Dec. 14, 2020, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College is waiving online class fees for the upcoming winter 2021 semester, part of an effort to keep college as affordable as possible as the region continues to recover from the pandemic.
The move will save students $16 per contact hour, or about $50 for a three-credit class offered online. Students would still be responsible for tuition and other universal fees.
GRCC will ensure students have the technology for the semester, providing loaner laptops and Wi-Fi hotspots. The college also will continue to help students with its food pantry and other support services.
Winter classes start on Jan. 11, and there is still time to register. Classes will be offered in four formats -- including some delivered on campus -- allowing students to learn in a flexible environment.
“GRCC continues focusing on delivering a robust schedule of classes delivered in a responsible manner while providing students with the support they need to be successful,” GRCC President Bill Pink said. “Our students and employees have demonstrated they are resilient and are moving forward. We’ve been innovative in finding ways to remove obstacles, because we are in this together.”
Class formats are:
- Online classes are entirely online with no set meeting times, and are ideal for people who work well independently or who need a flexible schedule.
- Hybrid classes have students working mostly online, with limited meetings on campus.
- Virtual classes meet online at specific times using programs such as Zoom, allowing students to interact with faculty and classmates in real time.
- On-campus classes meet on campus at specific times, with proper social distancing and safety protocols.
“These class formats allow for a safe environment, and also flexibility for students,” Provost Brian Knetl said. “Many students are working around home and job responsibilities, and others are attending as guest students to stay close to home and are planning to transfer credits back to their four-year college or university.”
GRCC’s enrollment team is ready to assist students with the admission process and getting signed up for classes. Questions for the Enrollment Center can be sent to admissions@grcc.edu, or students can call (616) 234-3300.
GRCC has financial aid staff members available through a hotline – (616) 234-4030 – or via email at financialaid@grcc.edu to assist with questions about financial aid, payment plans, and whether students might be eligible for tuition-free programs such as Futures for Frontliners and the Grand Rapids Promise Zone.
Campus services, including tutoring and support at the GRCC Library and Learning Commons, will continue to be offered remotely. The college continues to work with state and local health authorities to determine when some services can be offered in-person by appointment.
GRCC’s Information Technology Department is helping students access technology needed for online learning. Students can reserve a laptop or Wi-Fi hotspot through an online form available here. Students also can continue to connect to college Wi-Fi in the parking lot behind the Administration Building on the DeVos Campus, and in the parking lots of Kent District Library branches.
Grand Rapids Community College offers learners of all ages opportunities to gain credits for degrees or transfer and in-demand career skills leading to rewarding careers. GRCC was established in 1914 – Michigan’s first community college -- and offers affordable classes on weekdays, evenings, Saturdays and online at locations throughout Kent and Ottawa counties.