| Grand Rapids Community College

Chance Colter shares his journey from Middle College student to GRCC instructor

Feb. 19, 2025 Chance Colter grew up at Grand Rapids Community College. Well, sort of. Now a 28-year-old math instructor at GRCC, Colter began his association with the community college 13 years ago as a Wyoming High School sophomore enrolled in the community college’s all-new Middle College Program . The program allows students to dual enroll and simultaneously earn a high school diploma and up to 60 GRCC credits and/or an associate degree or technical certificate while in high school. The Wyoming Public Schools Middle College launched in 2012 and was the first of its kind in West Michigan. The first cohort consisted of 50 students, including Colter. “I really liked the GRCC professors who came to my high school to teach us,” Colter said. “The Middle College Program allowed me to graduate high school and earn an associate degree in liberal arts in a total of just five years.” Because the cost of GRCC classes is covered by the school district’s per-pupil allowance from the state, middle college students don’t have to pay tuition to earn their associate degree. “It was a big money-saver for me and part of the reason my student loans aren’t as big as some of my siblings, for example,” Colter said. He went on to Grand Valley State University and completed his bachelor’s degree in mathematics in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. He returned to GRCC to work in the Mathematics Tutorial Lab and teach FastTrack and Bridges to College. FastTrack is a three-week summer learning lab where students can strengthen their math and English skills in hopes of testing out of those classes when they start at GRCC. Bridges to College is a seven-week summer program to help graduating high school seniors prepare for college. Teaching is a great fit for Colter. “I had some experience tutoring at Grand Valley, so I worked as many hours as I could as a math tutor at GRCC until I eventually became an adjunct instructor at GRCC in 2023,” he said. Colter teaches a range of math courses and continues tutoring as his schedule allows. He enjoys teaching – especially for the college that’s been part of his life for so many years. “I think it’s probably given me a unique perspective on how a GRCC student or a community college student thinks, which is different than how some of the other professors who maybe went straight from high school to a four-year college or a private college probably think,” he said. Colter said he plans to continue teaching and hopes to one day earn a master’s or doctorate degree, perhaps in applied mathematics, statistics or data science. “I’ve always enjoyed learning and envision myself learning and teaching for years to come,” he said. This story was reported by Beth McKenna.

