people tuning in.
Behind this first-generation college student completing his U of M Bachelor of Science in Information degree are his parents – both refugees who came to the United States during the Bosnian War in the 1990s.
Mirsad and Almedina Bektaš spoke no English then, and were among some 37,000 refugees from Bosnia and asylum-seekers who obtained legal permanent resident status between 1992 and 2000, according to U.S. Census data estimates.
Amer and his two younger brothers, Anel and Armin, were born and raised in Caledonia.
“Growing up in Caledonia, you could count on one hand how many Bosnians went to my schools,” Amer said. He recalled making friends with students who went to Kentwood and Forest Hills districts.
“We stay connected through the Bosnian Cultural Center and our mosque to where we can go and be together,” Amer said.
A 2016 survey titled “New Americans in Kent County” identified Bosnia as one of the top five countries of origin in the area, including Mexico, Guatemala, Vietnam and Canada.
Amer’s father, Mirsad, is also very involved in Grand Rapids’ Bosnian community.
“My dad is very Bosnian,” Amer said. “He’s committed to not forgetting where we came from and keeping the roots of our community tightknit.”
If you have a special project or event that you could use some help with, think Golden Raiders.
Send the details of what you need help with and who folks should contact to Liz Timmer at ltimmer1@comcast.net or Laura Moody at moodylaurab@gmail.com. They will then put the word out to the Golden Raiders (aka GRCC Retirees).
Contact Laura or Liz if you have any questions.
We get it, so much has changed since March 2020. One of those things that has gone through a few variations is our loaner laptop program. Below is information on how we are handling loaner laptops for students, staff and faculty:
Student Loaner – laptops are still being loaned through the Library on a first come, first served basis.
Staff Loaners – Staff loans can be obtained from Information Technology. Due to limited resources, only employees who do not already have a laptop as their primary device or those traveling are eligible for the loaner laptop service.
Full-time faculty and staff who have a desktop as their primary device are eligible to upgrade to a laptop at no additional charge to their department. Please note: the IT Department does not require justification, nor limits the number of devices a department may purchase.
As such, these devices are not covered under the lifecycle replacement process unless assigned to a full-time employee as their primary device.
A loaner may be requested by filling out a short form in our Customer Support Portal (Please press request service at the top right hand corner of the page). Once this form is filled out and submitted, an IT Staff member will reach out regarding next steps to your GRCC Staff Email account.
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.
OU reimagines transfer student accessibility in enrollment
2/16/22 The Oakland Post (Oakland University’s student newspaper)
Oakland University has upgraded its welcome mat. Michigan enrollment initiatives have prompted the Oakland County college to make its transfer program more accessible than ever.
… Dave Murray, communications director of Grand Rapids Community College, attributes these state programs as a certain factor in GRCC’s 4% enrollment increase over 2021.
Lady Jayhawks improve to 18-4 with a 58-45 win over Grand Rapids Community College
2/17/22 Local Sports Journal (Muskegon)
MUSKEGON—The Muskegon Community College Women’s Basketball program had their second conference match-up with Grand Rapids Community College on Wednesday evening and avenged a January 19, 49-47 loss to GRCC with a 58-45 home win.
North Central College Adopts PortalGuard Access Control
2/16/22 findbiometrics.com
BIO-key has picked up another client in the educational sector. In that regard, North Central College in Naperville, Illinois is the latest academic institution to adopt the company’s PortalGuard Identity-as-a-Service (IDaaS) platform for students, faculty, and staff.
… Grand Rapids Community College, Oklahoma Wesleyan University, and the University of Denver are some of BIO-key’s other PortalGuard customers. The company has also been gaining ground in the public sector, and has provided identity services for multiple county governments in the first few months of 2022.
The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) wants to send out a friendly reminder that the Salute to Women Awards is right around the corner.
The deadline for all nomination submissions are due Friday, February 18, 2022.
The award celebrates the accomplishments of women and gender equity advocates who impact the GRCC community.
The award is open to all GRCC stakeholders regardless of gender or gender identity.
The awards recognition ceremony will take place Tuesday, March 29 at 11 a.m. in the ATC 168.
The nomination form is available on the ODEI Salute to Women website.
Know of students, student organizations or organization advisors that are deserving of recognition?
There are five awards that we recognize students with annually and one award for a Student Organization Advisor. Nominations open now until Friday, February 25, 2022!
RSVP on Raider Connect to save your spot by Friday, March 11, 2022.
Link to webpage for details: Student Leadership Awards
It is time to place your order for commencement regalia — cap, gown & tassel — for the upcoming commencements.
Orders are due back to the bookstore by Friday, February 25.
See the attached form to be completed for each order.
The daily employee newsletter of Grand Rapids Community College 