GRCC Faculty

NISOD Excellence Award Recipients Announced

2007-03-13T10:50:00.000-04:00

Since its inception in 1978, the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (http://www.nisod.org) has emphasized the importance of teaching and leadership excellence in institutions of higher education. GRCC traditionally nominates a deserving faculty member from the School of Arts and Sciences and Workforce Development. This year, our NISOD Excellence Award Recipients are Bernie Manker (SAS) and Katie Danko (SWD). Here are excerpts from their nominations:

"It gives me great pleasure to recommend Katie Danko for the NISOD Excellence in Education Award. She has achieved excellence in her teaching as evidenced by many student complements. She uses some very innovative techniques ....Katie has been involved in several campus activities. At one point she presented a paper on the Cherry Commission relative to implementing a Bachelors Degree at the community college. She also did a lot of work in organizing a program on campus, “The Salute to Women”, which recognized outstanding females. In addition she often manages departmental events. Katie has helped several new instructors by giving them materials and explaining the principals of learning and teaching."

"Bernie is widely known to be an outstanding and extremely dedicated instructor. His student evaluations are exceptional. His average score on the student evaluations which I have reviewed is 4.9 out of 5.0. He demonstrates a commitment to student learning outside the classroom by hosting a Spanish conversation luncheon opportunity that he coordinated with Eric Mullen. ... In fact, as Bernie and I have interviewed adjunct faculty, he stresses a learning-centered approach to them, especially if they are wholly new to teaching. He always says, "When you start to design a class, don't think about what you want to do; think about what you want your students to learn."

Upon hearing of these nominations, President Olivarez said "great choices, which I strongly support!" Please join us in congratulating these excellent faculty! More details about their nomination, the award and their trip to the 29th annual International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence will follow.

Keith St Clair Shares IIPD Learning

2006-09-26T22:07:00.000-04:00

Keith is a Instructional Improvement Professional Development (IIPD) grant recipient for "Politics of Brazil" in 2004 and "Politics of India" in 2006. In this video, he talks about the presentation he gives to his Political Science students on the Kashmere Border Conflict. Watch to learn more about how faculty and students can benefit from (IIPD) grants. For more detail, visit the GRCC Grants office.

Interim Provost Welcomes Faculty to Fall 2006

2006-09-06T06:37:00.000-04:00

Dr. Don Boyer, Interim Provost, welcomes faculty to Fall 2006! Check out the new Provost website (http://www.grcc.edu/provost). You'll find his Fall 2006 Faculty Memo in a web or Microsoft Word version. You'll also see an updated brochure describing all the areas that fall under Academic and Student Affairs.

Tip: You may want to bookmark the Provost website in your browser. New updates (like the brochure and faculty memo) are often added. Coming next...a "faculty evaluation" page!

Faculty Association President’s Welcome Back, Fall 2006

2006-08-29T23:15:00.000-04:00

Theory of Relativity

Hello, Colleagues:

I’m happy to write that it’s been a relatively quiet summer for your Faculty Association officers and negotiating team, and in the spirit of proportionality I’ll keep this welcome back message relatively quiet, too.

Looking back on the summer, there were relatively few labor relations issues. The one most worthy of note is the accretion into the Faculty Association, after almost a year and a half after the initial request to join, of the Laboratory Technician position. The dispute was settled in Lansing on the morning of the hearing. The addition of two lab techs along with six lab coordinators last spring brings a total of eight new faculty members into the Faculty Association through accretion. In consideration for the accretion of the lab techs, I agreed to advocate for revisions of the contract provision that defines which college job positions should be in the Faculty Association bargaining unit.

In the first half of the summer, your negotiating team resolved a couple of outstanding issues, most particularly a memo of understanding (MOU) allocating $40,000 in retroactive pay for release time assignments. That MOU also formally added a number of release time assignments to our bargaining unit. A second MOU this summer clarified the timing of the overload selection process. Last, we reached agreement on sub pay for job training and agreement on a hybrid job position, a job blending non-credit Training Solutions work and credit classes.

In the second half of the summer, your negotiating team took a relatively long break, one that I hope will suffice to energize them for this year’s contract negotiations. Those negotiations, of course, will be the occupation of this academic year, and I expect that by next summer any other issues will relatively pale in comparison to negotiation of wages and benefits, particularly health care benefits. As during last year, I’ll continue to promote the discussion about how our contract should better provide for adjunct faculty, who should number this fall somewhere around 450. Other important matters by early next summer will be state funding of community colleges, talk of a millage, and Board of Trustees elections.

