Lakers Ready

Division of Academic Affairs

August 26, 2024

Lakers Ready is sent by the Office of the Provost
to faculty and staff within the Division of Academic Affairs

In this issue of Lakers Ready

A Note from the Provost

Dear Colleagues: 

Welcome to the first week of the new academic year. I want to express how wonderful it has been to meet and connect with so many of you at our recent start-up events. Whether at New Faculty Orientation, the college meetings, the University Address and Picnic, or Convocation, the energy and excitement across our campuses have been truly inspiring.  

Together, we are ready to support and engage our students with renewed enthusiasm and commitment. Let’s make this year a remarkable one, filled with growth, collaboration, and success for everyone in our Laker community. 

As we embark on this journey, I want to reiterate some thoughts that I shared during the college start-up meetings, as many of you expressed interest in my vision as I step into the Acting Provost role. My vision is one of co-creation – a vision for Academic Affairs that is anchored in our institutional strengths, assets and core values, guiding us toward thoughtful and bold changes that will bring us into a thriving future. 

At the heart of this vision is a dedication to advancing Grand Valley’s Reach Higher 2025 commitments by realizing our Academic Affairs priorities and expanding my understanding of the excellent work being done in our colleges and across the institution. 

I will foster a team-based approach that prioritizes active engagement and deep collaboration across all university divisions and constituencies, ensuring close partnerships between faculty, staff, and leadership at all levels. 

As we move forward together, you’ll see that I am grounded in my personal leadership values of collaboration and communication, honesty and integrity, and a decision-making framework that balances empathy and creativity. 

I look forward to our shared work and the year ahead! 

Jennifer Drake 
Acting Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs 

At last week’s University Address, I was pleased to read a poem by Alberto Álvaro Ríos. Several people have asked me to share his poem, so I am pleased to do that here. 

Don’t Go Into the Library  

The library is dangerous— 
Don’t go in. If you do 

You know what will happen. 
It’s like a pet store or a bakery— 

Every single time you’ll come out of there 
Holding something in your arms. 

Those novels with their big eyes. 
And those no-nonsense, all muscle 

Greyhounds and Dobermans, 
All non-fiction and business, 

Cuddly when they’re young, 
But then the first page is turned. 

The doughnut scent of it all, knowledge, 
The aroma of coffee being made 

In all those books, something for everyone, 
The deli offerings of civilization itself. 

The library is the book of books, 
Its concrete and wood and glass covers 

Keeping within them the very big, 
Very long story of everything. 

The library is dangerous, full 
Of answers. If you go inside, 

You may not come out 
The same person who went in. 

Updates

Dr. Jackie Zhang recently stepped down from his position as Dean of the College of Health Professions to attend to family commitments. On August 19, Acting Provost Drake announced that Dr. Jeff Potteiger will serve as the Interim Dean of the College of Health Professions for the next two years. Dr. Potteiger is well respected across the institution and has served as the Vice Provost for the Graduate School, which he will also continue to do until a replacement is named. The Provost and Dr. Potteiger are working together to identify someone to fill the Vice Provost position, and that decision should be announced just after Labor Day.

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Robert Smart, Vice Provost for Research Administration, has agreed to stay in his role until the end of this academic year. We closed the internal search for his successor and are working on an updated job description that aligns with GVSU's future needs. A national search will launch later this semester, and opportunities to be involved will be shared as soon as they are available.

Faculty are reminded that Sabbatical leave proposals are due on the sabbatical website no later than 11:59 p.m. on September 1.

Faculty who were on sabbatical for the 2023-2024 academic year or the Winter 2024 semester, are reminded that a final sabbatical report is due by the end of the Fall 2024 semester. However, you are encouraged to submit your sabbatical report as soon as possible. Guidelines for writing a successful sabbatical report as well as directions on how to submit the report are available on the sabbatical website. 

The Academic Spaces website offers room capacities for each classroom on campus, photos, attributes (e.g. tables on wheels), floorplans, and other information. This page also provides information on were to report classroom issues or where to make a space request.

The deadline for students to request a change from a letter grade to a credit/no credit grading format coincides with the 75% tuition refund deadline for a course. For full-term fall courses, this deadline is September 20 at 5:00 p.m. For courses that meet for only a portion of the term, deadlines can be determined by reviewing the searchable course schedule. 

