Beginning this fall, students  from the Class of 2023 and beyond are eligible for Michigan’s new Community College Guarantee . Passed by Governor Whitmer and the Michigan Legislature for Fiscal Year 2025, the Community College Guarantee will cover in-district tuition costs and fees for graduating high school seniors to earn a degree or skill certificate at their local community college. Eligible students are those who graduated from a Michigan high school or earned a high school equivalency certificate in 2023 or beyond. The Guarantee includes in-district tuition based on contact hours and mandatory fees. Also included is an additional $1,000 bonus living expenses award for students eligible for a Federal Pell Grant. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and are potentially eligible for the Guarantee regardless of the Student Aid Index (SAI) as calculated by the FAFSA. To receive the award, recent Michigan high school graduates must do the following: Complete the 2024-25 FAFSA if haven’t already done so Be a Michigan resident since July 1 of the previous calendar year. If a student is a dependent per the FAFSA, then parent(s) must also be a Michigan resident since July 1 of the previous calendar year Graduate from a Michigan high school or earn a high school equivalency certificate in 2023 or after Enroll full-time in college within 15 months of your high school graduation “The Community College Guarantee is a critical building block toward the educated workforce we need,” stated GRCC President Dr. Charles W. Lepper. “By 2030, 70% of Michigan jobs will require at least some post-secondary education. And while community college is relatively affordable, it still poses a financial barrier to many families. The Community College Guarantee removes that barrier for students.” In-district students are those who reside within the Kent Intermediate School District (KISD) and pay property taxes to support GRCC. All Michigan residents contribute to GRCC, along with the other state community colleges, through state taxes which help supplement student tuition. Since GRCC is partially funded by taxpayers, different tuition rates exist for students who are resident, non-resident and out of state.  

July 24, 2024 The age-old statement is true: money matters. The cost of higher education has skyrocketed over the last 30 years. As a result, fewer students are choosing to pursue a four-year degree right out of high school. Adults who are considering a new career have to think twice about the time and money it will take to pursue a degree. Grand Rapids Community College is committed to keeping costs low while helping students earn the degree they need for high-demand careers. That’s why GRCC is partnering with  West Michigan Works! to host two health care career fair carnivals in August. This is our second annual carnival in Grand Rapids, and we are adding a carnival at our Lakeshore Campus in Holland this year. These career fairs provide opportunities to explore careers in health care fields. Exhibitors will be ready to talk about open positions and on-the-job training. Some will even offer onsite interviews. “The companies partnering with us at these career fairs need entry-level employees and sincerely want to help their employees gain the appropriate education,” said Lisa Radak, dean of GRCC’s School of Health Sciences . “Some of them will hire people who have no specific health care education or training. Many of them will provide tuition reimbursement and scheduling flexibility to make earning a degree or certificate a realistic and attainable option. Last year, employers said they planned to hire 54 people who participated in the event!”   GRCC financial aid advisors can help you complete your FAFSA What makes these events really special, however, is the addition of GRCC financial aid advisors, who will be onsite at both locations. They are experts in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process, which is how you can access financial aid to help pay for college or a career or trade school. Prospective students can talk with prospective employers and then move right into completing the financial aid form. “Finances are a real barrier for many students,” said Chiquital Clay, associate director of Financial Aid, Student Engagement and Eligibility at GRCC. “The prospect of huge debt pushes many students straight into the workforce. They don't even think about pursuing a degree. We want people to understand that there are a lot of resources for students. Money should not stand in the way of your degree." Attendees at the career fairs will work one-on-one with GRCC financial advisors to ask questions or seek assistance in completing the FAFSA online. “You can walk out of this career fair with a completed FAFSA,” Clay said. “The FAFSA has been totally revamped this year and it is a lot easier. We can work through it with you in 30 minutes or less.” The GRCC FAFSA workshops at the career fair will help students of any age quickly assess their eligibility for financial aid. “Right now, there are incredible opportunities for a virtually free education at GRCC,” Clay said. “Adults who have lived in Michigan for a year or more and who do not have a degree can potentially qualify for free education through Michigan Reconnect . The recently announced  Michigan Guarantee  will allow every high school graduate to earn an associate degree or skills certificate at little to no cost from their local community college. Don’t let finances stand in the way of your dreams. A lot of help is available.”  