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New episode of Together @ GRCC podcast

Welcome to  Together@GRCC,  the biweekly podcast created for GRCC staff. Hosted by Ryan Nausieda, each episode features interviews with staff, students and community members, highlighting the people and projects that make our campus thrive. In this episode of Together@GRCC, the host interviews GRCC trustee Daniel Williams — president and CEO of the Steelcase Foundation — about putting community voices at the center of philanthropy and education. Williams reflects on lessons from co-founding Grand Rapids University Prep Academy and leading the West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology, explaining how those experiences inform his push for equitable access to learning. Tune in for a concise, insider look at how his board perspective and advocacy are helping GRCC amplify opportunity for every student. Don’t miss this insightful conversation! Be sure to subscribe and share it with colleagues who want to stay connected to the GRCC community. YouTube Spotify Apple

Payroll reminder: Memorial Day timesheet

As we prepare for the long holiday weekend, Payroll has a reminder about your timesheets for the 6/6/25 pay date (for the pay period of 5/12-5/25/25). We don't want the due dates to sneak up on you! Because of the Memorial Day holiday on Monday, 5/26/25, timesheets are due one day later than the normal Monday deadline. They are due on Tuesday, 5/27/25. We know some of you may be taking some extra time off. Please take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that the most accurate version of your timesheet is submitted on or before Tuesday, 5/27/25. And, supervisors, if you're out for any additional time around the holiday, please ensure you have a backup approver in place to review and approve timesheets by the approval deadline of Wednesday, 5/28/25 (also one day later, as approvals are usually due by the Tuesday following a pay date). More information on setting up a backup approver can be found on HR’s  Employee Forms webpage. As always, please reach out to us with questions at hrpayroll@grcc.edu.  

Introducing the new Software Governance Process at GRCC

We are excited to announce the launch of the Software Governance Committee (SGC) and a new, structured process for requesting and evaluating software at GRCC. Why this matters Last year, the college partnered with BerryDunn to evaluate our software licensing and software management practices. Their findings, along with internal assessments, revealed a need for more consistent oversight to ensure alignment with institutional goals, avoid redundancy and promote fiscal responsibility. In response, the Software Governance Committee was formed in 2024 by the direction of the Executive Leadership Team. The committee’s purpose is to ensure that all software used at GRCC aligns with our strategic plan and delivers value to the college through a transparent and collaborative decision-making process. About the new Software Request Process As of May 12, 2025, all new software requests must go through the new SGC review process. This includes requests for: Commercial software (Adobe, Microsoft, Canvas, etc.) Extensions, add-ons, and plugins (browser extensions, Zoom add-ons, etc.) Open-source and custom applications (Github software, Free Software) Cloud-based and SaaS tools (Trello, Tableau, Wordpress, etc.) Please note:  This process does  not  affect existing software currently in use. Use the Software Request Form on IT’s  Software Governance webpage (Additional details and timelines are available on the request form page) Review timeline & submission guidelines Software requests may be submitted at any time throughout the year; however, they will only be reviewed during specific committee review cycles. These review periods ensure a thorough and equitable evaluation process for all requests. Requests submitted by April 1 will receive a decision by April 30 Requests submitted by June 1 will receive a decision by June 30 Requests submitted by October 1 will receive a decision by October 31 Please note: The June review period is primarily intended for smaller-scale and instructional software that does not require a project. (Larger requests requiring projects may still be submitted but may not be prioritized until December depending on project classification). Requests that may result in an IT project should be submitted before the April or October deadlines for proper consideration and planning. Urgent instructional software requests for classroom use may be submitted outside of these dates and will be reviewed at least two weeks before the start of the fall & winter semesters. Evaluation criteria Each software request is evaluated on multiple dimensions including: Alignment with institutional goals Total cost of ownership Return on investment Risk and security considerations User experience and scalability A full breakdown of the scoring rubric is available on IT’s  Software Governance webpage. Other key information ProCard Policy: Software purchases via ProCard must be pre-approved through this process. Procard purchases for software must be completed by an authorized purchaser. Budget and Project Requests: This process is integrated with our budget and IT project request processes. Appeals: Appeals can only be submitted by an Executive Leadership Team member. Meet the Committee Our committee includes cross-campus representation, ensuring broad perspective and input in all decisions: Jeff VanderVeen – Director of IT Project Management, Procurement & Licensing, Co-Chair Kristi Haik – Dean of STEM, Co-Chair David Fitch – Associate Director of Web Content and Digital Strategy David Houseman  – Sr. Endpoint Management Systems Administrator Todd Hurley – Controller Frank Jasper-Stump – Assistant Professor Jennifer Scott – Director of Student Financial Services Cedric Williams  - Professor Open - Human Resources Representative We appreciate your cooperation and collaboration as we work together to create a more strategic and sustainable approach to software adoption at GRCC. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions or need assistance navigating the new process.

