Provost restructuring updates and ASA reorganization slides & recording

Provost Brian Knetl will share the work on the reorganization in Academic and Student Affairs at several points during the week.

“This has been a long, but rewarding process. I am excited to share more details as this new structure will build capacity and facilitate coordination of efforts across ASA,” he said. “I plan to share the new structure and give time for question and answer starting tomorrow and over the next several days through several virtual open forums.”

Provost will presented the overall reorganization that included Q&A. The recording of the presentation given on Wednesday is available below. Attached are the slides from yesterday’s presentation on the ASA reorganization. You can also view the recording here.

Provost Restructuring Presentation 2 23 22

asa-reorganization_updated_final-1Download

Thursday, February 24th, Friday, February 25th, and Monday, February 28th there will be four additional open forums for Q&A. 

• Thursday, Feb. 24 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.   (click zoom link to join the forum)
• Thursday, Feb. 24 Noon to 1:00 p.m.  (click zoom link to join the forum)
• Friday, Feb. 25 11 a.m. to noon   (click zoom link to join the forum)
• Monday, Feb. 28 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.    (click zoom link to join the forum)

He also said, “On Monday, March 7 (after mid-semester break), I will send an email with the link to the reorganization presentation along with any updates that might have come out of the Q&A sessions.”

Policies Updated

GRCC has reviewed/updated policies

February 2022

Policy Meeting

11.7 Disposal of Surplus, Used or Obsolete Furniture & Equipment

• Updated link in Procedures

14.2 Firearms, Explosives or Weapons

• Updated “Campus Police” to “GRCC Police” throughout policy

11.19 Lobbying

• No changes

11.20 Supplanting of Federal Funds

• No changes

14.10 Service Animals

• No changes

6.1 Transgender and Non-Binary Equal Opportunity

• Replaced the term “gender non-conforming” with “non-binary” and defined the term “non-binary”.
• Revised the Policy title to reflect that the Policy applies to transgender and non-binary individuals.
• Updated the “Related Documents” Section to place the related College Policies in ascending numerical order and to reference to GRCC Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy.
• Added language to the “Campus Records” section to reflect that students and employees should be aware that, in certain circumstances, the College may be required to use a student or employee’s legal name (rather than their preferred name).
• Added language to the “Campus Records” section to provide resources for student or employee inquiries relating to College documents where legal or preferred names may be used.
• Revised Policy procedures so that the Student Records office is the contact for all student preferred name change requests, email change requests, and/or locker room access update requests.
• Revised Policy procedures so that the Human Resources Information Specialist is the contact for all employee preferred name change requests, email change requests, and/or locker room access update requests.
• Identified the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as a resource for transgender or non-binary individuals.
• Numerous formatting changes.  Added or repaired web links for organizations providing resources.
• Added the Registrar as a Policy contact.

The new/revised policies have been added to the College Policies website.

DATE CHANGE: Cultural Competence Institute

The date has changed for the 2022 Cultural Competence Institute.

The session will take place on Friday, April 8, 2022, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

We are delighted to host Dr. J. Luke Wood as this year’s guest faculty member. Dr. Wood will provide strategies for embedding access, equity, and inclusion principles into the newly adopted Strategic Plan.

To register and remit the $100 fee, visit: tinyurl.com/GRCCequity

Volunteers needed for Commencement

Commencement is a special time for our GRCC family! Show your support for our graduates by volunteering to help make this time memorable for our students.

Commencement will take place on Friday, April 29 beginning at 7 PM (School of Arts and Sciences) and Saturday, April 30 beginning at 1 PM (School of Workforce Development).

Most volunteer positions will require you to arrive approximately 1.5 – 2 hours prior to the start of commencement.

Complete this quick form to let us know your interest in volunteering. We will respond with additional information and your specific volunteer assignment at a later date.

Tech Tip: International travel requirements

While working at GRCC, you may have the opportunity to travel for your position to many great places, some of which may be internationally. Make sure you’re fully prepared for your international travel by working with IT to ensure your data is safe. 

To ensure the safety of your data and the colleges here are some practices to follow when you are traveling outside of the country. 

1. Staff traveling out of the country should not use their assigned college equipment. Instead they should get a loaner computer from IT.
2. All laptops traveling out of the country will need to be encrypted.
3. If there are special software needs, those exceptions need to be addressed by Information Security and the Director of IT Customer Support.

Please know when traveling outside of the U.S., some foreign Internet Service Providers (ISP’s) block U.S. based websites, making it difficult to access certain resources. If you would like to know if you may run into issues you can submit an International Travel Security Check and we will review if any of the GRCC resources you plan to access will be unavailable from your destination(s).

If you have any other questions about the international travel requirements please feel free to reach out to IT Customer Support with your questions.

GRCC In the News 02/24/2022

FAFSA form is first step is cutting education costs

2/22/22 secondwavemedia.com

Community college continues to be an affordable option for people looking for skills training or to begin their college education. 

This semester, one in five Grand Rapids Community College students is having their tuition covered by a grant or scholarship program, removing cost as an obstacle to a life-changing education.

West MI police academies recruitment numbers drop ‘significantly’

2/22/22 WOOD TV

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — As a deputy shortage continues across West Michigan, multiple sheriffs told News 8 that a major cause is a declining number of recruits.  

… The director of the part-time police academy at Grand Rapids Community College, Dave Kok, told News 8 they saw 50 to 60 applicants a year from 2016 to 2021, but that number dropped “significantly” in 2022. He said he believes the numbers “are going to swing around.”  

