GRCC announces plans to close West Side Learning Corner; move classes to M-TEC building
November 28, 2012; MLive
GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Grand Rapids Community College will close a community learning center on the city’s west side in July and move operations to the college’s M-TEC workforce training building on Godfrey Avenue.
The West Side Learning Corner is moving to meet the rising demand for its GED and ESL programs. As of July 1, 2013, the program will be located within the Leslie E. Tassell M-TEC.
Waiting lists for services have increased significantly over the four years the West Side Learning Corner has served the community. Currently, it serves 400 students with an additional 350 on the waiting list.
Dave Selmon, director of adult education, anticipates continued growth as the program relocates into the neighborhood where many of its students live.
“We are taking GRCC to the students,” he said. “We’ll not only have the ability to serve more students, but we’ll partner with faculty and staff already working at the M-TEC to connect with associate degree programs, workforce training, and job-training programs to be even more intentional about transitioning these students into programs and training that will lead to jobs.”
“Tassell M-TEC will be a great location for this Learning Corner,” said George Waite, director of the Tassell M-TEC. “With the many partnerships established with employers, Learning Corner students will have the additional benefit of creating a career pathway that includes education, training and jobs.”
A six-week course of citizenship classes starts February 2, 2013, at the West Side Learning Center. To be eligible for the program, sponsored by WORD ESL and GRCC, prospective students must have had their permanent residence card (“green card”) for five years and be able to speak, read and write English at Advanced ESL Level 3 (220 or higher in CASA testing).
The classes take place Saturday mornings, and a $25 deposit is required. For details, contact Lorena Aguayo-Marquez at 234-3172 or Sister Carmen Rostar at 454-4874.
Lynne Jarman-Johnson, Interim Executive Director of Communication at GRCC hosts a radio show on WJRW AM 1340 and recently featured GRCC employees on two episodes:
The West Side Learning Corner would like to congratulate their incredible staff Sabra Kinsley (Professional Tutor) and Jackie Villegas (Data Entry) for winning the Mary J. Szczepanski “Never Give Up” MS Scholarship.
Scholarships will be awarded at the 3rd Annual Miniature Golf Event for MS on Saturday, August 14th, 2010 (date corrected). Please contact Rick Szczepanski at scholarships@iserv.net for more information about the scholarship or event.
Courtesy of Media Technologies, check out the Learning Corner GED/ESL graduation that took place last week:
Our Learning Corners are in the news again this week. David Selmon and his team went to the annual Michigan Adult Education and Training Conference (MAETC) in Kalamazoo last week to receive an award for the work GRCC has done to educate adults through its No Worker Left Behind (NWWLB) demonstration grant. Susan Ledy, director of the Literacy Center of West Michigan (LCWM) , a valuable partner with GRCC in the grant, was also able to bring several of her staff. Renee Steel, vice president at Huntington Bank, the Wealthy Learning Corner’s original and still-strong partner, also attended.
Dianne Duthie, Director of Lifelong learning for the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor, &Economic Growth (DELEG), and Erica Nakfoor, also from DELEG, were on hand to present an award to partners who advanced the goals of the NWLB mission.
In the photo, left to right, are: Erica Nakfoor, DELEG; Linda Spoelman, GRCC; David Selmon, GRCC; Susan Ledy, LCWM; Dianne Duthie, DELEG; Kristin Ekkens, GRCC; Vera Grishkina, LCWM; Theresa Williams, GRCC; Renee Steel, Huntington Bank.
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