Important Notice: dental/vision reimbursement program transition to a calendar year

At our last healthcare consortium meeting, we all agreed that we should switch our dental/vision reimbursement program from a fiscal year to a calendar year basis.  (Thank you to our health care consortium members who have asked good questions and provided us input on our benefit programs!)

Switching to a calendar year makes the most sense… this will be consistent with our health plan and it will be much easier for those employees who have flexible spending accounts to coordinate in a calendar year!

To make the transition between fiscal year to calendar year for a January 1, 2020 implementation, we have approval to move in the following direction:

Benefit-eligible employees…	Reimbursement available:	Notes:
Start date prior to 7/1/2019 OR start date between 7/1/2019 and 11/30/2019 Note: Start date of 12/1/2019 allows benefits to begin on 1/1/2020.	$3,750	Six month and twelve month allocation. This amount would be available 7/1/2019 through 12/31/2020.
Start date on or after 12/1/2019	$2,500	“Regular” twelve month allocation. This amount will be available through 12/31/2020.
All eligible employees….as of 1/1/2021….	$2,500	… and each calendar year thereafter. (unless changed in collective bargaining agreements or handbook)

All union leaders have signed off on an MOU for this switch to a calendar year. The company we use, ASR, is prepared for our transition plan.

The Human Resources website has been updated to include information about the dental/vision reimbursement program as well as this transition.

Marty DeVries and Cathy (with the help of Media department) created a video to help explain the changes:

If you would like to attend a short information session to ask Q&A’s, please attend any of the following:

• Tuesday, April 16, 10-10:45 a.m. – SCC 234 Multipurpose Room
• Monday, April 22, 2-2:45 p.m. – ATC 168 Auditorium

If you have any questions about the transition to a calendar year or our dental/vision reimbursement program, please give us a call:

• Maria Belmares-Herrera, (616) 234-4052
• Debra Davis, (616) 234-4175
• Cathy Kubiak, (616) 234-3971

Do you need your teeth cleaned?

Did you know you can do it right here?

Come down to the GRCC dental clinic and get your teeth cleaned today!
GRCC Student $15, Normal Price $30. The appointment includes cleaning, fluoride treatment, x-rays, and a FREE parking pass. No dentist or insurance needed!

Call the GRCC Dental clinic at (616) 234-4237 or come into the clinic located in room 308 of the Cook Academic Hall and ask for a First Year Dental Hygiene Student to do your appointment on a Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday from 8:30-11:30 a.m. or on Friday from 1:30-4:30 p.m.

Please note appointments are 3 hours due to the learning environment.

Toothbrush orders due today for Dental Assisting class

The Dental Assisting Class is doing their annual toothbrush sale fundraiser, and this year they’ve added Crest Whitestrips to the sale!

Toothbrush options include:

• Oral B – Soft Bristle, compact head – Adult size
• Oral B – Kids 8 and up – soft bristle
• Oral B – Kids 5-7 – soft bristle

Toothbrushes cost $10.00 per dozen or $5.00 per 1/2 dozen.

Boxes of Crest Whitestrips are $30.00 each. These are 4 times stronger than anything in retail!

Please email jbera@grcc.edu to place your order, we will deliver them next week, in time for the holiday giving time.

Dental assistants hold holiday toothbrush sale

The Dental Assisting Class is doing their annual toothbrush sale fundraiser, and this year they’ve added Crest Whitestrips to the sale!

Toothbrush options include:

• Oral B – Soft Bristle, compact head – Adult size
• Oral B – Kids 8 and up – soft bristle
• Oral B – Kids 5-7 – soft bristle

Toothbrushes cost $10.00 per dozen or $5.00 per 1/2 dozen.

Boxes of Crest Whitestrips are $30.00 each. These are 4 times stronger than anything in retail!

Please email jbera@grcc.edu to place your order, we will deliver them next week, in time for the holiday giving time.

Dental Assisting class holds toothbrush sale

The Dental Assisting Class is doing their annual toothbrush sale fundraiser, and this year they’ve added Crest Whitestrips to the sale!

Toothbrush options include:

• Oral B – Soft Bristle, compact head – Adult size
• Oral B – Kids 8 and up – soft bristle
• Oral B – Kids 5-7 – soft bristle

Toothbrushes cost $10.00 per dozen or $5.00 per 1/2 dozen.

Boxes of Crest Whitestrips are $30.00 each. These are 4 times stronger than anything in retail!