Matthew Cherry

February 2025 Provost update

I hope that all of you are enjoying a great semester. It’s hard to believe that it’s mid-February and spring break is just around the corner! I’m writing to share several updates for this month. Please see below. ASA Staff updates Please join me in congratulating the following ASA faculty and staff members on their new roles! You can also read more on our ASA Staffing updates-February 2025 document. Jessica Pierce, Interim Associate Dean of the School of Workforce Training, effective January 20 Megan Downey, Interim Associate Dean of Advising and Student Support, effective February 17 Kaelee Steffens, Interim Program Director, Occupational Support Program, effective February 17 Cheryl Gardner, Director of High School Partnerships, effective February 17 Elizabeth VanPortfliet, Associate Director of Veterans Services, effective February 24 Crystal Morris, Executive Director of Financial Aid, effective March 17 The searches for the next Dean of the School of Business and Industry, Dean of the School of Workforce Training, Dean of Students, Associate Dean of Advising and Student Support, and Associate Dean of STEM are currently underway. Many thanks to the screening committee co-chairs (Kristi Haik and Matheta Righa: Dean of the School of Business and Industry, Lisa Radak and Brian Hadley: Dean of the School of Workforce Training, Amanda Kruzona and David Selmon: Dean of Students, Dan Nyhof and Rachael Jungblut: Associate Dean of Advising and Student Support, and Kelley Phillips and Lauren Woolsey: Associate Dean of STEM) and committee members for their time and effort to support these searches! Safety reminder and invitation Please remember that College practice has been to close and lock classroom doors while classes are in session. Speaking of campus safety, I would also like to invite you to attend a Q&A session with me and Chief Whitman on Thursday, March 13 from 1-2 p.m. in SCC 234 (Multi-purpose Room). This will be an informal opportunity to drop in and ask any questions you may have about this topic. A calendar appointment will follow in the coming days. Simply accept the appointment so we can plan appropriately for space and refreshments. Chief Whitman is also available to join you in your departments and/or classes. She can be reached via email at rwhitman@grcc.edu . GRCC Get Help and GRCC CARES: What’s the difference? GRCC Get HELP is a webpage where students can find information on one or more resources to support meeting their basic needs, including emergency funding, emergency housing, food assistance, mental health resources and many more. GRCC Cares is a staff- and faculty-focused webpage and the network used to refer and connect students to resources such as Disability Support Services, Financial Aid, Occupational Support, Tutoring and many more, in addition to connecting students to areas when there are academic concerns. It is the system that kicks in behind the scenes when a referral is issued. For your students: Reminder about the Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE) On Monday, currently enrolled students who are 18 or older (students registered in our degree and clock hour certificate programs, excluding Early and Middle College students) received an email communication inviting them to complete the CCSSE. Please remind students that this is a legitimate communication and they are encouraged to complete the survey through February 28. Please contact Institutional Research at IR@grcc.edu if you have any questions. Did you know? GRCC’s newest Podcast: Together@GRCC If you haven’t yet heard, we have a new podcast! Together@GRCC is the biweekly podcast created for GRCC. Hosted by Dr. Ryan Nausieda, Communication Systems Specialist and Adjunct Faculty, each episode features interviews with our college community, highlighting the people and projects that make our campus thrive. You can find more information and all of the episodes here . The newest episode came out on February 6 and features Ashlee Mishler, the Promise Zone Director. Academic and Student Affairs (ASA) Council’s Above and Beyond Award As you may have read in GRCC Employee News, ASA Council awards a staff or faculty member the Above and Beyond Award each month. If you would like to nominate a GRCC colleague who has gone "above and beyond" in their role, please submit your nomination through this Google form , which can also be found on the ASA Council webpage . Please contact the Provost’s Office at provost@grcc.edu or x3920 with any questions. Reminders Faculty Special Assignments: The deadline to express interest via the Google Form is 5:00 p.m. today (Friday, Feb. 14). Please remember that this process is for new assignments. Current assignments that will continue into the 2025-26 academic year follow a different renewal process and faculty members currently serving in those roles do not need to complete an interest form. Please visit the Provost webpage for more information about these assignments. Events on Campus and GRCC Athletics: Don’t forget to visit the Events Calendar to learn more about all of the great events happening this month. The GRCC Raiders Athletics Calendar has all of the information about our Women’s and Men’s Basketball games this month. ASA Employee Climate Engagement Sessions: As announced by the People, Culture, and Equity Division, the next ASA sessions will be held on the following dates: Monday, February 24, 3:30-5 p.m. and Tuesday, March 4, 3:30-5:00 p.m. All sessions will be held in SCC 234 (Multi-purpose Room). Please note: these meetings are optional. If interested, choose one of the three meetings, as the content of each meeting will be the same. Looking ahead: Spring Break is almost here! This year’s mid-semester break begins Monday, February 24 and ends Sunday, March 2 (weekend classes meet February 22 and 23). I know many of our faculty members and students will be taking time away while everyone experiences a quieter week on campus. Regardless of how you spend spring break, I hope that you take time to rest and recharge as we prepare to finish the semester strong. The last few weeks have brought much to our minds. Please know that I greatly appreciate each of you and your time and dedication to our students, your colleagues, and our entire GRCC community. Best wishes and see you soon, Sheila

GRCC helps Andrew Balcer overcome school struggles

Feb. 17, 2025 Andrew Balcer loved to learn. But school…? No way. “I have dyslexia, so school wasn’t easy for me,” said Balcer, 28. “I was undiagnosed in my early years, so I couldn’t read until fourth grade when my parents got me some specialized tutoring.” After graduating from West Ottawa High School in his hometown of Holland, his dislike of formalized schooling persisted. Rather than college, Balcer worked and later traveled to Africa on a years-long mission trip. He returned home in 2020 right before the COVID-19 pandemic began and held a few odd jobs over the years. But he felt lost. “One day, I just realized I wanted to do something more,” he said. “I walked into (Grand Rapids Community College’s) Lakeshore Campus to get some information and enrolled the very same day.” Now in his final term at GRCC, Balcer embraces his college coursework. Always passionate about history, anthropology, philosophy and the humanities, he’ll graduate in May with a Humanities, English, Language, and Communication Studies Concentration Pathway degree. “Originally, I was going to study business because I needed to make money; a mindset very prevalent in the West and all over the world today,” he said. “But the more I thought about business, I realized I just couldn’t do it. So, I’ve settled on the humanities and I’m glad I did.” After graduating from GRCC, Balcer plans to continue studying history or philosophy at a four-year university. “There's a real need for people to pass down knowledge about the past and that's why I lean toward history, which can teach us so much,” he said. “I’m not sure yet whether that means being a professor myself or perhaps working in a museum as a curator or something along those lines.” Thanks to lower tuition rates at GRCC and Pell grants, Balcer is happy to be graduating debt-free this spring. He’s appreciated the convenience of attending most of his classes at GRCC’s Lakeshore Campus in Holland, rather than the Main Campus in downtown Grand Rapids. Most importantly, Balcer said he’s grateful to the GRCC professors who changed his outlook on formal schooling. “I looked at school as something that I couldn’t do until my professors helped me walk on my journey and showed me I can do this,” he said. “The vast majority of my professors went beyond my desires and needs, especially at the Lakeshore campus.” Balcer encourages other older students to give GRCC a try. “It’s never too late to go back,” he said. “GRCC is the right place for many people - including me.” This story was reported by Beth McKenna.

