Sept. 3, 2021 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- A five-year, $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education will allow Grand Rapids Community College to help adult learners enter or return to higher education. GRCC will use the grant to create a TRIO Educational Opportunities Center, where unemployed or low-wage workers and other adult students can work with campus specialists to connect with counseling and receive information on admissions and support services. Educational Opportunities Center programs offer academic and personal counseling, tutoring and mentoring, career workshops, student financial assistance and help with completing the college admission process. The centers support a range of adult learners, including those with limited proficiency in English, those with disabilities, those facing housing insecurity, people aging out of the foster care system, and other members of groups that are traditionally underrepresented in postsecondary education. The TRIO program also supports students who are low-income or are potential first-generation college students. “A community thrives when all of its members have access to higher education,” GRCC President Bill Pink said. “We appreciate this support from the U.S. Education Department to help GRCC connect residents with services that can help them be successful on their educational pathway.”  Educational Opportunities Centers, launched in 1972, are part of a set of federal programs known as TRIO, which is authorized by the Higher Education Act to help low-income, first-generation students and those with disabilities succeed in higher education. During the 2020-2021 fiscal year, 139 Educational Opportunity Centers served more than 192,000 adult learners. “As systemic inequality and financial hardship discourage students from succeeding in college, TRIO programs like EOC take on new importance because they continue to help guide unemployed and underemployed workers and returning high school and college students toward earning a degree,” said Maureen Hoyler, president of the nonprofit Council for Opportunity in Education in Washington, D.C.

Sept. 2, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Kylie Oberlin racked up a match-high 11 kills to lead the Grand Rapids Community College volleyball team to a 3-0 win in its conference opener against Glen Oaks Community College on Thursday.   The No. 16-ranked Raiders (4-5, 1-0 in MCCAA) defeated the Vikings (4-2, 1-1) by a score of 25-22, 26-24, 25-16. Oberlin, a third-year starting middle from Fruitport, had her best outing of the season, hitting at a .556 clip, and had just one hitting error to go with her match high 11 kills. She also tallied two blocks and even picked up an assist. Annie Holesinger of Rockford finished with nine kills and two blocks and Audrey Torres of Caledonia tallied nine kills and a match-high 12 digs. Morgan Fugate of Wayland contributed with seven kills and eight digs. In her first match of the year in the libero jersey, redshirt freshman Kara Hecht of Zeeland tallied 11 digs, received a team-high 16 serves and even had an ace. Statistical Leaders: Kills: Oberlin, 11; Torres and Holesinger, 9; Fugate, 7; Ola Nowak, 3; Haley Dobry 2. Assists: Nowak, 32. Digs: Torres, 12; Hecht 11; Fugate, 8; Gower 4. Blocks: Holesinger, Oberlin and Nowak, 2. Aces: Nowak, 4; Torres, 2; Hecht, Gower and Kruger, 1. Conference play continues for the Raiders on Tuesday, Sept. 7 as the team travels to Muskegon Community College. GRCC will be back at the Ford Fieldhouse next Thursday, Sept. 9 as it takes on Lake Michigan College. 

Sept. 2, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College is planning vaccination clinics at two Grand Rapids locations on Sept. 8 and at the new GRCC Lakeshore Campus on Sept. 14, part of an effort to help students, employees and community members have access to an effective COVID-fighting tool. Vaccines were administered to 25 people at the Aug. 28 Raider Rally event, helping students take advantage of a $200 vaccination incentive. More than 2,000 students have registered so far for the incentive, one of several measures GRCC has taken to promote safety and wellness as students returned to campus for the fall 2021 semester. The upcoming clinics are open to the public, as well as students and employees. The Sept. 8 clinics are planned for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall, 143 Bostwick Ave. NE in Grand Rapids as part of an Involvement Day activity, and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Leslie E. Tassell M-TEC, 622 Godfrey Ave. SW in Grand Rapids. Another vaccination clinic is planned for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 14 at the GRCC Lakeshore Campus, 12335 James Street in Holland.   Eligible students can receive a $200 credit on their RaiderCards to use for campus dining, parking, printing, and in the bookstore. The vaccination incentive program is available to students enrolled in an in-person, hybrid, virtual, or online credit course, clock-hour Job Training program, or apprenticeship program that begins between Aug. 30 and Dec. 16, 2021. Eligible students must meet this enrollment definition at the time incentive funds are disbursed to their RaiderCards and have achieved fully vaccinated status any time on or before Nov. 15, 2021. To be considered for the incentive, students should log into their Online Center, select the “GRCC Vaccine Incentive” tile, and complete a brief form. There will be a place for students to upload a photo of their COVID-19 vaccination record card. Credits will be added to RaiderCards in September for students who have completed the process, and weekly thereafter as students become fully vaccinated and upload a photo of their card. The incentives are limited to GRCC students. Employees are ineligible. Additional information is available on the GRCC COVID information page. Additional vaccination location information is available at vaccinatewestmi.com .  

