Dear Faculty and Staff,
Since becoming a Laker in October 2024, my excitement to be part of the GVSU community has only grown stronger each day. It's been an incredible journey so far, and I'm truly energized by the opportunity to help lead a division that is so central to creating a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive environment for all of us.
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As Vice President for People, Equity, and Culture (PEC), I'm thrilled to introduce you to the heart of our division, which is designed to unify and strengthen the people-centered operations across campus. PEC brings together Human Resources, Inclusion and Equity, the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX, and the Employee Ombuds under one umbrella, making it easier to work together in service of our community’s needs.
Each department within PEC remains committed to its mission and purpose. The Office of the Employee Ombuds, for example, continues to operate with neutrality and independence. However, by bringing these departments together, we can share resources, reduce duplication, and collaborate more effectively to serve you in a powerful way. This realignment allows us to better support our people and address the needs of our community.
As a reminder, the university is actively tracking executive orders and their potential impact on our campus. We have created a webpage with ongoing updates and relevant resources. Please utilize this central resource to stay informed and share accurate information with your colleagues and students. I also want to acknowledge the uncertainty and questions arising from changes in federal policies. We understand that lives are being affected, and we are committed to navigating this time with care and providing support to all members of our GVSU community.
To keep you connected and informed about PEC initiatives, we are launching a monthly newsletter, combining content from each area in our division. Through this space, we'll share updates, resources, and highlight the important work being done to support our community. To learn more about who we are as a division, please take a moment to watch the short introductory video linked below, which helps to define our mission and some fun pictures from our divisional kick-off (also below).
To further engage with the division and the broader campus community, I invite you to join myself, President Mantella, and other leaders at Insights and Ideas. These sessions have been created to foster space for open dialogue and meaningful conversations around the university's priorities and key initiatives.
I’m honored to be leading PEC, and I look forward to the work we will continue to do together in making GVSU a place where everyone feels supported, valued, and heard.
With Gratitude,
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Robert Shorty
Vice President for People, Equity, and Culture
Chief People and Inclusion & Equity Officer
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Best Practices for Effective Interviewing
Feb 18, 2-3 p.m., Allendale Campus
Mar 12, 2-3 p.m., Virtual
Learn the skills needed to conduct effective interviews, create tailored questions, and make informed decisions.
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Enabling Productive Meetings
Feb 25, 3-4 p.m., Virtual
Discover why conventional “best practice” meeting disciplines often fall short and how to transform meetings into dynamic, productive gatherings.
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Calling All Gallup CertifiedStrengths® Coaches, Facilitators and Practitioners! |
To empower the GVSU community in using their Strengths each and every day, HR is looking to create a robust network of Strengths leaders on campus who have engaged in Gallups Strengths certifications.
If you have received a Strengths certification and are interested in joining a GVSU Strengths Community of Practice, please contact Natalie Trent, trentnat@gvsu.edu. We are gathering interest now to begin bringing Strengths practitioners from around campus together in March. We look forward to meeting with our campus Strengths leaders in the near future!
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Our employee core competencies ask us to continue to cultivate a desire for continuous learning. The Inclusion & Equity Institute is proud to share an expanded and robust set of opportunities seeking to build awareness, knowledge and skills. We encourage everyone to take advantage of these opportunities and to provide us feedback along the way.
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Know Your Rights
Feb 19, 9-11 a.m., Kirkhof Center
Feb 28, 1-3 p.m., Seidman & Virtual
Learn what constitutional rights you hold and how and when to exercise them, whether or not you are a citizen of the United States.
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Faculty and Staff Affinity Groups |
Inclusion & Equity is proud to support our faculty and staff affinity groups, which host various cultural events, engage in mentoring, and foster community among colleagues from diverse backgrounds.
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Asian Authors/Topics Reception
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Meghan Cai, associate professor and East Asian Studies coordinator, and the Asian Faculty & Staff Association are collaborating to sponsor the annual Asian Authors/Topics Reception for 2025. The goal is to highlight the research publications from the past few years from EAS faculty and Asian faculty/staff and provide an opportunity to share their research with the wider university community.
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Request a visit from colleagues in the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX |
Who is a mandatory reporter? What happens after you submit a report? Do you have questions about the university’s Interim Policy Prohibiting Discrimination, Harassment, and Misconduct for All Faculty, Students, Employees, and Third Parties? Connect with the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX to get your answers to your questions and more.
To serve and connect with the whole campus community, colleagues in the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX would like to stop by an upcoming meeting in your office or department. They have prepared a brief ~15 minute presentation to introduce themselves, identify key resources, and answer questions about university policy and resolution processes. They can join a meeting you already have on the calendar or find a new date that works for you.
Please use this form to request a visit. For the question about “Training Program Requested,” please choose “Process Overview: GVSU’s Resolution Process.” You can also submit questions in advance using the box, “Please provide a brief description of the intended audience.”
Email the office at titleix@gvsu.edu or call (616) 331-9530 for more information.
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The Office of the Employee Ombuds offers confidential and voluntary services to help faculty and staff create and maintain a positive working environment, including exploring options, communication and conflict coaching, group facilitation, and providing feedback to campus leaders regarding systemic issues. If you’re not sure where to turn, the Employee Ombuds can be your first contact or your last resort.
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NEW PEC Division Kick-Off: Sharing Our Excitement! |
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If you've made it this far, you deserve a prize (no, really–the first 15 people to fill out this form will receive PEC swag). Thank you for engaging in our efforts to care for people, equity, and culture at GVSU. 💙⚓️
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1 Campus Drive
1000 James H. Zumberge Hall
Allendale, MI 49401
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