As flu cases increase in our area, Grand Rapids Community College encourages everyone to take simple steps to help reduce the spread of seasonal influenza and keep our campus healthy. Recommended Prevention Strategies Vaccination: Flu vaccines are the most effective prevention. Please consult your health care provider to determine what’s right for you. Hand hygiene: Wash hands often with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Cough and sneeze: Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your elbow if a tissue isn’t available. Reduce exposure: Avoid touching your face and limit contact with people who are ill. Student Health Resources GRCC offers a free, on-campus health clinic for all enrolled students through Health Bar, a Grand Rapids-based health care provider. Location: ATC Room 223 Hours: Monday and Thursday, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. and 2–6 p.m. Health Bar On Demand: Available daily, 7 a.m.–9 p.m. by calling (616) 200-6412 Learn more or schedule an appointment on the  Get Help section of the GRCC website . Campus Guidance During Flu Season Students and employees who are sick should stay home until they are fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication. Faculty should clearly communicate expectations for making up missed coursework. If several students in a class become ill, faculty should contact their Associate Dean as soon as possible for campus reporting purposes. Staff, faculty and students experiencing flu-like symptoms such as cough, runny nose, dizziness or fever, should stay home and focus on recovery. GRCC is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy learning and work environment. Thank you for doing your part to help keep our campus community healthy. For more information, please visit  www.cdc.gov/flu . 

Don’t let winter slow you down! Our employee fitness classes support your well-being while helping you stay active through the colder months. Classes run Monday - Thursday, now through April 30, 2026.  Sign up today on our  Winter 2026 Semester - Employee Exercise Class Registration form! Monday: Spin & Sculpt with Kelly 5:15 - 6 p.m. FFH Room 213  Kick off your week with this dynamic, full body workout that combines high energy cycling with targeted sculpting moves. This class is set in a supportive, motivating atmosphere and is perfect for all fitness levels. You’ll ride to fun upbeat music and Kelly will guide you through proper bike set up and safety techniques. This low impact class is great for cardio, muscle toning and fun!    You must bring water and a towel to this class. Tuesdays: Strength Blast with Lannie Noon - 12:45 p.m. FFH Room 212 Build strength from head to toe in this powerful class designed to target your upper body, lower body, and core. You'll boost muscle tone, improve endurance, and feel stronger after every session. Wednesdays: Raider Strong with Lannie Noon - 12:45 p.m. FFH Room 102 This class is designed for all fitness levels allowing you to move at your own pace. You’ll do interval training to strengthen your muscles and improve your energy level.  Thursdays: Fitness Fusion with Lannie Noon - 12:45 p.m. FFH Room 212 Get it all in just 45 minutes! This high-energy class combines heart-pumping cardio, full-body strength training, and focused core work for a total fitness experience. Whether you're looking to build endurance, tone muscles, or boost overall fitness, this class delivers results.

TLDE invites you to nominate an innovative colleague for next year's Faculty Showcase.  Please submit the  Faculty Showcase Nomination 2026 form by March 1, 2026.  Thank you!    

Please pass along to students that the GRCC Dental Program is offering Free Dental Cleanings and X-rays to current students during the month of February.   No walk-ins, by appointment only.  Students can stop by the Dental Clinic to schedule an appointment or call the front desk to schedule 616-234-4237. We are located at 308 Cook Building.

The River Raider is coming to an email signature or Zoom room near you. Email Signatures GRCC employees may add the GRCC Raiders logo to their email signatures. Guidelines for where to incorporate it in your signature are located on the  Logos and Brand Standards web page . Zoom Backgrounds Three different Zoom backgrounds are available on the  Mascot webpage . Download your favorite to add more GRCC spirit to your meetings. Stickers Two River Raider sticker designs are available in the Print and Mail Solutions (formerly ePrint)  online store . Stickers come in packages of 50. Go Raiders!  

Our Leave of Absence (LOA) process has been updated!  All  Leave of Absence requests will now be submitted through the Online Center. There are now two forms - one for employee-only leaves and one for travel with students. Both forms provide a clearer, more guided workflow to help you submit, track and manage leave requests from start to finish.  To submit a form, please navigate to the  Online Center > Employee Self Service > Employee Forms > Leave of Absence . As a reminder: Please submit requests at least two weeks in advance of the event, when possible. If you have already submitted an LOA via Perceptive Content, there is no need to submit a new form.  Instructional Documents can be found in the KnowledgeBase, HR Resource Center Submitting an Employee Leave of Absence Submitting an Employee Leave of Absence with Students Reviewing and Approving Leave of Absence Forms (Supervisors)