Aug. 19, 2021, HOLLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College and Ottawa County leaders are celebrating the opening of the new Lakeshore Campus and the transformation of a shuttered department store into a vibrant learning hub for students of all ages. Starting with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting on Thursday, GRCC plans three days of events intended to introduce the community to the opportunities created by the new campus, located in the former JCPenney in The Shops at Westshore mall. “The GRCC Lakeshore Campus reflects a vision of a community college education being accessible to everyone,” President Bill Pink said. “As we walk through this magnificent facility, you will be surprised that it was once a department store. But you will be amazed at how this revitalized space will help people change their lives and make this entire community stronger. We are taking higher education on the Lakeshore to a new level.” GRCC has offered classes on the Lakeshore, spread out in four locations, for more than 20 years. The new Lakeshore Campus consolidates resources and programs in the heart of Holland Township with access to public transportation, employers and services. The 52,000-square-foot facility has nine classrooms, four computer labs and five unique labs for biology, chemistry, electronics, automation, welding and machine tooling, housing programs for students working toward an associate degree or a career-focused certificate. The $12 million project also has spaces for advising and counseling and other student support services and a satellite library, as well as areas for use by community groups. GMB Architecture + Engineering designed the project, and construction was directed by The Christman Co. The building will be LEED certified, part of GRCC’s sustainability goals.  Donors to the project include the Brooks family, the Community Foundation for the Holland/Zeeland Area, Gentex Corp., GMB Architecture + Engineering, Haworth, Herman Miller, Hudsonville Ice Cream and the Patrick A. Thompson and Family. “The generous support for this project reflects Lakeshore residents recognizing the value of a community college and GRCC’s ability to help students of all ages fulfill their dreams,” said Dr. Kathryn K. Mullins, GRCC’s vice president of Advancement and executive director of the GRCC Foundation. “We embrace this community partnership, and know it will grow even stronger in the years to come.” Current class offerings can lead to an Associate of Arts, Associate of General Studies, and Associate of Applied Arts and Sciences-Industrial Maintenance Technology, as well as certificates in Industrial Maintenance, Industrial Technology, Tooling and Manufacturing, and Welding. Workforce Training programs include Welding Bootcamp, Certified Production Technician, Pharmacy Technician and other offerings. Continuing education and professional development will be available for a variety of sectors, as well as customized training and assessments.  The expanded space will increase GRCC’s partnerships with area employers, and plans call for additional programs, possibly in health care, early childhood education, and teaching. A community open house is planned for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 21, with opportunities for residents to come as visitors and leave as students, with experts from the Enrollment, Financial Aid, the Academic Advising, Student Records, Veterans Benefits, Student Life, Honors, TRiO, and the College Success Center all on site to help. Specialists at the open house also can help with admissions and registration, and help potential students learn if they are eligible for the Michigan Reconnect program or federal Pell grants, which could substantially reduce costs.

Sept. 1, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – GRCC Workforce Training programs provide in-demand skills leading to rewarding careers. Each Wednesday we’ll meet students who are heading down an educational pathway and changing their lives by earning occupational certificates. Jose Villanueva wasn’t sure what Computer Numeric Control Machine Tooling was when he first saw it was offered by GRCC’s Job Training Program. “I had no clue what it was! I follow a YouTuber from Australia who is an engineer. As I was watching him, I realized that he was working with CNC. Then I saw what he was doing and I said, that’s it, that is what I want to do!” A machinist or CNC technician shapes metal and various materials to precise dimensions for parts by using machine tools. MT/CNC technicians plan and set up the sequence of machine operations in accordance with blueprints, layouts or other instructions to write both manual and computer-generated machine programs. “It doesn’t feel like school at all. It feels like I am coming to work,” said Villanueva, a 2016 Grandville High School graduate. The GRCC Job Training CNC Machine Tool program meets for 18 weeks for 34 hours per week. The program offers small class sizes, hands-on learning and job placement assistance. The Machine Tool/CNC program has recently been updated to better meet the industry needs. Skills taught in the program include blueprint reading, basic shop math, read measurement tools and communicate effectively with others using today's Machine Tool/CNC terminology. Villanueva is new to the program, but really likes it and appreciates instructor Andy Beach. “Andy does a really great job of explaining things,” he said. “He breaks everything down in completely different ways. I’ve been learning so much already. I never thought I would be doing something like this. If anyone is interested I would tell them to try it out! It’s worth the shot!” Villanueva qualified for federal financial aid, but also was eligible for the GRCC M-TEC Champions program. He’s also one of the first recipient of a new program, One Workforce. He has no out of pocket cost.  “I was pretty happy when I heard the news! I just didn’t believe it! I feel pretty lucky!” Villanueva likes working with his hands and plans to continue building his skills. “Once I receive my certificate I’d like to take the welding program as well so that I have a really well-rounded skillset.” The next section of Job Training programs begins October 18, 2021. Anyone interested in gaining career skills through GRCC Workforce Training can connect via email at workforcetraining@grcc.edu, and by phone at (616) 234-3800.