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Deb DeWent recognized by Modern Campus for her work with the GRCC catalog

  Deb DeWent was recently recognized for her work on GRCC’s 2024 catalog by Modern Campus. In their article  Top Higher Education Catalogs of 2024 , the catalog was noted as exceptional for its student-centered design and transfer clarity. This year, a piece was added to the Academic Plan page that lets students be aware of their plan code and lets them change it. Having the correct code is vital to student success. The code affects financial aid eligibility, student advising and graduation. Having the right code allows advisors to help students take the right courses, so they are on track to graduate with the degree they want without taking extra courses. The catalog has been revised throughout the years to improve its content and usability for students and faculty. DeWent mentioned, "The information in the course description helps students know about the course, including if there is a fee; what GenEd category it may fall within; and if a Dual Enrollment student could take the course.  We also have information regarding transfer opportunities, along with detailed information about the Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA), which is important to half of our students.” She also stated, “The catalog identifies programs that 'ladder' into other programs, so students know how they can continue on through their education from a certificate of completion to an Associate and on to a Bachelor's. There is also a 'My Catalog' section that allows students and staff to save important program information which they can easily reference.” This is DeWent’s 25th year of working with the catalog, so she has been involved in many of the key changes that have occurred, including moving from a printed version to an online one. She expressed that, “working on the catalog has been a labor of love over many years. Every year, I have challenged myself to find ways to make it a little better. I listen to faculty, advisors and students through the development process, as this publication is a product used by many. I think back to the early days when this was a printed publication and the hours that went into the publication and then receiving the final printed copy only to find a typo...ugh.  Now, with an online catalog, it is easier to correct typos.” After being acknowledged for her work, she said, "This is an honor for the entire College and I'm glad to be a part of this. Having an online catalog that is recognized by peers is an honor." She also recognizes that meeting the deadline is a real team effort. 

GRCC’s Academic Support & Tutoring Services certified as a Level 1 tutor training program by the internationally recognized College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA)

We are pleased to announce that the Academic Support & Tutoring Services attained certification as a Level 1 tutor training program by the CRLA. For more than thirty years, CRLA has been a leader in learning assistance, reading and academic support programs with almost 1,300 members and over 2,000 certified training programs worldwide. The Academic Support & Tutoring Services has worked hard to develop a tutor training program that meets CRLA’s rigorous standards and has successfully completed the International Tutor Training Program Certification (ITTPC) peer review process. Achieving certification means Academic Support & Tutoring Services has met CRLA’s high standards for tutor selection, training, direct service and evaluation as an integral part of their overall tutoring program. Please join us in congratulating the Academic Support & Tutoring Services on a job well-done.

Recap of April 2025 Strategic Leadership Team (SLT) meeting

GRCC’s SLT met on Friday, April 18. Here is a recap of the meeting.  Presentations Don Van Oeveren and Elaine Yeiter presented Get to Know a Department:  Academic Support and Tutoring Services. The Goal 4/ Priority 3: K-12 Partnerships Update was presented by Lynnae Selberg and Cheryl Garner. The Goal 4/Priority 4: Strengthening Collaborations with Community and Employer Partners was presented by Kristi Haik and Luanne Wedge. Klaas Kwant and Jim VanDokkumburg presented on the Goal 5/Priority 3: Campus-wide Sustainability Effort. Announcements Please remind adjunct faculty to submit mileage reimbursements within 30 days of the end of the semester. Over 100 adjunct faculty have registered for Canvas Training.  Please contact TLDE if you need information on registration. The Spring Open House was held on April 19. Commencement will be held on April 24 at the Van Andel Arena.   Next Steps  Please share the following information with your department colleagues: Slides:  April 2025 SLT Meeting Video:  SLT 4-18-25 The next meeting will be September 19. The purpose of the Strategic Leadership Team (SLT) is to provide a forum that enables a wide variety of college constituency groups the opportunity to provide input into the present and future direction of the College.  This team will guide the development and on-going implementation of our strategic plan, review benchmarking data, study budget realities and offer recommendations for budget priorities.

