March 19, 2024, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College trustees approved a 3 percent tuition increase for the 2024-2025 academic year, prioritizing the affordability of a quality education.  GRCC President Charles W. Lepper said the new tuition rate, approved unanimously by the board of trustees on Monday, continues to ensure that resources are available to support student needs.  At the request of GRCC student leaders, the board of trustees also approved a $5 increase in the campus activities fee for part-time students. The additional funds will allow for increased student activities programming. “The board of trustees and executive leadership of the college continue to prioritize affordability of a quality education for students, while working to ensure resources are available to support student needs,” said Lisa Freiburger, vice president for finance and administration. The in-district tuition rate of $124 per contact hour is a 3 percent increase - $4 per contact hour - from the 2023-2024 rate. The total cost for most full-time students will be $4,179.  The tuition change comes at a time when students have several options to attend college with education costs covered by state, local, and federal programs. In the Winter 2024 semester, nearly one in five GRCC students qualified for state aid programs that cover tuition and fees for in-district students.  The Michigan Reconnect program, which provides a tuition-free opportunity to work toward a college degree or certificate, has been expanded from age 25 and older, to include residents ages 21-24 who apply and enroll no later than fall semester 2024. Additional details are at: https://www.grcc.edu/reconnect . The college also is a proud partner with the Grand Rapids Promise Zone in providing a GRCC education without cost to graduates from 25 public, public charter, and private high schools located within the city.  For the class of 2024, more than 1,130 students in the city are eligible to have all their GRCC expenses covered through the Grand Rapids Promise Zone. Additional details are available at: https://www.grcc.edu/grcc-promise-zone-scholarship Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an important step toward determining eligibility for these or other grants or scholarships. Students may qualify for a federal Pell Grant, Michigan Achievement Scholarship, or for other scholarships through the Grand Rapids Community College Foundation. Additional information is available at  https://www.grcc.edu/pay-college Michigan community colleges receive revenue largely from three sources: tuition and fees, local property taxes, and state aid. GRCC’s costs are far below the average tuition and fee costs among Michigan’s 28  community colleges and will remain one of the most affordable college options in the state. The cost to attend GRCC is about a third of the average cost to attend and live on-campus  at a four-year institution in Michigan, based on data from the Michigan Education Savings Program .

March 15, 2024 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Grand Rapids Community College has announced three finalists in the search for the college’s next provost/executive vice president for Academic and Student Affairs.  The three candidates will visit campus the week of March 18 and meet with several internal teams throughout the day. Faculty and staff will have the opportunity to hear from each candidate at forums March 19-21.  The provost reports directly to the president and serves as the chief Academic and Student Affairs officer with major responsibilities for strategic planning and guiding all aspects of teaching and learning in support of student success. Candidate background and visit dates are: Dr. Sheila Jones – Tuesday, March 19 Dr. Sheila Jones is GRCC’s interim provost/executive vice president for Academic and Student Affairs, facilitating efforts to build an innovative curriculum, effective teaching and learning practices leading to student success, and institutional effectiveness. Jones has spent over 15 years in community college education and remains committed to creating opportunities and removing barriers for students to achieve their educational goals. She began serving GRCC in 2016 as dean of instructional support and then became associate provost of instructional support and institutional planning in 2022.  Prior to moving to Michigan, Jones was a tenured faculty member at Broward College. Jones earned her doctoral and master’s degrees in history from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. She holds a bachelor’s in history and business administration from Washington & Jefferson College in Pennsylvania. Dr. Michael Pullin — Wednesday, March 20   Dr. Michael Pullin is the dean of Academic Initiatives at Queensborough Community College, a campus in the City University of New York (CUNY) system. His college-wide responsibilities include degree program development and assessment, leadership of academic momentum initiatives, and strategic planning. Additionally, he oversees several programs and centers essential to student success.  Prior to his current position, Pullin served in different educational and research roles at Broward College, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, University of Notre Dame, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Pullin earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Case Western Reserve University and his doctoral and master’s degrees in analytical chemistry from Kent State University.  Dr. Daniel Powell — Thursday, March 21   Dr. Daniel Powell has served nearly five years as the vice president of Academic Success at Northwest Vista College in the Alamo Colleges District in San Antonio. During his time as chief academic officer, the college has been recognized nationally for its high-quality instruction and academic support. Prior to his current role, Powell served in leadership and academic roles at Laramie County Community College, Patel Conservatory, Chipola College and the Chipola Regional Arts Association.  Powell holds a doctoral degree in music from Florida State University, a master’s in music from Arizona State University, and a bachelor’s in music education from West Texas A&M University. He also completed an MBA at Troy University.   Feedback on the provost search may be directed to  provostsearch@grcc.edu .

March 14, 2024 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Two Grand Rapids Community College students have done Michigan proud by earning top honors in recent national scholarship competitions. Scholarship winners Jena Buttery (left) and Tara Huskey (right), both GRCC Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society chapter members, were lauded for their academic accomplishments. Buttery was named a 2024 New Century Workforce Scholar — the first national scholarship of its kind to support community college students entering the workforce after completing their degree or certificate. Buttery, a 2022 Zeeland East High School graduate, is the top-scoring New Century Workforce scholarship applicant in Michigan. Over 2,200 students from more than 1,300 college campuses nationwide were nominated for the scholarship. Only one recipient was selected from each state. “I am beyond grateful and honored to have been awarded this scholarship,” said Buttery, who is pursuing a career in social/digital media marketing after graduating from GRCC in April with an associate degree in Marketing . The New Century Workforce Scholars program is sponsored by The Coca-Cola Foundation and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Recipients of the $1,500 scholarships will be recognized this fall. “Scholarship programs like this are integral for creating opportunities for students to succeed as they prepare to enter the workforce and for putting college completion within reach,” said Lynn Tincher-Ladner, Phi Theta Kappa president and CEO. Meanwhile, GRCC’s Huskey was named a 2024 Coca-Cola Academic Team Gold Scholar — the top honor for the scholarship in Michigan. “I know I've worked hard,” Huskey said. “But I work hard to benefit those around me, not myself. So, it shocked me to win an award as prestigious as this one.” The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation sponsors the Coca-Cola Academic Team program by recognizing 50 Gold, 50 Silver, and 50 Bronze Scholars with scholarships annually. The program is designed to provide financial assistance to outstanding students at community colleges. “Scholarships like these are integral to the success of these students in reaching their educational and career goals," said Jane Hale Hopkins, president of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. Huskey, who graduated in 2022 from Wayland Union High School, will complete an associate degree in Exercise Science in April. She plans to transfer this fall to the University of West Florida to pursue a bachelor's degree in exercise science and a master's degree in athletic training. Huskey will be recognized for her $1,500 scholarship at Phi Theta Kappa’s annual international convention April 4-6 in Orlando.   You have permission to use the attached photo on all platforms; please credit GRCC/Andrew Schmidt.