By Aspen Strauss
On May 11, 2021, Grand Rapids Community College was saluted by U.S. Education Secretary, Miguel Cardona, for its efforts to help, support and care for the students who faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the struggles that students faced, it was clear that GRCC was looking out for their students in the best way possible. GRCC was able to provide more than 630 loaner laptops to those in need, along with 400 internet Wi-Fi hotspots and other equipment. The college was able to partner with the Kent District Library to provide Wi-Fi in 20 branches around the county, including in parking lots so students could connect and complete assignments after hours.
The college also partnered with its community to replenish its food pantry for more than a year which helped provide thousands of packages to students facing food shortages and insecurity which still continues today.
Bill Pink, GRCC’s president, was asked to participate in a call with Cardona to discuss a $36 billion emergency grant that was provided by the Department of Education under the American Rescue Plan Act for post-secondary education.
Over 60 colleges and universities in Michigan are expected to receive some sort of grant from the $36 billion, but it is slated for GRCC to receive about $25 million to help students overcome obstacles that were created by COVID-19. The $25 million will help these students recover and this funding will also help offset costs related to the pandemic and prepare the campus for additional students.
Cardona stated that he invited Pink to participate because he was thoroughly impressed by how GRCC has used previous federal support efforts to help their students.
“They’re actually an exemplar in how they reach out into the community and get those students who were hit the hardest,” stated Cardona, in a press release. “Including students from rural communities, which were impacted greatly by the pandemic.”
After a the state of emergency was declared in Michigan, GRCC along with many other colleges and universities transitioned almost 100% to remote classes after the pandemic hit. Because of this, many students found themselves struggling financially as they had to balance work and school. Not to mention the students who lost their jobs due to the pandemic or had work hours reduced. The transition to online learning revealed that many students were unable to get access to computers, reliable internet service and the equipment needed to participate in classes.
“This pandemic has been hard on our state,” stated Pink, in a press release. “This institution has been focused on how we can support our students, no matter where they come to us from.”
GRCC was able to distribute about $3.4 million in federal CARES Act funding directly to students to help them with food, health care, child care and technology and is in the process of distributing additional resources made available through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriation Act.
“These funds will help us, and it will help these students. We know many students told us this school year, ‘We’re sitting it out. We’re not even going to college,’” Pink stated. “Now that we’re able to get these types of funds in place, it will help us in helping those students re-engage because now, these funds can take some other barriers off the table.”
The American Rescue Plan grants will help over 5,000 institutions of higher education.
“This American rescue plan funding will give us the opportunity to continue this work and relieve some of the barriers we know our students are experiencing,” Pink stated.
This includes historically Black, tribal and Hispanic serving colleges and institutions.
“These funds are critical to ensuring that all of our nation’s students – particularly those disproportionately impacted by COVID-10 pandemic – have the opportunity to enroll, continue their education, graduate and pursue their careers,” Cardona stated. “With this action, thousands of institutions will be able to provide direct relief to students who need it most, so we can make sure that we don’t only recover from the pandemic, but also build back stronger than before.”