Attend a family-friendly career carnival These are family-friendly events, so bring the kids to play in the bounce house and check out the balloon animal artist while you talk with prospective employers and GRCC financial aid staff. Plan to attend the Grand Rapids event from 4 to 7 p.m. on August 7 at the Leslie E. Tassell MTEC building, located at 622 Godfrey Ave. Or join us from 4 to 7 p.m. on August 20 at GRCC's Lakeshore Campus in Holland, located at 12335 James St. Prospective employers and GRCC financial aid representatives will be on site at both events. Use the stamps you earn from talking to the exhibitors and cash them in for free food as well. You’ll enjoy a night of productive fun for the whole family! If you can’t make it to one of the career fairs but would like to learn more about financial aid at GRCC, please visit our  website to schedule an in-person or virtual appointment with one of our financial aid advisors.  To learn more about GRCC’s health education options, please explore our  Health and Exercise Science Academic Pathway .  We sincerely thank the companies that are partnering with us at these two events to hire and educate healthcare professionals. Many thanks to Trinity Health, West Michigan Works! and the Michigan Department of Labor for their sponsorship of this event.  This story was reported by Julie Hordyk,

July 22, 2024 Professor Nikki Smith sees foundation donations as part of her work in transforming students’ lives. Why do donors support the GRCC Foundation? For some people, it’s part of a family tradition. Others are motivated by their gratitude for their GRJC or GRCC education. Many faculty and staff see first-hand the need for scholarships in their encounters with students. Dr. Nikki Smith gives for all three of those reasons. She graduated from GRJC in 1989 and has been a full-time professor in the Criminal Justice Department for 18 years. “My parents instilled in me early in life the core values of living and giving beyond self,” said Smith, whose father was also a GRJC alumnus. In fact, her parents encouraged her to enroll at GRJC after she graduated from Central High School. She then enrolled at Grand Valley State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a master’s in social work. This past May, she received her doctorate in education, organizational leadership and development from Cornerstone University. “I enjoyed every moment of my time at GRJC,” she said. “I was a member of the women’s nationally ranked tennis team for two years, the debate team and a member of the Black Student Union.” In addition to regular contributions to the foundation, Smith has a scholarship designated for students majoring in Criminal Justice. “I hope to alleviate some of the financial burdens that students often face, allowing them to focus on the overall care of their minds, bodies and souls as they prepare to move into a career of service,” she said. “My three- to five-year goal is endowment.” Smith, who received a GRCC Excellence in Education Award in 2015, believes the benefits of her donations to the foundation go beyond the scholarship recipients. “I often think about the mission, vision, values and strategic plan of GRCC,” she said. “These core tenants of our college provide scholars who teach and the staff who support our students the opportunity, through education, to help transform students’ lives. Contributing financially to student scholarships allows others to become conduits of this powerful transformation. “Because I believe in what we do at GRCC – and those it impacts – my decision to contribute needed no prompts. It is my great pleasure to give.” This story was republished from GRCC’s 2022-23 Foundation Annual Report.

July 17, 2024 How many pennies can a tinfoil boat hold before it sinks? That’s one of the questions teams of middle school students tried to answer during the Sankofa STEM Academy hosted at Grand Rapids Community College this summer.  The five-week summer program run by  STEM Greenhouse gives Grand Rapids students the opportunity to have fun while building their skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.   One room of students filled with laughter as the competition intensified to see who could build the strongest tinfoil boat.  Across the hallway, another group worked to  solve a hypothetical murder case, examining physical evidence, DNA, and blood samples in forensic science experiments to determine which of their six suspects was guilty. In other classrooms, students learned about fractions, cursive writing, and poetry.  It’s all part of the  STEM Greenhouse mission to bridge the achievement gap and ensure that children from underrepresented communities can excel in STEM with an academic foundation in math and science. The academy helps strengthen skills and confidence so students can succeed in school and life. Students build friendships with classmates, learn to trust their teachers, and improve their STEM skills through hands-on experiential learning and weekly field trips. They also are provided with lunch and snacks. The academy also employs local high school students as student teachers throughout the summer giving them the chance to learn through teaching. Student teachers get hands-on experience teaching younger generations, mentoring them, and sharing their own experiences..  This story was reported by Kailee Potgeter.