One in Five GRCC Students with Dr. Bill Pink

2/23/22 WOOD Radio                  

(President Pink interviewed about students attending GRCC tuition-free.)

Financial aid specialists will help GRCC students complete federal form to get money for school

2/23/22 MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Grand Rapids Community College officials are urging students to take advantage of state and federal grants and scholarship opportunities that may be available to them by filling out their federal financial aid applications.

Rotary Club names Fred Meijer service award winner

2/23/22 Grand Rapids Business Journal

The Rotary Club of Grand Rapids named its recipients of the Frederik Meijer Service Above Self Award.

… The Custers have served several organizations, such as the Western Michigan University Foundation, the Grand Rapids Community College Foundation, Hope on the Hill Foundation and Clark Retirement Community. Dave Custer also is a member and past president of the Rotary Club of Grand Rapids, member and past chair of the Grand Rapids Economic Club, member and past president of Cascade Hills Country Club and director at Irwin Seating.

He’s a leader who is always learning

2/23/22 schoolnewsnetwork.org (Kent Intermediate School District)

Kent ISD — Didasi Mbongya readily shares his secret for leadership: accept as many opportunities as possible.

… Sound like enough opportunities accepted? Not for 21-year-old Mbongya. He also attends Grand Rapids Community College, where he is working toward a career in international relations, and works a third-shift manufacturing job. He’s also a catechist and member of the parish council at his church.

Grand Rapids renames streets for César E. Chávez and Martin Luther King Jr.

2/23/22 MLive

Grand Rapids Community College President Dr. Bill Pink speaks to the crowd gathered for the indoor ceremony held for the unveiling of the renamed César E. Chávez Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Street signage installation at Iglesia de Dios Manantial de Vid church in Grand Rapids on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. (Daniel Shular | MLive.com

(This was a photo gallery.)

Together again: ‘Musical Moods’ showcases GRCC student talent, opportunities in performing arts

Grand Rapids Community College’s music students are coming together for the Music Department’s 74^th “Musical Moods” performance, both a celebration of student hard work and talent, and an opportunity to showcase the college’s performing arts opportunities.

The performance is planned for 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 25 at Northview High School’s Max Colley Jr. Performing Arts Center, 4451 Hunsberger Ave NE in Plainfield Township.

“Musical Moods” presents a cross section of all the Music Department’s ensembles and features student soloists and small ensembles, said Kevin Dobreff, GRCC Music Department program director.

Last year’s concert was presented virtually due to the pandemic, and Dobreff said faculty and students are excited to be performing together again.

“The best part is all the student groups being on stage together and getting to see and experience what all the other ensembles are doing,” Dobreff said. “It’s an opportunity for our students, and the community, too, to see the camaraderie and collaboration from our faculty members. It’s an exciting night.”

Presented as a musical collage, the concert will seamlessly flow from one performance to the next. No one performance is longer than six minutes.

“Musical Moods” was started 74 years ago by Albert P. Smith, founder of the music department, at what was then Grand Rapids Junior College.

Dobreff said the department typically presents the show in high schools across the region, taking advantage of larger performing arts centers. But the concert also serves as an opportunity for potential students and families to see the high quality of GRCC’s Music Department instruction and students, and inspire them to attend the college.

The concert will include submissions by student groups including the college orchestra, jazz ensemble, guitar ensemble, string quartet, percussion ensemble, choir, and wind ensemble.  

The college’s Shades of Blue vocal group will perform, as well as students Madilyne Barbrick, Desteny Zuniga Elms, Kathrynn Davis, and Abagail Solomon performing as Cantus Femina. The duo of Hailey Ergang and Anastasia Fiorenzo will be accompanied on piano by Emily Grabinski Conklin. Soloist David Dziuban will perform on guitar.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for students, seniors, veterans, and active military members. GRCC students, and students attending any of the K-12 schools in the Kent Intermediate School District are admitted free with their school identification.

Tickets are available here.

Commencement regalia orders due by Friday, February 25

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.

regalia-order-formDownload

Student Leadership Awards: Nominations due by Friday, February 25

Our college is filled with students who represent a variety of backgrounds and possess a broad range of strength, resilience, interests, and goals. Please send in your nominations for those students who contribute in their own unique ways to the depth and breadth of the experience here on our campus.

Their dedication could not be overstated and nominations will build student confidence and inspire them to persevere and to reach even higher. 

Nominations for a variety of student awards are open now until Friday, February 25 at 10 p.m. Student Alliance and Campus Activities Board have introduced 3 new awards they are seeking nominations for which include recognition of students from our Lakeshore and M-TEC campuses as well as a student athlete in tandem with this year’s theme “Above and Beyond”. 

Send in your nominations and save your spot today by logging in to Raider Connect with your GRCC credentials and clicking the ‘Forms’ tab.

Student Leadership Awards on Thursday, March 17 from 3-6 p.m.

New hours for Sneden Computer Lab

Monday          Closed  

Tuesday         9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Wednesday   9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Thursday       9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.  

Saturday & Sunday Closed

Tutorial Labs

ATC Tutorial and Open Lab

Biology Learning Center

Business & Economics Tutorial Lab

Calculus & Physical Science

Health Sciences Resource & Tutorial Lab

Language Arts Tutorial Lab

Math Prep & Learning Lab

Mechanical & Architectural CAD Lab

Sneden Computer Lab

Mathematics Tutorial Lab