Holiday Closure: GRCC will be closed Monday, Sept. 7.

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Mid-Summer Provost Update

I hope this message finds you well and enjoying a well-deserved break or productive summer season.  As we move through the summer weeks, I wanted to take a moment to provide several updates and offer my gratitude for all you do to support our students and advance the College’s mission.   Teaching, Learning, and Distance Education (TLDE) Resources: Canvas Transition As you prepare for the upcoming semester, please refer to the  Course Resource Guide  sent by TLDE for an explanation of the course blueprint and to this  Knowledge Base article  for step-by-step directions for moving content into your Fall 2025 courses.  Live support from Canvas is also now available 24/7 in your Canvas Global Navigation menu by selecting Help.   Leadership Position Updates Please see the recent leadership updates document for more information on recent leadership updates in Academic and Student Affairs, including the following transitions: Dr. D’Wayne Jenkins, Dean of Student Affairs, joined GRCC on June 9 David Lovell - Associate Director of Institutional Research, started this new role on June 9 Jonathan Marshall - Interim Associate Dean of Liberal Arts, started this interim role on June 16 Dr. Wesley Fox - Dean of Business & Industry, joining GRCC on August 4 Announcement: College Success Center Earlier this week, Associate Provost Isackson and I met with the College Success Center and Academic Advising teams to provide an update on the work of our Academic Advising Council and next steps that have been identified that will impact the work of academic advising and student support campus-wide. College leadership has participated in conversations over the last few months with various key stakeholders, including the Faculty Association, regarding how to implement necessary changes to best support students and academic advising work at the College, as well as address high advising caseload numbers. With these conversations in mind and guided by input from the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) and the Academic Advising Council’s work to date, we have decided to move forward with some organizational changes that we feel will: Address an area of greatest need, which is serving students through advising Advance the goal of providing holistic advising and support to students Create more manageable advisor caseloads Reduce overlap of programming and student support initiatives, and Build upon the strong holistic student support work that has been happening within the College Success Center To accomplish this, we’ve made the difficult decision to close the College Success Center. The positions currently aligned with it will be used to create new positions within Academic and Student Affairs. Compensation lines currently associated with College Success Center Coach and Associate Director roles will be used, along with funding from an open faculty line, to create six new academic advising positions within the Academic Advising & Transfer Center. Each Success Coach and the Associate Director have been offered a one-year Temporary Full-time Academic Advisor position in our Academic Advising & Transfer Center. To ensure that Temporary Full-time Academic Advisors will be successful, all will participate in New Faculty Institute and new advisor onboarding. Those interested in continuing work as Academic Advisors after one year will need to participate in a competitive external search process for consideration in keeping with our long-standing faculty search practices. These positions will be posted in Spring 2026. Amy Huntington, Associate Dean of Advising and Student Support, will be working with Lynnae Selberg, Academic Advising & Transfer Center Department Head, to assign caseloads soon and will coordinate with others in Student Affairs to help ensure a smooth transition for students. The effective start date for these positions will be August 18. Marisol Blanco, the College Success Center Director, has been offered an opportunity to serve as Interim Associate Dean of Strategic Outreach for one year. This AD role will report to David Selmon, Dean of Strategic Outreach, and will supervise adjunct faculty members in support of adult education offerings, as well as help coordinate our updated Bridges to College programming. Should she be interested in continuing in this role after one year, she, too, will need to participate in a competitive search process for consideration during Spring 2026. College Success Center Support Professional Sondra Davis’ responsibilities will be shifted to provide administrative support for Student Retention Services. This position will report to Denise Jones, Coordinator of Student Retention, and work closely with the team reporting to our new Dean of Students, D’Wayne Jenkins. Jose Mora, the New Student Orientation Coordinator, and his team will transition back to Lori Cook’s oversight in her role as Executive Director of Enrollment Services.  