GRCC family, Dr. Pink has opted to cancel the Coffee and Conversation planned for Monday, April 18, recognizing the challenges of the time. We will get together on another day.
Daily Archives: April 15, 2022
Van & Marinus Swets Travel Award entries due by April 28
This opportunity is for GRCC employees (Non student employees)
DEADLINE: Thursday, April 28, 2022
This travel award is for fun, enjoyment, and relaxation. It is not intended to supplement any faculty, staff or administrator’s professional development travel funds.
A cash award of up to $400 will be given to any full or part-time GRCC employee who completes the following requirements and has his or her essay judged the best to fulfill the employee’s intention to relax, enjoy and have fun.
Requirements:
- Submit an essay (500 words or less) using this google form telling how you intend to use the cash award for fun, enjoyment, relaxation. The more unusual, the better!
- Essays will not be judged on spelling, writing style, organization, usage or grammar. They will be judged on CREATIVITY.
- Steps for submitting in your application for the Van Marinus Swets Travel Award
- To access the application, here.
- Do not put your name on the essay.
- Use your GRCC employee ID number when submitting your essay on the google form.
- Submit your application by 5:00pm on Thursday, April 28.
*All award winners will be notified by Friday, May 6
For more information you may contact Mary Reed at (616)234-3930 or mreed@grcc.edu
Here to Help: Julia Moore navigates students to their “aha” moments
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 Julia Moore. Julia connects with students in two different ways at GRCC. She is an adjunct instructor of Mathematics and a navigator for GEAR UP Wyoming.
In her navigator position, Julia is a math mentor, coach and tutor to 10th grade students attending Wyoming, Godfrey-Lee, Godwin Heights, and Kelloggsville school districts. As part of Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, she assists them in class and after school.
“It’s my goal to help my students learn how to become successful in their math studies, and to hopefully learn enough math now so they won’t have to retake any math courses when they get to college,” she said.
Julia introduces students to different career options and college pathways through job site visits, college campus visits, and summer learning academies. She also teaches students positive mental health habits.
“It’s my goal to help students learn how to have a growth mindset when it comes to their educational endeavors – to recognize patterns of negative self-talk and begin to replace them with better patterns of positive affirmations,” she said.
Preparing students to overcome personal and academic challenges is important to Julia because she knows barriers can get in the way of college.
“I’m a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and I was once myself a GRCC student,” Julia said. “I finished college while being a single mother and working multiple part-time jobs. My experiences during this time have helped me to understand the barriers that a student can have to completing their educational goals, and how to surpass those barriers utilizing available college resources.”
Julia’s commitment to making higher education accessible to students is evidenced in her excelling at two jobs at GRCC. But what really gets her excited about working here is seeing the “ah-ha” moment happen for her students.
“That moment when a student has a concept click for them, it’s absolutely enthralling,” Julia said.
Julia attended GRCC because it was affordable and she knew she’d be able to transfer her two-year degree to a four-year college or university. After graduation, she found an opportunity at GRCC to give back to her community.
Julia earned her associate degree in science from GRCC and then her bachelor’s degree in science at Aquinas College.
“When I graduated from GRCC, I was offered a professional tutoring position in the mathematics lab,” she said. “When I graduated from Aquinas, I was offered an adjunct instructor assignment. After working at GRCC for 17 years, I started working with the academic outreach department as well. As a Navigator, I get to intercede on the student’s behalf to help them gain access to resources that will help them perform better in school and plan for their futures. This is incredibly fulfilling to me as a human being!”
My Pathway Conference – GRCC GEAR UP Wyoming
Eager to learn about the next steps after high school, more than 300 Wyoming HS sophomores participated in the On My Pathway Conference at Calvin University on Thursday, April 14, 2022.
Keynote speaker Chris Collins urged students not to remain with the emotions of a moment but rather to commit to a movement of positive change. During breakout sessions, Collins started students on a 21-day program to become powerful leaders by asking them what practical things they can do to develop and maintain a spirit of gratitude.
Other sessions included an overview of student life and academic programs at Calvin. Students also enjoyed lunch and campus scavenger hunt tours. Calvin’s College Access Program and Venues at Calvin collaborated with the GRCC GEAR UP Wyoming grant to offer this event to WHS sophomores.
In 2019, as 7th graders, this same class came to GRCC for a day to learn about opportunities here.
GRCC GEAR UP Wyoming provides academic support, career exploration and college visit opportunities to the Class of 2024 cohort at Wyoming, Godwin Heights, Godfrey Lee, and Kelloggsville.
Photo credit: Madelyn H Photo LLC / facebook.com/madelynhphotollc / www.instagram.com/madelynhphoto
Honors Program Lunch Celebration
The Honors Program hosted their end-of-year celebration lunch on Thursday, April 14th. Congratulations to all of the students who completed the program this year and to those who are near completion.
Fun Facts
- (141) Number of students participating in the program.
- (101) Number of Honors Projects completed (Thank you faculty!).
- (680) Number of Community Engagement hours completed.
- ($33,770) Amount of scholarships provided.
Special thank you to Professor Leigh Kleinert, Assistant Professor Tim Periard, Assistant Professor Jonnathan Resendiz, Professor/Counselor Katie Hughes, and GVSU Master’s Intern Jessica Fillmore for their leadership and support.
Thank you to my team of Honors Ambassadors who mentored honors students every step of the way. John Chappelow, Sarah Kenney, Sherry Sokolowski, Sophie Karaein, Shayna Haynes Heard.
