Photo by Eric Gray/Collegiate

Student Congress President and Collegiate Staff Writer Sarah Wiltenburg attempts toprotest during the First Amendment Free Food Festival.

Setting students up for success
By Shanda Borst
Collegiate Staff Writer

Administration has set new prerequisites for students.

Students are set up for success as administration adjust prerequisite courses, said GRCC counselor Frederick M. Zomer and Laurie Chesley, Ph.D. Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences.

Zomer explained that, “as a whole, prerequisites really are efforts of the college to improve the student’s success. It’s about getting students in the correct spot.”

Currently, there are some prerequisite courses established. Each academic department determines whether or not to implement prerequisites.

“They provide a base for skills needed,” said Chesley.

Each academic department analyzes the current success rate in their courses and determine whether or not prerequisite courses would benefit the program or if the curriculum needs adjustment, Chesley said.

With talks of mandatory placement, prerequisites would make a transition from being a strong suggestion to becoming a requirement.

There is the option of a waiver to be placed on a prerequisite course for “those who have the necessary skills from the corresponding course from another college or university,” said Chesley.

Not good enough the first time
By Lonnie Allen
Editor-in-Chief

A three-month summer search yielded no President costing the college time, money, and resources that could have provided a more thorough process.

The Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) Board of Trustees decided to toss the net out and begin a new presidential search, this time with less community involvement.

During a faculty council meeting in Aug. 11, 2008 the President’s Report reflected comments saying the GRCC Board of Trustees were hasty, and may even have rushed the process.

The August Board of Trustees meeting addressed those concerns of the faculty and staff at the faculty council meeting. The tone and concerns of board members made it clear that this search did not produce what GRCC wanted.

“We have few decisions as trustees,” said Ellen James, GRCC Trustee and Board Treasurer. “I want to make sure we have done the very best in this process.

”The process started with Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT). The ACCT search team was comprised of Dr. Narcisa Polonio, Dr. David Pierce, and Julie Golder. GRCC’s Board agreed to a contract with the ACCT and paid $30,000 for these services.

The ACCT service was to work with the consultant and hold a series of forums and interviews. TheSearch Consultant will work with the Chair of the Search Committee and the staff to compile information. These sessions also provide insight into major issues, concerns and priorities of the college community.

“The contract provides for additional services at no charge to the college because the initial search did not produce a President,” said Gary Schenk, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees.

Information from GRCC President Trustee Executive Office explained that another $9,014 was spent to court the candidates. Totaling a cost of $39,014 for the first presidential search with no candidate acceptable enough for the college.

“Obliviously, the college, while interviewing is also courting the candidates and payment for travel and accommodations is a normal part of the process,” Schenk said.

“The Board of trustees job is to listen to everyone.” Said Schenk, “There were far more people involved in the decision to continue the search then just faculty and staff.” GRCC Board Trustee Michael Sterns made the motion to extend the search.

“I made this motion because this is an extraordinary place and needs an extraordinary person,” Sterns said.

Chairperson Schenk believed that anyone of the finalists could serve as President of GRCC and function very effectively.

“We had a wonderful selection committee,” James said. “We all came out as a consensus with the selection of candidates.”

Student Congress President Sarah Wiltenburg, the only student representative on the first search, commented on the amount of applications and time spent in trying to narrow down the candidates.

“Honestly I believe we are trying to fulfill a position whose predecessor did great things.” Wiltenburg said. “We say we are not looking for another Juan Olivarez but we are in need of someone who will take this college to the next level.”

The original four finalists received more votes then the other six, Wiltenburg commented. All seemed to be qualified and would probably have made a good President.

“We spent one full day reviewing and discussing résumés,” said Wiltenburg, “then it was two days of interviews.”

Wiltenburg also was the coordinator of the student forums where she facilitated questions from students to the candidates. This forum is where Wiltenburg’s opinion changed and she believed GRCC needed to go back out for a new search.

The interaction with students and the demeanor of the candidates was one of the reasons Wiltenburg had this opinion.

On September 11, 2008 at a special meeting Wednesday night the GRCC Board of Trustees announced how the second round of search would unfold.

Campus under construction
By Samantha Resner
Collegiate Staff Writer

After coming back to school this fall, students may notice some changes.

Many improvements were made to the school over the summer, and many are still being made. One change that has been made is the ATC green roof. This is a garden that covers most of the roof on the ATC building and the patio above Art and Bev’s.

