Happy September Faculty and Staff,
 
It's hard to believe how quickly this academic year is unfolding. Our campus is filled with the energy of new beginnings and the rhythm of returning routines. It feels like just yesterday when I joined this amazing community, and now, we are less than a week away from celebrating both my one-year anniversary and the anniversary of the People, Equity, and Culture division.

As we move through the semester, we are also reminded of the rich traditions and cultures that make up our community. This month, we continue to honor Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrate the many contributions of Hispanic and Latino individuals to our society and our campus. We also acknowledge and honor those observing significant religious moments, including Rosh Hashanah and Navratri, among many others. These observances enrich our community, and we extend our best wishes to all who are honoring these special times.

Our shared commitment to Shared Leadership continues to thrive. We are energized by the growing number of voices helping to shape our university's future. By inviting more perspectives, we are not just solving problems, we are building a culture where everyone feels empowered to lead. This is about turning "what if" into "what it is" (click here if you know where I got that from for a prize 😊) and truly owning our part in the university's story. There is incredible work happening across campus to help us become more effective storytellers, ensuring that who we are and what we do resonates with all audiences. Our goal is to inspire others to become a Laker for a Lifetime, and the passion and dedication of our students, faculty, and staff are at the heart of that message.

Speaking of our students. They are the reason we do this work, and their resilience and potential never cease to amaze me. I was recently reminded of this during a visit to our GVSU Bellamy Creek Program. I had the privilege of meeting 16 of our GVSU students who are incarcerated, and their stories were powerful. They spoke so deeply about the transformative and unifying power of education. It was truly inspiring to witness Shared Equity Leadership in action as we listened to their experiences and their plans for the future with their education.

Let's continue to model what the power of community can do and serve as a role model for the world.

Sincerely,

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

Join us for an afternoon event that brings together the rich flavors, music, and voices to celebrate Hispanic Heritage. Enjoy food from a variety of Latin countries while experiencing music and powerful spoken word performances. This celebration of Hispanic Heritage honors the diverse traditions, stories, and creativity that continue to shape our communities. Come ready to savor, listen, and connect. RSVP today!

Light food and refreshments will be provided.

When: September 23, 11:30-1 p.m.
Art Showcase: Noon, by Vane Fortaleza
Where: Honors College 150 (HON 150), Chamberlain Multipurpose Room (Valley Campus)

Co-sponsored by the Division of People, Equity, and Culture and the Office of Multicultural Affairs.

Celebrate Latinx/Hispanic Culture with live music, authentic food, and performances! Led in partnership by the Monarcas, Office of Multicultural Affairs, Latino Student Union, and Laker Familia.

For questions, please contact Graciela Ramirez (ramiregr@mail.gvsu.edu). 

When: October 10, 5-11 p.m.
Where: Kirkhof Center 2250 (KC 2250), Grand River Room (Valley Campus)

No RSVP necessary.

As part of our commitment to sustainability and efficiency, GVSU is offering you the option to receive your IRS Form 1095-C electronically.

Recent updates under the Paperwork Reduction Act allow employers to provide this form electronically and no longer require mailing paper forms. Receiving your 1095-C electronically is secure, faster, and environmentally friendly. The form provides important information about your health coverage and is used when completing your federal tax return.

What You Need to Do:

For support, refer to the How to Change Your 1095-C Delivery Method guide.

Four lucky winners will be selected from those who opt-in to electronic delivery and will receive a $25 Laker Food Co. gift card!

In partnership with Trinity Health, Grand Valley State University’s Benefits & Wellness team is hosting a Mobile Mammography Unit in the Kirkhof Center parking lot on Friday, October 24, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. This is a great opportunity to complete your annual mammogram without having to leave campus!

Pre-registration is required. Walk-ins will not be accepted. Either scan the QR code on the flyer, or call Trinity Health directly at 1-855-559-7179. Once registered, a Trinity Health scheduler will contact you to confirm your appointment time.

Additional Information: 3D digital mammography with onboard private dressing rooms. Most insurance accepted; financial assistance may be available for the uninsured. Open to GVSU employees and campus community members.

For any questions, feel free to contact the Benefits & Wellness team.

The GVSU Teach-In is a two-day campus event where students, faculty, and staff lead educational sessions focused on raising awareness, sharing knowledge, and inspiring action. Mark November 12-13 on your calendar to attend! Interested in presenting? Proposals are due Monday, October 20. 