Final details about these opportunities and changes, including next steps for implementation and communications to students served by the College Success Center are being finalized and will be shared with those stakeholders soon. Please know that throughout this process, we have thought very carefully, not just about how to advance GRCC’s academic advising model, but also how we might best support highly skilled and dedicated GRCC employees and offer a potential pathway toward continued professional growth. We understand that there are questions about this change.  Associate Provost Isackson has communicated with Student Affairs and shared office hour times to provide support.  Additionally, we are hosting two informal Q&A sessions. One session will take place on Thursday, July 24 from 3:30 to 4 p.m. and another on Friday, July 25 from 12:30 – 1  p.m. These sessions will be held in person in the ATC auditorium (ATC 168).  Virtual attendance option will also be available for each session, as follows: July 24 Q&A session virtual option link:  https://grcc.zoom.us/j/93876512532 July 25 Q&A session virtual option link:  https://grcc.zoom.us/j/96677454925 Opportunity for Adjunct Faculty: Teaching & Learning Cohort To build upon and continue the efforts of the cohort of full-time faculty members who participated in this past year’s Achieving the Dream Teaching and Learning Cohort, I am excited to announce an opportunity for two adjunct faculty members to participate in this work via a special assignment offer of one equated hour in the fall 2025 semester and one equated hour in the winter 2026 semester.  In connection with ongoing efforts outlined in the College’s Strategic Plan, the intended outcomes for the cohort this year include developing a toolkit to support diversity in curricular and co-curricular content as well as a community of practice model for equity-related professional learning.  Please complete the  Interest Form: Adjunct Faculty Special Assignment  form by Thursday, July 31 if you are interested in this opportunity.   Opening Day: Wednesday, August 20 We look forward to welcoming our campus community to this academic year’s Opening Day on Wednesday, August 20th with the following planned: Continental breakfast available from 7:45 - 8:15 a.m., Ford Fieldhouse Program begins at 8:15am, Ford Fieldhouse School and Division meetings will immediately follow the program in the locations below: School of Liberal Arts - Secchia Piazza School of Health Sciences - ATC 120 School of STEM - FFH 212 School of Business and Industry - ATC 168 School of Workforce Training - RJF 375 Student Affairs - SCC 234 Instructional Support and Institutional Planning - ATC 122/124 Please note: if your area is not listed above, please check with your supervisor about Opening Day plans. Lunch is provided by the President’s and Provost’s Offices from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. in  the Ford Fieldhouse. Please be sure to RSVP to your calendar appointment so we can plan appropriately. Tours of the new Rec Center in the Ford Fieldhouse will be available during lunch. Looking Ahead: Fall Enrollment and Upcoming Events Fall planning is well underway, and I’m excited for what’s ahead.  Following our strong summer enrollment numbers, our fall picture is looking great too.  As of this past Monday (July 14), six weeks prior to the Fall 2025 semester start, we are at 68.30% of our enrollment goal, which has been set to 12,800 students.  As a level of comparison, we were at 66.61% of our goal at this time last year for Fall 2024. Please note: we still have some enrollment initiatives that have yet to ramp up, including Middle College. See the  fall weekly enrollment scoreboard  sheet.   In addition to Opening Day, please save the date for the following fall start events:  Student Block Party - Saturday, August 23, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., Ford Fieldhouse The Student Block Party is an opportunity for students to familiarize themselves with the campus. Students can interact with various departments, faculty, and staff members, connect with student clubs and organizations, explore parking options, obtain their Raider Card, purchase books, take a guided tour, locate their classrooms, and even grab some GRCC swag and delicious food. Departments are encouraged to host tables, providing information and answering students' questions, and the Enrollment Services team is seeking staff to participate and assist at the event as well. Please RSVP to the block party using the 2025 Block Party Sign-Up: Departments and Event Staffing form and contact Lori Cook with questions. Information Stations - Monday-Wednesday, August 25-27, Various Campus Locations In Closing: Thank You Whether you are spending this summer teaching, working, building courses in Canvas, resting and recharging, or traveling, please know how much your work matters. Our students thrive because of your dedication, and I am continually inspired by your commitment to their success as well as your care and dedication to your colleagues. Best wishes for the remaining summer weeks and see you soon! Sheila Jones

Ohana Hawaiian Ice is Back on Campus Next Week!

