Main continues transformation into Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall

Main Building has made the transition to Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall, the first step toward transforming our campus’s historic building into a 21^st century learning space.

But there are going to be many little steps along the way. Finkelstein Hall was called Main Building for a long time, and we’ll need your help in finding all references to the old name.

Here’s what we’ve done so far, or are projects in the works:

• Added the Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall sign on the roof facing west, along with the college name. This sign dramatically increases GRCC’s visibility downtown. We’re loud and proud!
• Replaced the sign on the exterior of the skywalk on the Bostwick Ramp.
• Adding a temporary sign inside the skywalk.
• Replaced the light-up sign on the building’s south side.
• Added a temporary exterior sign above an entrance on the southeast side.
• We’ve replaced the interior wayfinding signs in the building.
• Adding temporary signs to the wayfinding signs around campus.
• We’re working with Google to make sure the proper building and address shows up on searches and maps.
• We’ve made changes on the website, Blackboard and PeopleSoft.
• We’ll have temporary signs on sandwich boards on Olivarez Plaza during the first weeks of class.

We’re making many changes, but we’re sure we’ll find more as we move forward. If you see a reference to Main Building that needs to be updated to Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall, please tell Victoria Janowiak, executive director of Operational Planning, at vjanowia@grcc.edu, (616) 234-3565.

We’re honored Mr. Finkelstein is investing in GRCC and its students. His support will not only allow our iconic building to continue serving our faculty, staff and students long into its next 100 years, but it will allow us to serve them better.

Faculty health club locker rooms closed through Aug. 21

The general and faculty health club locker rooms will be unavailable for use through Wednesday. Contractors are performing maintenance on tile in these locations. The locker rooms will reopen on Thursday at 6:00 a.m.

Campus building projects have started

Campus building projects are under way!

• Renovations to both the Lettinga and the Mable Engle houses have started on the DeVos Campus. The Fulton Street parking entrance and exit will be closed for the duration of this project.
• The ATC expansion project is set to begin later this week. The expansion will replace the old preschool playground, and site work starts this week. The two-story addition will house the CIS Department and expand the Machine Tool lab. Interior renovations on the ATC’s second floor are scheduled for summer 2020.
• A kitchen expansion is planned for Sneden Hall to improve food services for students, employees and conferences.  The renovations are scheduled to start later this month and continue through the fall semester!

GRCC tests lockdown system

Thank you to everyone who participated in GRCC’s successful test of its new door security system. From a single point, the team was able to lockdown the Main and DeVos campuses, as well as the Tassell M-TEC. The new system is an important tool in GRCC’s continuing efforts to develop a culture of safety.

Repairs to affect Lyon, Crescent, Ransom

Because of work on Lyon Street, you’ll encounter lane closings and other possible restrictions from July 15 to 22. The intersection of Crescent Street and Ransom Avenue will be closed from 6 p.m. July 18 to about 7 a.m. July 22.

Campus-wide lock-down test on July 10

GRCC will conduct a full-scale test of the new building security system at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 10.  This system will automatically place all GRCC buildings on the Main Campus and DeVos Campus, as well as the Tassell M-TEC, in a lock-down state.

We will be running two cycles of the lockdown test, each lasting 10 minutes. There will be no disruption to campus activities and all offices and services will remain open. Employees will continue to have building access using their Raider Cards and we will have staff positioned at building entrances to allow students and guests continued entrance to the buildings. Building coordinators will be wearing yellow visibility vests to assist during the testing period.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Campus Police or Vicki Janowiak.

ATC parking to close beginning July 9

The ATC parking area will be closed for repairs beginning Tuesday, July 9, and will remain closed through the month of July.  Individuals who have parking assignments in the ATC will be moved to the Bostwick ramp. Guests should also be directed to the Bostwick ramp.

Spectrum Theater cul-de-sac scheduled for repairs

The end of the cul-de-sac by Spectrum Theater is scheduled to be prepped for paving repairs today. On Friday, depending on the weather, the paving will occur.

GRCC In the News, 6-17-19

Electric vehicle charging station at GRCC now available for public use

June 14, 2019; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – The public can now use the electric vehicle charging station in the lower level of the Grand Rapids Community College parking ramp on Bostwick Avenue, officials announced this week.

Metallica Gives Back

June 14, 2019; allwithinmyhands.org (All Within My Hands Foundation)

Our extended Metallica Family at Blackened American Whiskey had a chance encounter with a Metallica fan whose buddy, it turns out, is a Metallica Scholar. That brief encounter led to us learn all about our first Spotlight Scholar, Jason Church. We think his story is worth sharing, and it all started over whiskey…

Jason was the recipient of AWMH’s Metallica Scholars grant funding at Grand Rapids Community College, encouraging him to continue his training and get his welding certification.