GRCC is a participant in the Michigan Hunger-Free Campus pilot program: Meal vouchers available for students

Please share that GRCC is offering an $11 meal credit that can be used at the following campus dining businesses: Sneden Cafe, Raider Grill, Quiet Cafe and Patatas. Students must apply by the end of the day on Sunday for the upcoming week. More information is found on the Michigan Hunger-Free Campus Program webpage. Please contact Student Life with any questions.

Center for Counseling and Well-Being offers student support groups

Beginning the week of Feb.17, the CCWB will be offering weekly student support groups for the remainder of the semester on Wednesdays from 4-5 p.m. and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in room 368 of the Student Center. The group's purpose is to provide students with a space to reflect on the changes happening in the world and how the social, political and cultural climate may be affecting them. All information about the group can be found on the CCWB's Student Support Group website. Please share this information with students. Questions? Contact us at (616) 234-4130.

Instructional Improvement & Professional Development (IIPD) Grant applications due March 7

The GRCC Grants Department is accepting applications for the IIPD Program. The purpose of the award is to support faculty professional development to ensure continued growth, develop new avenues of instruction and curriculum, and to enhance the professional lives of faculty for increased student learning, achievement and success. Awards are for amounts up to $5,000 and the deadline is March 7 at 4:30 p.m. Email Julie Blaszak if you need an application. Applications must include a signed Dean’s Approval form and Department Head Approval form, a budget form, and budget documentation. Please note that it’s important to allow enough time in your proposal preparation process to give your dean and department head a few days to read your completed application before approving your application. If you have any questions about IIPD grants, please contact Julie Blaszak. Good luck!

February's ASA Council Above & Beyond Award

Lisa Dopke is an exceptional director of Grant Development for GRCC. Her leadership and expertise have made a significant impact on our ability to secure funding to guide innovation in student success at GRCC. Lisa has a unique ability to navigate the complexities of the grant process with ease, making her an invaluable resource. She consistently provides insightful guidance on grant opportunities, best practices in grant writing and submission strategies, and ensures that each application is as strong as possible. Her attention to detail and commitment to excellence set a high standard for all those she works with. In addition to her technical expertise, Lisa’s collaborative approach fosters a sense of partnership. She is proactive in identifying funding opportunities that align with the college’s strategic goals and is always willing to offer support. Her ability to bring people together around shared goals has helped increase both the quality and quantity of our grant submissions. Perhaps most importantly, Lisa genuinely cares about the success of those she works with. She invests time in understanding the specific needs and objectives of each faculty member or team, tailoring her support to ensure they feel confident and empowered throughout the grant process. In short, Lisa Dopke’s combination of knowledge, leadership and dedication makes her an exceptional asset to GRCC. Her contributions have significantly enhanced our capacity to secure vital funding, which in turn fuels the innovation and student success at GRCC.

Dr. Mursalata Muhammad’s poem featured in new anthology, For Gaza’s Children

Dr. Mursalata Muhammad, an English professor at Grand Rapids Community College with 24 years of experience in higher education, is honored to announce the inclusion of her poem, BG , in the newly released anthology For Gaza’s Children , published by Third World Press Foundation. This collection is driven by the belief that children are the stewards of liberation. It foregrounds the moral imperative of investing in the safety, love, and justice of all children—including those in Gaza and Palestine—by placing their lives and conditions at the center of social, cultural and political discourse. The anthology contributes to the ongoing moment of radical resistance and revolutionary possibility through poetry, essays and personal narratives. Dr. Muhammad’s poem, BG , adds a vital perspective to this anthology, reflecting her lifelong commitment to literature, education and social justice. Her work and those of other contributors offer a powerful testament to resilience and the urgent need to protect children—our most beautiful legacies and most audacious freedom dreamers.

Recognition opportunity: Nominate a colleague for the Jerry Benham Award by March 2

The Student Life office is currently accepting nominations for the Jerry Benham award, which recognizes student organization advisors who have shown exceptional dedication to student activities on campus. This is a wonderful opportunity to recognize a colleague who has gone above and beyond to support our students. If you know someone who truly deserves this recognition, we encourage you to submit a nomination. Award Criteria: • Actively supports students • Acts as a mentor and role model for leadership development • Gives time and human resources selflessly • Is an advocate for students • Projects a positive attitude and image towards students and other GRCC community members • Develops and encourages students’ thoughts and ideas • Is not involved in student activities as a part of their job • Has not received this award in consecutive years Who comes to mind after reading through the criteria? Submit the Student Leadership Award Nomination Form by midnight on March 2, 2025. The recipient will be awarded at the Student Leadership Banquet on Thursday, March 20, and will also be recognized at this years All Employee Luncheon on Thursday, April 24. If you have any questions or need further details, feel free to reach out to the Student Life office!

Subscribe to