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student and parent carrying luggage family standing next to luggage student standing in dorm hallway

1st Year Residency Requirement

Beginning in Fall 2021, all first year students are required to live on campus. Students who are admitted to GVSU as transfer students with first year class standing are not part of the required population. Data at GVSU mirrors that seen across higher education, indicating that students who live on campus have higher GPA's and retention rates, have higher graduation rates and graduate more quickly. The services and supports provided by Housing and Residence Life, along with the connections residents make to campus through their time in housing, result in more academically and socially successful students. These factors make up the foundational purpose for the implementation of this policy.

Students living on campus their first year gain important skills and have greater academic and social success than those living off campus including: 
  • 15% more complete 30 hours by the end of their first year
  • 13% more return for their second year 
  • By the end of their first year, students living on campus have a higher GPA by an average of 1.6 points 
  • They graduate quicker - 12% more at 4 years and 13% more at 6 years
  • They feel a greater sense of belonging and connection with GVSU 

Exemption requests may be submitted along with supporting documentation. Requests will be reviewed by appropriate University staff, and decisions will be based on the information the student has provided to GVSU. 
As Housing & Residence Life continues planning for fall 2021, they look forward to partnering with important resources and services that will help to bring campus to life in the living centers. Faculty and staff across campus play an important role with students, often serving as a mentor or resource when students have challenges. As students share their challenges about living on campus please reach out to the Housing and Residence Life team anytime. They are here to help and look forward to welcoming the 2021 first year class.
This is public health

Collaborative Partnership

Public Health has become quite the buzz term since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. But, public health is a field of study that’s so much more than the pandemic and viruses. It is the “science and art of protecting and improving the health of people and their communities.” This is why Recreation & Wellness (RecWell) is so lucky to have many Master of Public Health (MPH) students on their team for the 2020-2021 school year.

RecWell recognizes that to truly make an impact on student wellbeing it is important to have collaborative partnerships and engage students in the process. And what better way to do that than engage students studying public health? MPH students are trained in health behavior theory and practice skills in addressing the health of populations and the community. Given their experiences as students and their passion for public health, they offer RecWell unique insights and ideas to do more when it comes to promoting health and wellbeing at GVSU.
See below for other ways RecWell has partnered with the MPH program over the past several years:
  • Wellness Taskforce Initiatives
  • Service on the Wellbeing Collective
  • Conducting a Health Promotions Review for GV
  • Support for Sexual Health Initiatives on campus
  • Partnership in research
  • Student Health Promotions Coordinator with RecWell (Katie Jourdan) serves as an adjunct instructor
students waving during commencement students smiling at commencement

Commencement

Winter graduation will look slightly different this year with Grand Valley offering two ways to honor our graduates. 
Virtual Option: Virtual Commencement Ceremony on Friday, April 30 at 7 p.m. – Graduates, families, supporters, and the community can watch live as President Philomena V. Mantella and Provost Maria Cimitile confer the degrees and lead the turning of the tassels.
In-Person Option:  Laker Graduation Celebration in the Fieldhouse Arena on the Allendale campus on Saturday, May 1 – Graduates will be assigned a reservation time based on the college in which their major is found. They will be allowed four guests to accompany them as they walk through the arena and cross the stage alone with opportunities to get several professional photos taken.
For more information about these events or to order caps and gowns, visit the Commencement website.
Virtual Water Coolers Shared Learning Space: Film Series
Upcoming Division of Student Affairs Shared Film Series discussion:

Crip Camp
Co-hosted by Grace Pushman & Jill Wolfe
April 21, 12 - 1 p.m.

Father Soldier Son
Hosted by Jill Wolfe
May 12, 12 - 1 p.m.

Thank you to those of you who attended our Division of Student Affairs Water Coolers this year! 

DSA & University Resources

Division of Student Affairs

Alcohol & Other Drugs Services
Campus Health Center
Career Center
Children's Enrichment Center
Dean of Students Office
Housing & Residence Life
Office of Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution
Office of Student Life
Recreation & Wellness
Student Ombuds
University Counseling Center
Grand Valley State University
1 Campus Drive
202 Student Services Building
Allendale, MI 49401
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