March 21, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College trustees approved a 0.9% tuition increase for the 2022-2023 academic year, part of an effort to keep education accessible and affordable for students of all ages as West Michigan continues to emerge from the pandemic. Board Chairperson David Koetje said the increase, approved unanimously today, reflects the college’s focus on keeping a GRCC education within reach at a time when many people in the community are experiencing financial challenges. “Our college is the place our community turns to during challenging times,” Koetje said. “As West Michigan recovers from this pandemic, we know students are starting – and in increasing numbers, restarting – an education that will help them gain new skills and degrees that will help them move forward. This tuition rate is financially responsible for the college and also reflects our commitment to keeping that education accessible.” The tuition change comes at a time when students also have several options to attend with education costs covered by state, local, and federal programs. One in five students attending during the Winter 2022 semester has tuition covered by grant or scholarship program.  Michigan Reconnect is available for residents ages 25 and older who have not yet earned a degree and Grand Rapids Promise Zone scholarships are for students graduating from a Grand Rapids high school. Students also may qualify for a federal Pell Grant, or for scholarships through the Grand Rapids Community College Foundation. “Our world has changed, but our mission has not,” GRCC President Bill Pink said. “A college education will change lives. Affordable tuition is one aspect of accessibility. We have scheduling options, class formats, and nearby locations that allow students to work around home and job responsibilities. We have support for them once they are here so they can finish what they started.”  Pink said GRCC leaders have worked to keep tuition increases as small as possible to keep education affordable, especially during the pandemic. He said it was vitally important to provide students continued relief as the region recovers. The 0.9% increase follows a tuition freeze last year, a 1.7% increase in 2020, and 0.8% increases the two prior years. The new in-district tuition rate will be $118 per contact hour, up $1 from 2021-2022, and the total cost for a fulltime student will be $3,999 for the year. The out-of-district rate will be $249 per contact hour, up $2, and the out-of-state rate is $374 per contact hour, up $3. Universal fees will be unchanged.  The college has other approaches to keep a college education within reach. GRCC has partnerships throughout West Michigan with local school districts and intermediate school districts for Early/Middle College and dual and concurrent enrollment programs. The GRCC Foundation also works with partners to help with expenses. This year, the foundation plans to award more than $1.4 million in scholarships. GRCC also is continuing a parking fee structure that allows students to pay once a day, making it easier for them to get to classes and services at the college’s two downtown campuses. Students can use their RaiderCard to swipe into a lot and pay $3.50, then have unlimited access to parking lots on the Main Campus and DeVos Campus for the remainder of the day. Previously, students were charged $3.50 each time they exited a lot. The move is intended to save students money at a time when many face financial challenges and prevent parking costs from being a factor in their decision to take a class or access programs. Photo by Steve Jessmore.

March 21, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College students can reserve spots in classes for the upcoming summer, fall, and winter semesters starting on Open Registration Day, Monday, March 21. “Open Registration Day is the best chance for students to ensure they get the best selection of courses and plan ahead through next year,” said Kristi Welling, GRCC’s associate director of Enrollment Services. “GRCC is proud to offer courses in a variety of times and formats, aimed at helping students schedule around home and work responsibilities. This registration period allows people to do long-term planning, and have the peace of mind knowing they have a seat in the classes they want, in the formats they want.” Starting today, classes will be open for enrollment for the Summer 2022 semester, the Fall 2022 semester, and the Winter 2023 semester. The summer semester is an opportunity for many students to keep on track to graduate, taking one or two courses and building momentum. Summer also is popular with students attending four-year colleges and universities. They can attend as a guest student, taking easily transferable classes at GRCC’s affordable tuition. The long-term planning is helpful for students using tuition-free programs, such as the Grand Rapids Promise, Michigan Reconnect and Futures for Frontliners. GRCC admissions and enrollment specialists are available to assist with registration questions. Students can contact the Student Services team by phone at (616) 234-3300; email at admissions@grcc.edu; or in-person on the first floor of Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall, 143 Bostwick Ave. NE. GRCC specialists also can help with questions about financial aid, and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as FAFSA. Students can connect with financial aid specialists by phone at (616) 234-4030; email at financialaid@grcc.edu; or virtually or in-person by appointment on the first floor at Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall. Photo by Steve Jessmore.  