July 16, 2024 Grand Rapids Community College has joined 25 community and technical colleges throughout the United States in the Manufacturing Imperative - Workforce Pipeline Challenge (MI-WPC) pilot program designed to strengthen the manufacturing industry by addressing shortages in the workforce and closing the skills gap.  The MI-WPC is a three-year program with a goal to attract 1,000 individuals at each of the initial participating community and technical colleges annually, resulting in 75,000 or more qualified workers in pursuit of manufacturing careers. The estimated economic impact of growing the industry’s workforce is $6 billion.  “Grand Rapids Community College is proud to partner with the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) and our community college colleagues throughout the United States to strengthen the manufacturing industry,” said GRCC President Charles Lepper. “By working together, we can more effectively prepare students for high-demand careers and build a more robust workforce that will benefit both our local and national economies.”  The MI-WPC  program was launched in Fall 2023, combining the industry and workforce expertise of  SME with a select group of U.S. community and technical colleges to inspire the future workforce by training students for manufacturing careers. SME anticipates millions of U.S. manufacturing jobs will need to be filled over the next few years.  “We are thrilled to host a series of both President’s Advisory Council and Manufacturing Association Advisory Council meetings to progress this public and private sector initiative and keep the momentum moving forward,“ said Deb Volzer, government and workforce partnerships director for SME, who is leading the MI-WPC initiative. “Additionally, we regularly bring together those implementing the initiative at each institution in our ‘Champion’ meetings where best practices are identified and shared.”  Innovative solutions for attracting students in STEM related programs, developing and deploying curriculum aligned to the needs of local industry, changing the narrative around manufacturing, and deploying strategies to build stronger relationships with school districts will be shared nationally to grow local economics, reduce barriers to employment, and fill vacant manufacturing jobs. This story was reported by Amy Soper.

Does going to a community college mean you have to give up on team sports? Not a chance! According to Alex Ehnis, a 2024 graduate who played forward for the  Grand Rapid Community College Raiders basketball team , the opposite is actually true. “I played basketball at a small high school, and let’s just say I wasn’t one of the best players when I got to GRCC,” Ehnis said. “To be completely honest, I was probably one of the worst. So I sat the bench much of my first year and red-shirted my second year. But by the third year…I was a different player.” The numbers tell the story: he averaged 18 minutes per game and shot over 50% from the field in his last season, compared to five minutes per game and 8% shooting his first year. “People don’t think there’s going to be much competition at a community college,” Ehnis said. “But there are a lot of good people in the league. GRCC has a  great volleyball team that almost always goes to nationals. The  baseball team was the undefeated conference champ this year and they’re often ranked. The  golf team is excellent. If you enjoy sports, GRCC can be a great fit.” Ehnis loves basketball, but he knows it’s not going to be his career. That’s why he is also proud of the Exercise Science Associate Degree he earned during his time at GRCC.  “I had never thought about a community college before I learned about GRCC,” Ehnis said. “It made a lot of sense to me. The smaller class size was more personal and closer to what I had experienced in high school. It was about half the cost of attending a four-year program. And here, I could still work on my basketball to become better. Now all of my credits will transfer to a four-year program, and I hope to play basketball, too.”  Ehnis says he worked as hard in class as he did on the court.  “It was harder than a lot of people might think. GRCC challenges you, and I liked the challenge. And my professors knew their stuff. For example, my Exercise Science professor was an athlete and former body builder. My Chemistry professor worked at Kennedy Space Center. These people have credible experience in their fields.” So what does Ehnis plan to do now that he has graduated?  “I would love to become a physical therapist specializing in sports injuries and rehab. In a perfect world, I would get to do that in West Michigan.” He knows it is tough to get into physical therapy school, so he also has the backup plan of becoming an athletic trainer. But regardless of how the next chapter unfolds, Ehnis doesn’t regret his decision to attend GRCC. “I recommend GRCC to everyone because you definitely get your money’s worth at this school.” Academic programs in the Health and Exercise Sciences pathway can lead to professions like occupational therapy assistant, nurse, dental hygienist, dental assistant and radiologic technologist. Degrees in this pathway prepare students to transfer into bachelor's degree programs related to exercise science and health professions such as physician assistant, occupational therapist and physical therapist. GRCC offers a general transfer option, as well as two-year programs tailored to Aquinas College, Grand Valley State University and Western Michigan University.  To explore GRCC’s Health and Exercise Sciences Academic Pathways, please visit our  website .  This story was reported by Julie Hordyk.