Juggling kids, classes and dreams: A family triumphs together

April 23, 2025 Driven by a desire to make a better life for their family, Mitchell and Alexis went back to school and are both graduating this semester. Mitchell Bostelaar and Alexis Jendrasiak followed a very typical path after high school. They got married and started a family. “We had one child and another on the way,” Bostelaar said. “I was working third shift, making just enough to scrape by. I couldn’t imagine that this was all work could be. How could I get a job I enjoyed that also provided for our family?” Alexis shared a similar perspective. “I worked in a series of non-degreed jobs where I felt like I was being walked over,” Jendrasiak said. “We had a lot of conversations about wanting more out of our careers. We kept thinking it had to be a linear process….first one of us graduates, then the other.” Fortunately, these parents found their way to GRCC and discovered the Occupational Support Program , which is provided through the Perkins V legislation . “The legislation provides funding that increases learner access to high-quality Career Technical Education (CTE) programs of study,” said Megan Downey, Interim Associate Dean of Advising and Student Support. “It also offers support for specific populations, such as English language learners, single parents, those who are re-skilling and more. While many schools will point students toward the resources, GRCC has made an institutional investment to provide wrap-around student support. We are a state leader in supporting our students.” That investment and support are the magnets that draw students who might not otherwise be able to even consider further education. “We focus on removing barriers so students can earn a degree and become self-sustaining,” Downey said. “Since 2022, we have received 1,155 interest forms in our office. Of those people, 65% shared they would be considered low income. Approximately 35% indicated they are single parents. When they are asked what worries might impact their upcoming semesters, 52% are worried about paying for basic needs, 43% are concerned about juggling school and work and 29% are worried about transportation.” Alexis and Mitchell shared several of those concerns. “Our biggest challenge was child care,” Jendrasiak said. “Megan secured two grant-funded spots for our kids on campus through the Early Childhood Learning Lab . That allowed us both to take classes simultaneously. We have been extremely happy with the care they receive. The teachers there are great resources. They have helped us understand our kids’ needs and where they are at from a developmental perspective. They are also a fountain of resources and information. They really care.” Although having child care was pivotal, it didn’t solve all the challenges. Mitchell admits that getting them both through their respective programs took tenacity and hard work. “We did a lot of juggling,” Bostelaar said. “We passed the kids back and forth as one or the other of us was in class, doing homework or working. We stayed up until 2:00 a.m. studying on many nights, only to be awakened by our baby at 6:00 a.m.” However, that tenacity has paid off and both parents are proud graduates this semester. Mitchell earned an HVACR certificate and is heading for a position in commercial service. Alexis completed an associate degree in Web/UX Design and Development and hopes to continue working at GRCC, where she has been involved in a work study program. “Alexis and Mitchell are a perfect example of why we offer these services,” Downey said. “Students who engage with the Occupational Support Program get the help they need to work around barriers and find solutions. As a result, they do just as well in school as the students who do not have these barriers.” Megan says that the top reason people show up in her office is to be a role model and make a better life for their kids. She offers some great advice for anyone who has that goal. “We are experts at helping students navigate role conflict,” Downey said. “Remember that ‘forward’ is a pace. You don’t have to adopt an all or nothing mindset. Sometimes, attending school part-time and doing well is better than trying to work, study and parent full-time. You will find non-judgmental support here that can help you succeed.” Ultimately, the graduation ceremony this week is the fulfillment of a dream for these hard-working parents. “It will be nice to make more money and be respected,” Bostelaar said. Learn more about the Occupational Support Program at GRCC. This story reported by Julie Hordyk  

Initiative for recycling dry erase markers

A request was made to the Facilities department to add dry erase markers to the items the college currently recycles.   Facilities will “give it a go” and see how many are collected over a several-month trial period, and whether it is an initiative that garners enough interest and participation to continue, while also continuing to investigate the viability of recycling markers in general.   Crayola stopped their recycling program due to the carbon footprint created from shipping the used markers great distances.  Also, markers are  made of mixed plastics, which are harder to recycle. Buildings will have a container with a “Recycle Markers Here” sign.  Building locations are listed below. If you can’t locate the container, please check with your Building Manager): The items collected will be brought to Staples Office Supply.  Staples works with TerraCycle to recycle the items.   Let’s go GRCC and see how many markers can be kept out of the landfill for the next several months!  Esequiel Cortez, building manager for: Calkins-1st Floor Offices Ford Fieldhouse-Main office, outside double doors White Hall-By ramp Police/Facilities-Lobby entrance Robert Green, building manager for: RJF-1st floor elevators Cook-1st floor elevators College Park Plaza-2nd floor lobby elevators James Hanafin, building manager for: ATC-By Foodology, under stairs Tassel MTEC-1st floor by recycling containers Spectrum-Office area, 2nd floor Lakeshore-Main offices Tom Vos, building manager for: ECLL-Office Music Building-Outside office Student Center-2nd floor Multipurpose Room    