In hiring news, at the top is the search for a new provost, a search in which yours truly is formally participating. Hiring news about faculty is that ten permanent full-time faculty are joining our ranks this semester. I can’t say they’re new faculty because of the ten only one is new to the college. The other nine have been hired out of the adjunct ranks or were temporary full time faculty. In addition, there will be six temporary full-time positions and, if all goes as planned, searches for six new or replacement full-time faculty. This is relevant - not relatively - good news because of the college’s prohibition against nepotism.

A few reminders are:

• The first adjunct and overload pay will be October 6. Our salary increase this year is 3%, which compares favorably with the 3.2% increase in the Consumer Price Index (measured from July 2005 to July 2006 for Midwest cities our size as reported at http://www.bls.gov/xg_shells/ro5xg01.htm). If you take out the increase in gas prices, it compares very favorably. Relatively speaking, of course.

• Check out the new and improved Faculty Association web page, www.grccfaculty.com! It’s exceptionally helpful and easy to use.

• Read the Faculty Council minutes that come to you every other week.

• Make a copy of your Faculty Information Form (FIF) after you sign it. If there’s an error on your FIF, try to redo your FIF with the appropriate administrator. Print, check and double-check the accuracy of each pay advice.

• Health insurance co-pays on MESSA premiums will begin in November: single, $40/month; double, $75/month; and family, $95/month. Changes in Priority Health or Grand Valley Healthcare Plan are at page 25 of our contract.

• More than half of the full-time faculty members have completed or at least started the fourth year longevity training credit. Full-time faculty who haven’t earned it yet should do so this academic year. The benefit this year is $1,664.

So - it seems that I’ve set a personal best record for brevity. It’s been relatively short, which allows me to write a second very bad joke about relativity: it’s heir pollution.

If you have any questions or comments about anything other than the bad jokes please contact me.

Cordially, your Faculty Association President,
Fred van Hartesveldt ext. 4356

GRCC Faculty Host "Hands-On" Series

2006-05-22T22:19:00.000-04:00

This great video series is hosted by GRCC faculty:

DUANE DAVIS: HANDS ON MUSIC (GR BALLET & BELA FLECK)
[Real Media] [Windows Media]

DR. MATT DOUGLASS: HANDS ON BIOLOGY (LES TASSELL ESTATE)
[Real Media] [Windows Media]

DAVID DYE: HANDS ON ARCHITECTURE
[Real Media] [Windows Media]

DR. MATT DOUGLASS: HANDS ON BIOLOGY (JOHN BALL ZOO VET)
[Real Media] [Windows Media]

DR. MATT DOUGLASS: HANDS ON BIOLOGY (JOHN BALL ZOO VET #2)
[Real Media] [Windows Media]

STEVE ABID: HANDS ON ECONOMICS (KENT COUNTY AIRPORT)
[Real Media] [Windows Media]

BRIAN MORRIS: HANDS ON MUSIC (GALLUP GUITARS/LUTHIER)
[Real Media] [Windows Media]

KEITH ST. CLAIR: HANDS ON POLITICS (PRESIDENTIAL CAUCUS)
[Real Media] [Windows Media]

Future Funding Conversation

2006-05-04T15:23:00.000-04:00

Dear Colleagues:

In this concluding video message in my three-part series, I had the opportunity to speak with Mike Washburn, retiring superintendent of Forest Hills district schools, and a member of the community Future Funding Committee. Through the Board of Trustees' directive, I formed this committee about 3 years ago to assess our financials and to receive community perceptions. They were recently reconvened to respond to our progress on their recommendations, and to assess our current financial condition.

Being strategically positioned for the future in all we do is critical to our success and the success of our students. My end of year message has been designed to share with you three areas in which we are diligently working to ensure that success.

The Open Door campaign for college advancements, the internal work we are pursuing with John Politi on improving our planning, communications and decision making, and now, in this final video message, our strategic planning for future funding are all components in which we all as GRCC employees play a vital role.

Thank you for viewing this final clip, and I hope you enjoyed this new way of receiving information. (see link below)

Sincerely,
Juan

http://real.grcc.edu/ramgen/GRCCTV2/conversationsfuturefunding.rm
http://real.grcc.edu/asxgen/GRCCTV2/conversationsfuturefunding.wmv

Annual All Employee Recognition Reception

2006-05-04T10:53:00.000-04:00

The Annual All Employee Recognition Reception will be held on Friday, May 5, from 11:30 to 1:30 in the ATC. A light lunch will be served from 11:30 to 12:10 with the program starting at 12:15.

IIPD Award Recipients Announced

2006-05-03T10:21:00.000-04:00

The Learning Academy joins the GRCC Foundation in recognizing recipients of IIPD grants for the 2005-2006 academic year. The IIPD program provides valuable support for faculty professional development and ensures continued growth, new avenues of instruction and curriculum, while enhancing student learning, achievement and success. Congratulations to the award recipients.

