Dear faculty and staff,

As we settle into the fall semester, I want to take a moment to pause, check in, and celebrate what connects us. While this academic year has brought its share of momentum and complexity, the people across our campuses constantly remind me of Grand Valley’s vibrancy, an energy powered by our people learning, collaborating, and growing together.

That vibrant culture thrives when we actively invest in mutual respect, curiosity, and care for one another and for our students. Higher education at its best is a place where we can explore big questions, challenge ideas passionately, and still uplift each other every step of the way. We have a wonderful opportunity every day to model what a truly supportive community looks like, one where we listen with generosity, assume positive intent, and ensure all our students and colleagues know they are valued members of the Laker family.

That shared commitment is already showing up in remarkable ways across our university. Grand Valley was recently recognized with a 2026 Higher Education Excellence and Distinction (HEED) Award from Insight Into Academia, an honor that reflects the collective dedication you bring to building an inviting, world-class learning environment. Building on that momentum, our 2026-2027 PEC Strategic Plan is now live on our website, outlining our vision and roadmap for continuing to invest in and uplift our people.

Because pouring into our community begins with replenishing ourselves, we have a wonderful lineup of wellness opportunities scheduled over the next few weeks. I hope you will take some time to explore what speaks to you, whether that is an hour to move, connect with colleagues, learn something new, or simply pause and recharge.

Thank you for the care you continue to bring to your work, to one another, and to our campus community at large. The way we choose to show up for one another and our students matters and is what truly sets our community apart.

Sincerely,

Robert Shorty, Ph.D.
Vice President for People, Equity, and Culture,
Chief People and Inclusion & Equity Officer

GVSU is excited to welcome Bethanie Nonami, award-winning AI facilitator and Certified AI Consultant, for a special keynote and fireside chat exploring AI tools and it's impact on people and place.

In partnership with Kirkhof College of Nursing, the GVSU Campus Health Center will be hosting Flu Vaccine Clinics on campus, beginning September 28. View the full schedule and sign-up.

Get to know your fellow Lakers from across different religious, secular, and spiritual identities and traditions over a free dinner and intentional, facilitated conversation. View dates and dinner themes (registration required!).

Implicit Bias refers to the beliefs, thoughts, attitudes, and emotions that impact our behaviors, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner. Learn more about this training and register.

Join us to celebrate our talented GVSU women and to honor the recipients of this year's Celebrating Women Awards. RSVP for the Celebrating Women Awards Luncheon.

Celebrate Ombuds Day and the 5th Anniversary of GVSU's Employee Ombuds office. Stop in for wellness activities (poetry and drawing), lunch, office tours, and a Kahoot quiz (with a chance to win prizes!).

Join the Rainbow Resource Center for our bi-annual queer and trans pool party! Our fall edition has a Halloween theme. Join us for free pizza, swimming, rock climbing, and a crafting activity. 

In this interactive workshop, participants will explore the connection between creativity and well-being through four hands-on poetry stations. Register for Poetry for Well-being.

The Climate Change Education Solutions Summit (CCESS) is an annual, multi-disciplinary international conference hosted by Grand Valley State University. Learn more and register for the conference.

Inspired in part by Colombia’s Feria de las Flores (Festival of Flowers), the celebration will mark the end of Hispanic Heritage Month and highlight the diversity within Hispanic and Latine/Latinx American cultures. RSVP for Flores y Cultura.

Join us as we commemorate two decades of community, advocacy, and belonging at Grand Valley State University. RSVP for the 20th anniversary celebration.

Bring your lunch and join colleagues for an interactive workshop exploring the role of humor and joy in the workplace. Register via Workday Learning.

Things We Imagined - Black Futurity and Academic Life, is a powerful documentary that explores the journeys, aspirations, and lived experiences of Black faculty in higher education. Learn more and RSVP for Things We Imagined by October 20.

As part of the first phase of Workday Student going live in October, there will be a temporary pause on moving candidates through the “Ready for Hire” stage, which is the final step of the recruiting process. This stage comes after application review, an offer has been made and accepted, and the background check has been completed.

The pause will affect faculty, staff and graduate assistant hires from October 9-22, and student employee hires from October 13-22.

Read more on the Workday website under "Monthly Highlights."

Workday will be unavailable, including for time entry, at the following times during the week leading up to go-live:

This means you will not be able to enter time during these periods. Additional details will be shared as we approach these dates.

The GVSU Teach-In: Lifelong Learning Toward Educational Equity and Action is a campus-wide opportunity that explores educational equity across disciplines. Faculty, staff, and students are invited to submit session proposals by October 11.

Want to attend? Save the date for November 10 (Valley Campus) and November 11 (City Campus).

As integral partners for actualizing shared equity leadership, GVSU's eight Faculty & Staff Associations (FSA) work throughout the year to:

Open to all faculty and staff, FSAs advance our collective commitment to an inclusive and equitable campus community. Whether you're interested in attending events, joining a planning committee, or taking on a leadership role, there's a place for you. All levels of engagement are welcome and appreciated.

Learn more at gvsu.edu/inclusion/fsa.

Wondering what the round icons are throughout the newsletter? The icons identify which dimension of wellness an event or activity relates to the most! Review the dimensions of wellness "key" to discover which dimension each icon represents.