We’re excited to invite you to the upcoming Annual Student Leadership Awards Banquet, where we’ll recognize and celebrate the outstanding achievements of our student leaders.  Please join us in honoring their dedication and hard work. Thursday, March 20  5-9 p.m. Secchia Piazza, ATC RSVP on Raider Connect by March 10 We look forward to celebrating with you!

Please let your students know that applications for paid Student Leadership positions are now open!  Campus Activities Board and the Student Government is seeking new leadership for the 2025-2026 year.  This is a great opportunity to get involved, develop your leadership skills, and make a meaningful impact on campus. Apply by: Friday, March 28 Application Links: 2025 - 2026 Campus Activities Board Application   Student Government   We encourage all interested students to apply and become a part of our dynamic leadership team!

In an effort to share more insight into sustainability, we are excited to invite you to participate in the Community Colleges and Climate Futures Webinar Series, hosted by the Foundation for California Community Colleges. This series explores the vital role that community colleges play in climate adaptation and mitigation, focusing on empowering students, fostering sustainable economies and strengthening local ecosystems. You can join via Zoom from the comfort of your office! Upcoming Sessions Kickoff Webinar: February 25, 2025 (Recording available soon) April 8, 2025 June 17, 2025 August 12, 2025 PD Hours Available These free sessions can count towards professional development hours. To do so, you would self-report them in the Online Center using the Critical Thinking course code. Register on the Community Colleges and Climate Futures Webinar Series webpage Don’t miss out on this opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions and earn PD hours. If you have questions about the series, please contact Klaas Kwant at kkwant@grcc.edu

This is a friendly reminder that GRCC's Employee News is available daily for staff and faculty to stay informed about the latest updates, stories and opportunities at GRCC.  You can easily access Employee News in the following ways:  Directly on the website  grcc.edu/employee-news Through the Online Center Weekly email: click on the article links featured in the Friday distribution email However, if you wait for the weekly email, you may miss out on any last minute events that pop up during the week. Any event that is sent for posting after the Friday email, but happens before the next Friday email, will not get sent out in the email. It is only posted on the website. Stay connected and informed about everything happening at GRCC!

  Justin Colwell - faculty accompanist & Applied Music tutorial coordinator - will present a faculty recital at GRCC on Saturday, March 15 at 2 PM in the Linn Maxwell Keller Recital Hall in the Albert P. Smith Music Center. The recital hall is located on the second floor of the building. Admission is free. Justin will be collaborating with three friends, Dr. Letitia Jap, violin professor at GVSU; Carrie Brannen, cellist and GRCC alum; and Jon Marshall, guitar professor at GRCC, on music by Jennifer Higdon, Felix Mendelssohn and Florence Price!            

This session is at no charge and is open to students and the community. No registration is required. Thursday, March 20 1-2:15 p.m. Wisner-Bottrall Applied Technology Center Auditorium, Room 168 The topic titled 'Living with Adult ADHD: Challenges and Strengths' will be presented by speaker Dr. Priti Shah, Psychology department Chair from University of Michigan.  Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Though typically diagnosed in children, it is estimated to affect around 5-6% of adults in the United States. In this talk, Dr. Shah will discuss the causes, consequences, and treatment of ADHD. She will highlight her research in this domain, including work on the nature of distraction in ADHD, creativity and hyperfocus in ADHD, and the extent to which cognitive training might be effective. Questions? Contact Kate Christian at katechristian@grcc.edu Visit the  Psychology Department Speakers Series webpage for previous peaker videos.  

Institutional Research invites the campus community to a professional development session, “Insights into GRCC Strategic Plan Metrics,” on March 27 from 10:30 AM to noon.  This session is designed to enhance participants’ understanding of GRCC's strategic plan metrics through data literacy, while equipping them to make data-informed decisions and contribute to advancing the college's strategic initiatives. To register, please sign up through the Professional Development tile within your  Online Center  account. For any questions, email  IR@grcc.edu .