Please email jbera@grcc.edu to place your order, we will deliver them next week, in time for the holiday giving time.

How will you celebrate Valentine’s?

How will you celebrate Valentine’s? Have you considered registering as a potential bone marrow donor? For many, a bone marrow donation from a matching donor is their best chance of fighting blood cancer.

Ready to join? All you need is to:

• be between the ages of 18 – 44
• be committed and willing to donate to any patient in need, if called
• meet basic health guidelines
• swab the inside of your cheeks and fill out a brief consent form

See you at  Will You Marrow Me GRCC event:

• Monday, February 12, 8-11 a.m., 1st floor of the Student Activity Center
• Thursday February 15, 8-11 a.m., 4th floor Main

Dental Assisting students host bone marrow donor drive in February

On February 12th and 15th, GRCC Dental Assisting students are hosting Will You Marrow Me GRCC, a bone marrow donor registration drive. Here, dental assisting students become engaged in learning about bone marrow donation – giving someone a chance to overcome life-threatening diseases like leukemia and lymphoma.

Seventy percent of patients who need a life-saving donor will not find that matching donor in their family. They must turn to the Be The Match bone marrow registry to find an unrelated donor. All it takes to join is swabbing the inside of your cheeks with a cotton swab and filling out a brief consent form. If this sounds like something you might be interested in, please consider learning more at the upcoming Will You Marrow Me GRCC event.

• Monday February 12, 8-11am, 1st floor of the Student Activity Center
• Thursday February 15, 8-11am, 4th floor Main

X-rays, fluoride treatments among dental clinic services

GRCC’s dental clinic offers preventative services to the public. Services include a review of medical and dental history, blood pressure screenings, cleanings, preliminary dental hygiene exams, X-rays, fluoride treatments, dental health instruction, chemotherapeutic agents and sealants.

Schedule your screening to see if you qualify to become a patient!

Dental clinic offers preventative services

GRCC’s dental clinic offers preventative services to the public. Services include a review of medical and dental history, blood pressure screenings, cleanings, preliminary dental hygiene exams, X-rays, fluoride treatments, dental health instruction, chemotherapeutic agents and sealants.

Schedule your screening to see if you qualify to become a patient!

The clinic will have open house “drop-in” dates from 5-8:30 p.m. Feb. 22 and March 27 — no appointment is needed!

GRCC In the News, 3-17-15

Steep tuition increases approved for GRCC’s nursing, culinary and dental programs

March 16, 2015; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – In an effort to balance its budget, Grand Rapids Community College is implementing big price hikes for its nursing, dental and culinary arts programs.

Trustee asks GRCC to delay domestic partner benefits until court decides gay marriage case

March 17, 2015; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Bert Bleke, the chairperson of Grand Rapids Community College’s Board of Trustees, is recommending that the college hold off on considering domestic partner benefits until the U.S. Supreme Court rules on an upcoming gay marriage case.

Rapid officials: Silver Line numbers are promising

March 17, 2015; WOOD TV

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The Silver Line bus service has been on the road for seven months and officials said so far it’s been a smooth ride.

… Morgan Fisher, a student at Grand Rapids Community College, said she had never used public transportation before the Silver Line came to town, but decided to give it a try.

“I actually get on the bus at 28th and Division and I come right down to GRCC and I don’t have to pay for parking for school so it makes it a lot easier and more affordable,” said Fisher.

‘Dying To Be Thin’ re-airing on WOOD TV8

March 16, 2015; WOOD TV

You may not know it, but 30 million Americans suffer from eating disorders. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness and they are the second leading cause of death for adolescents, only after automobile accidents. Do you know the warning signs? Do you know what really causes someone to fall victim to an eating disorder? Jordan Carson will be reporting on the half-hour special, “Dying To Be Thin” during which she’ll the story of how her sister lost her battle with an eating disorder, and how others can spot the warning signs, and seek help.

… Rosalyn (Baker) is a Brain Fitness Coach, Wellness Coordinator and a Certified Nutritional Consultant. Rosalyn is a paid professional speaker who sat on the program development committee for GRCC’s continuing education program, Optimal Health, where she also taught courses in Stress Management and Meditation. She has lectured on Brain Health, Nutrition and Anti-Aging at EEGSpectrum InternationalClinical Interchange Conferences, and for National Safety Associates representingJuice Plus+, the most scientifically researched whole food fruit and vegetable supplement in the world.