Student Services

Student Services

• Academic Advising and Counseling
• Disabiity and Occupational Support Programs
• TRiO Programs
• Academic Testing Services
• Acdemic Tutoring/Acdemic Support Center
  • Tutorial Labs

Academic Advising and Counseling

Counseling and Career Center
(616) 234-3900
Room 327, Student Center
www.grcc.edu/counseling

Professionally trained and licensed counselors are available to assist students with academic advising, career counseling and personal counseling issues. While attending college, students must make many important decisions regarding courses, program selection, and choice of career.

The Counseling and Career Center assists students in achieving academic, career, and personal success. Services are confidential and free of charge to GRCC students. Appointments must be made in advance. Walk-in services are designed to answer academic questions taking 10 minutes or less and can result in longer wait times during peak times.

• Academic Advising
  Students should meet with a counselor or advisor during their first semester and are encouraged to meet at least annually to review their academic plan. At the initial meeting, counselors and faculty advisors are available to help students understand course placement and to help plan their academic programs. Students are responsible for their academic decisions. Examples of these decisions include but are not limited to the following: exploring possible majors, degrees, and programs of study; and meeting course prerequisites and admission requirements of selected programs. In addition, students desiring to transfer credits to another institution are responsible for verifying transferability. Students must complete a change of major form (found on the website) if they have chosen to change their major.Students changing into or out of a Health curriculum code must contact the Health Admissions Office, (616) 234-4348.
• First-Year Experience
  The First-Year Experience program at Grand Rapids Community College is designed to provide the services and programs new students need in order to be successful. The GRCC First-Year Experience program is designed to help incoming students maximize the first year by offering workshops, lectures, and a two-credit course, College Learning Studies (CLS 100) . CLS 100 is designed to assist new students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to be successful in college. This course is highly recommended to all new students at GRCC and beginning Winter 2014 will be mandatory. See  www.grcc.edu/fye for more information.
• Career Counseling
  Career counseling helps students relate their academic pursuits and personal interests to career goals and objectives. This service provides an opportunity for students to explore various careers through the use of career assessment, library materials, workshops, multimedia and online resources, and career referrals.

The Counseling & Career Center is the GRCC Career Pathways contact/resource site, which provides information, resources and assistance related to career pathway efforts. GRCC uses the six career pathways identified by the State of Michigan. The State of Michigan identifies Career Pathways as broad groupings or “clusters” of work areas that share similar characteristics and whose employment requirements call for many common interests, strengths and competencies. Career Pathways provide a useful framework to aid students and prospective students in making meaningful connections to the world of work. To learn about Grand Rapids Community College curriculum/pathway connections, related occupations and much more, visit the Career Development Web site at www.grcc.edu/careerresources and select Career Pathways, or contact Career Development Services.

• Personal Counseling
  Limited, short-term personal counseling is available to assist students in resolving personal issues that may interfere with their academic progress.

Disability and Occupational Support Programs

Room 368, Student Center

Grand Rapids Community College administers programs to provide academic assistance to students who meet certain eligibility requirements:

• Disability Support Services
  (616) 234-4140
  This office provides accommodations and support to students with disabilities. Arrangements for personal care services are the responsibility of the student (see Regulation 35.135 of the Americans with Disabilities Act).
• Occupational Support Program
  (616) 234-4155
  This program provides special services and support for students in occupational curricula who are disabled, economically disadvantaged, single parents, displaced homemakers, or who use English as a second language. Students involved in non-traditional training and employment are also eligible for the program services.

TRiO Programs

Room 368, Student Center

TRiO Programs promote educational opportunities for low-income, first-generation students and encourage them to enter college, transfer and graduate. TRiO Programs are federally funded by the U.S. Department of Education.

• Student Support Services Program
  (616) 234-3545
  Student Support Services (SSS) is a federally funded program that provides opportunities for academic development, assists students with basic college requirements, and serves to motivate students toward the successful completion of their post-secondary education. The SSS program may also provide grant aid to current SSS participants who are receiving Federal Pell Grants. To receive assistance, students must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment at Grand Rapids Community College in a degree-seeking program. Low-income students who are first-generation (neither parent graduated from a four-year college/university) and are in need of academic support are eligible to participate in SSS.
• Upward Bound Program
  (616) 234-4150
  This pre-college program is designed for low-income and first generation college students who attend Creston or Ottawa Hills High School. The program assists students in building academic skills needed to successfully pursue post-secondary education or training. The program emphasizes skills in reading, writing, math, and science and provides tutoring to students experiencing difficulties. Upward Bound students also have the opportunity to attend a summer residential academic experience where they participate in various enrichment activities, college visitations, and student leadership conferences.

Academic Testing Services

(616) 234-3413
Room 325, Student Center

The Academic Testing Service is available to students who wish to earn credit by examination or have other assessment needs.

• Testing Services
  Academic Testing Services provide testing services for GRCC students and the community at large. We offer a variety of tests from College Level Examination Programs (CLEP) and Challenge exams for college credit, to professional certification exams for the business community. We also offer Online and special proctored exams for students from other colleges. Disability Support Services (DSS) Testing provides reasonable and effective testing accommodations. You must be registered with Disability Support Services for qualify to testing accommodations.

Academic Tutoring/Academic Support Center 

(616) 234-4145
2nd Floor, Learning Center

• Tutoring
  Enthusiastic and encouraging faculty and staff will provide students with academic support. All current GRCC students are welcome, and all of the services are free. We offer a variety of tutorial support to help you become a better learner and to help you achieve your academic and personal goals here at GRCC. The following subject-centered tutorial labs are available on a walk-in basis: Biology; Mathematics; Health; Advanced Math, Physics, and Chemistry; Writing and Language; Business and Accounting; Computers; and Auto CAD/Pro-E/Mechanical Desktop. Locations of the various labs are listed in the Tutorial Labs section. In addition to tutoring and support, all the tutorial labs offer open computing for all GRCC students. If you have questions about our services or want to know more information about anything you see here, please feel free to contact us via the information below, or visit the tutoring office.
• Tutorial Labs
  Many subject-centered tutorial labs are available to GRCC students on a walk-in basis. Professional and student tutors assist students in completing homework assignments, and they answer questions about class lectures or readings assigned in textbooks. A list of the various tutorial labs and locations follows.