School’s Out —it’s time for a beer (brewed by students!)

May 21, 2025 Looking to kick off summer with a fresh, flavorful beer? Head over to Big Lake Brewing in Holland, Michigan, where you can find School's Out, a mango sour beer brewed in partnership with students from Grand Rapids Community College's (GRCC) Craft Brewing program. This limited-release pub-only brew is more than just a thirst quencher. It's the result of a hands-on collaboration between GRCC students and Big Lake Brewing's head pub brewer, GRCC alum Casey Brunetti. The project was part of the college's upper-level Craft Brewing course (CRB210), which emphasizes real-world experience and professional networking. GRCC Craft Brewing instructor Abbie Groff-Blaszak reached out to Brunetti hoping to create an opportunity for the students to brew in a commercial setting. Being a graduate and advocate of the program, Casey enthusiastically agreed. "I sent the students the recipe the week before so they could come in with an idea of what we're going to be doing and what ingredients we were going to use," said Brunetti. "They had a strong idea of what a brewery looks like and what to expect. They all jumped right in and were very excited to be there. They felt very prepared and looked ready to get into the industry. They knew what questions to ask and had a great idea of what they were doing."   The city of Grand Rapids earned the title of "Beer City, USA" in 2012, and GRCC takes full advantage of its location in the heart of the craft brewing scene. Every student in the Craft Brewing program is required to complete an internship at a working brewery, giving them valuable exposure to the industry before graduation. "The brewing industry is a very tight-knit industry with a lot of collaboration within it," said Assistant Professor Allison Hoekstra. "Even within education in brewing, everything is very collaborative. Getting industry feedback and tying in professionals is an important part of the process. It's encouraging as a student to have brewers and people that are invested in you and your future. We're really lucky here at GRCC to have a lot of incredible alumni that are willing to partner with us. Industry members want to see our students succeed." Through the collaboration with Big Lake Brewing, the students not only developed a new beer from start to finish, they also gained firsthand experience with professional brewing equipment and processes. And the results speak for themselves: School's Out will be available on tap at the Big Lake Brewing pub, and Brunetti plans to can 20 cases of 16-oz. cans to take to summer beer festivals across Michigan. "It's a mango sour, so I think it will be a hot sell," shared Brunetti. Hands-on experience makes a world of difference for the students to gain insights on the different methods that can be used in the brewing process. With every brewery having its own style, the benefit of a mandatory internship sets the students up for success and often leads to a job after graduation.   "When I was in the program, I had to do an internship for a certain number of hours at an actual brewery," stated Brunetti. "I ended up staying at the place I interned. It was my first brewing job out of school. Because of that internship, it was so easy for me to get my foot in the door." In an industry built on passion, creativity and connection, experiences like the collaboration between Big Lake Brewing and GRCC are invaluable. Not only did the students create connections with working professionals in the industry, they crafted a successful beer in the process. "I'm really grateful for the program," shared Brunetti. "It landed me a really great career and I made lifelong friends who are also in the industry. I'm really happy I had the chance to collaborate with GRCC and I'd love to do it again." Learn more about the Craft Brewing Program . To learn more about School's Out, visit the Big Lake Brewing pub in Holland, Michigan. This story was reported by Anjula Caldwell.  

