September Provost Update
I hope that everyone is having a great start to the new fall season. This is always a busy time on campus and now is no different. Please read below for several updates and opportunities. World Suicide Prevention Day: September 10! In support of suicide prevention and awareness, our Center for Counseling and Well-Being is hosting tabling/drop-in events around campus for students to get information, make self-care bags, take a mental health screening, and connect with faculty counselors. Please share this information with students – this is a great opportunity for learning and engagement, even for extra credit (if you choose). Please see their World Suicide Prevention Day for more information. Campus Safety September is National Campus Safety Awareness Month and the College is going to be providing emails and updates to promote awareness and understanding of safety and security protocols across campus. Please stay tuned for these messages. Additionally, I want to draw your attention to the following: Our Campus Safety-Active Assailant Response Video has been updated. Please take a few moments to show this video in class: Active Assailant Response . Please note that the video begins with an introduction in which GRCC alumni who transferred to Michigan State University reflect upon their time here on our campus and on the tragedy that occurred in 2023 at MSU. Please remember that College practice–for campus safety–is to close and lock classroom doors while classes are in session. For added security, all GRCC buildings lock at 7:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Students, faculty, and staff can still enter using RaiderCards. Students and faculty who come to campus for class on Saturday will also need to use RaiderCards to enter the buildings. For additional campus building hours, please visit the Campus Building Hours webpage. GRCC Police Chief Rebecca Whitman and Victoria Janowiak, Executive Director for Operational Planning are hosting an Emergency Framework Overview professional development opportunity for new employees or anyone wanting a refresher. The next session will be held on September 23rd from 1:00 - 2:30 pm in Sneden 108 with a HyFlex option to attend as well. Winter Opening and Learning Day: GRCC Annual Marketplace Planning for the 2026 Winter Opening and Learning Day is underway! This year, we're excited to launch a GRCC Annual Marketplace. The marketplace will be held during breakfast, offering a unique opportunity to learn about and connect with departments and areas you may not regularly interact with. To be a part of the marketplace, please sign up on the 1st Annual Learning Day Marketplace form by October 31, 2025. Homecoming Week is Almost Here! Throughout the week of September 29th-October 3rd we will be celebrating Homecoming. Highlights include athletic events, annual office decorating and chili cook-off contests, and much more! See the full event schedule on the Homecoming 2025 webpage and note the following spirit week days: Monday, September 29: Tie Dye Spirit Day Tuesday, September 30: Jersey Spirit Day Wednesday, October 1: GRCC Spirit Day Thursday, October 2: Character Spirit Day Friday, October 3: Dress to Impress Spirit Day Reminder: TLDE Catalog of Programs and Services Please remember to review the opportunities available throughout the year from Teaching, Learning, and Distance Education (TLDE). TLDE's catalog of offerings for the 2025-26 academic year continues to be available. Highlights include: Professional development sessions TLDE can bring straight to your department Scheduled Canvas training and support throughout the semester The 2025-26 Faculty Showcase And much more! Register for sessions at TLDE's Learning Sessions page , contact TLDE to request a departmental session , or visit grcc.edu/TLDE for additional information. Canvas Appreciation Event: Save the Date As I shared at Opening Day, 14 teams of over 100 faculty and staff members supported the transition from Blackboard to Canvas. The Instructional Support and Institutional Planning (ISIP) area is planning an appreciation event on October 10 to thank everyone for their excellent work and service to the campus in completing this transition. More details will be shared from our Associate Provost of ISIP, Dr. Jennifer Batten, as plans are finalized. In closing, there are a lot of events happening on campus this month. The GRCC Events page has details about even more activities open to the public and for students, in addition to the Employee Events calendar, which is available via the Stay in the Loop: Employee Events Calendar webpage. I hope you’ll join me at a performance, game, or lecture soon. I’m grateful for all of you for continuing to provide vibrant learning spaces for our students–inside and outside of the classroom–that create a welcoming and engaging community here at GRCC. There is a great energy on campus and I know it matters to our students. Now and always, I hope you find our campus to be a space for learning, reflection, and care for each other. Have a great rest of the week and talk to you soon, Sheila