The GRC Foundation hosted a reception to honor its scholarship winners for academic year 2016-17. On September 29, scholarship recipients gathered in the River Room of Student Union building. It was a casual open-house style event with refreshments available for all attendees. Along with the students, the College and Foundation staff and the selection committee were present at the event. The scholarship was divided into several categories: General, need based, program based, single parent, veterans, and merit based. The awards ranged from $300 to $3,000 per student, with the total budget of $527,000. This amount was divided between 248 recipients. Among…
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The Parent Education course has been available at Green River for 50 years and has received a Reduction in Force (RIF) notice. Lesslie Kessler, Early Childhood Education instructor, said the program has been re-worked to be more cost effective to the college. Diana Holz, Early Childhood Education instructor, and Kessler said they want the program to continue even it is reduced. The program supports at-risk children and offers help to parents who require assistance in raising their children. Intructors of the program reach out to families and help prevents court orders. Relationships with families and their children is critical, Kessler said. The…
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The design drafting technology (DT) program was recently notified that they have received a Reduction in Force (RIF) notice for the first time. Like many other programs at Green River College (GRC), design drafting technology received an email regarding a RIF notice. A RIF notice essentially means that a program will be reduced in some shape or form, either by having some cuts made or eliminating the program altogether. If the Drafting Technology program were to be completely eliminated then that would mean that the college would no longer have a DT program, Terry Waagan, design drafting technology faculty, said. About two weeks…
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The Occupational Therapy Program at Green River College is at risk of potentially being cut along with many other programs due to budget issues and enforced by the Program and service Prioritization Process (PPP). This program was employed to help make critical changes in order for the college to experience an enhance of performance and allow programs to work at the highest quality of efficiency. “I hope these programs, including occupational therapy, don’t get cut,” Lindsay Morris, a counselor at Green River, said. Occupational therapy is a helpful and beneficial program, Morris said, but at the same time all programs at…
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The faculty have decided to go on an Unfair Labor Practice strike against the college and its administration due to concerns about potential program cuts and the handling of finances. Jaeney Hoene, United Faculty Coalition president, said the plan is to strike for three days and then return to work. Jamie Fitzgerald, English division chair, said the faculty are striking because of the administration’s refusal to communicate. All the faculty’s attempts to get the administration to listen to them have failed, and Fitzgerald said the strike is a signal to the state. “We know the administration won’t do anything,” Fitzgerald said.…
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A strike could be imminent as the faculty bet on their last horse in the race. Who will come out on top? No one. At this point, no one is going to be coming out without scars, having sacrificed something important. If the administration allows this strike to occur without talking with the union or the faculty this could further send Green River into financial straits. Right now we have a $4 million debt due to poor spending and even worse planning. A strike means students will not be able to finish their classes and some will not be able…
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Tense air permeated the halls of the faculty offices with picket signs resting against the open doors. They read “Tell the College…To Value US, To Listen To US, To Work With US. We want to make GRC better.” Last Wednesday, May 11, President Ely confirmed the fear of many students and faculty alike – programs will be cut. The decision to do so has left many in question whether or not their programs will be existent next year, but more presently, whether a strike will be taking place in response. A button reading “I don’t want to strike but I…