Interim President Steven Triezenberg sent a semester update earlier this week to faculty and staff at Grand Rapids Community College. In the update, President Triezenberg highlighted many positive factors that have contributed to the growth, including a milestone enrollment increase at the Lakeshore campus.
Increased student retention was also among those prominent outcomes highlighted in the president’s updates. Triezenberg announced that in the last year, student retention has increased from 47.42% to 51.43%. That’s a 8.46% increase, which is moderately significant.
Triezenberg notices the increase but said he is not getting complacent when it comes to finding ways to keep that percentage trending upward.
“One of the strategic goals for the institution was to increase retention,” Triezenberg said. “The real objective is to help students sustain towards their goals. Goals for community college students are very broad-based. There are a lot of students who may be here for just a few credits and then they’re off to something else. But for a lot of our students who are seeking an associate’s degree, whether it’s part-time or full-time, making sure that they see a way to stay at the project is really important to help them succeed at their goals.”
Triezenberg credits GRCC staff and faculty with playing a significant role in the increase of student retention. By focusing on students’ needs, fostering new programs and initiatives, and letting students know that they care about their academic success, the support from faculty members has helped students to feel more comfortable while furthering their education.
“Well-informed and capable academic advisors paying attention to individual students’ paths, the tutoring programs, we’ve expanded where we have tutoring centers established and those programs really help students get through a particular course or program that helps them persevere,” Triezenberg said. “Financial aid is a part of that also, the state has invested good money into community colleges. Through Community College Guarantee, through the Michigan Reconnect program for those over 25 years old – it’s the whole consultation of wrap-around support that helps us move that needle.”
The president also announced that Forbes magazine named GRCC one of the top 20 employers in Michigan, and among the top 10 for institutions headquartered in Michigan. GRCC was the only community college to make it on the list.
Triezenberg views the Forbes mention as a meaningful recognition that not only showcases GRCC’s accomplishments as an institution, but also the impactful work that GRCC faculty and staff do every day to make students’ academic experience memorable.
“I like the recognition,” Triezenberg said. “It genuinely reflects the quality of the programs, of the faculty, of the staff here, and that’s heartening to see that we got that recognition.”
