Dear Colleagues,
As we begin the academic year, I am pleased to share that even amid unprecedented uncertainty, Grand Valley finds itself on solid financial footing. Even as the state missed its deadline to pass a budget, we have been able to align with our budget and investments as outlined in my July 11 email to our community. Our enrollment performance for Fall was achieved as planned and we began the year rewarding our faculty and staff with merit increases, making targeted investments in faculty and academic programs and increasing financial aid for students to a record amount.
Unlike many of our peer institutions, we have not pursued any financially driven program eliminations or reductions in force to balance budgets. This stability reflects our disciplined planning and the shared commitment to our mission.
This year, we received a 1.8% funding increase in our state allocation, finally approved in October. While this is slightly higher than our 1% projection, the figure is disappointingly low and one-time in nature, failing to provide continuity or to reward institutions that are growing and succeeding. It will be critically important that as we continue our forward planning and decision making, we exercise sound financial stewardship, assuring our budgets are well aligned with priorities and that we are taking the necessary time to process change.
At today’s Board of Trustees meeting, our continued discipline was reflected in advancing modest but important, capital initiatives. We also secured generous partner support from those who recognize the unique capacity of Grand Valley when extending our reach.
Here is a summary of the actions and significant moves.
Investing on the Valley Campus
Today, the Board approved a series of modest capital projects designed to enhance the learning environment and advance our campus infrastructure in ways that directly serve students and the broader university community.
Student Services Renovation – A full interior renovation will create a modern, welcoming and technology-rich environment for prospective and current students. The redesigned space will accommodate higher visitor volume, foster more personalized interactions and streamline service delivery.
Haas Center for Performing Arts Upgrades – The Louis Armstrong Theatre and its supporting systems will undergo essential improvements to lighting, rigging and audiovisual technology, ensuring this vital instructional and performance space continues to meet the needs of our programs and our community.
Softball/Baseball Training and Locker Room Facility – A new indoor training facility near our current fields will feature batting cages, team locker rooms and shared areas that support athletic and recreational use across the university.
Extending Our Reach
We continue to expand our presence and partnerships in key regions of Michigan, extending Grand Valley’s reach and impact through partnerships that support deep collaboration and innovation.
In Detroit, our new Southeast Michigan partnership within Michigan Central is supported with fully subsidized space, allowing GVSU to bring transformative youth programming and workforce pathways to a world-class innovation hub important to Detroit and our state.
In Southwest Michigan, the now-open Battle Creek Innovation Hub, made possible through the generous support of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, provides a platform for education, entrepreneurship and community engagement that advances both regional and statewide prosperity.
Stewardship and Strategic Discipline
This disciplined approach to planning, investment and partnership continues to be a hallmark of Grand Valley. We move forward with confidence, ensuring that every dollar we spend and every partnership we form aligns tightly with our mission and priorities.
As we continue our Fiscal Year 2027 planning, we will ensure that, even with fiscal uncertainty, we remain committed to a model of shared leadership while managing risk and focusing on aligning our budget with our mission, vision and values.
Thank you for your continued dedication to our learners, to one another and to the enduring strength of Grand Valley. Together, we are demonstrating how disciplined stewardship enables innovation, stability and impact that benefits our entire state and does not compromise the value of the education that today’s learners deserve.
With gratitude,
Philly
