GRCC Retiree Biography: Jan Boynton

Jan began working at GRCC in February 2005 in the Financial Aid office. Jan has worked within Financial Aid for 40 years. “Financial Aid folks are a close knit group of people. I have stayed in touch with many of my colleagues from Western Michigan University (where I started my Financial Aid career), along with friends at Davenport, where I worked before starting at GRCC. I have enjoyed the camaraderie and many friendships I have acquired over the years.”

When asked about a story that demonstrated she belonged at GRCC, Jan said: “It was always a lot fun to help out at graduation and see students I had helped throughout the years graduate.”

Jan will be keeping busy following retirement. Jan and her husband are expecting their first grandbaby June 15th. “Our son and daughter-in-law live in Alaska! So we are planning a trip up there soon after I retire! Along with traveling to Alaska, we hope to do some other traveling around the country to national parks. We will also be spending more time at the family cottage on Elk Lake (north of Traverse City).”

Congratulations on your retirement, Jan! Your dedication to GRCC and our students is recognized and appreciated. We wish you the best in your retirement, enjoy your new grandbaby!

 

GRCC Financial Aid ‘Learn to Earn’ April events

SLT Profile: Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Oversight Team

The Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention oversight team monitors, evaluates, and makes recommendations for improvement for the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program (DAAPP).

The DAAPP supports student and employee awareness, education, and coordinated programming for drug and alcohol prevention. This covers training, compliance notification, policy review, and programming based on an established timeline.

Over the last year we have:

• Completed and presented the DAAPP Biennial Review Report.
• Conducted the prevention program evaluation, including recommendations for changes.
• Offered programming at the fall and winter Welcome Week, and during the winter semester.
• Emailed compliance notification to students, faculty and staff.
• In the coming year we plan to:
• Use feedback to improve awareness and training for employees.
• Improve the notification open rate for students.
• Explore how to increase the program awareness offerings for students through an online solution.
• Leverage existing programs.

The team is comprised of Campus Police, I.T., Human Resources, Counseling and Career Development, Financial Aid, CRM Coordinator, IRP, Dean of Student Affairs Office, Student Life and Conduct, Office of General Counsel, and Faculty representatives.

Financial Aid ‘Learn to Earn’ event workshop tomorrow in Cook

Saving for the Future: Learn to Earn

February 25-March 2, 2019, is America Saves Week at GRCC!

GRCC is partnering with America Saves in ‘America Saves Week!’ Follow us on Twitter for more information about the #ImSavingFor sweepstakes and for your chance to win cash prizes toward your savings goal.

Special Event: Budgeting and Savings Workshop

• TUESDAY, February 26, 1-2 p.m. in Cook Hall, Room 208

At this budgeting workshop learn tips on how to:

• Track expenses,
• Effectively manage money, and
• Monitor credit history through budgeting activities.

For a chance to win prizes after the event, use the hashtag #RaidersAreSaving on Twitter.

Financial Aid hosts ‘Learn to Earn’ event next week at GRCC

Saving for the Future: Learn to Earn

February 25-March 2, 2019, is America Saves Week at GRCC!

GRCC is partnering with America Saves in ‘America Saves Week!’ Follow us on Twitter for more information about the #ImSavingFor sweepstakes and for your chance to win cash prizes toward your savings goal.

Special Event: Budgeting and Savings Workshop

• February 26, 1-2 p.m. in Cook Hall, Room 208

At this budgeting workshop learn tips on how to:

• Track expenses,
• Effectively manage money, and
• Monitor credit history through budgeting activities.

For a chance to win prizes after the event, use the hashtag #RaidersAreSaving on Twitter.

Financial Aid hosts ‘Know Your Student Loan Servicer’ event on Jan. 16

The Financial Aid Department welcomes students to its “Know Your Student Loan Servicer” event on Jan. 16.

Students can visit the Raider Grille between 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to quickly connect with a loan specialist about their student loans.

GRCC In the News, 4-18-18

Grand Rapids Community College offers free laptop vending machine

April 18, 2018; University Business

Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) is among higher education institutions providing free laptop vending machines to give students greater access to technology and more flexibility.

