Advising Updates and Schedules

John Tankersley will be out of the office on Thursday, January 17 and Friday, January 18.

There will be no advising on Monday, January 21 because Green River will be closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Note: The IP office will be closed on Monday, January 21.

There will be limited advising on Friday, January 25. Please plan ahead if you have questions for your advisor. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

A Message to Students

Dear Students,

There were four recent robberies of international students north of campus near Family of Grace Lutheran Church and Gentry Walk Apartments. Auburn Police arrested two suspects yesterday. The arrests were possible because the victims reported the crimes and Auburn Police followed up quickly.

It is very important that students report such crimes to Auburn Police and Campus Safety as soon as they occur. If you or someone you know is the victim or witness of a crime, here is what you should do immediately:

1. Call 911 on your phone to contact the Police. Operators have access to interpreters of all languages.
2. Call 253-833-9111 Extension #2250 to notify GRCC Campus Safety. A GRCC Safety Officer is available 24 hours a day to answer this phone.
3. Check in with International Programs as soon as possible. We are here to help you.

There are a number of initiatives that are having positive results at reducing crime in the Lea Hill neighborhood.

1. Since Jan. 1, 2008, Auburn Police have taken over the patrol of Lea Hill and have at least one car in the immediate area 24-hours a day and a response rate of just over 2 minutes.
2. GRCC's Safety Ride Program provides free rides to students, who normally walk in the immediate neighborhood from dusk until 4 a.m.
3. Campus Safety has increased its visibility on-campus, at Campus Corner Apartments, and on the perimeter of campus.
4. Personal safety classes have been offered and additional campus training is anticipated.
5. "Safety Cards" promoting personal safety and how to report crimes are being developed with the help of International Programs.
6. Emergency whistles are being distributed to students who walk to school.
7. Washington State Governor Gregoire's proposed operating budget for 2008-09 includes funding for college safety initiatives.

Let us know if you have any questions or concerns. We are committed to continuing to make sure that Green River and the community is safe for our students.

Sincerely,

Ross Jennings

Vice President, International Programs

Campus Safety Ride Program

What is it? An escort and ride from dark to 4:00 am
Who is it for? Students who live at Campus Corner Apartments and students who walk to and from nearby apartment complexes
Where do they drive? To local convenience stores (Circle K and Shell). To and from CCA to neighborhood apartments
How does a student request? Contact Campus Safety Office at 253-288-3350. Please call 5-10 minutes before you need a ride.
This service is FREE.

Inclement Weather Policy

GRCC posts announcements and updates about school closures on the home page of the website when unusual weather occurs. If you are unsure about whether or not to attend classes on any particular day because of unusual weather, please check the GRCC homepage or School Report for school closure information.

IESL Notice

Institutional TOEFL
IESL students can sign up for the Institutional TOEFL in IVA 101. Please see Annemarie or Anita. The test will be on Saturday, February 2 and each student will need to pay $25 to take the test. Please check in at 8:30 am (test begins at 9:00 am). Students that are currently in IESL level 1-4 who score more that 500 on the institutional TOEFL, must be available for an academic orientation on Thursday, March 20 and Friday, March 21.

IP Advising Facebook Account

We invite you to join the IP Advising Facebook group
The IP Advising staff has created a Facebook group- "Green River Community College-International Programs-IP Advising". If you have a Facebook account, we encourage you to join the group and share your experiences and thoughts. If you do not have a Facebook account, it may be a good idea to create one by going to Facebook's homepage so that you can join the network of GRCC friends. This group can provide a forum to discuss advising issues, meet other GRCC students and explore the intricate details of university transfers.

Job Announcement

Are you looking for a job?
The IESL program is looking for a student worker. Preferred hours are from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm. Please contact Debbie VanHoy in the IP office if you are interested.

Club Announcements

VISA
Vietnamese Inspirational Student Association's first meeting of the winter quarter will be on Thursday, January 17 from 5:00 to 6:00 pm. Students will see pictures and videos of the Gator's Night Fashion and Music Show and plan winter quarter activities. Please contact the VISA club members at grcc_visa@yahoo.com for more information.

Without Boundaries
Please come to the Without Boundaries meeting on Wednesday, January 23 at 5:00 pm in SMT 222. The purpose of this new club is to help new international students overcome cultural shock and for club members to experience diversity and discover similarities. Please come to the IP office and speak with John if you have questions about this club.

Peer Mentoring Event

Lunar New Year Celebration
When: Tuesday, February 5 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm
Location: To Be Determined

Activities and Volunteering

Volunteer at the Auburn Food Bank
Friday, January 25 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Thursday, January 31 from 8:00 to 11:00 am
Sign up at Students Programs in the LSC.

Native American Pow Wow at the University of Washington
Saturday, January 26
Cost: $1.00 (transportation included)
Sign up at Student Programs in the LSC.

Snoqualmie Ski and Snowboard Trip
Saturday, February 16
More information to come. Visit Student Programs in the LSC for more information.

Visit the GRCC Events Calendar for more activities and events.

Contact Information