Additional Windows 10 workshops added to Fall Staff Development

Additional Windows 10 workshops have been added to Staff Development’s fall schedule of offerings:

• November 29, (2:00 – 3:30 p.m.)
• December 7, (10:00-11:30 a.m.)

Course Description:

Windows 10 has arrived at GRCC! This new operating system has replaced Windows 7, and there are some changes we would like to share with you. Come and join us for this basic introduction to Windows 10, and learn how to navigate the changes.

Register at: http://www.grcc.edu/humanresources/staffdevelopment/learningopportunitiesregistration

 

Moss Ingram speaks at Aquinas event

Moss Ingram, associate professor of computer technology, was a presenter at Aquinas College’s new Creative Campus Innovations series this week. Aquinas created the series to foster a campus culture of innovation that encourages collaboration through discussions, faculty forums and workshops.

 

CIS department prepares for 100 Hours of Code on December 11

In celebration of Computer Science Education Week and to celebrate GRCC’s 100th birthday, the CIS department is hosting a 100 Hours of Code Event this Thursday. We have about 50 students already registered, and collectively they have pledged to donate over 100 hours of coding on Thursday alone.

• You can do this face to face and show up anytime between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in 214 ATC on December 11 to participate. We will have goodies, and great fun.
• You can also do this online via BlackBoard, so be sure to log into BB during that time.
• There will be a variety of tutorials you can follow.
• Each student who participates will be sent a Certificate of Completion. This Certification of Completion is something you can put on your resume to demonstrate to future employers your dedicated to Computer Science Education. Remember…Code.org is a non-profit dedicated to expanding computer science education. The Code.org vision is that computer science should be part of the core curriculum in every school, alongside other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses, such as biology, physics, chemistry and algebra. This is just another way to show your employer you are dedicated to the field.

CIS faculty, staff celebrate Thanksgiving by helping students

The Faculty and Staff in the Computer Information Systems department collected $1080 for CIS students who needed help this Thanksgiving. This money was used to send 36 Meijer gift cards to our students, just in time for them to purchase a hearty Thanksgiving meal. This event was part of our 8th Annual Bits and Bytes Thanksgiving Meal baskets. Over the years, hundreds of students in the CIS department have been helped by the generosity of our faculty. Additionally, students were made aware of other resources on campus such as the student food pantry. Thinking of our students in ways that extend outside of the classroom is such a great tradition to carry on. We are honored to have had such success in our 8th year of the Bits and Bytes Thanksgiving Meal Baskets project.

#100WaysToGiveBack with 100+ mouths fed

100 Ways to Give: 100 Hours of Code

The computer information Systems department is celebrating GRCC’s 100th anniversary with 100 Hours of Code from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. December 11!

Support computer science education in Michigan by joining in online or in person in room 214 of the ATC! You don’t need to know how to code — we’ll have lots of tutorials and help for you. You can work with curriculum provided by CODE.ORG or on your own code or project. To learn more or sign up, click here.

Professors Rozema, Vander Meer attend GrrCon

Assistant Professor Rozema and Professor Vander Meer attended GrrCon last Thursday and Friday. GrrCON is an information security and hacking conference that provides the Midwest Infosec community with a fun atmosphere and engages like minded people. Not only did they see many current and former students, but they also made great contacts and touched based with many potential students. Additionally, they were able to send a few GRCC students to this conference for free. A good, productive time was had by all!

GRCC’s Pre – Information Security Degree is completely online and we have established contacts with people and students throughout the Midwest. Additionally, this event brought more awareness to our current students who did not know of this great online degree!

For more information about this program, click here or contact Professor Rozema or Professor Vander Meer.

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CIS schedules student advising for October 9

The Computer Information Systems Department will host student advising sessions from 3-5:30 p.m. October 9 in ATC room 118. These sessions are open to all current and upcoming CIS students.

GRCC In the News, 6-16-14

Change Ups: Cooley Law School recipient of volunteer award

June 13, 2014; Grand Rapids Business Journal

… Grand Rapids Community College computer information systems professor Kristin Roberts is the recipient of the 2014 Blackboard Catalyst Award for Exemplary Course for her C++ programming. Blackboard Inc., a developer of educational software, will honor Roberts and other award winners during a July conference in Las Vegas.

Raider Salute to Dominic Dorsey, Don VanOeveren

This Raider Salute goes to Dominic Dorsey, director of accessibility, and Don VanOeveren, of the Computer Information Systems Department, for their significant donations to the Student Food Pantry.

Just as a reminder: The Office of Student Life and Conduct is always accepting donations for the pantry. While the number of students served in the summer is lower than fall and winter, there are still many who need our help. Please consider picking up a few items on your next grocery shopping trip. It can be one, two or 50 items — it all helps!

GRCC In the News, 6-6-14

GRCC professor wins award for course design

June 4, 2014; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – A Grand Rapids Community College professor has been recognized for outstanding course design.

Goodwills get creative to address community needs

May 25, 2014; mibiz.com

For Goodwill nonprofits across West Michigan, donations of clothes and other household items help fuel the regional organizations efforts to provide people the training they need to become self-sufficient.

… “We are partnering with Grand Rapids Community College on how to get people into skilled labor positions,” she (Jill Wallace) said. “A lot of these people will apply for these jobs, but many will fail the drug test or don’t have the necessary people skills.”

College notes: Davenport senior caps baseball career with academic award, lands internship with company owned by Cubs CEO

June 5, 2014; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – EJ Grochowalski has made a habit of finding the good in tough situations.