We’ve all heard the expression, “Time is money.” However, for businesses like  Thompson Innovative Glass , that’s more than just an expression. Thompson is a premier glass fabrication manufacturer headquartered in Fenton, Michigan. Due to high demand for their innovative products, including ballistic glass, Thompson was seeking to expand. They had the choice to grow in eastern Michigan or open a new facility here on the west side. Fortunately for all of us, they chose Jenison for their growing operation. Thompson purchased a building and then had to start finding the right people. “Our biggest challenge is finding quality talent,” said  Jeremy Deutschmann , Chief Financial Officer. “Once people join our team, they generally stay, but finding them is hard.”  Thompson needed more than entry-level people who would move parts around.  “We’re focused on automating our processes,” said  Mike Broekhuis , Chief Technology Officer. “We’re hiring people who can take care of machines rather than handling physical parts. That means we need people with mechatronics skills.”  For those of us who are not technology officers, “mechatronics” refers to people who can program robots, handle drives, manage input/output sensors and much more. They are machine caretakers who have the skills to develop systems and diagnose problems. These are tough positions to fill because there’s global demand for these skills.  “We’re seeking to minimize physical labor, but that’s not all we need,” said Deutschmann. “We also need people who buy into the culture of metrics and accountability. Glass is often a last-minute thing. We need to produce our product on a reliable and predictable schedule, which requires motivated and team-oriented employees who are willing to get their hands dirty.”  When Thompson finalized their plans to expand, Broekhuis started researching places where he could recruit. He found GRCC and spoke with the instructors of the CNC and mechatronics programs.  “I walked away from those meetings impressed by their ability to get candidates ready for the workforce,” Broekhuis said. Ultimately, that relationship led to the hiring of GRCC Job Training graduate  Wyatt Suchecki .  “I got a call from our president the week that Wyatt started his training in Fenton,” Broekhuis continued. “He told me one of our tenured CNC operators was raving about Wyatt. In his words, ‘It’s nice to have someone come in here who knows what he’s doing!’ That confirmed my instinct, which was that GRCC is educating students for immediate workforce success.”  What does it mean to Thompson that they’ve made the right hire?  “When our machines arrive in Jenison, we’re going to be up and running immediately,” said Deutschmann. “We don’t have time to train someone. We have too many orders to fulfill for us to spend two months on training. We need to start fabricating glass right away.” Broekhuis echoed this sentiment.  “Having experienced CNC operators means we don’t have to micromanage them,” Broekhuis said. “With formal training in CNC machine operation, a new hire can work more independently, reducing the risk of inadvertently causing damage to the equipment or its components. A well-trained operator can anticipate problems and re-code machines without supervision. We’ve been impressed that Wyatt can do those things, but has also brought insights from what he learned in the GRCC program. I am impressed with the instructors and the culture they create. There have been no surprises in our hire of Wyatt. We got what we thought we were getting. You can’t put a price on that.”  GRCC President Dr. Charles Lepper notes that partnering with the community is a big part of the community college role.  In a recent episode of  The TechEd Podcast , he said, “Part of what folks underestimate is the impact that GRCC has in the community. We just completed an economic impact survey through Lightcast. It’s estimated that in 2020-21, our economic impact was $1 billion in Kent and Ottawa County.“  Dr. Lepper noted that this kind of impact does not happen in a vacuum.  “In order for us to stay current, we have to have a relationship and dialogue with businesses and partners to say, ‘What do you need and how do we prepare students for that?’ We have about 17 advisory committees that provide feedback on our curriculum and help build learning experiences for our students. We’re very committed to listening and understanding before we offer solutions.” His message to industrial employers is simple: get involved!  “GRCC is the gateway to the  Michigan New Jobs Training Program . We are the largest user of that program, which helps businesses hire new employees. In the last 10 years, GRCC has trained over 22,000 employees using that grant!” Interim job developer Mina Stallworth visited with Thompson Innovative Glass and helped them connect to Wyatt. She is excited about the ways in which GRCC can support local talent recruitment efforts.  “My job is to build partnerships with employers,” Stallworth said. “Mike is one of the few people who have come to GRCC and toured. He asked questions and saw the students at work. We would love to have any interested employer take us up on that kind of opportunity!”  “People are our competitive edge,” Deutschmann concluded. “If we can manufacture better, on a faster schedule and at a lower cost, that makes us more competitive and allows us to keep growing. We need people who are motivated to help us achieve that goal. I’m glad to know we can count on GRCC and their talent pool when we need to hire people with competent, cutting-edge manufacturing technology skills.” If you would like to explore the ways in which GRCC can help your business develop talent, please contact Scott Mattson, Program Manager, Job Training & Construction Trades.  This story was reported by Julie Hordyk.