Captain promoted to lead Wyoming Department of Public Safety

April 18, 2018; MLive

WYOMING, MI — The Wyoming Department of Public Safety has found its next police and fire chief.

… (Kimberly) Koster graduated from the FBI National Academy. She received her associate’s degree from Grand Rapids Junior College, her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Grand Valley State University, and her master’s degree in criminal justice administration from Ferris State University.

Grand Rapids man gets 48 months, ordered to pay $18,746 on student loan fraud conviction

April 17, 2018; WWMT

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge announced Tuesday that U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney sentenced Brandon Kenon Rogers, 31, of Grand Rapids, to 48 months in prison and ordered him to pay $128,746 in restitution for committing student loan, grant and tax fraud.

… Investigators determined that Rogers enrolled online in local community colleges, including Grand Rapids Community College and Kalamazoo Valley Community College, using those same identities. Rogers used the loans and grant funds for his own purposes without actually attending the classes. Rogers also used the stolen identities to obtain fraudulent income tax refunds.

Wellet Senior Student Athlete Award winner

April 18, 2018; WTVB

COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Coldwater High Schools Jamie Wellet has been selected as a 2017-18 Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan Outstanding Senior Student Athlete Award winner.

… Wellet, along with her twin sister Jasmine, will be attending Grand Rapids Community College in the fall, where they will both be members of the volleyball program.

Paul Doane receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Paul Doane, Associate Director of Financial Aid Compliance, was honored by the Michigan Student Financial Aid Association (MSFAA) at its 50^th Anniversary Celebration on January 29, 2018, in Dearborn, with a Lifetime Achievement Award. This award was given in recognition of his distinguished service to MSFAA and the financial aid profession during his 35-year career in higher education.

In accepting the award, Paul gave God the glory for his success. Paul shared the following with a group of 200 financial aid professions gathered for the event:

“As most of you know, my Christian faith has always been important to me.  Throughout my life I have attempted to align my decisions with God’s purposes and mission for me. To be chosen to receive this award near the end of my professional career is an additional confirmation that the path I pursued through my work in student financial aid was the one God had chosen for me all along.”

He also thanked his financial aid colleagues and mentors who “who have chiseled away at my glaring flaws and have sanded smooth many of my rough edges.”

As president of the Michigan Student Financial Association in 1999-2000, Paul introduced an Interdenominational Prayer Breakfast at MSFAA conferences which have become a part of each conference since then.  A Silent Auction fundraiser at the MSFAA Winter Conference in 2000 began after Paul attended a similar event at a national conference and convinced his financial aid colleagues in Michigan to try one here.  Proceeds of over $63,000 from MSFAA Silent Auctions held during the last 18 years have been distributed to over 15 community organizations throughout the state of Michigan.

Paul began his financial aid career at Cornerstone University (his alma mater), serving as Director of Financial Aid and then Director of Enrollment Management from 1982-1992.  He also spent 10 years as a Financial Aid Counselor and Assistant Director of Financial Aid at Grand Valley State University.

Paul Doane with his wife and his son Pete.

David Morris’ retirement reception is today

Please join us to celebrate the retirement of David Morris, of the Financial Aid Office. There will be a reception Friday, January 12, from noon to 2:00 p.m. in the Enrollment Center, Room 129. Appetizers, snacks and beverages will be provided.

Please join us in saying “thank you” and “happy retirement” to David!

GRCC retiree biography: David Morris

David Morris

David Morris has worked as a Financial Aid Specialist at GRCC for a little over nine years. In Financial Aid, he assisted students and parents in navigating a complex, sometimes frustrating, and often stressful path to secure funding for college education. The work is challenging and requires much patience, caring and empathy as well as a working knowledge of federal regulations.

David shared that every now and then, he gets some great reminders of why he continued to do this work: “One of those reminders came to me unexpectedly during one of my lunchtime walks through downtown. Out of the blue, a student came up to me and said, ‘You work in financial aid, right? I just wanted to thank you, man. When I saw you, I had no job and was right out of prison. You helped me change my life. I’m about ready to complete my certificate, getting A’s in my classes, and I’m already working in my field.'”