The main purpose of the green roof is for storm water management. Tom Smith, Director of Facilities, said that the garden will retain 80-100 percent of storm water, so it will help prevent flooding and protect the building. The garden will also serve for educational purposes.

“The intention is that culinary students may use it to grow their own herbs,” Smith said. Science Classes may also be able to study the garden.

“The garden is about 20,000 sq. ft.,” reported Smith.

The ATC green roof should be complete by early Oct.

Other construction projects include: remodeling Winchester Alley with new paint, carpet and furniture. This is said to be complete by the middle of October.

Due to deterioration, the Ford Fieldhouse roof was replaced over the summer, and a testing lab is being built in the disability support services. Emergency call boxes were replaced in parking ramps and now include PA systems, and approximately ten classrooms in Cook Hall were upgraded with new technology and carpeting. The learning center is being upgraded as well.

Loan program described as “efficient.”
By Carolyn Kennedy
Collegiate Staff Writer

This fall GRCC instituted the Federal Direct Loan Program (FDLP), which has replaced the Federal Family Education Loan program.

The major differences between these loans are where the funding comes from. With the FDLP, the college receives money directly from the Department of Education. The FDLP loan removes private lenders from the loan process.

“We tried to implement the new program as quickly as possible with the least amount of change in order to phase into it, the switch was in the best interest of our students,” said Jill Nutt, Executive Director of Student Financial Aid Services.

“The Federal Direct Loans have made the loan process more efficient; some say the banks had too much control and were monopolizing markets,” Nutt explains. “This loan puts more control into GRCC’s hands; we no longer have to worry about the money traveling from A to B to C.”

Before the direct loan was implemented GRCC had to deal with private lenders, in addition to the government.

From a student’s perspective, the process is very similar, most of the changes have been in the Financial Aid Office. Some of these changes include sending and receiving increased amounts of information to the Department of Education. The Financial Aid Office is also required to reconcile their books monthly, which is different than their previous requirement of an annual audit from the Federal Family Education Loan.

Most community colleges still use the Federal Family Education Loan, but many larger Michigan schools participate in the Federal Direct Student Loan. The choice depends on the needs of each institution.

GRCC had previously worked with 8-10 banks as lenders.

One incentive behind private lenders willingness to lend was to retain these future professionals for their customer base. Lenders started cutting out smaller schools from this process because they retained fewer customers from these institutions.

Because of the dismissive behavior of these lenders GRCC was experiencing many difficulties with the application process alone. One student filled out applications for four different lenders before he was able to secure a loan. This was not because of his eligibility, but because many lenders were quickly dropping out of the program.

GRCC began to worry if any banks would continue to lend to their students, and because the Department of Education was not stepping in to fix the problem, GRCC had to make a decision that they felt was in the best interest of their students.

288 students who had applied for the old loan for the fall semester had to change to the new loan. GRCC contacted each student with information on the change and followed through with processing these students.

One adjustment that students will have to make with the new loan process is keeping track of their pin numbers; each student is assigned a pin number that is used to sign all promissory notes. For the Federal Family Education Loan, the pin number was only used to sign FASFA forms. GRCC cannot access the student’s pin number if they have forgotten it or if it has been deactivated, and they have to contact the lender directly to obtain this information.

The Financial Aid office has undergone significant systems changes including software changes, training and set up. GRCC shut down its Web site for three weeks to update the loan changes for students to apply online. It is important that students stay updated on loan information for next year because GRCC will be implementing changes after working out any bugs from the new loan program.

Some positive aspects of this loan program are that the direct loan has been used at most large universities, such as GVSU, which provides an easy transition for students planning on transferring.

It is not too late to apply for financial aid for the fall 2008 semester but the due date for paperwork is Dec. 1.

Students need to be enrolled for at least 6 credits to apply. Students need to stay on top of their payments and not assume things are okay if they have not heard anything about their loans. The Department of Education offers many services to aid students in the process, and there are many other helpful resources available. There are also deferment plans available if a student decides to go back to college, encounters medical issues or is facing economic hardships.

You fail, you lose, you are out
By Jacqueline Prins
Web Design Editor

The new Academic Standing Policy has taken flight this fall for GRCC students.

Probations will soon follow, issued for the first time at the end of the 2008 fall semester. Only the students who meet the requirements for satisfactory academic progress will remain standing.

