Sept. 16, 2024 Grand Rapids Community College’s Fall 2024 enrollment has increased 2.1% over the previous year – and that number could continue to increase with students still signing up for classes. As of last week, GRCC’s enrollment reached 12,422, with more than 4,000 new students. The college also saw nearly 11%  growth in the numbers of Hispanic/Latino and 3% growth in Black/African American students.  “Our increase in enrollment is a testament to our dedication to making Grand Rapids Community College accessible, affordable and inclusive,” said GRCC President Charles W. Lepper, Ph.D. “We firmly believe in the potential of every student, and we are committed to supporting them every step of the way.” As has been the case since at least 2019, the majority of students are 18 to 24 years old. But there was a small increase in the number of 25 to 29 year old students. “One of the key factors contributing to our strong fall enrollment is the diverse range of class offerings at GRCC,” said GRCC Provost Sheila Jones, Ph.D. “Our faculty are dedicated to supporting student learning and achieving their goals through various formats, including in-person, online, hybrid and virtual classes. Plus we offer classes in Grand Rapids and Holland.” Virtual courses meet online at scheduled times; hybrid classes combine online and in-person instruction. The headcount figures do not include GRCC’s Workforce Training programs, which don’t operate on a semester schedule. 

Sept. 16, 2024 Shantay Lowery is on her way to the nursing degree she always dreamed about. “I’ve loved the healthcare field ever since I was a candy striper back in high school,” said Lowery, now 38 and enrolled in the Associate Degree Nursing Program at Grand Rapids Community College. “I volunteered in the birthing center at Hurley Medical Center in Flint and really enjoyed being there for the moms and assisting them in whatever they needed.” Those happy experiences prompted Lowery to become a medical assistant, a career that’s served her well over the last 15 years since moving to Holland with her young family. She’s worked in occupational health, sports medicine and podiatry offices through the years, and now works as a full-time medical assistant at Corewell Health Family Medicine in Holland. It’s a job she loves. But somewhere deep inside, she wanted to do more in the medical field. A year ago, she turned to GRCC for career advice and began her journey toward a nursing degree. “I needed someone to help me figure out how to get back into school because it had been a while. That’s when I found Jason,” Lowery said. Jason Schueller is GRCC’s assistant director of Adult Recruitment and Community Outreach. Schueller not only helped Lowery find an educational path that works for her, but he also showed her how she could pay for it using the Michigan Reconnect scholarship. The state-funded Reconnect program gives eligible Michiganders financial aid to start — or restart — their education. Since launching three years ago, Michigan Reconnect has helped more than 150,000 residents like Lowery pursue the additional education that leads to rewarding careers and higher wages. Originally only available to adults aged 25 and older without an associate degree or skills certificate, the Reconnect scholarship is now available for a limited time to students ages 21 to 24 who apply by Nov. 15, 2024. Michigan Reconnect is a godsend for Lowery, a single mother with two daughters in high school. “This is a great program and it’s really helped me a lot financially,” she said. “I honestly don’t think I could get my nursing degree without it.” Busy with work and family, Lowery said she’s grateful to be able to take classes at GRCC’s nearby Lakeshore Campus in Holland. It’s especially great in the snowy winter months, she said. “It’s a blessing to have the Lakeshore Campus and that they’re offering so many classes here,” she said. “It really helps people so much.” Now in her second year of classes, she feels good about her academic achievements so far. “I took Anatomy & Physiology, which is one of the hardest classes, and passed both of them,” she said. “My professor told me you have to put the time and the work in to succeed and you have to love it, too. I stuck with it and I’m proud of myself.” This term, Lowery is taking a psychology class and studying for the nursing admission test called the Health Education Systems, Inc. exam in late September. Once she completes the exam and any other prerequisites, she will apply to GRCC’s nursing program. Lowery’s unsure how long it will take to complete her degree. But she’s ready for the challenge — and a career full of fresh possibilities. “I’ve thought about working as a pediatric nurse or maybe with the elderly,” she said. “I have a big heart and I’m ready to help however I can.” This story was reported by Beth McKenna.