Brother and sister work hard for ‘a better future, a better life’

June 14, 2019;  schoolnewsnetwork.org (Kent Intermediate School district)

Anyelin and Yustin Vasquez Lopez are well aware of the Guatemala they came from, the America they came to, and what it will take to succeed here.

… She and her brother are powered by their dreams, as they go from their graduation ceremony at Calvin College toward Grand Rapids Community College this fall.

Fundraising Lunch in Grand Rapids to Help Former Foster Youth Go to College

June 13, 2019; michigan.gov (press release)

LANSING, Mich. – Seat reservations are still available for the fifth annual Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund Benefit to be held on June 26 at Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids.

… Seventeen Michigan colleges and universities have programs to assist former foster care students:  Delta College, Eastern Michigan University, Ferris State University, Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Valley State University, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Lansing Community College, Michigan State University, Mott Community College, Northwestern Michigan College, Saginaw Valley State University, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of Michigan-Flint, Washtenaw Community College, Wayne County Community College, Wayne State University and Western Michigan University.

Pewamo-Westphalia falls in extras in Division 3 baseball semifinal

June 14, 2019; Ionia Sentinel-Standard

EAST LANSING — The Pewamo-Westphalia baseball team had allowed under 40 runs total to its opponents this season en route to a school-record 31 wins.

… “I tried to get them off-balance by throwing my curveball and then slider, plus I was able to locate my fastball well and trust my fielders to make plays behind me,” (Ethan) Thelen said, who will continue his baseball career next season at Grand Rapids Community College, said. “My arm feels really good right now, but it will probably be a different story tomorrow.

Spectrum Theater cul-de-sac scheduled for repairs

Superior Asphalt will be here on June 20 and 21 (weather permitting) to perform a temporary repair on the cul-de-sac by the Spectrum Theater. The area will be closed on these days for parking.

Main Campus lockdown testing scheduled

On Thursday, June 13th, between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m., we will be conducting a building lockdown test for all the buildings on Main Campus. Campus Police, Facilities personnel and Building Coordinators, as well as vendor/contractor personnel will be assisting. The test will involve placing the entire Main Campus in a lockdown state, and then checking to confirm that all doors have secured as expected. We will be performing the test twice. While buildings are locked down, employees will continue to have access using their Raider Card. We will have staff positioned at building entrances to allow for customer access. The G1 and G2 parking areas will be closed for entrance/exit during the test, so please plan accordingly.  If you need an alternate parking arrangement for the afternoon, please contact Campus Police. If you have any questions or concerns please contact Chief Whitman or Vicki Janowiak.

Main Campus lockdown testing scheduled

On Thursday, June 13th, between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m., we will be conducting a building lockdown test for all the buildings on Main Campus. Campus Police, Facilities personnel and Building Coordinators, as well as vendor/contractor personnel will be assisting. The test will involve placing the entire Main Campus in a lockdown state, and then checking to confirm that all doors have secured as expected. We will be performing the test twice. While buildings are locked down, employees will continue to have access using their Raider Card. We will have staff positioned at building entrances to allow for customer access. The G1 and G2 parking areas will be closed for entrance/exit during the test, so please plan accordingly.  If you need an alternate parking arrangement for the afternoon, please contact Campus Police. If you have any questions or concerns please contact Chief Whitman or Vicki Janowiak.

Update on ATC parking garage work

Due to the direction of the sprinkler main lines above the ceiling in the ATC parking garage, the north half of the garage will be open for parking and the south half will be closed starting Tuesday morning.  The gate will be opened.

Portions of ATC ramp to close for fire sprinkler repairs

Portions of the ATC ramp will be closed for fire sprinkler repairs starting Monday, June 10. The work will close various sections of the ramp as they move through the entire ramp for the project. The planned starting portion of the ramp is the entire East half at this point in time, although the piping may require changes in work area plans. Approximately half the ramp will remain open for parking during this time. The parking gate inside the ramp will be opened during the project, which will take three to four weeks for completion.

Tassell M-TEC competes in ‘Battle of the Buildings’

The Michigan Battle of the Buildings is an awards and recognition program for energy use reduction open to all Michigan area commercial, industrial and multi-family buildings. The program is a way to encourage energy-efficient practices in buildings across the state and to instill a spirit of friendly competition among the area’s building owners and operators. Registration period runs January 1 through March 31 each year.

This is the first year GRCC is participating in the competition,and we have entered the Tassell M-TEC. The competition looks at the energy use in 2018 and compares it to energy use for 2019. The competitor with the biggest reduction between years wins in each category.

Our first step in preparing for the competition is to get the word out to the campus community, especially the staff and students of the M-TEC. Their participation and commitment is essential to reducing the energy not only at the MTEC but throughout the campus.