David shared that he and his life partner, Frank, have been together for over forty years. When they married in 2008, David shared: “I knew I belonged at GRCC when our marriage was embraced by our colleagues. Frank has been retired for a year and a half, and it’s time I joined him in this new chapter. I am thankful to my husband, Frank; my colleagues; students, and parents of students for helping me become a kinder person in life. I’m inspired by the words of the Dalai Lama — ‘Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.’ I especially want to thank our good friend and colleague, Mary Kay Bethune, for inviting us to come out of our early retirement to join the GRCC fold. It has made all the difference in our lives.”

David is looking forward to traveling this winter to Florida and Mexico. He is looking forward to enjoying the Michigan summer, and growing, from seed, the most delicious heirloom tomatoes you have ever tasted.

“I live for the first taste of a BLT in the summer,” he said. “If you’re good, I’ll share. It’s been a great ride. Thank you, everyone.”

David, you have made a difference at GRCC and have had a large impact on the lives of our students. We appreciate your dedication to the students and your colleagues. We wish you the best in your retirement and hope you stop by throughout the year to share your adventures.

Please join David Morris at his retirement reception on Friday, January 12, from noon to 2:00 p.m. in the Enrollment Center, Room 129.

 

Retirement reception for David Morris on Jan. 12

Please join us to celebrate the retirement of David Morris, of the Financial Aid Office. There will be a reception Friday, January 12, from noon to 2:00 p.m. in the Enrollment Center, Room 129. Appetizers, snacks and beverages will be provided.

Please join us in saying “thank you” and “happy retirement” to David!

Retirement reception for David Morris on January 12

Please join us to celebrate the retirement of David Morris, of the Financial Aid Office. There will be a reception Friday, January 12, from noon to 2:00 p.m. in the Enrollment Center, Room 129. Appetizers, snacks and beverages will be provided.

Please join us in saying “thank you” and “happy retirement” to David!

GRCC In the News, 11-29-17

Man pleads in $150K student loan scheme at GRCC, KVCC

Nov. 28, 2017; MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – A Grand Rapids man pleaded guilty Tuesday, Nov. 28, to federal charges after obtaining student loans in others’ names to defraud the U.S. Department of Education of about $150,000.

… (Brandon Kenon) Rogers told Magistrate Judge Phillip Green that he obtained the identities of others and applied for student loans and Pell Grants in their names. He enrolled online at Grand Rapids Community College and Kalamazoo Valley Community College after his aid applications were approved.

Five students complete second round to black belts

Nov. 28, 2017; Ionia Sentinel-Standard

Five students of the Ramos Institute of The Park Tae Kwon Do completed the second round of required testing for their 1st degree Black Belt at Grand Rapids Community College, Friday, Nov, 10.

 

GRCC In the News, 9-29-17

Michigan’s student loan default rate on the rise

Sept. 28, 2017; MLive

The number of borrowers defaulting on federal student debt has climbed in Michigan, according to new data from the U.S. Department of Education, reversing two straight years of declines.

… At Grand Rapids Community College, for instance, the default rate was 21.5 percent. The default rate was 18.7 percent at Wayne County Community College District in Detroit, while Oakland Community College in Bloomfield Hills had a 20.9 percent default rate.

New faculty join campus

Sept. 26, 2017; Communique (University of Colorado-Colorado Springs publication)

More than 50 new faculty members joined UCCS this fall.  Today, meet 22 instructors from the College of Business, College of Engineering and Applied Science, College Letters, Arts and Sciences and Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

… Edgar Diaz Herrera, instructor, Mathematics Department, College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences. Herrera was previously a part time instructor at Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Rapids, Michigan, and a researcher for National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Mexico. He earned a bachelor’s degree from National University of Mexico, and master’s and Ph.D. degrees from Arizona State University.

Service office open late on Tuesdays

Some GRCC service offices will be open late on Tuesdays during the summer:

• Enrollment Center —  The last placement test begins at 5:30 p.m. The phones will be open until 6:45 p.m. Walk-in appointments will be accepted until 7 p.m.
• Financial Aid — The phones are open until 6:45 p.m.; walk-in appointments will be taken until 7 p.m.
• Counseling Center — Tuesday evening services include appointment scheduling. The phones are open until 6:45 p.m. You can walk in to make an appointment until 7 p.m.