Join us for a sweet treat as we cool down from the summer heatwave!  July 23 Main Campus: 11:15 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. (South Courtyard - Juan Olivarez Plaza)  DeVos Campus: 2 – 4 p.m. (Admin Building parking lot)  July 24 MTEC: 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. (near front entrance)  Free for GRCC Employees:  Check out the flavors!  Please mark your calendars and spread the word. We can’t wait to see you there!  Sponsored by Human Resources To see other upcoming events, please be sure to subscribe to the  Employee Events Calendar  

GRCC Grad Dallas Hansen Returns with a New Focus: Artificial Intelligence (AI)

July 17, 2025 GRCC graduate Dallas Hansen is diving headfirst into the world of AI, with his eyes toward working in the science field. A recent GRCC graduate, Dallas returned to college for a second time to explore courses in Computer Information Systems and Artificial Intelligence (AI). It was a move driven by curiosity and a desire to build something new — and it paid off. Jonnathan Resendiz , Assistant Professor at the Computer Information Systems Department and the Faculty Director of the AI Incubator, saw the potential in Dallas and recommended him for an internship at Kyros Digital. Dallas started his internship in June and felt confident stepping into the role. “The work I’m doing now is very similar to what I was doing in class,” Hansen said. “What surprised me a little bit was how experimental this field still is. There are so many modeling tools, and we have to figure out which one to use with every job. I was expecting it to be a lot more concrete, but this is actually more like a playground where you get to try different things.” Though it might seem like a leap, Dallas’s interest in AI has roots in his original academic path. “The first time through GRCC, I was interested in chemical engineering,” Hansen said. “There are a lot of similarities between that and computer science. With both disciplines, you need to understand the core mechanics. Then you can experiment to find answers and solve problems. Computer science is different, however, because you can see the results of your tests right away.” Now, Dallas is focused on where AI can go next — especially in the field that intersect with science and innovation. “I think it’s fascinating to try and mimic the human mind,” Hansen said. “I’ve been working with large language models in my internship as I write code for conversational AI. For example, I’ve written code to make outbound calls for scheduling appointments, and for helping people obtain product information. The human mind is so complex, and for AI, language is a guessing game. It looks at a word and guesses the probability of what the next word could be. I like to say that it hallucinates, because sometimes it guesses wrong! The better job the person does of prompting the AI with concrete questions, the better job it can do of answering. I love the troubleshooting and debugging that goes into creating the right flow and producing correct answers.” While the conversational language AI models are interesting, for Dallas, the real draw of AI comes from its potential in the sciences. That’s where he also hopes to leverage his chemical engineering skills. “AI is a fantastic tool when you are working with a lot of data,” Hansen said. “It allows you to hyper-focus on very specific tasks. For example, people are creating models that decode proteins in order to figure out how to decompose plastics. That depth and level of work would be impossible to do without AI. I want to train and model AI to solve problems like this.” Dallas intends to leverage what he learned at GRCC into a four-year degree from the University of Michigan. “I found out about the Go Blue Guarantee , which provides free tuition to in-state students,” Hansen said. “I went back to GRCC using the Michigan Reconnect program to pay for my tuition. I got the basics here so I can transfer to the University of Michigan School of Information. I wasn’t accepted this year, but I’m planning to try again. Or, if this internship turns into a job, I may consider further schooling online. But either way, I’m excited about what I can do in the future with what I’ve learned.” Learn more about the Computer Information Systems Pathway or the Artificial Intelligence Certificate . This story reported by Julie Hordyk

Join the Cultural Connections 365 Committee!

