Grand Rapids Community College — GRCC is waiving online class fees for the upcoming winter 2021 semester, which begins Jan. 11, and has announced students will attend in four different ways.
Class formats are:
- Online classes — entirely online with no set meeting times, and ideal for people who work well independently or who need a flexible schedule.
- Hybrid classes— students work mostly online, with limited meetings on campus.
- Virtual classes — students meet online at specific times using programs such as Zoom, allowing students to interact with faculty and classmates in real time.
- On-campus classes —students meet on campus at specific times, with proper social distancing and safety protocols.
Waiving fees will save students $16 per contact hour, or about $50 for a three-credit class offered online. Students would still be responsible for tuition and other universal fees.
Also, GRCC will ensure students have the technology for the semester, providing loaner laptops and Wi-Fi hotspots. The college also will continue to help students with its food pantry and other support services.
“These class formats allow for a safe environment, and also flexibility for students,” Provost Brian Knetl said, in a press release. “Many students are working around home and job responsibilities, and others are attending as guest students to stay close to home and are planning to transfer credits back to their four-year college or university.”
Questions for the Enrollment Center can be sent to admissions@grcc.edu, or students can call (616) 234-3300. Additional information is on the GRCC website at grcc.edu/admissionsenrollmentcenter.
GRCC has financial aid staff members available through a hotline – 616-234-4030 – or via email at financialaid@grcc.edu to assist with questions about financial aid, payment plans, and whether students might be eligible for tuition-free programs such as Futures for Frontliners and the Grand Rapids Promise Zone. GRCC’s website has more information at grcc.edu/financialaid.
Campus services, including tutoring and support at the GRCC Library and Learning Commons, will continue to be offered remotely. The college continues to work with state and local health authorities to determine when some services can be offered in-person by appointment.GRCC’s Information Technology Department is helping students access technology needed for online learning. Students can reserve a laptop or Wi-Fi hotspot through an online form. Students also can continue to connect to college Wi-Fi in the parking lot behind the Administration Building on the DeVos Campus, and in the parking lots of Kent District Library branches.
