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Strategic Leadership Team: Recap of Our October 17 Meeting

Meeting Recap The following summarizes the highlights from our Friday, October 17 SLT meeting: Welcome and Update From Interim President Triezenberg Metrics Update presented by Amanda Kruzona SI Update - Goal 4/ Priority 2: Lakeshore Academic and Student Services Optimization presented by Cameron Buck and Jaqueline Araiza SI Update - Goal 4/ Priority 1: Strategic Enrollment and Retention Management Plan presented by Ann Isackson SI Update - Goal 3/Priority 2: Student Basic Needs & Wraparound Funding and Services presented by Valerie Hargraves Announcements Mascot voting has closed and results will likely be announced on Opening Day in January 2026.  There will be a complete character with a name and backstory. The first Data Summit, called Data Base Camp, will be held Nov. 17, 1-3 PM in Sneden.  Please consider attending. There will be an Academic and Student Affairs Open House on Nov. 11, 3-5 PM in the ATC Banquet rooms, 1st Floor.  All are welcome. Thank you to everyone who was able to stay to celebrate 1038 Students Enrolled at the Lakeshore Campus! Next Steps You can view the October 17  SLT October 2025 Meeting Slides and watch the recording of the  SLT 10-17-25 meeting .  Please share this  information with your department colleagues.  I am looking forward to learning more about the work and progress of the Strategic Initiative Teams. We have 4 presentations planned for our November meeting.  And, again, thank you for your continued support of our strategic planning work.

International Council of Professors of Educational Leadership’s (ICPEL) May 2026 Opportunity: Egypt Educational and Cultural Tour - Respond by Oct. 31

This trip,  May 19–29, 2026, is open to all educators and professionals who wish to learn about Egypt's educational system and experience the history, culture and learning opportunities the country has to offer. If you are curious about Egypt, love to travel or simply wish to join an inspiring group for a meaningful cultural adventure,  send an email ASAP or by October 31 to Dr. Nahed Abdelrahman  at Nahed.Abdelrahman@usm.edu Educational and Cultural Exchange Visit Cairo University and meet with the Faculty of Education and Leadership team. Tour a public elementary school in Hurghada and a traditional preschool campus (Kuttab). Cultural and Historical Exploration Explore a pottery and crafting school in Giza, connecting with local artisans. Discover the Giza Plateau, including the Great Pyramids, the Sphinx, Valley Temple and Saqqara. Tour the Grand Egyptian Museum and Old Town Cairo. Experience the beauty of Hurghada, a vibrant coastal city on the Red Sea. Explore Luxor East Bank: Karnak and Luxor Temples. West Bank: Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, and Colossi of Memnon. Enjoy an optional sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride over Luxor’s West Bank. Sail on a Nile River Cruise from Luxor to Aswan, visiting temples in Aswan and the magnificent Abu Simbel Temple. Trip Details and Registration The full cost $2093 per person (excluding airfare cost). Limited to 25 people. IMPORTANT Respond to this request ASAP to let us know if you’re interested. Make your deposit early - deposits determine who goes on the trip and we cannot hold spots. The itinerary is outlined in the attached document. Deposits will be accepted from November 1, 2025, through January 15, 2026. Payments will be made directly to The Daily Sun Travel Agency. (Payment details will be shared starting Nov. 1) To see the itinerary  click ICPEL Egypt Educational Tour . Please share with others.  

Save the Date for a Town Hall: Nov. 12!

Nov. 12   11 a.m. - noon  ATC Auditorium This is a great opportunity to hear from President Triezenberg and other college leaders as they share updates and insights on topics important to our campus community. And, maybe make plans to join your colleagues for lunch at Foodology after, right upstairs! If you are unable to attend in person, a virtual option is available at  Employee Town Hall 11-12-25 .  Also, if you work at the Lakeshore, you can gather with your colleagues and watch it in room 107.

GRCC Policies Reviewed/Updated September 2025

The new/revised policies have been added to the  College Policies   webpage.           15.2 Web Accessibility Policy Terminology and grammar corrections. Policy title updates. Role/title (additions and removal). Department names updated. Content expanded for clarity. Content added for process and expectations. 12.9 Facility and Grounds Use Policy Changed “primary purpose of education” to “educational mission”. Changed “contracts” to “rental agreements”. Entities Affected by this Policy Added “departments, organizations, leases, affiliated organizations. Removed GRCC Athletic and Student life organization. Changed “external organizations” to “external entities”. Added “Food and Beverage Policy” under related documents. 12.10 Furniture Policy Revised entities affected by policy. Revised who should read policy. Changed related documents to updated list. Changed list of contacts to reflect title/position changes on campus. Simplified furniture covered by policy. Changed language regarding ADA compliant furniture requests. Updated revision dates and policy history.