The Kaufman Interfaith Institute has created a simplified Multifaith Calendar which faculty and staff are encouraged to use as a tool when setting important dates and deadlines. Please note - this calendar is a work-in-progress. It is not an exhaustive list of all religious/spiritual holidays. Additional dates may be added. Please contact Liz English with any questions or concerns.

For those who are the hosts of Zoom meetings, do you get tired of having to permit colleagues to share their screens? The solution is to change the default for your meetings so that anyone in attendance automatically has permission to share: (1) Login to the GVSU Zoom website; (2) Select “Settings” from the menu on the left side of the page; (3) Select the "Meetings" tab; (4) Scroll down to “Screen sharing” and adjust the settings as you wish, specifically the “Who Can Share?” item.

GVSU IT is excited to announce a significant change to the IT Service Catalog. This change will greatly enhance your experience when seeking IT support. The updated Catalog adopts the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) industry standards, aimed at simplifying and improving service delivery. Users will be able to find the right service more quickly, saving time when filing a request or reporting an issue. Learn more by watching the 2024 Service Catalog Detailed Overview.

The GVSU community now has access to university resources, events, announcements, services, and technology through Laker Dock, GVSU's NEW online hub. Content is currently student-focused, with faculty and staff content to be added in coming project phases. This is a great tool to reach and connect with students. Download the Laker Dock app or view it on your desktop.

Engaged Scholarship

Tamara Shreiner, Associate Professor of History and Director of CLAS PK-12 Initiatives, published 
Teaching Data Literacy in Social Studies: Principles and Practices to Support Historical Thinking and Civic Engagement. To help ensure that students can evaluate data and use it to promote social justice, this book outlines principles and practices for teaching data literacy as part of social studies education. The author shows how data literacy can support students historical thinking and civic engagement. Click here to learn more about this book.

Congratulations to Larry Wyn, Program Manager in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Regional Math and Science Center, for receiving another state grant of $1,016,667 from Michigan Department of Education, which will support GVSU's efforts for Computer Science Outreach through professional learning and coordinating statewide efforts. The CSforMichigan Collaborative, newly developed by Larry and state partners, is leading a statewide strategic plan to support K-12 districts implementing computer science.

Congratulations to the Physician Assistant Studies (PAS) Program in the College of Health Professions on receiving a five year grant of $1,824,373 from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. This project aims to improve the delivery and accessibility of integrated behavioral health and primary health care services to rural underserved communities in Michigan. The grant will enable enhanced education in behavioral health for PAS faculty, clinical preceptors, and PAS students, including a three-month clinical rotation for PAS students.

Events

The GVSU Padnos International Center invites students, faculty and staff to celebrate our Global Laker community with an international festival on September 4, 12:00-3:00 p.m., Kirkhof Center Lawn, Allendale Campus. Join us for lawn games, live music by Samuel Nalangira, global games, art and activities. Free ice cream! Tie-Dye a free Global Laker T-shirt!

Students can start their adventure at the Study Abroad Fair - the Padnos International Center's biggest event of the year on September 18, 10:00-3:00 p.m., 2250 Kirkhof Center, Allendale Campus. At this event, students are able to browse programs, talk to students that have studied abroad, and meet international students and program directors. Get answers to questions about scholarships, academics, programs, enjoy free food and more.

Important Dates and Links

Previously Shared Events 
9/4 - Global Laker Festival - 12:00 p.m., Kirkhof Center Lawn, Allendale Campus
9/18 - Study Abroad Fair - 10:00 a.m., 2250 Kirkhof Center, Allendale Campus
Every Wednesday through October - SAP Farm Stand - 10:00 a.m., Carillon Tower, Allendale Campus

Dates
8/26 - Classes begin
9/1-2 - Labor Day Recess
10/7-11 - Mid-term Evaluations
10/20-22 - Fall Break
11/27-12/1 - Thanksgiving Recess
12/7 - Commencement
12/7-14 - Examination Week

Links
Lakers Ready - repository of this 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

Lakers Ready will be distributed on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month.