October, 2005

Jeanette Lochan, Laurence Pierson, Luann Keizer and Mike DeVivo

March, 2006

Keith St. Clair, Lynn Roberts, Kimberly Wyngarden, Sandra Andrews, Matthew R. Douglas, Julie and Paul Hess, Diane Sparks, Deb Vilmont, Rebecca Brinks, Dental Auxiliary Programs Staff, Angus Campbell, Kay T Ramer and Robert Garlough.

The GRCC Grants Office has updated its website www.grcc.edu/grants. You can visit the site for information on grants development, a list of grant resources, access to grant forms, or to download IIPD and SSPD Guidelines and Applications in the Internal Grants section. The Grant Writing Handbook is a treasure trove of knowledge for grant seekers.

Women's Studies Needs Study

2006-05-03T09:07:00.000-04:00

Please take a few moments to fill out this short survey regarding the proposed Women's Studies program. Your input is very important to us. If you have questions about the survey please feel free to contact me or David Cope.

If you have already completed the survey please disregard this message. Thank you for your time. Have a nice summer.

Heath Chelesvig
Research Analyst
Institutional Research & Planning
Grand Rapids Community College

A Conversation with President Olivarez

2006-05-02T12:08:00.000-04:00

Dear Colleagues:

Below you will find the link to the second portion of my video message started last week. In this clip I have a short conversation with John Politi. As many of you know, John started working with GRCC this winter and will continue working with us over the coming year. He is helping us create better alignment of our work to improve our planning, communications, and decision making. Our goal in this effort is to improve student success. Opportunities for engagement in this process will continue over the summer and into the new academic year.

The video clip is 6 minutes; thank you for watching. I will have one more video message this week.

http://real.grcc.edu/ramgen/GRCCTV2/conversationspoliti.rm
http://real.grcc.edu/asxgen/GRCCTV2/conversationspoliti.wmv

Sincerely,
Juan

Open Door Campaign

2006-04-27T12:32:00.000-04:00

Dear Faculty:

In addition to the college-wide message I sent out today, I also wanted to reach each of you as faculty regarding your participation in our Open Door Campaign.

Historically, the GRCC faculty has been in the forefront not only as the largest employee group at the college, but also as the most generous supporters to our Foundation. No doubt your generosity has much to do with the critical role you have with our students and the passion you share to see them succeed.

As we come to the conclusion of the academic year and wrap up the family division efforts of the Open Door Campaign, we need your support now, more than ever. Please take a moment to view the attached message from your association president Fred Van Hartesveldt, who also wished to address all of you directly on this important issue.

http://real.grcc.edu/ramgen/GRCCTV2/vanhartesveldtopendoor.rm
http://real.grcc.edu/asxgen/GRCCTV2/vanhartesveldtopendoor.wmv

Thank you for your commitment to GRCC and our students!

Sincerely,
Juan

Juan R. Olivarez, Ph.D.
President

Paid Readers Needed for Writing Matrix Sample

2006-04-25T10:40:00.000-04:00

We need volunteers to read writing samples for our GLO in written communication. This will require a commitment of two days for training and probably three days of actually scoring the student writing, depending on the number of faculty who volunteer to do this important work.

The training of reading volunteers will run from 8-3 on Thursday May 11 and Friday May 12 with an hour break for lunch on site with snack and lunch provided(We need fuel to work right?)Only people who have participated in training will be eligible to be test readers.

Test readers will be paid $41.92 per hour as per our contract for scoring the exit level writing tests with the matrix. The tests will be read on two or possibly three scoring days from 9-3. The scoring dates are Wednesday May 17, Thursday May 18th and Friday May 20th if needed.

One goal is to score these samples but your participation in this activity will also give you a chance for an exciting professional development opportunity as you cintribute to lively discussions around measuring student writing with other faculty from around the college.
Looking forward to seeing you at training!

Please volunteer for this work by emailing Sharon Wynkoop or James Chesla.

Any Questions? Call Sharon Wynkoop at 4357.

P.S. If you don't volunteer you may never breath a word of shock or complaint about student writing again! (Just kidding!)

GRCC Professor Published

2006-04-02T22:13:00.000-04:00

Paul Krieger [Real video]
His work appears in chapter one of the new edition of Anatomy & Physiology (6th ed.) by Thibodeau and Patton. This includes a series of transparencies of the human body that allows the learner to visually dissect the human body layer by layer simply by turning the pages.