Aquinas College Expands Tuition Assurance Program — Opening New Opportunities for GRCC Transfer Students

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

New Professional Development Opportunities

We continue to look for other opportunities to share professional development opportunities to all employees. Be sure to check the online center to see when new courses arise and keep an eye on the HR Pulse newsletter to stay informed. We have new opportunities this year, brought to you by Thought Design. 2025 Navigating Change and Uncertainty: Nov. 25  2026 Navigating Change and Uncertainty: Jan.29 Communication Lab:  Jan.22 Productive Conflict and Candor: Feb. 24 Rethinking Feedback: March 19  

Employee Link Groups

What They Are Employee Link Groups  (aka, Affinity Groups) are voluntary, employee-led communities that bring faculty and staff together through shared interests, activities and passions. They help us connect across departments, build relationships and strengthen our sense of belonging at GRCC. Examples include: book clubs, walking groups, sustainability projects, volunteer activities or creative hobbies. How to Start a Group Submit a Proposal – Share your group idea. Approval – HR/People, Culture & Equity will review to ensure groups are inclusive, open to all and aligned with GRCC’s mission. Launch – Approved groups can start being promoted campus-wide! Guidelines Open to all faculty and staff Inclusive, respectful and non-commercial Centered on shared interests (not protected characteristics) Led by a Group Champion with support from a Campus Sponsor If you’re interested in starting an Employee Link Group, please contact talent_development@grcc.edu

Golden Year for GRCC Marketing: Seven Awards and a Rising Star Recognition

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.

Summer 2027 Study Away Proposal Deadline Nov. 1

Study Away Proposal Process For faculty wishing to submit a  Summer 2027   Pre-Proposal; they are due Friday, November 1.  Before submitting your pre-proposal, please take time to review the  Study Away Resources for Faculty webpage. This page is your go-to guide for developing a strong proposal that meets GRCC and national standards for study away programming. The Study Away proposal process is detailed and purposefully designed to ensure faculty success and student safety.  Webpage Support  Reviewing the webpage will help you understand: Faculty Eligibility & Standards -  Qualifications and expectations for faculty leaders and support persons, including prior travel experience, risk management, and student coordination. Curricular & Travel Standards - Requirements for aligning your course learning outcomes to the travel experience, contact hours, location limits, and trip length. Student Support & Collaboration Standards - Guidance on preparing students for travel, building partnerships with travel providers, and collaborating with internal departments. Step-by-Step Proposal Process - Submission deadlines, review stages, and links to all required forms and rubrics (Pre-Proposal, Full Proposal, and scoring rubrics). Example Proposal -  A complete sample of an approved study away course (“ American Cinema Genres: The Cinematic World of Harry Potter ”) to illustrate what a strong proposal looks like. Third-Party Provider Guidelines -  Instructions and tips for working with travel providers to build safe, affordable and educationally rich itineraries. Support Contact – information for  Sean Mackey , who provides one-on-one support for faculty developing proposals, vetting providers and preparing students for travel. Quick Timeline Nov 1 – Submit Pre-Proposal to your  Department Head/Program Director . Within 2 weeks – Meet with DH/PD for feedback and revision. Do the same process with your Dean. By Dec 1 – After Dean support, submit your final Pre-Proposal (with rubric feedback) to  Mike Schavey, Director of Experiential Learning . Mar 1 – Full Proposal due (includes itinerary, budget, logistics, and presentation). If you have questions or would like individualized support, please contact Mike Schavey (mschavey@grcc.edu).    

Lakeshore Campus Celebrates Milestone: 1,000 Students and Growing!

GRCC's Lakeshore Campus has reached a major milestone — surpassing 1,000 students enrolled for the first time since opening its doors in 2021. The celebration recognized the faculty, staff and partners who made this achievement possible and highlighted how this growth represents more than just numbers. Between Fall 2023 and Fall 2025, Lakeshore enrollment grew from 705 to 1,038 students, a 47% increase. The number of class enrollments jumped 57%, and credit hours rose more than 34%. Behind those numbers is a dedicated team that continues to expand programs, improve student experiences and meet community needs across Ottawa County. At the celebration, Executive Director Cameron Buck and President Steven Triezenberg praised the Lakeshore team for their innovation, flexibility and collaboration. The event also celebrated the hard work of the Lakeshore Campus team — from advisors and enrollment specialists to custodians, facilities staff and front-line employees — whose daily efforts make student success possible. Congratulations to the entire Lakeshore team and to everyone across the college who contributed to this remarkable achievement! Watch the  Lakeshore 1,000th Comments video on YouTube.
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