Unwanted or malicious calendar invites can clutter your schedule and pose a security risk. The best way to deal with these is to  report them as spam , which helps both clean your calendar and notify Google. To prevent unknown calendar invites from showing up in the future, please do the following: Access  Google Calendar in a web browser   Find the suspicious unknown meeting and select it   Click the  ⋮  icon and select  Report as spam   Check the box for  Block invitations from unknown senders  if prompted   Select  Report as spam This change permits only known senders to add meeting invitations to your Google Calendar. For more information and helpful tips, please visit the  IT Support Portal or contact the IT Support Desk at x4357.

At the annual meeting of the American Association of Geographers (AAG) East Lakes Division (Nov. 7-82, 025), students and faculty from across the Midwest presented papers based upon their own independent research. Margarete Brady, a geography major at GRCC, was distinguished with the award for the best paper presented by an undergraduate for “Perspectives on Climate Change in Southwest Michigan Vineyards.” Margarete is the fifth GRCC student in recent years to take a paper presentation award at this annual conference.  Sara Conner, an alumna who is now a geography major at GVSU, took second-place honors. Other GRCC geography alumni participating in the conference included Griffin Thompson (GVSU graduate student), Lester Dominguez-Torres (GVSU undergraduate student), Cadey Korson (St. Clair County Community College geography professor) and Sandra Johnson (WMU graduate student).  In a highly competitive election, Sandra Johnson was elected as the regional student representative; she now serves on the executive committee of the regional council. Colleges and universities across Michigan and Ohio comprise the region’s institutional members. Incidentally, as the chair of the Stand-Alone Geographers Specialty Group, Cadey Korson presented a workshop on the significance of community college geography in higher education, and as the AAG regional councilor, Mike DeVivo delivered a keynote address titled, “Geography in American Colleges and Universities: Points to Ponder During Uncertain Times.”    

Faculty and staff, please let our students know that on Thursday, Nov. 20 from 2 -4 p.m. at the Raider Grill, CCWB will be hosting our last social event of the semester, Crafts and Tea.  Students are welcome to come explore their creative side with some fall crafts while enjoying light refreshments.  Also, please let them know details for all CCWB events and workshops can be found on Raider Connect and our  Counseling and Well-Being Events webpage. 

In case you missed the townhall on Nov. 12 you can watch it online at any time!  We heard updates on culture and climate, the presidential search, and the campus master plan as well as responses to questions posed by faculty and staff.   Click on  Employee Town Hall 11-12-25 to view.    

The Collegiate recently featured a powerful student perspective from Avery Lash, who shared her path from a large university back to GRCC and the transformation that followed. After feeling lost and overwhelmed during her first year at Grand Valley State University, Avery made the decision to come home, commute and enroll at GRCC. What she once dismissed became exactly what she needed: a sense of community, support from caring faculty and advisors, clarity in her academic direction and the opportunity to earn an associate degree debt-free as an in-district student. Avery calls transferring to GRCC “one of the best decisions” she’s made. Her story is a reminder of the impact our college has every day — meeting students where they are and helping them build confidence in their goals and futures. Read Avery’s full story in  The Collegiate to see how GRCC helped her find her path:  Community after university .

  Tuesday, Nov. 18 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. RJF 215 Stop by the Center for Career and Professional Readiness to see our new space, meet our staff and learn more about our services.   Enjoy some cider and donuts while you're there!  

The Facilities Department wants to remind everyone that Saturday, Nov. 15, is America Recycles Day.  Follow the  Keep America Beautiful link to learn more, test your recycling smarts, join the great American Cleanup and receive the Keep America Beautiful newsletter. While most of us won’t be at GRCC on Saturday, it is a good time to reflect on our own recycling practices at home and at work.   The  Kent County Recycling and Education Center is a great resource for recycling information.  If you have recycling questions, are curious about recycling in Kent County, want to take a tour to learn more or see if they “really recycle” check out their website. According to the  EPA , the current recycling rate in the United States is 32%.  The goal is to be at 50% by 2030.  What can you do to help America get there? Remember to practice the 3 R’s: Reduce - reduce waste, consume less Reuse - buy second hand and items made from recycled materials, repurpose, donate Recycle - learn about recycling, recycle more and recycle right When you are here at GRCC you can recycle in the mixed stream recycling containers all over campus, bring a reusable water bottle and use the water bottle fillers, pack a zero-waste lunch, buy “green” office supplies and be mindful of the amount you print or copy to name a few things.  Did you know GRCC also recycles electronics and has a SafeMeds disposal drop off?  Learn more about GRCC recycling and other sustainable initiatives on the  Facilities website. The Facilities Department wishes you a happy, reflective and actionable America Recycles Day.    

On Monday, Nov. 17, from 1 to 2:30 p.m., MiLEAP (Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential) is holding a Student Basic Needs Summit in the ATC Auditorium.   GRCC was selected to host this summit on our campus because of the incredible work we do with student basic needs.  The summit will bring experts from the Grand Rapids area to discuss food insecurity, housing insecurity, mental health and other basic needs and best practices to help college students navigate these complex issues.   Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, Director of MiLEAP, will be leading a panel discussion that will feature students from around the state and several other experts, including GRCC faculty, staff and student representatives.  The college community is welcome to attend. This event is free, but you have to register at  Building the Bigger Picture: A Student Basic Needs Summit to attend.  

The GRCC Grants Department is now accepting applications for the winter 2026 round of the SSPD grant program.  The purpose of the award is to encourage support staff to improve their professional skills related to their GRCC assignments.  Awards are for amounts up to $2,500 and the deadline for submission is  5 p.m. on January 30, 2026 . For a copy of the SSPD application packet, please contact Julie Blaszak, Grants and Contracts Specialist, at julieblaszak@grcc.edu. More information is also available on the Grants Department  SSPD Application and Guidelines webpage. After January, the next SSPD application deadline will be in Fall 2026.

CQ Introduction  Please join MI-ACE for an informative professional development session on the concept of Cultural Intelligence (CQ).  We will hear a short presentation from Mariah Shelden, Director of Talent Development, and Morgan Hannah, Associate Director of Student Support – Promise Zone.   Get introduced to the concept of Cultural Intelligence (CQ) to get a general understanding of CQ and its four capabilities (Drive, Knowledge, Strategy, Action). Explore how developing cultural intelligence can enhance intercultural interactions and improve communication in diverse environments. There will also be time for networking and dialogue with colleagues at GRCC.  Morning pastries will be provided.  All are welcome. Tuesday, Nov. 18 9 a.m. 315 RJF RSVP via TLDE at:  MI-ACE at GRCC MI-ACE  MI-ACE is a state wide organization that is committed to improving the general climate and professional environment for women by identifying, developing, encouraging, advancing, linking and supporting (IDEALS) women in higher education careers throughout the state.   The GRCC MI-ACE group works to offer opportunities at GRCC that align with these goals.  All staff and faculty are welcome to participate. Questions? Contact Julie Blaszak at julieblaszak@grcc.edu or Amy Lyn at amylyn@grcc.edu.