GRCC students tackle real-world housing challenges

May 19, 2025 What happens when design education meets community need? At Grand Rapids Community College, the answer is homes — real ones — that are affordable, sustainable and deeply rooted in neighborhood values. Students in the Sustainable Residential Design program applied their learning to a real-life project with major community impact. Assistant Professor Corri Sandwick knows all about the real word. She’s an architect and business owner who focuses on residential design in collaboration with affordable housing developers. So when she discovered an opportunity through LINC UP for her students to work on real-world design challenges, she jumped at the chance.   LINC UP is dedicated to empowering residents and fostering sustainable growth in Grand Rapids. Through a variety of programs and services, they address housing, economic opportunity and community engagement to create lasting impact for individuals and neighborhoods. That’s where GRCC students come in. “I met Shanika Gordon, Single Family Development Manager, when I attended a meeting at LINC UP,” Sandwick said. “She shared her need to design small, affordable homes on unique lots, many of which have challenging constraints. We figured out a way for my students to help her with that goal.” Students in Sustainable Residential Design learn guidelines for planning and designing a sustainable home. The final course project for the last two years has involved designing a home for LINC UP clients. “Our design brief this year included two sites in Grand Rapids on which LINC UP plans to build single family homes,” Sandwick said. “The students could grapple with a design for either site, each of which had its own quirks and challenges.”   Students learned about the clients LINC UP serves, and had to incorporate an imaginary buyer vignette into their presentation. In addition to complying with building codes and basic architectural principles, they also had to pack at least three sustainability strategies into their sub-1,000 sq. ft. designs. Those could include things like wind turbines, solar panels, tankless water heaters, rainwater collection systems, low-flow fixtures and many other options. “Sustainability is a win-win,” Sandwick said. “It respects our limited natural resources and helps minimize consumption. It also helps make home ownership more affordable by reducing energy usage and maintenance requirements.” Students presented their designs to their peers and Shanika on the final day of class. She was impressed by what she saw. “Building small, affordable and sustainable homes is no easy task,” Gordon said. “I’m always looking for creative approaches and fresh ideas. The GRCC students in Corri’s class never fail to come up with clever ways to address our constraints. They really get into the spirit of the work by stepping into the shoes of our potential homeowners.” These designs are more than just neat ideas that are graded and then forgotten. “We have built two homes designed by GRCC students,” Gordon said. “One is sold and one is currently available. That’s an impressive achievement to put on a resume, and it’s also a meaningful contribution that stretches LINC UP’s design resources.” Learn more about mechanical and architectural design at GRCC. This story reported by Julie Hordyk.

From warehouse to IT — Earning a computer science degree at GRCC

May 15, 2025 Life takes many unexpected twists and turns. For Andrew Abbott, the decision to start a college degree at age 35 was definitely unexpected. But as he says, “It was now or never.”  Andrew, like so many GRCC students, returned to school after gaining a good taste of the working world.  “I started off in a warehouse doing general labor and repair,” Abbott said. “I moved from there to assembly, and then to supervisor. Eventually I started monkeying around with computer systems in the warehouse. I didn’t want to ask other people to fix something I should be able to fix myself! I had been thinking about going back to school for a while, and then the Michigan Reconnect program crossed my radar. Since GRCC is local for me, I decided to take advantage of my tax dollars and make use of that opportunity.”  Andrew’s innate ability and personal drive gained his employer’s attention, and they offered him a position in the information technology (IT) department.  “My employer preferred someone with a degree for the position, but it was not a requirement,” Abbott said. “I told them I was going back to school. With that, plus my previous experience, they offered me a position. I originally chose a biomedical degree but then switched to computer science.”  Balancing the needs of a wife, kids and a full-time job while earning a degree has not been an easy task for Andrew. “I’m only able to take two classes each semester,” Abbott said. “So my two-year associate degree is turning into a five-year degree! I’m learning a lot of technical aspects of computer science, and it takes work to keep up with all the information coming at me. But that’s okay. When I’m done, I’ll have a piece of paper that proves I know what I say I know.” Andrew says that without financial aid, this degree would not have been possible. He took full advantage of all the opportunities, including a Pell Grant and Michigan Reconnect.  Michigan Reconnect is a last-dollar scholarship program that pays for students to attend in-district community college tuition-free. Eligible students are those who have lived in Michigan for a year or more and are at least 25 years old. They have a high school diploma, high school equivalency (GED), or certificate of completion but have not yet completed a college degree (associate or bachelor’s). “It would have been really hard to afford this without Michigan Reconnect,” Abbott said. “That financial support definitely provided a strong incentive. After all…who wants to go back to school at age 35? But I couldn’t afford not to do it.”  His hard work will pay off, because computer science is a high-demand career. The  U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 23% growth for computer science and information technology jobs between 2022 and 2032 — a much faster than average growth rate, which may indicate continued demand for workers with tech skills as society continues to incorporate technology into everyday life.  Andrew likes his employer and looks forward to putting his computer science skills to use.  “There are plans to help me move up,” Abbott said. “I am doing some junior network administrator work now, as time allows. I also do a lot of hands-on equipment repair and some troubleshooting for our computers and copiers.”  Earning a degree is a big deal for GRCC students like Andrew, many of whom are first-generation college graduates. “No one in my family has a college degree,” Abbott said. “I will be 41 by the time I’m done, and I will be the first person in my family to achieve this goal. By spring of 2026, I will be done and happy I achieved my goal!”  Learn more about GRCC’s  computer information systems programs .    This story reported by Julie Hordyk
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