Sept. 17, 2020, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College is planning a series of virtual information meetings and has set up a new hotline to help people who worked in essential industries during the COVID-19 shutdown attend GRCC tuition-free through the state’s Futures for Frontliners program.
Informational sessions are scheduled during the next three weeks, and will be conducted in English and Spanish. The format will allow for questions that will be answered by GRCC experts in real time.
Questions also can be answered through a Futures for Frontliners hotline, at (616) 234-3344; email, futures4frontliners@grcc.edu; and text, (616) 404-4519.
“Futures for Frontliners is an incredible opportunity for people who want to gain an education, advance in their careers or even gain skills for new jobs,” said Tina Hoxie, GRCC’s associate provost and dean of Student Affairs. “The program eliminates cost as an obstacle. GRCC is ready to help navigate the process to help anyone who’s interested prepare and enroll. We then will provide resources to support them once they are here -- every step of the way.”
Frontliners must apply for the scholarship before Dec. 31, 2020.
Advance registration is requested for the hour-long sessions, which will be conducted virtually. Sign-up information is on the GRCC website at grcc.edu/futuresforfrontliners.
- Sept. 23, noon to 1 p.m. and 6-7 p.m., in English.
- Sept. 24, 9-10 a.m., in Spanish.
- Sept. 28, 9-10 a.m. and 6-7 p.m., in English.
- Sept. 29, noon to 1 p.m. in Spanish.
- Oct. 6, 6-7 p.m., in Spanish.
- Oct. 7, 9-10 a.m. and noon to 1 p.m., in English.
The Futures for Frontliners program is for people who worked at least half-time in frontline jobs for 11 of the 13 weeks between April 1 and June 30 and who do not have a college degree.
Eligible frontline industry examples include – but are not limited to -- food and agriculture; healthcare and public health; critical manufacturing; communications and information technology, including news media; law enforcement, public safety, and first responders; public works; and transportation and logistics.
Students would be eligible to begin attending during the winter semester, starting in January 2021.
Anyone interested must complete the state’s application, available at Michigan.gov/frontliners, apply to GRCC at grcc.edu/apply and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
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.