September 16, 2021
Grace Christian University requires masks for all indoor public spaces beginning September 16, 2021.
Brian Sherstad
September 7, 2021
Kent County continues to show increases in coronavirus cases and our campus now has a few positive cases as well. We are taking precautions to make sure our students are safe and will monitor numbers across our county and state to make further decisions as needed. Please see the attached letter regarding Covid-19 and our next steps we are asking of staff, faculty, and students. Please be safe and continue to keep others safe.
Student Communication Fall 2021
Kyle Bohl
August 2, 2021
We can’t wait to have you on campus later this month! Please see the attached letter that will give you up to date information regarding the current coronavirus response and plan.
Kyle Bohl
June 1, 2021
Please find the attached letter as it relates to new covid-19 related information regarding On Campus Fall Services.
Kyle Bohl
March 30, 2021
As we wind down this semester (just a few weeks to go!) we want to remind you to stay vigilant and protect yourself and others from Covid-19. The virus has not gone away and cases, positive test rates, and hospitalizations are rising, especially among younger age groups. We have seen cases increase among our staff and students in the last week as well.
As cases rise, it is as important as ever to do your part to ensure that we can finish strong as a community this semester! We still have a mask mandate in place for buildings on our campus. Keep your mask over your nose and mouth. Avoid large gatherings, especially indoors. Wash your hands. Your decision to follow these simple steps can make a big impact on the health of our community.
Check out the video from Associate Vice President of Enrollment and Student Affairs Kyle Bohl:
January 8, 2021
On Campus classes will be held in person beginning Tuesday, January 19, 2021. Remote learning options will be limited. Please review these guidelines regarding remote learning for Spring 2021.
Student Communication Spring 2021
Kim Pilieci
December 24, 2020
Spring 2021 semester to start in-person on Tuesday, January 19, 2021. In cooperation with the request of the State of Michigan, Grace has delayed the start of the Spring 2021 semester.
Brian Sherstad
December 8, 2020
As you complete the Fall 2020 semester, staff and faculty are preparing for the Spring 2021 semester. Grace is committed to your education and we want you to be aware of the plans for Spring semester. We fully intend to be back in person for classroom instruction as well as on campus services including housing, dining, library services, and athletics for Spring 2021. Please see the linked notice for additional details.
Brian Sherstad
November 16, 2020
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has put in place an emergency order which includes COVID-19 safety precautions that affect each and every one of us. As a place of higher education, we believe it is important to follow state suggestions, recommendations, and mandates while also serving you in the best way we know how.
Please see the attached “Frequently Asked Questions” page to assist with viewing Grace’s response to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services posting of emergency order on 11/15/20. Have a question that has not been addressed within this page? Please contact the Student Affairs office.
COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions
Kyle Bohl
November 11, 2020
As COVID-19 positive cases increase in West Michigan, Grace Christian University continues to relay information to the Grace community with emails and attachments of best practices and current opportunities to reach out for help as our community needs arise.
Kyle Bohl
October 20, 2020
As students and staff/faculty continue to navigate the FA20 semester, continued communication is being sent out as needed to ensure everyone has the latest information and is able to make decisions that help to keep themselves, their families and the community safe. Grace will continue to keep safety and health at the top of the priority list as we navigate this year, and years to come!
First Email (10/8)
Second Email (10/14)
Kyle Bohl
August 7, 2020
As part of Grace Christian University Kick-Off days, all students will visit a wellness tent to complete a COVID-19 Screening Questionnaire with a nursing professional before proceeding with the check-in process.
If students are unable to answer ‘no’ to all questions, and/or record a temperature reading above 100.3 degrees Fahrenheit, they will be directed to follow the Next Steps Instructions before returning to the campus of Grace Christian University.
Please review these forms in order to best help you prepare for a healthy and safe return to campus.
July 14, 2020
Grace is excited to welcome our students to campus a few short weeks! Our staff and faculty are continuing to put plans in place to ensure a safe and enjoyable educational experience for the entire Grace community. More information about our plans for a safe semester can be found in our Fall Campus Blueprint. A more detailed description of this plan can be found here. We will continue to expand these plans as we follow developments related to COVID-19 and as local, state and federal authorities establish policies and guidelines. Look for an updated “blueprint” in the near future. We hope you’re having a great summer!
June 18, 2020
We are hard at work making plans for this Fall as we plan for our on-campus student experience, and wanted to share some information with you as you make arrangements for next semester.
Important Fall dates:
| August 11 | Early Fall students and student athletes arrive and check-in (time/place) |
| August 12 | Early Fall classes begin |
| August 17-21 | JOY Project Student Leadership Training (Cafeteria, 12:30 PM – 2 PM each day) |
| August 25 | Virtual Orientation for transfer students (Google Hangout) |
| August 27 | Check-in day for all students |
| August 27-29 | Orientation for all new students |
| August 31 | Fall classes begin |
Housing: We are making decisions about housing placements, but they are coming and will be announced when decisions are final. We plan to offer dual occupancy in our residential halls including dorms, apartments and houses. If a student does not feel comfortable with this residential option, Grace will work with individual students to ensure safety is created.
