Oct. 24, 2026 Grand Rapids Community College students planning to continue their education at Aquinas College will soon have access to expanded financial support that can make completing a bachelor’s degree more affordable than ever. Starting in January 2026, Aquinas College will extend its Aquinas Assurance Program — which already provides eligible first-year students from low-income families with full tuition, including mandatory fees — to include transfer students. This expansion means GRCC students who meet eligibility criteria can complete their associate degree here, then transfer to Aquinas to finish their bachelor’s degree with their remaining tuition fully covered. What This Means for GRCC Students Aquinas’ updated policy allows students to transfer up to 90 community college credits toward a bachelor’s degree, significantly reducing time and cost to graduation. With 120 credits required to earn an Aquinas bachelor’s degree, qualified students could need as few as 30 additional credits to finish, often just one more year of study. For many GRCC students balancing work, family and other commitments, this makes a four-year degree a more realistic and attainable goal. A Strong Transfer Partnership GRCC maintains strong partnerships with many four-year institutions, and this expansion further strengthens the relationship with Aquinas College. It gives GRCC students a clear, affordable path to completing their bachelor’s degree close to home while continuing to benefit from the supportive, community-based environment they’ve experienced at GRCC. Students interested in learning more about transferring to Aquinas and exploring financial aid options can visit  grcc.edu/transfer . This article was originally published by  Aquinas College

Oct. 22, 2025 The Grand Rapids Community College Marketing and Communications team has once again been recognized for excellence in higher education marketing, earning seven Medallion awards — including four Gold — from the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR). NCMPR celebrates outstanding achievement in marketing and public relations among two-year community and technical colleges across the United States. GRCC competed in the District 3 Medallion Awards, which includes colleges from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin and Ontario, Canada. Nearly 500 entries were submitted in this year’s competition. Gold Medallion Awards 2023-24 Foundation Annual Report: Marking the fifth consecutive year GRCC has received Gold for this publication which highlights the Foundation’s impact on students, employees, alumni and the community. GRCC Instagram Page (@GrandRapidsCC):  Recognized for creative, authentic and engaging storytelling that connects students, alumni and the broader community. “Read Your Emails” Social Media Video (also known as “Stop Ignoring Ryan”):  Honored for humor and creativity in delivering an important campus communication message. GRCC Storefront in Junior Achievement’s BizTown:  Praised for creative design and strong community engagement representing the college’s brand to young learners. Spectrum Theater 2024-25 Season Poster Series:  Celebrated for outstanding visual design that captures the spirit of GRCC’s theater arts program. Silver Medallion Awards 2025 Commencement Program:  Recognized for design excellence and the ability to convey the celebration and significance of commencement in print form. Together @ GRCC Podcast:  Honored for its storytelling and authentic campus voices that build connection and community across GRCC. Rising Star Recognition GRCC’s success at the 2025 District 3 Conference also included a special individual honor: Social Media Coordinator Kailee Potgeter received the District 3 Rising Star Award, recognizing her as one of the most promising new professionals in community college marketing and communications. Since joining GRCC in 2022 as the college’s first social media coordinator, Kailee has transformed GRCC’s digital presence, leading campaigns that earned both Paragon and Medallion Gold Awards at the national level. She expanded GRCC’s footprint to platforms like TikTok and YouTube Shorts, built a cross-campus network of trained social media contributors and developed data-informed strategies that strengthened both engagement and brand alignment. A community college graduate herself, Kailee brings empathy, creativity and a student-centered mindset to her work. Her peers and supervisors alike recognize her as a collaborative leader, innovative strategist and passionate advocate for community college students.