“After the winter semester grades were in, we said, if this policy were in effect today, which it wasn’t, how many students would be in trouble of either probation or suspension?” said Dr. John Cowles, Associate Dean of Counseling. “That number was 2300 students.”

Those who were enrolled in the winter 2008 or the summer 2008 semester at GRCC, who may be affected by the policy, have already been notified by mail or e-mail.

The best way to avoid probation is to take college seriously, Cowles said.

Similar to GRCC’s financial aid policy, the new Academic Standing Policy requires students to maintain a minimum GPA to stay enrolled. This requirement varies from a cumulative GPA of 1.50 required for 12 to 14 credits, to a 2.00 required for 29 credits and above.

“I don’t agree with the policy,” Chris Markus, a GRCC student, said. “This is a community college, a place where students come when they can’t get in anywhere else. It is their last resort.”

Cowles also said a great way to boost a student’s GPA, is for him or her to repeat a class. The better grade gets computed in the student’s GPA. Although the old grade remains on a student’s transcript, it no longer affects the GPA. It also does not increase a student’s overall number of credits.

There is currently no limit as to how many times a class can be repeated at GRCC.

“I think they should take into consideration the diffi- culty level of the class,” Leidy Rufin, another GRCC student said. “A wellness class is not going to be as difficult as a biology class.”

Students who do not meet the set requirements will be placed on probation. During this time, a student is required to meet with a counselor before enrolling in any more classes for the next semester.

“Seats in classes or spots in online classes are not in- finite. Why would we allow someone to take a seat or spot in a class, if they cannot or are not ready to be successful. We have to be good stewards of the resources the community provides to us,“ Cowles said.

This policy may be new to GRCC, but for many other Mich. schools academic standing policies are old news. Since 2002, according to the Grand Valley State University Web site, GVSU has required students to obtain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher to be in good standing.

“I think it is a good idea,” Evan Macklin, a GRCC student said. “It gets rid of people who aren’t putting as much effort in school as they should and it makes room for those who are.”

Financial aid recipients at GRCC are required to meet the GPA criteria of the policy, and also complete 65 percent of their attempted credits. The Academic Standing Policy does not require students to complete any number of credits at this time, but Cowles thinks that will change in the future.

“Some people believe students will try to avoid probation and/or suspension by dropping classes,” he said.

Suspensions will not be issued until May 2009. For more information about GRCC’s new academic standing policy, go to grcc.edu/academicstanding.

The price of life in the fast lane
By Lindsey Regan
Collegiate Staff Writer

Seat belt tickets-$60. Speeding tickets-$ 100+. Not having to pay for rising gas prices because you lost your license-priceless.

With the world growing, peoples lives have become a little more fast paced. When people step into their cars, there is no exception.

“Everyone speeds,” Walker Police Officer Keith Mankel said. “It’s just that nobody wants to get caught.”

However when people do get caught, the outcome can become pricey.

Mich., as well as most other states, runs on a license point system. The district courthouse for each city defines how much each ticket may be.

For most cities the penalties for going 1-10 miles over the speed limit is around $110. Going 11-20 miles over the speed limit is around $125. Reckless driving over the limit not only costs money, but could also mean jail time.

Along with a hefty fine when being pulled over, the ticket will put anywhere from two to four points on your license at one time. These points stay on your record for two years.

Probably one of the biggest costs with points on your license is insurance prices. People may
see these points taking effect even after just one ticket in more ways than one.

According to Booth Hilaski Insurance, located in Dorr, one speeding ticket could raise your insurance up $60 to $70. If someone were to get just six points on their license, they are no longer eligible for standard insurance, and are then put into a high-risk pool.

“The young drivers are the ones in the high risk category because they are so young and inexperienced,” said Leon Hilaski, owner of Booth Hilaski Insurance. “Depending on the violation, your insurance could go up 50 to 75 percent in the high-risk category.”

There is also the risk of getting a suspended license or even losing the license altogether. Most traffic violations don’t come off the driver’s record for two years.

This can be dangerous for those people who can’t seem to lift their foot off the gas pedal. The point system is not only for speeding. It also re- flects any ticket the driver receives, which may include accidents, running a stop light, failing to stop for a school bus or even slow down in a school zone.

The good news, however, is that with gas prices rising so high, many people can’t afford to speed. Most driver’s training programs are also doing a big part in keeping speeding numbers down. They give handbooks that lay everything out for drivers, including information on drinking and driving, speeding and the DMV point system.