Wondering what to do with that old cell phone that is in your “junk drawer” or that home computer that no longer works or other e-waste that has accumulated?   Bring it to GRCC between Feb. 24 and March 25 and have it properly recycled!  For free - and tell your friends to bring theirs too!   GRCC is participating in the Electronics Recycling category through Campus Race to Zero Waste, along with the Per Capita Recycling category.   This 30 day electronic recycling competition encourages campus employees and students to recycle electronics.  All electronics must be brought to the GRCC downtown campus. Last year GRCC recycled over 12,000 pounds of electronics through Comprenew, a R2 (Responsible Recycling) and e-Stewards certified recycler.  That is 12,000 pounds of hazardous materials that otherwise may have ended up in landfills. If you have e-waste at home that you would like to bring to GRCC to recycle, call Media Technologies at (616) 234-3830 to make an appointment or email  media@grcc.edu .   In addition to offering appointments for drop offs, GRCC will offer drop off times on Friday, March 14 from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., noon to 1 p.m. and 5 to 6 p.m.  For drop off, pull up at the curb cutout under the pedestrian bridge and your electronics will be put on a cart and taken to the recycling area. For a list of electronic items that can be recycled go to  Electronic Recycling on Campus or  www.comprenew.org

Join the English department as we celebrate recently published creative writing (and recently completed MFA and PhD degrees in creative writing) by GRCC English department faculty. Event details Tuesday, March 25   6:30-8 p.m.   GRCC ATC Piazza A buffet of snacks and beverages will be served. 6:15 p.m. - Time to mingle and visit the buffet table. 6:30 p.m. - Readings begin, featuring five GRCC faculty writers, listed below. 7:15 p.m. - Q & A with authors: On Writing and a Writer’s Education. After sharing their work, faculty readers will discuss their writing as well as the education and life of a writer.  Featured poetry and prose authors Alyssa Jewell – Poetry Maryann Lesert – Fiction Rachel Lutwick-Deaner – Creative Nonfiction Mursalata Muhammad – Poetry & Creative Nonfiction Geoff Peck - Fiction This event is sponsored by the GRCC English department and Transfer Bridges to the Humanities, U-M. For author information visit the English Department Spring Reading webpage.  

Last fall, we announced a new partnership with Junior Achievement, and now we’re excited to offer GRCC employees a unique volunteer opportunity at BizTown on Wednesday, March 5.  BizTown is a simulated town where fifth and sixth grade students immerse themselves in a full-day, hands-on experience focused on financial literacy, career exploration and understanding how communities grow and thrive. GRCC proudly has its own storefront in BizTown, alongside several other local businesses. As a volunteer, you’ll play a key role in guiding students through this dynamic learning experience. Volunteers will be assigned to a specific storefront on the day of the event, helping to bring the BizTown experience to life.  Spots are still open! Event details Date:    Wednesday, March 5 Time:    9:45 a.m. - Volunteer Arrival              10-11 a.m. - Volunteer Training              11-3 p.m. - Volunteer* Where: Huizenga Family JA Free Enterprise Center              4090 Lake Drive SE              Grand Rapids, MI 49546 Attire:   Show your GRCC spirit and wear GRCC attire. *There will be a break for lunch. Please bring a water bottle and sack lunch or snack with you. How to volunteer First, get approval from your supervisor to ensure appropriate office coverage, etc. Register to volunteer by using Junior Achievement’s  volunteer form . You will be prompted to create an account prior to signing up. Review and sign the  Junior Achievement volunteer release form  and bring it with you on March 5. Fill out GRCC’s  Application for Leave of Absence  form indicating “ community service leave”.  The Leave of Absence form must be approved by your supervisor before March 5. To report this time on your timesheet, please indicate the hours you volunteered in the (CF) column on the paybook form and include  “community service leave”  in the note’s column.  Professional development hours PMA and APSS employees may record up to five hours of professional development for wellness activities, volunteering or community board/involvement related to GRCC work. So, APSS and PMA employees can count this toward PD hours if they haven't already recorded five hours for any of the above activities. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Anne Momany at annemomany@grcc.edu