NISOD Excellence Awards

2006-04-02T22:07:00.000-04:00

GRCC faculty Troy Walwood (Workforce Development - Plastics) and Janet Paasche (Arts and Sciences - English) will be recognized for excellence in teaching at the 2006 International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence. Here's what they have to say:

Troy Walwood [WMV or Real video]

"From my first day at the community college and every day since I have found being able to work with our students helping them find the energy of knowledge to face the daily changes in our world keeps me excited about education and the community college. Each and every day we face new challenges as our rapidly changing technologies give us new opportunities, these technologies become the innovations of our classrooms, its this change that keep our educating alive as we strive to meet the needs of tomorrows students. It inspires me when I see a student succeed in the classroom, knowing that when they leave here chances of success are greater."

Janet Paasche [WMV or Real video]

"I have the best of all jobs; I teach. My developmental English students have much catching up to do. But they usually take big steps; it’s rewarding to watch them progress from the faltering steps to a full stride. A few even decide to become English teachers; now that’s progress!

Service-Learning Award

2006-04-02T22:03:00.000-04:00

Mursalata Muhammad [view her Blog] [view her Video]

Mursalata (English) has been awarded the Michigan Campus Compact (MCC) Faculty/Staff Community Service-Learning Award for her outstanding contributions to GRCC and the community. Service Learning is a curriculum component that puts students into the community to enhance classroom theory with real world experience. Muhammad has worked to coordinate service-learning projects within her English classes for the last four years.

This annual award is the highest MCC bestows on faculty and staff in the state of Michigan. Muhammad was nominated by Dr. Judith Kienitz, Professor of Language and Thought at GRCC and her peers. She was recognized at ceremony at the Northbank Center on the University of Michigan-Flint campus as part of the Tenth Annual Institute on Service-Learning "The Places We Live: Student Engagement in Diverse Communities" event.

Excellence in Education Award

2006-04-02T22:01:00.000-04:00

[watch the Real video]

The Excellence in Education Award was established in 1989 to honor an individual GRCC employee for his or her contributions to the College, higher education and the community. It is the highest honor bestowed by the college on an employee. Both an outstanding staff member and an outstanding faculty member receive $1,000 and a $1,000 contribution to the GRCC Foundation, made in their name. The most recent recipients are Mike Kasperlink (faculty) and Klaas Kwant (staff).

You are invited to nominate a colleague who has been employed for at least five years at GRCC and has not received the award previously. The details regarding this prestigious GRCC award are on the Learning Academy site.

Faculty Exchange: Mexico

2006-04-02T21:59:00.000-04:00

Last December GRCC signed a partnership agreement with CONALEP - Jalisco, a college in Jalisco, Mexico that provides for occupational faculty exchanges with American colleges. Jalisco sent its first visitor, Leticia Llamas, a Nursing faculty member, to visit GRCC for a week last December.

Now it’s our turn. We need faculty members in Hospitality Education and the Health Professions who want to visit Mexico for one-two weeks between May 6 and June 30. There you will have the opportunity to meet CONALEP faculty and students in their area of expertise, visit classes and tour facilities, while experiencing the educational culture of another country. Travel, accommodations and food are provided.

If you are interested please contact Laurie Chesley, Fiona Hert, or Aleta Anderson by Friday, March 31 for information and details regarding this great opportunity. The College will select up to two faculty members.

Training Credit

2006-04-02T21:56:00.000-04:00

From: Fred van Hartesveldt, Faculty Association President
To: Full-time Faculty

"For each six hours of longevity training credit you take within the time allowed (see the attached contract provisions), you receive $1,615 for 2005-06, $1,664 for 2006-07, and additional yearly earnings for the rest of your GRCC employment. You may also receive tuition reimbursement. This means that it makes more financial sense to take a class, for which you earn money for years, than to teach an extra class, for which you earn money for only a semester.

Submit the following forms, all attached, to Jim Fox in Human Resources:

1. Course Approval Application: submit this form ten days before beginning the course. You need this form for MA+ credits and for tuition reimbursement, but you don't need it for longevity training without tuition reimbursement. You should receive approval for graduate courses, undergraduate courses, continuing education units, and for various other non-credit activities as outlined in Article 7.D.2 of the contract. If you're seeking longevity training pay for non-credit work, your dean needs to evaluate the nature and amount of the work. Normally, 80 hours of appropriate work experience will equate to one semester credit. I know of no form for this evaluation, so I recommend that you and your dean reduce it to writing.

2. Tuition Reimbursement Form: submit this form after successfully completing the course. I recommend that you submit this form as soon as you get your grade and that you attach copies of the grade and paid tuition receipt. There are limits of four credit hours per semester and eight credit hours per fiscal year.

3. Faculty Advanced Degree/Longevity Training Request: to be paid beginning in the winter semester submit this form by February 16, to be paid beginning in the summer semester submit by June 15, and to be paid beginning in the fall semester submit by September 30.

You should keep copies to document all of your work qualifying you for longevity training credit and copies of the attached forms after you complete them."