GRCC Players 2022-2023 Season
Student employment on campus offers competitive wages, flexible schedules, great experiences
Karissa Ferry has a busy schedule, staying on top of her Grand Rapids Community College studies while playing basketball and volleyball and trying to earn money for expenses.
But as a student employee in the Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse, Ferry is able to take advantage of flexible scheduling around activities and classes.
“This is the best job I’ve ever had,” she said as she helped people check into the GRCC Fitness Center. “I’m on campus a lot anyway. This has been a great way to make money between going to class and playing sports — and the people are really nice.”
GRCC has a variety of student employment opportunities during the school year, and about a dozen to be filled during the summer semesters. Students can work in roles including office assistants, lifeguards, and orientation ambassadors, and in offices including Student Services, Student Life, Facilities and the Academic Advising and Outreach Center.
A full list of available jobs is available online.
Christopher Allen, associate director of Student Employment Services, said GRCC recently increased student wages to $12.50 an hour, competitive with many off-campus summer jobs.
“Student employee positions are a fantastic way for students to develop valuable work skills and experience while taking advantage of convenient and flexible scheduling,” Allen said. “Students can build their resumes while getting to know people and places on campus, all while earning money to cover expenses.”
Student Employment Services can help with questions about campus jobs as well as provide tips on resumes and interviewing. The office is located on the second floor of Steven C. Ender Hall, 455 E. Fulton St. Students can contact the office at ses@grcc.edu and (616) 234-4170.
Internet Explorer- End of life
Beginning June 15, 2022, Microsoft will be retiring Internet Explorer.
If you are still using Internet Explorer as your default browser, please switch to another browser such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Microsoft Edge.
We have a helpful knowledge base article to assist you.
Any applications or sites that are traditionally only accessible in Internet Explorer can be opened in Microsoft Edge using the Compatibility Mode feature.
If you use Internet Explorer for linking documents, you may now use any browser to complete this function.
If you have any questions about this change, we encourage you to reach out to the IT Support Desk at 616-234-4357 or by visiting our Customer Support Portal at supportdesk.grcc.edu to submit a ticket.
New benefit makes internet free for many Michigan families
Today’s announcement of partnerships with internet providers plus a $30/month subsidy for high-speed internet makes it free, or nearly free, for a large portion of Michigan families. The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a U.S. government program run by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to help low-income households pay for internet service and connected devices like a laptop or tablet.
You are likely eligible for the ACP if your household’s income is below 200% of the Federal Poverty Line, or if you or someone you live with currently receives a government benefit like SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, WIC, Pell Grant, or Free and Reduced-Price Lunch. If your household is eligible, you could receive:
- Up to a $30/month discount on your internet service
- Up to a $75/month discount if your household is on qualifying Tribal lands
- A one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer (with a co-payment of more than $10 but less than $50)
- A low cost service plan that may be fully covered through the ACP
Today, several internet providers, including AT&T, Charter-Spectrum, Comcast-Xfinity, Frontier, WOW!, Verizon, and more, have announced high-speed internet plans for $30/month or less. If you apply your ACP benefit to one of these plans, you will have no out-of-pocket cost for your household internet.
Go to GETINTERNET.GOV to learn more.
Wellness Champions: Disposing of unused medications in a safe way
Expired or unwanted medicines can be dangerous, but the Grand Rapids Community College Police Department can help you get rid of them.
Be a champion! GRCC is helping students and employees focus on all areas of health and wellness as we emerge together from the pandemic.
Wellness is a full integration of physical, mental and spiritual health. That includes physical health, but so much more. During the next year we’re also looking at emotional, intellectual, social, spiritual, environmental and occupational health, and how we all can work to help ourselves and each other.
There are many resources at GRCC to help all of these types of wellness. Each week, we’ll introduce you to people and places here on campus ready to support you on your wellness journey.
This Saturday, April 30, is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
America’s substance misuse crisis is a public safety and public health emergency that threatens the well-being of individuals who misuse drugs as well as their families, communities, and, ultimately, the nation.
A secure drop box has been installed at Campus Police headquarters, 25 Lyon St. NE, where you can anonymously drop off unneeded and expired prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, supplements, pet medicine and medicated ointments and lotions. Collected items will be incinerated.
GRCC’s Student Life office funded installation of the drop box in 2018. Before bringing your medicine to the drop box, block out all identifying personal information on the prescription — but do not remove the name of the medication. Medications can be packaged together in small baggies for disposal.
The SafeMeds drop box can be used by GRCC staff and students — and anyone in the community. It is for residential medications only and cannot be used by businesses and pharmacies.
Supporting the field in addressing this epidemic is one of the U.S. Department of Justice’s top priorities and, at the center of this response, is the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Program.
Tech Tips: Microsoft Windows and Office license notifications
As we continue working remotely, Information Technology would like to bring to your attention a notification that you may see in the coming days or weeks on your campus provided computer from Microsoft Windows or Microsoft Office Suite notifying you that the license may expire soon.
