Photos from recent events featuring Bror Saxberg, Robin Kimmerer, and Bryan Alexander
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Lakers Ready
Division of Academic Affairs
November 13, 2023
Lakers Ready is sent by the Office of the Provost
to faculty and staff within the Division of Academic Affairs
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In this issue of Lakers Ready
- Laker to Laker: Message from the Provost
- Updates
- Engaged Scholarship
- Events
- Preparing for Winter Semester
- Important Dates and Links
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Laker to Laker: Message from the Provost
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Dear colleagues,
So much has been happening on campus and in the world these last weeks and months, the planned, the expected, and the unplanned and the unexpected.
As we enter the last month of the semester, I imagine everyone is looking at the finish line and racing to fit in one more concept in class, to organize one more event or meeting, to reach out one more time to struggling students, to submit one more publication, to accomplish one more thing.
As I fully share and empathize with this energy, I find myself strongly compelled to slow down and give this historical juncture we are in the appropriate time and space it warrants. We started this semester highlighting the importance of cognitive endurance, the process of slow, deliberate, and persistent pondering on a topic, as an essential component of students’ intellectual and emotional growth and a foundational pillar of a liberal education. Much has been happening in our classrooms, on GVSU campus, and in the world around us. Are we carving out sanctuaries to reflect on these events, to revisit these concepts, and deliberate on these ideas? Are we supporting our students and supporting each other in fully understanding and appreciating current issues and in identifying our role and agency in them?
This is an invitation to all of us to pause and seize the unique juncture we are in; to prioritize some time for deeper wrestling and exploration over adding more topics and moving to the next thing. The talks and presentations we had in the last month give us much food for thought that is worth revisiting and debating:
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- What Does the Earth Ask of Us?, by Dr. Robin Kimmerer, author of Braiding Sweetgrass, posted on the Brooks College website.
- Higher Education and the Challenges of Climate Change, President’s Forum with Bryan Alexander, author of Universities on Fire.
- Connecting Minds for a Sustainable Climate Future, the 2023 GVSU Climate Change Education Solutions Summit with highlights and keynote here.
- Climate Resilience at GVSU: Scholarship, Stewardship, Leadership, GVSU Quest Series, with Christine Rener, Bob Hollister, Rence Meredith, Bopi Biddanda, Yumiko Jakobcic, and Becky Williams.
- Global Citizenship, with Christopher McKnight Nichols, author of Ideology in U.S. Foreign Relations.
- Learning Engineering: The Art of Applying the Sciences of Learning to Education, President’s Forum, Bror Saxberg, co-author of Breakthrough Leadership in the Digital Age.
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And the above list is only a sample. Many more events, conferences, and talks were sponsored by our faculty and staff. I am proud of the intellectual vibrancy of our GVSU community and inspired by the power of their commitment.
With all my gratitude,
Fatma
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Supporting Student Research in Lab Spaces: For Faculty
The Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship (OURS) is hosting a listening and discussion session for faculty who supervise student research(ers) in lab settings on December 6, 11 a.m., 1142 Kirkhof Center, Allendale Campus. This session will be facilitated by Anna Hammersmith, Associate Professor of Sociology, and Kristin Renkema, Associate Professor of Biomedical Science. Click here to RSVP. The OURS team would like to learn more about:
- The types of research activities ongoing in lab spaces on campus
- How to support students and faculty working in lab environments
- Resources needed to support student work in lab spaces
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Let’s raise a glass to the Class of 2023!
On November 30, Alumni Relations is hosting Toast, a celebration for students graduating this semester. Toast includes brief remarks from an alumni speaker and President Mantella and a champagne toast. The event is free for students to attend. Both undergrad and graduate students are invited. All attendees will receive a gift of a commemorative Laker for a Lifetime champagne flute. Please share this fun event with your students!
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Inclement Weather - Cancellation/Closure/Remote Policy
With the changing seasons and winter weather upon us, faculty and staff are encouraged to review the Cancellation/Closure/Remote policy ( SLT 6.3).
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Congratulations to Kristen Vu, Assistant Professor of Medical Dosimetry, for her $20,000 grant from the American Association of Medical Dosimetrists. The grant will be utilized to acquire an additional server, which will play a pivotal role in facilitating the expected expansion of the Medical Dosimetry program and addressing the shortage of medical dosimetrists.
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Mentoring from Different Perspectives Lunch Sessions
OURS will host mentoring workshop modules that will provide opportunities for faculty and staff to consider how to support student mentees with a focus on trust and belonging. Attendees will collectively reflect on their own experiences with mentoring, highlighting inclusive strategies that make explicit how activities relate to student engagement and development. These workshops will take place on November 15 and November 17, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., 1101 Zumberge Hall, Allendale Campus. Click here to RSVP.
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"Climate Sisu" Documentary and Panel Discussion
Join the Traverse City Regional Center for the "Climate Sisu" Documentary and Panel Discussion on November 30, 7 p.m., Dennos Museum Center, Traverse City, Michigan. In addition to viewing the film, attendees will have the opportunity to hear from environmental activists, climate scientists, and educators who will provide insights on local resources and community initiatives, allowing us to explore potential solutions for climate resiliency.
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| Preparing for Winter Semester
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Winter 2024 Bb Course Availability and Faculty Support
Instructors listed in Banner as the instructor of record will get access to their Winter 2024 Bb courses beginning November 13. The eLearning Technologies team will be hosting virtual office hours for Winter course preps and to assist with end-of-semester questions. See the eLearning Technologies homepage for the dates/times and a Zoom meeting link. Consultations can also be requested.
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Syllabi for Winter 2024
As faculty prepare their syllabi for winter semester, there are policy matters to keep in mind:
- All course syllabi need to include the learning objectives from the updated Syllabi of Record (SOR), per HLC requirements.
- A list of information to be given to students at the beginning of the semester can be found in University Policies. Faculty are expected to include a link to the University's list of policies that apply to all courses. Recommended: "This course is subject to the GVSU policies listed at www.gvsu.edu/coursepolicies." (See University Policies SG 3.04.C for more details.)
- Grand Valley maintains a Religious Inclusion Policy (SLT 9.6) that commits the University to accommodate religious and faith observances and holidays for students, faculty and staff members. Please review the Multifaith Calendar before scheduling exams or similar course events.
- Examination Week is April 20-27, 2024. As outlined in Shared Governance Policies (SG 3.04.F), instructors are expected to provide a culminating experience for each course during Examination Week. This experience should occur at the special time scheduled during Examination Week, which can be found on the Registrar's site. (Any exceptions must be approved by the appropriate academic dean.) Final examinations should be given during the scheduled exam time unless that time is being used for another activity, such as presentations. By administering final examinations during Examination Week rather than the last week of classes, students are provided with the opportunity to better prepare, which will support student success. Additionally, the University counts class time during exam week as part of the contact hours for the course, and this is reported to our accreditors.
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Ensuring that syllabi clearly describes the professor's expectations of students is important. For example, including additional expectations about course schedule or format changes, revised technology requirements, or adoption of new learning materials may be necessary. The Pew FTLC website offers information on Syllabus Design as well as Syllabus Statement Examples.
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Important Dates and Links
Dates
11/22-26 - Thanksgiving Recess
12/9 - Commencement - 3:00 p.m., Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids
12/9-16 - Exam week
Links
Lakers Ready - repository of this weekly newsletter and a link to submit content
Laker Family Network - repository of the monthly newsletter sent by the Division of Student Affairs to GVSU parents/supporters
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