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As �����鶹��Ʒ���� (GGC) prepares to welcome students back for the fall semester, the campus is buzzing with activity. From finalizing academic schedules and student programming to refreshing classrooms and residence halls, the energy is building.

“With fewer students on campus during the summer, it’s a great time for us to inspect all the classrooms, from cleaning to making sure the equipment is in good working order,” said Ed Dyal, assistant director of campus logistics. “That also includes making sure our furniture is in good shape, and the landscaping throughout the campus is pristine. We have a high standard when it comes to making that good first impression.”

In the classrooms and labs, faculty are busy preparing materials. For Morgan Southerland, lab supervisor, that means getting science labs ready.

“This is our time to reset the labs, including anatomy and physiology, biochemistry, biology and microbiology,” she said. “This fall, we’ll have up to 60 labs ready for classes. It’s a lot of work, and thanks to help from our student lab assistants, we’ll be ready. These students assist with things like solution prep, stocking supply carts, setting up lab tables and preparing bacterial cultures and making sure lab coats are restocked.”

Haley Sharpton, a senior biology major, likes the hands-on experience she is gaining by working in the lab.

“Biology is great because you can go into so many different aspects,” she said. “I want to become a medical science liaison, work in a hospital or lab setting and study genetics.”

For Lynn Ashton, a junior biology major, working in the lab means doing what she loves.

“I took a research biology class and fell in love with it,” she said. “I want to earn my PhD in microbiology and focus on antibiotic resistance,”

While biology isn’t her focus, Andrea Bake, a junior nursing major, said the experience will help her in her career.

“This experience is helping me be more familiar with set-up,” she said. “I want to be a nurse in the NICU or labor and delivery.”

For the nearly 1,000 students that will be moving into GGC’s residence halls, planning is key to ensuring that they feel welcomed and connected.

“The suites are in tip-top shape and we’re putting the finishing touches on the activities we’ll be offering to our residents. We want them to have a great living and learning experience,” said Ricky Clark, director of student housing. “There’s a lot of excitement building up. Our RAs (resident assistants) are in training to welcome our new and returning Grizzlies. This is where greatness lives!”

Another important element of campus life? Food.

“We are preparing our six unique on campus dining venues, each offering a variety of options for students, faculty and staff.” said Victoria Hanson, director of auxiliary services. “We’re also gearing up for the numerous special events on campus.”

Along with dining, Hanson’s team is also getting the GGC Bookstore ready.

“We have books arriving daily so we’re getting them ready for students to pick up,” she said. “We make it as quick and convenient as possible. Students can go to the bookstore’s second floor concierge and pick up their books.”

Even with all the activity on campus, something special like a birthday doesn’t go unnoticed.

“We celebrate everyone’s birthday,” said Hanson. “Any GGC student, faculty or staff can stop by the dining hall to pick up a free cupcake.”

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