Don’t worry if you see this message. You won’t see any loss of functionality for quite some time, but you will still need to get the license validated.
If you are a student utilizing the loaner laptop program, you will simply need to swap your loaner at the library.
If you are a staff/faculty, you can validate your license by simply stopping by a GRCC building, restarting your device, and connecting to our Secure wireless network for a minimum of 15 minutes will revalidate your license automatically.
If you need to come into a campus building, please make sure to follow any posted COVID protocols.
If you have a suggestion or a Technology Tip you think can be useful, you can submit them by emailing techtips@grcc.edu
Commencement 2022: in person and virtual
Grand Rapids Community College is offering commencement in two sessions to provide students with a safe, in-person celebration. Both ceremonies will be held in the Ford Fieldhouse.
The School of Arts & Science ceremony will be held at 4:30 PM, and the doors will open at 3:30 PM.
The School of Workforce Development ceremony will be held at 7:30 PM, and the doors will open at 6:30 PM.
Students’ loved ones unable to attend can watch the ceremonies LIVE.
School of Arts & Science @ 4 p.m.
School of Workforce @ 7 p.m.
See you there!
Language Arts Online Tutorial Lab: The lab will be open this and next weekend
The Language Arts Lab will be open via Zoom the next two weekends to support you as you complete your final essays and portfolios. If you are taking a Spanish class, a tutor will be available to work with you on Sundays. See the schedule below for dates and times.
Saturday 4/16: 12pm-3pm
Sunday 4/17: 6pm-9pm (Spanish tutoring available)
Saturday 4/23: 12pm-3pm
Sunday 4/24: 6pm-9pm (Spanish tutoring available)
Weekend tutoring is via Zoom only–we will not be open on campus. The Zoom link can be found in Blackboard.
Please reach out to the lab at (616) 234-4244 or email mariamckee@grcc.edu if you have questions or any trouble connecting with us.
We look forward to working with you!
-Language Arts Lab
Road Closure starts Monday, April 18
| STREET NAME | Lyon St NE and Ransom Ave NE |
| WHERE | Lyon St: Claremont Pl to Ransom Ave. Ransom Ave: Lyon St and Crescent St. |
| DESCRIPTION OF WORK | Long-term project to redevelop Spectrum parking ramp on north side of Lyon between Barclay and Ransom. |
| CLOSURE TYPE | In Phase 1, close the northern Lyon curb lane and maintain southern lane. Close and detour northbound Ransom along site, southbound will remain open. |
| DETOUR ROUTE | Northbound Ransom: Lyon to Bostick to Crescent |
| START | Monday, April 18, 2022 – 7:00 AM |
| END | Monday, August 8, 2022 – 4:00 PM |
| CONTACT NAME | Eric Olson |
| CONTACT COMPANY | eric.olson@pioneerinc.com |
| CONTACT NUMBER OR EMAIL | Pioneer Construction |
International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV)
The world observes Transgender Day of Visibility each March 31 to raise awareness about transgender people.
“Trans Day of Visibility is a day specifically to celebrate trans people’s lives and joys, not as struggles, but as triumphs as something to be happy about, to be proud of, to stand up and say that we are here, we are happy, we’re part of our community and our lives are important. That our lives are worthy and we should be celebrated,” said Olivia Hunt of the National Center for Transgender Equality.
LGBTQ+ Inclusive Fundamentals Team celebrates this day of visibility with an employee profile.
Phoenix Noelle (they/she), a trans-woman veteran, is a technician in the Technical Operations Department and a co-champion for CAP 3.4, the LGBTQ+ Inclusive Fundamentals Team.
They grew up at GRCC spending time exploring the Wisner-Bottrall Applied Technology Center while their mother worked in the open computer lab, and now they work from the ATC maintaining and repairing equipment spread out over all of GRCC’s campuses.
She is especially thankful for the family atmosphere at GRCC and looks forward to spending many more years building ever-deepening friendships here.
Phoenix appreciates everyone who has fought to build an LGBTQ+ inclusive community at GRCC and the greater Grand Rapids area.
“I hope everyone here at GRCC feels comfortable as their authentic self, and want all LGBTQ+ folks to know they are not alone,” Noelle said. “We have a growing community of support and invite anyone who feels comfortable doing so to stand up and stand out in whatever way you are able.”
The team encourages other trans people to be visible by displaying a Pride flag or wearing a pin, sticker or t-shirt.
The LGBTQ+ Inclusive Fundamentals Team, CAP 3.4, is dedicated to support GRCC’s greater commitment to equity and GRCC’s values of diversity, innovation, respect, and responsiveness by providing resources that highlight and celebrate trans people and their contributions.
In support of this day, the GRCC Library has a display that provides information about the richness and diverseness of our transgender community. The display will be up for approximately three weeks.
The CAP also wants to highlight community advocates and partners: Grand Rapids Pride Center, StandOut, United Campus Christian Fellowship, and Grand Rapids Trans Foundation.
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