GRCC adult ESL program receives state award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Leah Nixon

Director of Communications

616-234-4213

lnixon@grcc.edu

May 12, 2015 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. —Grand Rapids Community College’s adult English-As-a-Second-Language program is one of two in the state to receive an incentive award for meeting or exceeding state testing and employment-related goals.

The program, funded through the state’s Workforce Development Agency, received an additional $5,000 in funding based on its 2013-14 performance.

GRCC’s ESL and Adult Basic Education program served 222 students through an innovative curriculum that assists non-English speakers in acquiring English proficiency and achieving their educational, employment and personal goals.

Students who enrolled in the program were more successful than many of their counterparts across the state in a number of areas:

·         GRCC students met or achieved higher educational gains in Adult Basic Education, Literacy and ESL.

·         Almost 54 percent of GRCC students were able to get jobs after the program, surpassing the state goal of 25 percent.

·         Of the students who found employment, 85 percent were able to retain their jobs, compared to the state target of 50 percent.

“This accomplishment speaks to the strength of the dedicated team that has built this program,” said Dave Selmon, associate dean. “Their commitment to their own professional development, to utilizing the available resources at GRCC, to customer service, and to the continuity between GRCC programs has allowed us to help many members of our community.”

GRCC will host an Adult Education Achievement Celebration at 7 p.m. June 4 in Ford Fieldhouse, 226 Lyon St. NE. The following achievements will be noted:

·         ESL graduates receiving scores of 236 or higher in reading or listening assessments.

·         Students getting an Educational Functional Level Gain.

·         Students who have become U.S. citizens.

·         Students who have completed the financial literacy program.

·         Those receiving their National Career Readiness Certificate.

GRCC offers adult education and ESL and citizenship programs at its Tassell M-TEC facility, 622 Godfrey Ave SW. To learn more about these programs, click here.

Grand Rapids Community College has been offering educational opportunities in West Michigan for 100 years. Established in 1914, the college offers degree courses, certification and training programs, and workshops and personal enrichment classes. Offerings are held on GRCC’s downtown Grand Rapids campus, and at several locations throughout Kent and Ottawa counties, as well as through distance learning.