Grand Rapids Community College

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Grand Rapids Community College
GRCC.jpg
TypePublic
Established1914[1]
PresidentDr. Bill Pink[2]
Students15,767[3]
Location
Grand Rapids
,
Michigan
,
United States
CampusMain campus, Grand Rapids
Lakeshore campus, Holland
ColorsMaize and blue [4]
MascotRaiders
Websitewww.grcc.edu
Grand Rapids Community College logo.svg

Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) is a public community college in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

History[]

Grand Rapids Junior College was established on September 21, 1914, after University of Michigan faculty passed a resolution encouraging the establishment of junior colleges in Michigan. Grand Rapids Junior College was the first junior college in Michigan. The college operated out of Central High School, 421 Fountain St. NE, until 1924. The course offerings, based on University of Michigan offerings, were mathematics, history, rhetoric and composition, German, Latin, biology, and physics. All of them were focused on college transfer. The college's first graduating class numbered 49 students, who paid $60 per year for tuition. The following year, to encourage enrollment, tuition was reduced to $40 per year for Grand Rapids residents and $50 for nonresidents.[5] In 1918 Grand Rapids Junior College received its initial accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.[6]

In 1944 the college acquired the Main Building from Grand Rapids Public Schools. Grand Rapids Public Schools Superintendent Arthur W. Krause closed Davis Technical High School to save costs and gave the building to Grand Rapids Junior College. The Main Building was renamed the Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall in March 2019.[7]

Campuses[]

Grand Rapids Community College has several campuses located throughout West Michigan.

GRCC's main Campus in located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. GRCC's downtown learning spaces include a Main Campus and DeVos Campus. These campuses are located adjacent to Grand Rapids Medical Mile and Heritage Hill Historic District.

Due to its location in Downtown Grand Rapids, GRCC is close to local festivals and art shows such as ArtPrize and Festival of the Arts. The downtown campuses are within walking distance to museums, fitness facilities, restaurants and shops.[8]

In addition to the main campus, Grand Rapids Community College has the Lakeshore campus in Holland, Michigan. The Lakeshore campus is composed of six different buildings (locations). Classes offered at the Lakeshore campus are taught at West Ottawa High School north building, Grand Valley State University's Meijer Campus, the Careerline Technical Center, the Midtown Center, Patrick A. Thompson M-TEC.

Facilities[]

GRCC's eleven-block downtown campus includes several classroom buildings, a learning center and library, Spectrum Theater, the Applied Technology Center, a remodeled music building, a fieldhouse with natatorium, a student center (including the Diversity Learning Center), Bostwick Commons, and the state-of-the-art Calkins Science Center. An off-campus “Learning Corner” has been added to serve the East Hills and Eastown neighborhoods as well as the greater Grand Rapids Community.

Library and Learning Commons[]

The Library & Learning Commons (LLC) is located on a hillside in downtown Grand Rapids and offers learner-centered services with the goal of creating successful students capable of continuing their studies or joining the educated workforce of Michigan.

Many professors bring their classes to the LLC both for general research and classroom instruction. The library is supported by a staff of thirteen, half of whom hold professional library degrees. Study spaces are equipped with modern computer workstations, wireless technology, and flexible seating to facilitate collaboration.

Collections include extensive licensed electronic resources and are further enhanced through participation in MEL, the Michigan eLibrary.

Athletics[]

Grand Rapids Community College's athletic teams compete as the Raiders in men's baseball, basketball, golf, and tennis, and in women's basketball, softball, tennis, and volleyball.[9] The college's teams participate in Michigan Community College Athletic Association (MCCAA) competition with the exception of the independent men's tennis team. The school has won 70 MCCAA titles and been awarded the MCCAA All-sports Trophy 13 times.[citation needed]

GRCC is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and has won numerous NJCAA district and regional championships and has appeared in national tournaments several times.[citation needed] The baseball team has won five NJCAA tournaments and the school has been national runner-up five times in five different sports. In addition, the Raiders' football team was honored by the NJCAA as the non-scholarship team national champion in 2005 and 2009, has played in national championship games in 1956, 1988, and 2005, and has played in ten other bowl games.

The college does not participate in the MCCAA-sponsored sports of men's and women's cross country and men's soccer. Former GRCC varsity sports include men's cross country, swimming and diving, track and field, and wrestling, and women's swimming and diving.

In January 2012, GRCC discontinued its football team.[10]

Notable alumni[]

See also[]

  • Central High School (Grand Rapids, Michigan)

References[]

  1. ^ "History of GRCC". Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  2. ^ "Office of the President". GRCC.edu. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  3. ^ "Winter 2014 Enrollment Report" (PDF). GRCC.edu. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  4. ^ "Grand Rapids Community College - Sports Information". grccraiders.com. GRCC. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  5. ^ "Search - Grand Rapids Community College". Retrieved October 27, 2016.
  6. ^ "Search - Grand Rapids Community College". Retrieved October 27, 2016.
  7. ^ "GRCC's Main Building to be transformed, renamed Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall | Grand Rapids Community College". www.grcc.edu.
  8. ^ "Maps - Grand Rapids Community College". Retrieved October 27, 2016.
  9. ^ http://www.braintrack.com/college/u/grand-rapids-community-college
  10. ^ "GRCC Announces Discontinuation of College's Football Program". GRCC.edu. Archived from the original on February 12, 2015. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  11. ^ Metz, Nina (October 26, 2008). "'Project Runway' winner Daniel Vosovic's home is like a truly real reality show". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
  12. ^ Kaczmarczyk, Jeffrey (May 11, 2015). "'The Graduate' actress Elizabeth Wilson remembered for her love of theater and Grand Rapids". The Grand Rapids Press. Retrieved February 23, 2016.

External links[]

Coordinates: 42°57′59″N 85°40′00″W / 42.9665°N 85.6666°W / 42.9665; -85.6666

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