FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Derek DeVries – 616-234-3499
GRCC GRADUATES FIRST CLASS FROM WEST SIDE LEARNING
CORNER
PUBLIC / PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP PRODUCES RESULTS
Monday, July 27, 2009 Grand Rapids, Mich. – Monday evening, July 27 at 5:30pm will see the graduation of 45 students from the ESL and GED Preparation Program offered at Grand Rapids Community College’s West Side Learning Corner less than a year after the site opened. Of the 45 students that will be recognized, 77 percent have either enrolled in college or completed college applications.
The facility, located in the historic John Widdicomb Furniture Building at 665 Seward NW, opened in January 2009 with support from Lake Michigan Credit Union (which shares a branch office with the Learning Corner) and Israel’s Design for Living, is a superb example of a public-private partnership at work.
Said Art Armijo, Executive Director of Regional Centers, “Overall the completion rate for students was 94 percent. This year’s class of graduates, who have not only completed their GEDs but attained the highest levels of ESL proficiency, demonstrates that the college is responding to the unique needs and features of the community and the struggling economy. No longer is a GED the final end product of adult education. The state now recognizes that post-secondary education or job training are essential vehicles for ensuring gainful employment.”
Programs like the ESL and GED preparation courses are a critical but often overlooked element in accomplishing the goal of an increasingly-educated workforce outlined by both the state of Michigan and the Obama administration.
Grand Rapids Community College, established in 1914, offers both liberal arts and workforce development degrees, classes and workshops. Student enrollment on the urban campus for both credit and non-credit courses is approximately 28,000 this year.
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