Are you passionate about celebrating cultural diversity and creating inclusive spaces at GRCC?  We're inviting students, faculty and staff to join the  Cultural Connections 365 Committee,  a collaborative group dedicated to planning, coordinating and supporting heritage observances and cultural awareness initiatives throughout the year. Help us celebrate the richness of our diverse community by sharing your voice, ideas and creativity as we work together to educate, uplift and build meaningful connections across campus.  Folks can join all year round, so sign up today to get involved!  Cultural Connections 365 "Heritage Awareness & Celebration" Committee Sign-Up   Any questions, please email  WCIMA@GRCC.EDU

GRCC Alumnus Garret Fox Wins Silver at 2025 World Beer Cup

July 15, 2025 It’s not every day a 21-year old brewer takes home an international award. But, on May 1, 2025, Archival Brewing’s head brewer, Garret Fox, did just that — earning a Silver Award in the Historical Beer Category at the World Beer Cup, one of the most prestigious competitions in the craft brewing industry. Fox, a graduate of Grand Rapids Community College’s craft brewing program , is one of the youngest brewers to medal at the global event. The award-winning beer, Aegir’s Wreath, stood out for its adherence to historical brewing techniques and distinct flavor.  A Foundation Built at GRCC Fox’s brewing journey began at GRCC, where hands-on learning and real-world experience are central to the craft brewing program. “GRCC really introduced me to the community quickly,” Fox said. “We toured a lot of breweries during the program. It was very hands-on.”  Every student in the program is required to intern at a local brewery. That’s how Fox began working with Levi and Callee Knoll, owners of Archival Brewing and alumni of GRCC’s Secchia Institute for Culinary Education .  “We got really lucky when we met Garret,” said Levi Knoll. “He has an incredible drive and skillset. His knowledge for craft beer and the brewing process, along with his ability to learn quickly, is a winning combination. He has an amazing work ethic to go along with it all.” The Recipe for Success   Aegir’s Wreath was part of Archival Brewing’s opening lineup — but it didn’t win over every brewer. “Our brewer at the time hated it,” Levi said, laughing. “But it was a popular beer, so we kept it on the menu. Garrett is the only one who can brew it consistently. He’s the reason we took home silver.”   While the Knolls created the recipe, they credit Fox with executing it to perfection. “Recipes are one thing,” Levi said. “Knowing the technique and having the skill set to execute the recipe is an entirely different thing. I can hand the same recipe to 30 different brewers and you’ll get 30 different beers.”  Fox credits his early success to his education at GRCC.  “The program was very beneficial,” he said. “GRCC gets us into the brewery as quickly as possible. They make sure we’re hitting our temperatures and know what we’re doing overall. Once I took over and started brewing, I felt like I had all the experience I needed to succeed. I felt confident brewing beer.”  Brewing Tradition, Honoring History Aegir’s Wreath takes up to 10 hours to brew and demands a patient mind, a diligent approach and historical knowledge.  “You just have to know, with this particular beer, it’s going to be a long day,” Fox said. “If you diligently go through the steps of the recipe, stay patient and know it’s going to come out, you’ll have a great beer at the end of it.” The beer is inspired by Scandinavian brewing traditions. Aegir, a figure from Norse mythology, is a sea giant associated with brewing. The “wreath” refers to a kveik ring —  yeast-preserving tool passed down through generations. “There is a wide history in how beer was brewed,” said Callee Knoll. “It was actually the women who used to brew it. They were the foragers and did the work while the men were out hunting. Putting together the name Aegir’s Wreath helped us tell the story of the beer. We felt it captured the history of it all.”  Raising a Glass to the Future Levi and Callee started Archival Brewing in their garage, driven by a love for traditional brewing methods and storytelling through beer. Today, that passion is paying off. Not just in awards, but in the rising talent of brewers like Fox.  In a community that thrives on coming together and supporting one another, it only makes sense that a beer celebrating that same sentiment would be recognized on a world stage. The next time you visit Archival Brewing in Belmont, Michigan, order a pour of Aegir’s Wreath. Not only will you be sipping on an award-winning beer, you’ll be part of a legacy carried forward by one of the craft brewing industry’s rising stars. Learn more about Archival Brewing in Belmont, MI. This story was reported by Anjula Caldwell  
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