March 21, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Darrin Mayweather has a favorite among his many memories of his time as a GRCC student. “My favorite GRCC memory is graduation,” he said. “Both my great-grandmothers and my son were able to see me walk across the stage.” Start at GRCC and go anywhere. Every former student has a story to tell about how GRCC gave them the education and opportunity to be successful. After graduating from GRCC’s Secchia Institute for Culinary Education with an associate degree and a personal chef certification, Mayweather earned a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management from Ferris State University. He has taken his culinary skills to kitchens in casual and fine dining establishments and health care facilities. In 2019, he and fellow GRCC alumnus Chris Sampson founded Social Arts LLC, a full-service catering and private chef business. “GRCC’s culinary program gave me the discipline and tools I needed to be successful and to find my niche in the culinary world,” Mayweather said. “GRCC gave me the structure and knowledge necessary to successfully start and run a business. In addition, the diverse population was an accurate depiction of what I’m around in my day-to-day life – which I love.” Mayweather returned to GRCC in January, as an adjunct instructor in the culinary program where he prepares his students to experience the thrill he felt walking across the graduation stage. “GRCC is a staple in the community that truly supports diversity and higher education while supplying all the tools necessary to successfully complete one of the many programs offered,” he said. Let GRCC help you start your story. The first chapter starts at grcc.edu/apply .

March 20, 2022 - LIMA, Ohio -- The Grand Rapids Community College baseball team exploded for 25 runs on Sunday, sweeping a doubleheader against the University of Northwestern Ohio Junior Varsity to extend its win streak to three games. The GRCC offense put up at least one run in each of the six innings played in the first game in a 13-0, two-pitcher shutout. Seven different GRCC players had at least one hit. Designated hitter Dylan Chargo was 3-for-4 with 3 RBI and one run scored. Second-year player Caleb Engelsman started the game for GRCC, picking up his first win of the season after four innings of work.  Brad Dunn pitched the final two innings.  They combined for six strikeouts while giving up just three hits and one walk. In the second game, GRCC jumped out to an 11-runs lead in the first inning, cruising to a 12-1, five-inning victory. GRCC totaled 15 hits to just four for Northwestern Ohio. Six players had at least two hits, led by Ryan Dykstra, who was 3 for 4 with an RBI and three runs scored. Dykstra is committed to playing at Oakland University next season. Jerad Berkenpas picked up his second victory of the season, pitching four innings and giving up just three hits while striking out four. After losing their first 10 games to start the season, GRRCC has now won three in a row to improve to 3-10. The team is scheduled to play next on Mar. 23 at 3 p.m. at Aquinas College in a nine-inning game.

March 18, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Collegiate, Grand Rapids Community College’s student newspaper, earned College Newspaper of the Year honors from the Michigan Press Association on Thursday. The paper earned the top award in Division III in the College Better Newspaper Contest, and placed second in the Open Class – Online Newspaper category, finishing behind the University of Michigan’s Michigan Daily. The GRCC students in April earned the Best News Website award in the 2021 Michigan Community College Press Association Competition for the third year in a row. “It’s great to see multiple reporters bring home awards for their work,” former Collegiate Editor-in-Chief Sean Chase said in a story posted by the paper. “Winning back-to-back awards says a lot about the program as a whole and Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood’s leadership.” The Collegiate won 13 other MPA awards during the virtual ceremony, including Chase receiving second place in the Best Writer category. Awards include: Collegiate writers earned the top two places in the Column – Review or Blog – News category, with Angelina Jahn earning first place and Sam Tucker earning second place. Anthony Clark Jr. earned first place and Matthew Denhartigh earned second place in the Sports News/Features category. Breegan Petruska earned first place and Chase earned third place in the Editorial category. Abby Haywood earned first place in the Front Page Design category, and first place in the Open Class Original Cartoon – Editorial or Entertainment category. Editor-in-Chief Kaia Zimmerman earned second place and an honorable mention in the Column – Review or Blog – Sports category. Chase earned second place in the News Story category. Aspen Strauss earned third place in the Open Class Multimedia Reporting category. Entries were reviewed by the Arkansas Press Association. "It is more important than ever to recognize and encourage good, impactful journalism. That is what our college newspapers are doing, and with support and recognition from contests and professionals in the field, that will continue. Our experienced faculty and advisors will see to it as well," Joanne Williams, associate professor of journalism and mass communication at Olivet College and MCPA president, said in a release. The Collegiate's winning entries are available here .       