… Next, he went from a player on the Grand Rapids Community College team who was so self absorbed that Davenport University coach Kevin Tidey didn’t want to sign, to the eventual captain of the Panthers.

… BASEBALL

… Garret Veihl, Grand Rapids Community College: Veihl saved his best for last. The 6-foot sophomore (Greenville) threw a complete-game, win in the NJCAA regional, beating Jackson 4-2 on May 16. He gave up just five hits and had eight strikeouts in nine innings. He was the lone GRCC player named to the All-Tournament team. He finished his season 5-3 with a 3.56 ERA.

Morning News Guest Anchor – Judge Sara Smolenski

June 5, 2014; WZZM

(Video of Judge Smolenski, who is a GRCC alumna.)

 

 

 

 

Kristin Roberts wins Blackboard Catalyst Award

Kristin Roberts

Kristin Roberts, a professor in GRCC’s Computer Information Systems Department, was awarded the 2014 Blackboard Catalyst Award for Exemplary Course for her C++ programming. Blackboard Inc., a developer of educational software, will honor Roberts and the other award winners during a conference in July in Las Vegas.

The Blackboard Catalyst Awards program recognizes courses that demonstrate best practices in four areas: course design, interaction and collaboration, assessment, and learner support. More than 300 faculty and instructional designers evaluated over 200 entries. This is the third such award achieved by CIS faculty in the past few years: Cheryl Kautz received Blackboard Catalyst awards in 2012 and 2013.

“All my courses include a ‘course tour’ to help students learn where everything is located in the course,” said Roberts. “Each week there’s an outline that presents student learning outcomes and closed-captioned videos related to topics covered during that week.”

The committee members who reviewed Roberts’ course called it “exemplary” and praised its accessibility, with one member saying: “The use of technology in this course is extraordinary, and it looks like it also plays a motivational role in endorsing learning.” To see a video about Roberts’ course, click here.

Dean Fiona Hert said Roberts and the entire CIS Department work hard to keep pace in a quickly changing field.

“Kristin has gone above and beyond to ensure her course meets the high demands and high standards of our computer information systems department and its students,” Hert said. “In this day and age of continuous technology changes, Kristin has designed a course that will prepare students for the future within their field.”

 

Kelsee Mullins joins School of Workforce Development staff

Please welcome Kelsee Mullins, ESP for Manufacturing/Manufacturing Apprenticeship, Applied Technology, Computer Information Systems, Architectural and Mechanical Design departments.

Kelsee received her Associate Degree from Grand Rapids Community College in 2011. She is currently working on finishing up her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with Ferris State University, at their Grand Rapids Campus. Kelsee started her GRCC career in the Music Center with Kevin Dobreff and Kathy Kolehouse and worked there for a year and a half as a part-time contingent employee. She is very grateful and honored that her first GRCC career experience was with Kevin and Kathy. Kelsee then took her current position as a full-time contingent employee and now permanent. She is excited for this opportunity and extremely excited to be working with these departments.

Construction Update: Lab moved, classroom rotations and departments relocated for Winter 2014

Departments have moved to temporary locations to accommodate the beginning of Phase 2 of GRCC’s bond construction, which started in December 2013. Secchia Institute for Culinary Education faculty and staff have moved to the Applied Technology Center rooms 122 and 124. They will move back to their space by late February 2014. Computer Information Systems, Mechanical & Architectural Design and Manufacturing faculty offices have moved to the Data Center – the offices on the SW corner of the Bostwick Ramp. These departments will be moving back to their space in the ATC mid semester.

Most Computer Information Systems classes that are traditionally held in the ATC have been moved to Cook Hall for the semester.  Many other classes have been moved to temporary meeting locations to allow work to be done in phases and zones. As renovations on the first rotation of classrooms is completed, other classes will be moved to allow work to continue.

A temporary open computer lab and tutorial lab is available for students in Cook Hall room 307.  The ATC lab will continue to provide student support in various classrooms in the ATC as construction continues.

CIS faculty, staff donate $750 in gift cards to needy students

The faculty and staff in the CIS department collected $750 to donate Thanksgiving Meal Gift Cards to 25 CIS students and their families. This is the 7th annual collection of funds to help our students during Thanksgiving. At other times of the year, we have a collection box for non-perishable items we donate to the the Student Food Pantry.

Some of the comments received from recipients include:

• “This is so kind of the faculty to offer this to students in need. My Mom is divorced and provides for me and my sister. Last winter she was very stressed about bills and I tried to help her out when I could. She doesn’t not have a college education and works a full time job along with a part time job. I would love to give her a gift card to help her out. My mother and I would be beyond thankful for anything you could do!”
• “I just want to say thank you to all that are involved with these gift cards and raising money to help out students. A very generous gesture and it is very much appreciated.”
• “Thank you very much! This will really help our family this Thanksgiving money’s really tight this year.”
• “Thank you so much! Please express my gratitude to the other faculty members as well. It’s a great help this time of year and it is very much appreciated. Thanks again and Happy Thanksgiving!”
• “Thank you and your coworkers for taking up a collection for us students. Sometimes it seems that the staff doesn’t care, but this proves that statement wrong. Thanks again, Happy Thanksgiving, and Merry Christmas.”

The latest from GRCC TV on YouTube: architecture, caregiver presentations; Women in Leadership; CO 148

“Women’s Issues Conference 10/14/13”

“‘Practiced Learning’ Presentation by Scott Shall of Lawrence Technological University”

“CO 148 — Unit E (Roberts)”

“Caregiver Resource Network: Clients with Dementia”