For more information about orientation, you can check www.gracechristian.edu/accepted-students
May 27, 2020
The US government has created the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act which includes emergency funding for students. For a Grace student to be eligible for these emergency funds, the student must have been attending our On-Campus courses in the Spring 2020 semester, and must have already met all Title IV eligibility requirements by completing a 2019-20 FAFSA. Unfortunately, according to the Department of Education, students who were enrolled exclusively in online programs on March 13 (the date of President Trump’s national emergency proclamation) are not eligible for these emergency relief funds. Students may check their email for further details as it relates specifically to each student.
Business Office
May 15, 2020
Grace Christian University plans to make every effort to have On Campus programming for our undergraduate students this fall. We will create a safe environment where students can belong, be loved, and be purposeful. As state and federal guidelines are established, we will continue to build a vision for the fall and communicate that plan to our returning students, new students, and prospective students and families.
Administration
March 31, 2020
Thank you all for the way in which you quickly moved out of campus housing over the March 21, 22 weekend. We know that placed a burden on many. We are thankful that you have been able to return home prior to Michigan’s shelter-in-place order. We appreciate, also, your patience in waiting for an answer to housing refund questions. Grace will be issuing a 40% refund for Spring 2020 Room/Board fees.
Brian Sherstad
March 27, 2020
Due to the extenuating circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, On Campus undergraduate students will have the option to request (through the google form provided by the Registrar’s Office) for their final letter grades for the Spring 2020 semester to be converted to “Satisfactory” or “NRC (No Record COVID-19)” on their transcripts.
Kim Pilieci
March 20, 2020
Dining services and all residence halls will close for the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester at 6:00 pm, Sunday, March 22. All students and their possessions should be removed from campus by this time. Students with extenuating circumstances who may need ongoing housing should apply for a housing extension through the below form. Classes that normally meet on campus will continue online through the rest of the semester. Our thanks are extended to the faculty who have shifted courses to an online format. Our hope and prayer is that each student will be able to thrive in this new educational environment and meet your learning goals. The Bultema Memorial Library will close as of Sunday, March 22, however learning resources will be available for pickup. Furthermore, all student activities have been canceled for the rest of the semester, including the graduation banquet and the graduation ceremony.
Ken Kemper
March 16, 2020
Letter to campus regarding dining services: Due to Michigan’s Executive Order, all meals will be served to-go. The dining room is not available as an eating space. Meals will be served by staff. No more than five people will be allowed in the service area at a time. We ask all to practice social distancing of at least six feet from one another including while in line to enter the Dining Room.
Jeff Thurmond
March 15, 2020
Letter to out-of-state students living on campus: Due to the possibility of domestic travel restrictions, we will provide you the opportunity to complete your Spring 2020 courses online should you choose to return home at this time. We hope that students will be able to resume classroom instruction beginning April 6. This date, however, is not certain. To be clear, if you choose to go home at this time, and classroom instruction does resume on April 6, you will have the option of either returning to Grand Rapids or completing your courses online.
Brian Sherstad
March 12, 2020
On campus classes are canceled for Friday, March 13, 2020. Classes will resume in an online format beginning Monday, March 16, 2020. Resident Halls, dining, library, and student commons remain available for use. Faculty and staff will be available by appointment as some will be working from home while others will work on campus. Grace discourages large groups meeting on campus and will not allow visitors at this time.
President Kemper
March 3, 2020
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Michigan Department for Public Health have provided a health advisory and recommendations for higher education campuses. While the scope of the infection within the United States is unknown, we are taking this very seriously and are formulating response plans should the coronavirus come closer to our region. We have and will continue to take proper precautions and follow the advice of our local state health officials as we prepare for possible impact.
While we continue to monitor this situation, our cleaning staff are putting extra focus on regularly disinfecting surfaces to prevent the spread of illness. The Grace administrative team is collaborating across the campus to ensure all of our students, faculty, and staff can finish the Spring 2020 semester well whether that be through traditional or nontraditional ways.–
President Kemper
PREVENTION
While we continue to monitor this situation, our cleaning staff are putting extra focus on regularly
disinfecting surfaces to prevent the spread of illness. Please join us in this preventative work by taking
some simple actions as recommended by the CDC:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
- Wash your hands with hot water and soap for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the
restroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing - Stay home if you are ill
PRAYER
Please join us in the most powerful action step which did not make the CDC list: PRAYER! Pray for
those most affected by this outbreak. Pray that the spread of the coronavirus will end. Thank you for your participation in the preventative measures listed above. Please pray for the protection of our community and for those near and far who are affected by this outbreak.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
COVID-19 Information (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
COVID-19 Updates for Kent County (Kent County Health Department)
COVID-19 Global Cases (John Hopkins CSSE)
COVID-19 Symptoms and Prevention (Center for Disease Control and Prevention)