Sept. 23, 2020 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College’s leadership in promoting equity and inclusion recognized by Corp! Magazine with 2020 Diversity Focused Company Award.   The work of GRCC’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will be highlighted during the business publication’s upcoming conference and Salute to Diversity special edition. The Corp! award is the second time this year GRCC has been recognized for its efforts to strengthen policies and practices that align with principles of diversity, equity, and social justice. “Grand Rapids Community College has long been a leader on diversity issues,” Corp! Publisher Jennifer Kluge said. “Their efforts to make equity and inclusion a tenet of their beliefs are valued, and we are proud to honor them with this selection.” GRCC earlier was named one of the 2020 Most Promising Places to Work in Community Colleges by the publication Diverse: Issues in Higher Education and the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development. “We’re honored to be recognized for what we have accomplished. It is a testament to our steadfast commitment to develop projects and provide services that advance equity,” said Dr. B. Afeni McNeely Cobham, GRCC’s chief equity and inclusion officer. “These are challenging times in our community and our nation as a whole. But the courageous conversations and retooling of institutional practices are necessary and vitally important for our progress.” Corp! has recognized businesses, organizations, and leaders who champion diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and achievements within their organization or the community with the awards for 13 years. The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion align services and programs with the far-reaching goals of the GRCC strategic plan. A core focus of the office is to identify, unearth, acknowledge, and address institutional practices that are exclusionary and upend a sense of belonging and access for any member of GRCC’s community. ODEI is amid a robust year. Staff members and stakeholders connected to ODEI engaged in community service projects throughout Grand Rapids, developed and facilitated campus events that addressed some of the most challenging issues in our society and celebrated several milestones with community-centered activities. The office also facilitated diversity dialogues at two high schools and boosted personal development, community engagement, and educational achievement through the support of youth conferences with community partners. 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.    

Sept. 21, 2020 GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Grand Rapids Community College welcomed 251 students through the Grand Rapids Promise Zone Scholarship this fall, and is creating personalized support services to help them succeed. The Fall 2020 semester is the first for Grand Rapids Promise Zone students to be enrolled at GRCC. The scholarship covers eligible students’ costs of attending GRCC for up to 60 credit hours. “The Promise Zone scholarships eliminate cost as a barrier to a quality GRCC education,” GRCC President Bill Pink said. “Once students are here, we will make sure they have the support available to not just be successful, but to thrive. We are proudly on this journey together.” GRCC created student care teams for all students who enrolled through the Promise Zone, and has partnered with the Michigan College Action Network to bring two college completion coaches to support them. Each Promise Zone student will be assigned an academic advisor and a student success coach. Advisors will make sure the student has an academic and post-GRCC plan, whether that includes transferring to their next institution or entering a career. Career exploration opportunities can be provided for students deciding on a major.  The success coach will make sure students have an individualized plan, and will also work with them to develop time management and test taking skills. The success coaches also will help students to explore and identify their strengths. The Promise Zone scholarship ensures all eligible students who live within the city of Grand Rapids and graduate from one of the 24 public, public charter, or private high schools located within the city limits will have free access to GRCC’s associate degree programs or to the job training and certification programs. “We’re proud of our strong start,” said Evan Macklin, Promise Zone director. “The Promise Zone is a community partnership, leaders from across the city working together to provide opportunities and strengthen our region through higher education.” Eligible students have five years to access these funds from the time they graduate high school. Once enrolled, they must take at least six credits a semester. Students who opt to attend a different college or university can still use the Promise Zone scholarship as a GRCC guest student during the summer semesters. GRCC has more than 150 degrees divided into 10 Academic Pathways. Students can explore pre-major degrees that will transfer seamlessly to a four-year university, or train for a career in the skilled trades. Students eligible for the Promise Zone Scholarship meet the following criteria: Live in the City of Grand Rapids Enrolled at an eligible Grand Rapids high school Graduated, or planning to graduate, from an eligible Grand Rapids high school If you’re eligible for the Promise Zone Scholarship or know someone who is considering enrolling, please note that GRCC has launched a variety of late-starting 10-week and 7-week courses for the Fall 2020 semester. There are job-training programs  beginning in October and December and GRCC's winter semester starts Monday, January 11, 2021. Interested in applying? Learn more at grpromisezone.com or contact the Promise Zone director at promisezone@grcc.edu .  

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.

Sept. 15, 2020 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — An organization that supplies personal care items has reached out to partner with Grand Rapids Community College’s student food pantry. GRCC’s Office of Student Life has held weekly distributions since March, providing more than 1,200 bags of food, along with household cleaning and hygiene supplies, baby items and pet food.  A recent grant from Heart of West Michigan United Way and Kent County will help the distributions continue through 2020. After hearing about the donation, Emily Beggs, the Grand Rapids affiliate director of I Support the Girls, contacted GRCC to see if her nonprofit organization could also help students. I Support the Girls collects and distributes menstrual hygiene products, bras and underwear to those who need them. Beggs notes these items, essential for both dignity and good health, are expensive, especially in households with more than one woman. “As the pandemic has progressed and women started losing jobs or losing hours, they’ve had to start making difficult budget decisions: ‘Do I pay for rent or food -- or for these products I need?’ We saw, in addition to food and housing insecurity, a health insecurity.” I Support the Girls is donating menstrual cups to GRCC’s student pantry, and will work with the Student Life office on other ways to help. “Students and their families are struggling,” said Lina Blair, director of Student Life. “Anything that our campus pantry can supply is one less item that our students have to use their limited incomes on. We are so grateful that I Support the Girls reached out to us.” GRCC is one of several community organizations that I Support the Girls has partnered with to distribute menstrual hygiene products and undergarments. Those who wish to donate to I Support the Girls can locate drop-off sites, contact Beggs, and link to an Amazon wish list through the group’s Facebook page . 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.  

Sept. 10, 2020 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Applications are now available to attend Grand Rapids Community College through the state’s Futures for Frontliners program, which provides tuition-free education to those who worked in essential industries during Michigan’s COVID-19 shutdown. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer today revealed details of the program, which will use federal funds to provide a tuition-free education at a Michigan public community college to earn an associate degree or certificate. The application is available here. “Futures for Frontliners will remove cost as a barrier to an education to people who served our community in a variety of ways during very difficult times,” GRCC President Bill Pink said. “A college degree or credential will help many of our residents in these roles gain new skills to advance in their careers. GRCC is in the best position to help them, and other residents, with accessible, affordable classes.” The program is for people who worked in frontline jobs for at least 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 -- healthcare and public health; critical manufacturing; communications and information technology, including news media; food and agriculture; 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, and must apply prior to Dec. 31. As a last-dollar program, students would be required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) . Contact GRCC through email at futures4frontliners@grcc.edu, calling enrollment and financial aid experts at (616) 234-4059, and on the web at grcc.edu/futuresforfrontliners . 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.