March 18, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Always remember, at GRCC, you are surrounded by people who want you to be successful and are ready to walk with you on your educational pathway. We are here to help! Meet Sue DelRaso. You will find Sue tutoring students in the Wisner-Bottrall Applied Technology Center Tutorial and Open Computer Lab, in the Mechanical and Architectural Design / CAD Lab, or in the Sneden Computer Lab. Sue is the coordinator for those labs, and develops subject specific training and works alongside the professional tutors and student employees she supervises. In two of the labs, the ATC Tutorial and Open Computer Lab and the Mechanical and Architectural Design/CAD lab, Sue helps students who are taking Computer Information Sciences and Mechanical and Architectural design courses. Both of these labs offer drop-in tutoring. The ATC Tutorial and Open Computer Labs offer drop-in and appointment-based tutoring. And the Sneden Computer Lab is a drop-in lab where students can go to work on their assignments. Sue came to GRCC as an adult student focused on changing careers. She was leaving a high-pressure job as an executive assistant to a hotel general manager. She had medical related barriers, and the challenge of balancing the demands of attending classes and doing homework with being a mom, to overcome. "I suffered from severe migraines that were caused by a stressful work environment and other factors," she said. "During my first semester as a student at GRCC I was only allowed to take classes. After that semester my doctors would only allow me to work 10 hours per week and gradually increase my work schedule.” Sue persisted, worked in campus labs in roles with increasing responsibility, and reached her goals. Now she can relate to current students who are balancing college, their health, work and family. She can also understand how it feels to struggle in the classroom and need tutoring -- because she took advantage of tutoring labs when she was a student. "I started working as a student tutor, getting help and helping others in their classes," Sue said. "After a semester, I was hired to work at the Student Help Desk. I gradually worked my way up to a position as a professional tutor -- which I worked in for many years. Then I became the assistant lab coordinator and finally the tutorial coordinator." This was all while Sue worked another part-time job and completed her associate degree in Computer Applications and then Bachelor of Science in Business. Sue's career and educational journey has given her the insight to focus the services of tutorial labs around student needs. And she is now showing students how to find their own success in the classroom and with their homework. "I love to see when a student finally understands something that they have been struggling to understand," she said. "It’s like watching a lightbulb over their head gradually getting brighter and brighter until it just turns right on. I want to help students to become independent leaners, to learn to ask themselves the right questions to lead to understanding or problem solving." Sue does not regret the path she took, from stepping into the workforce after high school, to attending GRCC as an adult student, to balancing a busy life to complete her bachelor's degree. And as a GRCC staff member Sue values most the friendships she has made with students, and what she has learned from them. "I have gone to help a student who is asking, and I’m the one who ends up learning something new," she said. "I believe that you can learn something new every day if you look for it, are open to it. Learning is a journey, part of everyone’s everyday life." Students interested in academic support and tutoring can reach out through email at tutoring@grcc.edu and by phone at (616) 234-4145.