Wellness Champions: GRCC is a bike-friendly campus
The weather is getting better – we promise – and that means more people can consider the health and wellness benefits of riding their bicycles to work.
GRCC is helping students and employees focus on all areas of health and wellness as we emerge together from the pandemic.
Wellness is a full integration of physical, mental and spiritual health. That includes physical health, but so much more. During the next year we’re also looking at emotional, intellectual, social, spiritual, environmental and occupational health, and how we all can work to help ourselves and each other.
There are many resources at GRCC to help all of these types of wellness. Each week, we’ll introduce you to people and places here on campus ready to support you on your wellness journey.
GRCC is a bicycle-friendly campus! Cyclists know they need a safe place to store their bikes, and the mechanical aspects often need attention. We’re here to help with both!
The neat blue-and-yellow tree-like sculpture in front of the Library and Learning Center is actually a bike rack that keeps your ride out of the sun and rain. A few steps away is a rack with all kinds of tools and even an air pump! Scan the QR code for a website that can guide you through some simple repairs.
There is another tool rack on the DeVos Campus in front of Sneden Hall and at the Tassell M-TEC.
There is also a secured storage located in an enclosed and covered area, in the northwest corner of the lowest level of the Bostwick Parking Ramp. Head to the Student Life Office in the Student Center to fill out the form. You’ll be able to access the area with your RaiderCard. Details are at grcc.edu/bikestorage.
There are at least five benefits to biking to work, according to a June 13, 2019 article on SunLife.ca by Sylvie Tremblay.
First, you’ll save money on commuting, especially as gas prices hover in the $4 per gallon range.
Then, you’ll boost heart health and gain muscle strength, especially in older folks. That means you’ll also lower your risk of diabetes and other diseases.
The author says you’ll improve your mental health, with some studies suggesting physical activity can help manage or treat depression.
Finally, you’ll help protect the environment.
Have fun, be careful — and remember the hill on Lyon Street is really steep. Tap the brakes on the way down.
Tech Tip: Utilizing multiple desktops
If you are a single-monitor user (or even if you use an external monitor) it may be handy to have multiple virtual desktops.
Juggling different projects on the same computer can be tricky but using a virtual desktop can be very similar to using multiple monitors giving you more space to work.
Multiple desktops are great for keeping unrelated, ongoing projects organized, or for quickly switching desktops before a meeting. You can add an unlimited number of them as well.
These instructions can be found in the knowledge base article titled Utilizing Multiple Desktops. Please feel free to bookmark it for future reference.
For more information and helpful tips, please visit the IT Customer Support Portal or contact the IT Customer Support Desk.
If you have a suggestion or a Technology Tip you think can be useful, you can submit them by emailing techtips@grcc.edu
GRCC In the News 04/15/2022
4/14/22 Grand Rapids Business Journal
Frey Foundation trustee and long-serving treasurer Edward “Ted” Frey Jr. died this week. He was 77 years old.
… According to his obituary, Frey was born April 26, 1944 in Grand Rapids. He graduated from Ottawa Hills High School and attended Grand Rapids Community College and Grand Valley State College (now Grand Valley State University).
West Michigan man creates website for mental health resources in region
4/15/22 MLive
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Austin Metz had an idea for a one-stop shop for all things mental health for residents of West Michigan that came out of necessity.
… Metz, 33, of Grand Rapids, has a bachelor’s degree from Grand Valley State University in psychology and a bachelor’s degree in web development from Grand Rapids Community College, the release said.
12 former Michigan college players to watch as USFL season begins
4/14/22 MLive
The USFL will have plenty of players from Michigan colleges when it kicks of in Birmingham this weekend.
… New Jersey Generals
TE Nick Truesdell – Grand Rapids Community College
Road Closure Notice – Lyon St NE and Ransom Ave NE starting April 18
ROAD CLOSURE NOTICE
| STREET NAME | Lyon St NE and Ransom Ave NE |
| WHERE | Lyon St: Claremont Pl to Ransom Ave. Ransom Ave: Lyon St and Crescent St. |
| DESCRIPTION OF WORK | Long-term project to redevelop Spectrum parking ramp on north side of Lyon between Barclay and Ransom. |
| CLOSURE TYPE | In Phase 1, close the northern Lyon curb lane and maintain southern lane. Close and detour northbound Ransom along site, southbound will remain open. |
| DETOUR ROUTE | Northbound Ransom: Lyon to Bostick to Crescent |
| START | Monday, April 18, 2022 – 7:00 AM |
| END | Monday, August 8, 2022 – 4:00 PM |
| CONTACT NAME | Eric Olson |
| CONTACT COMPANY | eric.olson@pioneerinc.com |
| CONTACT NUMBER OR EMAIL | Pioneer Construction |
Language Arts Online Tutorial Lab: The lab will be open this and next weekend
Faculty and staff, please pass this on!
The Language Arts Lab will be open via Zoom the next two weekends to support you as you complete your final essays and portfolios
If you are taking a Spanish class, a tutor will be available to work with you on Sundays.
See the schedule below for dates and times.
Saturday 4/16: Noon-3 p.m.
Sunday 4/17: 6 p.m.-9 p.m. (Spanish tutoring available)
Saturday 4/23: Noon-3 p.m.
Sunday 4/24: 6 p.m.-9 p.m. (Spanish tutoring available)
Weekend tutoring is via Zoom only–we will not be open on campus. The Zoom link is provided in Blackboard.
Please reach out to the lab at (616) 234-4244 or email mariamckee@grcc.edu if you have questions or any trouble connecting with us.
We look forward to working with you!
-Language Arts Lab
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