New and returning students experience
the time pressure of parking downtown
By Chyrice Phillips
Collegiate Staff Writer

Eric Mullen, GRCC Director of Student Life Center revealed numbers in concern with the parking situation here on campus.

There are a total of 3,500 parking spaces for students on the GRCC campus, and there are approximately 900 parking spaces for students off campus. There are approximately 4,500 students in classes Monday through Thursday, and there are 15,000 students enrolled in GRCC this 2008 fall semester. With the high enrollment rate, parking can be difficult for students and a painful problem.

GRCC Police Officer Jesse Heard is tough when it comes to students obeying the law. Heard knows how to keep structure and make sure that the traffic laws are enforced.

Heard said the parking situation is no big deal to him, it is always like this when school first starts. After the first two weeks the drama usually dies down, and everything goes back to normal.

“Retarded” shouted student Michael Gillette about the parking situation as he raced into class Monday morning. He barely made it on time, after waiting over 30 minutes to get into the Ransom street parking ramp for students.

To improve the parking situation he asked, “Why don’t they just build it taller?”

According to GRCC Police Dispatcher Mercedes Barnum it is easier said than done.

In estimates done by the college, Barnum said, it would take $5,000 to $10,000 per parking space, which she states is an outrageous price and inevitably makes this impossible to achieve.

Another student, Shakedra Joseph said, “I like the parking situation here at the campus, and I do not have a problem with it at all. I like the fact of paying $2.50 compared to the $9.00 figure non students would pay without the Raider Card.” She also states the ramps are easy and convenient for her.

Educational Support Professional, Carol Taylor Kramer, said the parking for her being a staff member is exceptionally good and she has no problems with her parking. The rates are only $5.00 a month and free in the summer. She also said she feels sorry for the students especially the ones that drive a long way.

Mullen also stated that the Rapid offers students a discounted bus pass which consist of 31 rides for $35.00, which would normally cost $41.00 depending on how much a student rides the Rapid. GRCC also reserves over 500 parking spaces in a program called the Dash, which is available on a first come, first serve basis to students.

Dash is a bus service that takes students to and from campus to off campus parking lots.

Campus Events for October 1, 2008
Compiled by Kyle A. Kiekintveld
Collegiate Staff Writer

FreeBlood Drive
October 1, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Located at the Multipurpose room on the Second Floor of the Student Center. Sponsored by Campus Activities Board and Student Life.

Staying Informed about Financial Aid Workshop
October 2, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Held on the Multipurpose room, second floor of the Student Center. Learn about the various types of financial aid and scholarship opportunities that are available. Learn how to apply for financial aid and how to avoid Financial Aid Suspension.

Self-Esteem and Confidence Workshop
October 6, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Held on the Multipurpose room, second floor Student Center. Gain confidence by learning techniques you can use to build self-esteem.

Coping Strategies Workshop
October 7, 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Held on the Multipurpose room, second floor Student Center. Tips and techniques you can use to minimize your stress in school and life.

Diversity Lecture Series XIV Presents Ray Suarez
Fountain Street Church, admission is free. “Media, Politics and Washington: An Evening with Ray Suarez.”

Study Skills and Learn Styles Workshop
October 9, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Held on the Farside room, 1st floor of the Student Center. Gain effective study techniques that are geared towards your learning style. Leave with time management and planning tools that can help you improve your grades.

Student Congress Meeting
October 9, 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Held on the Farside room, First floor of the Student Center.

Time 2 Upgrade You!
October 13, 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
The Farside room, First floor of the Student Center. Job/Career prep workshop to include resume/ cover letter tips, how to dress and how to succeed in an interview. Sponsored by the Black Student Union.

Successful Transfer Planning Workshop
October 13, 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. The Multipurpose room Second floor of the Student Center. Join us to eliminate your confusion about transferring.

Test Taking and Anxiety Workshop
October 15, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
The Multipurpose room, Second floor of the Student Center.

BSU Open Mic Night
October 15, 6:15 p.m. - 9 p.m.
The Quiet Cafe, second floor of the Student Center, sponsored by the Black Student Union.

IVCF Real talk and Bible studies
Tuesday’s 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Wednesday’s 1130 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Thursday’s 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
The student center in room 20 in the Student Life Office talent competition for students. Held in Quiet Café, sponsored by the Black Student Union.

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Current Edition:
October 1, 2008

Next Edition:
October 15, 2008