Digs, discoveries and dino dreams: John VanRegenmorter brings fossils to life

April 21, 2025 If you think geology is about just looking at rocks, you really need to meet GRCC adjunct professor John VanRegenmorter. You won’t be able to resist his passion for geology, particularly for fossils. “Who doesn’t love fossils?” said Tari Mattox, head of the Geology Department at GRCC. “Dinosaurs often are what get people into this discipline. I affectionately call John a fossil geek. He is so excited about them, and that excitement turns students on to geology. He’s always taking students out to do cool field work.” John describes himself as “a kid who never outgrew dinosaurs.” His enthusiastic approach engages students to explore geology careers, while he demonstrates his expertise through his research and publications.   John’s passion for fossils started when he was 15. “I thought I was going to be a dinosaur guy until I went on a dig with a high school group in the Badlands,” VanRengenmorter said. “That’s when I completely fell in love with fossil mammals.” Now John is a well-regarded expert in the field. He frequently engages in field work and research, and recently co-authored a paper that appeared in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. He can provide an inexhaustible stream of knowledge because he’s a subject matter expert. But he also has the special skill of being able to translate what he knows into simple English.   “The paper we wrote focused on two things,” Van Regenmorter said. “We were looking at an area of Wyoming called 12 Mile Gulch. There, we discovered a new fossil species from a group of critters that were very closely related to primates. That’s fun in itself, because someone on our team got to name that fossil! However, we also realized that the presence and placement of fossils from this site in the geologic record is significant. We can use this information to further redefine geological time periods as they relate to this region. That matters because it allows us to compare fossil records around the world and learn from them.” John says that studying the past can help us prepare for the future.   “The fossil records show that approximately 55 million years ago, the Earth’s temperature rose somewhere between 5-8 degrees Celsius over the course of 200,000 years,” VanRegenmorter said. “That’s the fastest temperature rise on record….until now. Don’t think a degree or two is significant?  Well…there were alligators in the Arctic during this time! That’s how significant the changes were. Many species went extinct because they could not respond to the rapidly changing ecosystem. Currently, the Earth is warming even faster than that. Looking at how species responded then can help us think about how species might respond now.”   While it is not unusual for a professor to co-author a peer-reviewed paper, it is definitely an “above and beyond” thing for GRCC faculty.   “Our faculty is not required to do research,” Mattox said. “When students see that a GRCC professor is published, that should tell them this individual has a deep, rich knowledge base. Authorship is a sign of continued growth for educators.” John and Tari both love to engage students in projects that help them explore and understand the world around them.   “I’ve taken students to Utah to dig up fossil mammals and out to the gypsum mines in Grand Rapids,” VanRegenmorter said. “Tari has taken GRCC students to fossil beds in southern Indiana and to the rocks of the Canadian Shield in the Upper Peninsula. If you study geology at GRCC, there are plenty of opportunities to do research, get involved and explore your own interests.” Learn more about GRCC’s Pre-Geology program . Captions: First image: 12-mile Gulch in Wyoming. Second image: Phenacolemur cavatus fossil. Third image: 12-mile Gulch in Wyoming. This story reported by Julie Hordyk

Technology notification: Blackboard access ending August 20

In alignment with GRCC’s transition to Canvas as the institution’s official learning management system, please be advised that access to Blackboard will be discontinued effective August 20, 2025.  GRCC employees and students will no longer have access to Blackboard starting on this date. We strongly encourage all faculty and staff to continue preparing for this transition by becoming familiar with the Canvas environment and associated tools, if you haven't done so already. To support this effort, the Teaching, Learning, and Distance Education (TLDE) team is available to assist with training and provide technical support in partnership with IT. You may contact TLDE at TLDE@grcc.edu or (616) 234-3205. For additional resources, timelines, and training materials, please visit the Canvas Transition Hub . We appreciate your attention to this important update and your ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality instruction and support throughout this transition.

Cook Hall Level G1 parking closing for asphalt work April 25

On Friday, April 25, Superior Asphalt will be removing and replacing all the asphalt  at the Cook Hall Level G1 entrance. All vehicles must be removed from Level G1 Parking by  6:45 AM on Friday, April 25 . There will be no parking allowed in Level  G1 Parking until Saturday, April 26 around 9 AM, after the cones are removed by facilities. There will be heavy equipment activity that may obstruct travel through Winchester Alley from Lyon Street to Fountain Street on Friday, April 25.  Please seek alternative means to gain access onto the adjacent streets. Campus Police will be contacting Cook Hall parking occupants to redirect them to alternative parking areas for the duration of the project.
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