New Online Courses Approved for Development

The Distance Learning and Instructional Technologies Department would like to thank the following faculty and departments for submitting and receiving Deans Council Approval to begin development of the following courses:

Paul Phifer | Counseling Dept./CLS | CLS 101 – Career Decision Making

Aimee Pawlowski | English | EN 249 – Technical Writing

Doug Wiersma | Construction Trades

• ELEC 010 – Electrical
• ELEC 020 – Electrical 2
• ELEC 030 – Electrical 3
• ELEC 040 – Electrical 4

Colette Smiley | Dental Auxiliary Programs | DAA112 – Science for the Dental Assistant

Ray Hinkle | AR-Mechanical and Architectural Design | AR 108 – Residential Building Codes

Visit www.grcc.edu/classfinder for more information on these new online courses.

New Features for the GRCC Mobile App – Student Developers Wanted to Contribute to Future Versions

GRCC has its own mobile app built by Professor Szymon Machajewski in the Computer Applications Department with help from GRCC students.

Check out this video explaining some of the latest improvements.

If you’re a student in Computer Applications or Telecommunications and would be interested in getting some hands-on experience working on the app – contact Professor Machajewski.

Vegetarian and Vegan Cuisine Plus a Chance to win Prizes

Join Campus Dining during Welcome Week for daily Vegan and Vegetarian specials and sign up for Facebook in The Raider Grille to for a chance to win free stuff!

Mathematics Seminar – Buddha Loves Geometry 1/25/12

The Grand Rapids Community College Mathematics Department will be hosting its next monthly Mathematics Seminar on Wednesday, January 25, 3:00 – 4:00 PM in 111 Cook. Our speaker will be GRCC Adjunct Mathematics Instructor Wayne Hsieh. The title and abstract of Wayne’s talk may be found below.

This talk should accessible to anyone with some knowledge of algebra and geometry. As always, anyone from the greater GRCC community is welcome.

Pop and cookies will be served at 2:45 PM.

Buddha loves geometry… at least according to Japanese?

Sangaku (or San Gaku) are Japanese geometric puzzles carved on wood tablets that are used as offerings at Shinto shrines or Buddhist temples. The puzzles consist of circles and triangles utilizing concepts from Euclidean geometry, and they typically ask the solver to find the relationship between the circles and triangles.  In this particular Sangaku, we will be looking at three circles placed inside a particular right triangle, and will investigate the radii and areas of the circles.

26th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Peace March and Celebration Program

On January 16, 2012 we invite you to participate in our 26th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Peace March and Celebration Program. The peace march will begin at the Ford Fieldhouse at 12:00pm and a short program featuring local elementary, middle and high schools, as well as the GRCC Choir and Jazz Orchestra will follow.

This year GRCC is continuing its partnership with the Kids’ Food Basket to help end the fight of childhood hunger in greater Grand Rapids. Kids’ Food Basket will be collecting the following items at the MLK Event: 100% juice boxes, peanut butter, pudding/fruit cups, and cracker packs. If you would like to donate items to the Kids’ Food Basket but are not able to make it to the program, donations can be dropped off in Student Life.

Teacher Education Seminars for February 2012

GRCC’s Education Department has two Teacher Education Seminars scheduled for the month of February:

• Tuesday, February 7, 2012 – 2:00-3:30pm in Room 118 ATC | Topic: TBD
•  Wednesday, February 22, 2012 – 3:30-5:00pm in Room 118 ATC | Using the Internet to Motivate Students and Enhance Learning

Inclement Weather Policy Update

Winter is Predicted to Return to West Michigan.

Please take a moment today to familiarize yourself with GRCC’s inclement weather procedures and the related messaging, which can be found at grcc.edu/weather.

Also, please remember that the inclement weather policy now allows for a morning weather delay. In the event of a weather delay, employees report at 10:00 AM, and classes that begin at 11:30 AM or later will be held as scheduled.

In the event of inclement weather, GRCC will communicate via email, text message, website announcement, social media sites and local media outlets.

Models Needed for GRCC Marketing Photography

As GRCC continues to build its library of students on campus to be used in promotional materials (like catalogs, brochures, billboards and posters), the Graphic Services department is building a list of students willing to be photographed.

Students of all ages and nationalities are needed, and the college is looking for students who represent the broad geographic region that that we serve.

Interested students can email Graphic Services with a photo of themselves and some basic information (where they’re from) at grccdesign@me.com [Please don't reply in the comments - we require your email to be able to contact you back.]

Self-Serve Password Reset Now Available to GRCC Students

The IT department has provided a self-serve password change website that will adhere to the new password policy requirements.

All student, staff and faculty now have the ability to reset their own Network/Blackboard passwords. It is no longer necessary to contact IT Customer Support for this service. (Password changes for PeopleSoft systems will still require manual assistance.)

From any web browser, visit grcc.edu/pwd and complete the password reset process. Links to this tool are now on Blackboard and IT Customer Support websites.

Self Service Network Password change: https://grcc.edu/pwd
For details on the Password Policy, visit: http://grcc.edu/itpolicy

Experiential Learning Open House Today – 12/13/11

The Department of Experiential Learning, provides students with unique experiential learning opportunities, instructors with alternative teaching methods, and community partners with needed resources and services. We strive to understand and advocate for the needs of each stakeholder simultaneously to make a meaningful difference in the lives of all!

• Receive helpful support from our department staff
• Learn more about our great programs and events
• Network with GRCC staff, students, faculty, and community partners
• Refreshments are available

Find out more about the department and its numerous offerings Today, December 13, 2011 from 2-4 p.m. at t he Raider Grill (Room 203, Student Center)