June 26, 2024 Why do you suppose people choose a career in law enforcement? Often it’s because someone showed them it was worth exploring. That’s one of the many reasons it’s important for GRCC’s Police Academy to represent the diversity of West Michigan.  Deputy Karen Barrose jokes she got interested in law enforcement because Scooby Doo and his mystery-solving buddies captured her imagination. That may be true, but this woman’s skills far surpass anything that Daphne or Velma ever dreamed of having. Barrose grew up in a Spanish-speaking home. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Science and a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration. A high school friend recruited her to the GRCC Police Academy. Now she’s a school resource officer in Kentwood schools.  “I love planting seeds with kids and watching them grow,” Barrose said. “You don’t often get to see that in law enforcement, because you interact with someone once and then you’re done. But in this role, I’m in the school every day. I get to build bridges with kids and their parents.”    That job isn’t always easy.  “Kentwood schools are very diverse and that brings some challenges,” Barrose said. “I’ve had kids say, ‘I don’t like the police,’ but that changes once they see past my uniform. The kids are just looking for someone to genuinely care and listen. I have great interactions with them, which is important because these kids are our future. I want to help them form good habits while they are young. I had people who mentored me and I want to do the same for these kids.” Deputy Nicko’s Rosser took a circuitous route to law enforcement, having started with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and then a degree in personal training before earning a master’s degree in order to apply for the Secret Service. Although his eyesight ultimately kept him out, he had caught the law enforcement bug. He was recruited to the Police Academy by the previous director and loves it. Rosser is also a school resource officer, working in Kent County for Rockford Public Schools.  “We teach a curriculum that includes cyber security, sexting, drugs and alcohol, and a lot more. But we’re primarily there to build relationships with the kids and the community,” Rosser said.  For Rosser, this job is the fulfillment of all his previous career work.  “The kids drive me crazy sometimes, but they also bring so much joy. Every career I’ve had seems to come back to helping kids grow up well, so I think this is my purpose in life. Sometimes it’s frustrating to tell kids the same things over and over again. I keep hoping it will sink in and they will make changes.”  He says the extracurricular part of his job is just as important as what happens in the schools.  “I am there to build relationships in the community as much as I am to build them in the school. What’s fantastic is my sergeants are very open to me being present in whatever way makes sense. If I have an idea, they say ‘yes.’ Community presence is an important part of recruiting. I didn’t see many black police officers when I was growing up. None of my childhood friends wanted to become police officers. But now I can represent a new option for the kids who see me in uniform.”  Barrose and Rosser agree that GRCC’s flexible program made it possible to fulfill their law enforcement goals. They both worked while attending the Police Academy.  “This was the only program that let me do that,” Rosser said. “It meant a lot of early mornings and late nights, but I could still work and provide for myself while getting an education that is considered to be one of the best in the state.”    Barrose felt the same way.  “I was working and providing for myself, so I needed a program that would allow me to do both. I also needed something affordable. Other programs cost as much as my master’s degree did, and I wouldn’t have been able to work while attending.” GRCC offers two Police Academy options in the  Public Service Pathway . In the two-year program, which starts in the fall, students can earn an associate degree in combination with completing the Police Academy. Typically, these are students who are exploring law enforcement prior to being hired. The other Academy starts every January and is designed for people who already have been hired by law enforcement. Many of them work as cadets while attending the Academy. “We have a great program with a diverse instructor pool from many local law enforcement groups,” said Director David Kok. “In three of the last four sessions, we’ve had a 100% pass rate on the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) licensing test. Recruiters from all over the state want to meet our students. I typically invite mostly West Michigan departments, however, since that’s where we’re located.”  Walker Police Department has hired 12 new officers since 2020, and eight of them graduated from GRCC’s Police Academy. Administrative Captain Brandyn Heugel from Walker is one of the GRCC instructors. According to her, GRCC plays a vital role in filling the law enforcement pipeline with people who know how to work together. Building a sense of community among recruits is an important first step toward how they will work together in the field.   “The collaboration here starts at the top,” Heugel said. “All our area chiefs and the sheriff work together. GRCC Police Academy instructors come from all the different departments in West Michigan. They work together to train the students on scenarios with multi-jurisdictional response. So before they even go to their respective departments, these students learn how to work together and back each other up.” There’s one last thing that both Barrose and Rosser agree on, and that’s a love of the work.  “I don’t see myself going anywhere,” Barrose said. “I was not a road person. If given a choice between making a traffic stop and playing with kids in a playground, I would find the kids every time! If I can keep being a resource officer for the next 20 years, I will be thrilled. I’m so glad Director Kok mentored me and helped me succeed in this program.” “I wish I had started when I was younger!” Rosser declared. “I work for a great department. They take care of you like family. I plan to retire from here.”  This story was reported by Julie Hordyk.