Sept. 29, 2020, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – A new partnership with the Kent District Library will provide increased wifi access closer to home for many Grand Rapids Community College students.
KDL is providing wifi access inside each of its 19 branches, and students should be able to connect in branch parking lots after hours.
The majority of GRCC classes offered during the Fall 2020 semester are online or include online components. The new partnership with KDL is one of several measures the college has taken to ensure students have the technology they need to take distance learning classes during the COVID-19 crisis.
“We don’t want a lack of access to technology to stand in the way of anyone getting a quality GRCC education,” GRCC President Bill Pink said. “I deeply appreciate the partnership with KDL. It has a long history of serving Kent County residents, and recognizes education will help our region recover from this crisis and grow stronger. This collaboration is one more way we can close a technology gap.”
KDL has branches throughout Kent County, with locations and hours available on its website, kdl.org. GRCC also is providing expanded wifi in the DeVos Campus parking lot.
Since the start of the pandemic, GRCC has provided hundreds of loaner laptops to students, along with wifi hot spots, web cameras and other devices to connect and participate in classes.
Information about borrowing technology is available on the GRCC Library and Learning Commons website.
The college also is providing free tech support seven days a week to help students get – and stay – connected. The support team’s hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Grand Rapids Community College offers learners of all ages opportunities to gain credits for degrees or transfer and in-demand career skills leading to rewarding careers. GRCC was established in 1914 – Michigan’s first community college -- and offers affordable classes on weekdays, evenings, Saturdays and online at locations throughout Kent and Ottawa counties.