Aug. 17, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Students don’t have to choose between making good money and going to college to start or restart their education.
Grand Rapids Community College’s fall semester starts Aug. 29 with spaces still available in classes delivered in a variety of formats and places, allowing students to schedule around home and work responsibilities.
GRCC also can help students take advantage of state and local programs that can reduce or eliminate college expenses.
The deadline is approaching, but students still have time to apply and enroll in fall classes.
“Wages are growing right now, and we know many people want to take advantage of that,” said Eric Mullen, GRCC’s dean of Student Success. “We’re making sure students can earn their education on their schedule while they are working. It’s never been easier to plan classes around busy schedules, with online, seven-week and Lakeshore options to help students keep their education on track.”
Students can apply and enroll for the semester at grcc.edu/ready, and learn more about events planned to help them prepare for the start of the semester.
This fall, GRCC plans for about 40 percent of classes to be online or have an online component, and about 1,600 seats are available. Students who prefer an in-person experience will also find many available seats.
GRCC has expanded the number of seven-week classes, this year offering 123 sections that include general education courses as well as Entrepreneurship Certificate and the Marketing associate degree programs. Additional information is available at grcc.edu/programs/7week-classes.
The college also has increased opportunities at its Lakeshore Campus in the Shops at Westshore.
Classes at the Holland Township facility were limited to 75 percent capacity last academic year because of health and safety protocols. Enrollment has jumped from about 600 students to more than 900 this year, with additional seats available in both credit and certificate programs. Additional information is available at grcc.edu/lakeshore.
Students might be eligible for financial support through the state’s Michigan Reconnect program and the Grand Rapids Promise Zone.
Michigan Reconnect is available for residents ages 25 and older who have not yet earned a degree. The Grand Rapids Promise Zone scholarships are for students graduating from a high school within the city. Additional information is available at grcc.edu/reconnect, by calling the Reconnect hotline at (616) 234-3366 and by emailing reconnect@grcc.edu. Additional information about the Grand Rapids Promise Zone is available at grcc.edu/promisezone, by email at promisezone@grcc.edu and by phone at (616) 234-4321.
Students who are not eligible for Michigan Reconnect or the Grand Rapids Promise Zone might still qualify for a federal Pell Grant or for one of the many GRCC Foundation scholarships.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as FAFSA, is required for the programs and scholarships. The college has a FAFSA Hotline – (616) 234-4030 – with specialists available to answer questions about the form. Students also can make appointments to connect with specialists in person, virtually or over the phone at grcc.edu/financialaid. Specialists can be reached via email at financialaid@grcc.edu.
GRCC also provides services for student veterans, opening its first Veterans Center last year on level G2 of Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall. The Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs recently saluted the college as a Gold Level veteran-friendly school.
“GRCC is committed to helping our student veterans persist and graduate,” said Registrar Valerie Butterfield, who oversees the program. “Our Veterans Center is a one-stop shop for students looking to connect with campus support services, or even just to be part of a community with people with similar experiences.”