March 16, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Jack Case struggled with addiction for years. “Four years ago, I was on heroin and was pretty desperate. Fortunately, I went through a rehabilitation program in Grand Rapids and after the program was over, I saved my money from working two jobs to buy my own house.” Case bought the house and turned it into a home for other recovering addicts. GRCC Workforce Training programs provide in-demand skills leading to rewarding careers. We are introducing students who are heading down an educational pathway and changing their lives by earning occupational certificates. Case was eligible for the state of Michigan’s Future for Frontliners program which came at just the right time. The program covers the cost of in-district tuition for people who worked in essential roles during the state’s COVID-19 shutdown in 2020. “I heard about the Residential Construction program and signed up!” Case started the program last October and finished this week. GRCC offers two 18 week Job Training Certificate programs in the construction field; Residential Construction , and Construction Electrical . “The program is great and the instructor is excellent; he’s very charismatic,” Case said. “I like his style of teaching. He shows you once how to do something and then just steps back and lets you do it yourself. He’s right there if you have any questions but you definitely learn by doing. I loved it!” The Residential Construction program takes place at a construction site, where students build a new home. Students get hands-on learning and application about the entire process of residential building including blueprint reading, site layout, concrete, carpentry, door and window installation, roofing, siding, and interior finishing. “With my new skills, I will be able to purchase houses at a lower price,” Case said. “Those are the homes that need attention. Now I have the skills to do the ‘rehab’ work on those houses myself.” Case’s goal is to start a nonprofit that will offer housing to others in recovery. Graduates are qualified for employment in the residential construction industry. The program focuses on constructing homes that achieve a 5-Star Energy rating, are Michigan Green Built, and LEED Certified. “My future looks good. I am looking to start my own non-profit. That way I can qualify for grants to help me buy more houses so then I can turn them into more recovery homes. There is a great need for facilities like this in the Muskegon area and I hope to establish my non-profit there. GRCC offers other industry certifications including; Carpentry Certification 1 , Lead Abatement Training , and the National Green Infrastructure Certification Program (NGICP) . Contact the Workforce Training team for additional information through email at workforcetraining@grcc.edu and by phone at (616) 234-3800.

March 15, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- For Veronika Frei, her GRCC Foundation scholarship was a timely surprise. “After being temporarily unemployed with no money coming in, I was in a bind,” she said of the pandemic lockdown. “The scholarship made it possible to pay daily bills like groceries, gas and my phone bill!” Frei was one of 10 GRCC students to receive the new AT&T Aspire program scholarship. Funded by the AT&T Foundation, it’s one of more than 300 scholarships available by completing just one application. The Grand Rapids Community College Foundation plans to distribute $1.4 million in scholarships to more than 1,000 students this year, and the priority deadline is March 15. The application and additional information can be found at grcc.edu/scholarships. “I was overwhelmed with joy when I saw the email,” said Frei, who plans to become a high school art teacher. “Knowing that I did not need to worry about my financial needs for a month or two, was a huge relief. GRCC looks out for their students and I am extremely grateful for their help.”

March 14, 2022 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The GRCC Players will take a new look at an ancient myth in their production of “Eurydice” by Sarah Ruhl. The play, which runs March 17 to 19, retells the myth of Orpheus’ journey to the underworld through the eyes of his young bride, Eurydice. Grand Rapids Community College students Emily Page, Jake Bieniewicz, Carlos Caracheo Trujillo, Jase Harris, Bryanna Lee, Gabi Salazar and Shannon Heldt comprise the cast, with instructor Jason Flannery directing. This is Flannery’s second time directing a GRCC Players production. “Working with college students can be very rewarding!” he said. “My approach as a director asks students to drop the pretense that often comes along with folks’ preconceived notions about ‘acting’ and find honest moments in their performances. This often clashes with what young performers are told about portraying an emotional story onstage, but my hope is always that the work that students find with this approach leaves them feeling a greater connection to their work, and feel more seen and real onstage.” Flannery believes audiences will leave the theater impressed by both the play and the performers. “I hope the audience walks away surprised and touched by this semi-autobiographical fairy tale that playwright Sarah Ruhl has given us,” he said. “I hope they'll see the outstanding potential of Grand Rapids artists and GRCC's student body – maybe invest some time into future productions, and maybe even audition!” Trujillo, who portrays the father in the play, admits it took a little time to readjust to being busy again after the pandemic shutdown: He will be auditioning for Western Michigan University’s musical theater program on the same day as one of the “Eurydice” performances. “I really hope that when people see ‘Eurydice,’ they gain an appreciation for those around them – be they family or friends,” he said. “I think family, especially, is something that my generation has taken for granted. I think the play gives a good perspective on how complicated yet beautiful those emotions can be.” “Eurydice” runs at 8 p.m. March 17 to 19 at GRCC’s Spectrum Theater, 160 Fountain St. NE. Tickets, which can be purchased online , are $5 for students, $8 for GRCC faculty and staff, and $12 for the public. For more information, call (616) 234-3387.  Photo by Dave Kagan of Sensitography.