On Display at GRCC’s Paul Collins Art Gallery During ArtPrize 2024 9/13/24 Is it real? Is it literal? And are these the right questions to be asking as you view art? Andrew Caldwell is leaning into the hot discussion around artificial intelligence (AI) as he uses it to bring his unique story to life. “I spent a recent sabbatical exploring my family genealogy,” Caldwell said. “My mom is West Michigan Dutch and my dad is Black. Many of my mom’s relatives have documented their genealogy and done a great job of tracing it back. On my dad’s side, not much had been done.  I set out to find answers.” Caldwell traced his Black ancestry back to the 1800s, following a twisting trail through Michigan, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and North Carolina. The process opened his eyes to migratory patterns in the United States, as his ancestors moved, willingly and unwillingly, around the country. For many people, the promise of a better life — the “Promised Land” — was a siren call that led them all over this country. Caldwell’s own family followed that same call this summer, coming to Grand Rapids where he is now teaching photography and videography at GRCC.  Caldwell was able to uncover his Dutch ancestry with ease. However, when tracing his Black ancestry, he encountered an informational dead end in the 1800s. This is not unusual: most Black Americans come up against it. However, that is hard to swallow.  “I ran into the wall of slavery,” Caldwell said. “When you go far enough back, Black Americans are namelessly counted as property, not people. It’s painful to come face to face with the reality that at one time, my ancestors were monitored like livestock. It becomes clear pretty quickly that many details about my ancestors will just never be known.” Caldwell loves maps and he has a vivid imagination. So for him, this year’s ArtPrize exhibit is a way to imagine and create scenes that reflect what his family might have experienced. “My project started with images from an old family album, which inspired both my genealogy search and this art project,” Caldwell said. “I found many images of Black Americans from the same areas and times of my ancestors. I realized some of my family members could be in those pictures and I wouldn’t know it, since most list only the place. The scenes I’m creating are made up of parts of these found images, my family album, and images taken during trips to the places my ancestors have lived. Then I used Photoshop and other digital tools to create the scenes, while incorporating new AI developments to help construct and animate the scenes. It’s really important for my imagery to be photo-based, so I’m using AI as a utility to bring my vision to life, similar to how I use Photoshop.”   Caldwell’s entry this year is in the New Media category. As he says, it’s a great place to put anything that’s hard to categorize.  “I’m creating a series of scenes that merge people and images. I’m envisioning what things could have looked like. Then I write prompts for AI to animate the stills. I’m guiding the creative process and using my artistry to create the prompts. The work is not intended to be literal. In fact, I deliberately include things that, on second glance, reveal the creative nature of the work.” For Caldwell, using AI allows him to push creative and technical boundaries while infusing his work with mystery. “I don’t want people to think it’s real,” Caldwell said. “It’s video purporting to be from the 1800s. Intellectually, you know that’s not possible. I’m not trying to create a false archive. Instead, it’s a hypothetical view of how things might have been. It reflects my journey and allows me to tell more interesting stories.”   Caldwell is excited to be joining the GRCC faculty this fall. He and his family are looking forward to participating in more of the ArtPrize experience. “My favorite reactions come from the kids,” Caldwell said. “They are so honest. I love watching their brains at work and I’m amazed by what they think and see.” For Caldwell, this year’s ArtPrize entry is a milestone. “My prior work expressed where I was as an individual,” Caldwell said. “This new piece taps into something with more meaning and purpose. It goes beyond me and speaks to a shared cultural experience.” You can learn more about Caldwell and his work via his website . GRCC will be hosting six ArtPrize entries in the Paul Collins Art Gallery, located on the fourth floor of the Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall at 143 Bostwick Ave. NE. ArtPrize is open to the public from September 13-28, 2024. Learn more about the competition, venues, artists and voting .    

On Display at GRCC’s Paul Collins Art Gallery During ArtPrize 2024 Sept. 12, 2024 How many times per day do you find yourself granting permission to this or that app to send information, access your data or share your location? Do you ever stop to think about where and how that information will show up? Christopher Shields invites us to ask questions about our vulnerability, both intentional and unintentional, through “Permission.” “What do we allow people to see of us in person, and how does that compare to the image we curate online?” Shields asked. “I’m fascinated by how the digital world impacts the analog — the in-person — experience. I wanted to explore the ideas of authenticity and how we do or don’t make ourselves vulnerable.” His entry into ArtPrize is a 48”x60” oil on canvas. It is a composite self portrait comprising five or six main images of himself. “Self portraits can be a slippery slope,” Shields said. “I realize that some people think they are vain. I hope that in this work, people will see vulnerability and awkwardness. “ This is Shields’ second year of participating in ArtPrize. Last year, he won the Prism Award for his painting about artificial intelligence. This year, he continues to integrate technology themes into his work. Shields notes that exhibiting in ArtPrize is a completely different experience than showing work in a gallery. “I’ve been exhibiting since I was in my 20s,” Shields said. “Last year, I felt confident but then had a last-minute bout of panic. I realized that when I showed in a gallery, I was putting my work in front of people who knew what to expect. At ArtPrize, anyone can come up and ask questions. It’s a whole different experience.” Fortunately, Shields said, the experience was positive. “Art is absolutely vital. It’s part of living in society. I loved the interaction and the kind words.” He also enjoyed showing his freshmen art students that by staying authentic, they will be able to do whatever they want.   Shields uses what he admits is a very left-brained process to create a right-brained, creative piece of art. The work is a labor of love. Ultimately, the birch plywood panels he’s using will have 12 layers plus a glaze, but he doesn’t start there. “I don’t start with a blank canvas,” Shields said. “For this piece, I combined, filtered, layered and PhotoShopped my ideas into a digital composite. Then I started painting. And while new things are happening as I move from digital to analog, this process helps relieve anxiety and provide me with an emotional safety net.” “Anyone can become involved in this piece,” Shields said. I hope it makes people think about the permissions they grant, both digitally and in person, that allow others to see the true self.” You can learn more about Shields and his work via his website . GRCC will be hosting six ArtPrize entries in the Paul Collins Art Gallery, located on the fourth floor of the Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall at 143 Bostwick Ave. NE. ArtPrize is open to the public from September 13-28, 2024. Learn more about the competition, venues, artists and voting .