Learn more about the Teach-In.

Date: Wednesday, October 8th
Time: 8:30-10:45 AM (continental breakfast available at 8:30 AM, event starts at 9 AM)
Location: Kirkhof Center 2204

Brittanie Hernandez-Wilson

Through a keynote presentation and panel discussions participants will engage in conversations about accessibility, equity, and systemic change that directly impact retention, persistence, and belonging. Topics will include reimagining campus culture to support achievement, dismantling ableism in policies and practices that create barriers to completion, and building inclusive environments where all students have the opportunity to thrive academically and personally.

Please RSVP by Monday, October 1. 

The Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center, in collaboration with the LGBT Faculty/Staff Association, is seeking LGBTQIA+ students to participate in our Queer Connections mentoring program. Queer Connections is open to all members of the university community but is specifically designed to match LGBTQIA+ undergraduate students with OUT faculty and staff. Mentoring pairs will meet regularly over a six-month period, during which they will build connections, explore resources, and work toward collaboratively-constructed goals.

Queer Connections Mentoring is Open! Mentors and Mentees please apply. Matching occurs end of September and starts October.

Mentees sign up here. Mentors sign up here.

Save the date for our fall QueeraPOOLooza queer and trans pool party event! We will enjoy a Fieldhouse pool takeover with swimming, games, crafts, food and more!

AFSA Fall Reception - October 6

The Asian Faculty & Staff Association invites you to commemorate a “Moonlit Decade." Join us as we honor 10 years since our organization’s founding. This gathering will be a chance to reconnect with colleagues and friends, meet new members, and look ahead to the next decade of growth, while enjoying dinner and dessert (traditional moon cakes)!

Register by September 29. 

2025 Celebrating Women Awards Luncheon - October 8

Co-sponsored by the Women's Commission, Positive Black Women, the Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and the Center for Women and Gender Equity, enjoy lunch with your community and honor the 2025 Celebrating Women Awards winners. 

RSVP by September 26. 

Faculty and Staff Advocacy Resource Fair - October 15

Presented by the advocacy committee of the LGBT FSA.

Whether you're new to GVSU or have been a part of this community for years, we welcome you to come and learn about on-campus and off-campus resources that support the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. These resources center the needs of GVSU's faculty and staff who identify within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, but we also welcome supportive allies. Intentionally designed as an informal drop-in or come-and-go event, there will be free pizza and beverage options, folks at various tables sharing information about campus & local resources, and additional space to mingle and chat with others. 

For the second year, we are collaborating to bring you a community reading experience focused on conversations about identity and belonging. 

This year, we'll read the novel Like Happiness by Ursula Villarreal-Moura.  

Like Happiness was named a Best Book of 2024 by NPR, San Francisco Chronicle, ELLE, and Them, and was an Indie Next Pick. Macmillan Publishing described it as "A searing debut about the complexities of gender, power, and fame, told through the story of a young woman’s destructive relationship with a legendary writer." 

Book Discussion Part I 

Date: Wednesday, October 22 

Time: 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. 

Location: City Campus - Regency Room, DeVos Center 102E 

Event Details: BYO lunch - beverages & snacks provided!  
RSVP here: https://gvsu.edu/s/3jt 

Book Discussion Part II 

Date: Thursday, November 20 

Time: 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. 

Location: Valley Campus - Room TBD 

Event Details: Join us for afternoon refreshments and conversation! 

RSVP here: https://gvsu.edu/s/3jt 

Generations in the Workplace
October 7, 10-11:30 a.m.

This session explores how generational identities shape workplace expectations, communication styles, and values.

Creative Wellness: Mindful Making
October 16, Noon–1:30 p.m.

Chronic stress can have devastating consequences on your body, your mood, and your behavior. Taking time to create can have rejuvenating impacts on individuals and our communities.

The Office of Civil Rights and Title IX will release an updated Mandatory Reporter training module in Workday soon. You will receive an email notifying you when the module is available, and it will appear in your Workday “tasks” queue at that time.

As we embark on a new academic year, it's a great time to review a brief summary for mandatory reporters on our website!

All GVSU faculty and staff, including student employees, resident assistants and graduate assistants, are designated as mandatory reporters and required to complete annual training. The only exceptions are those who serve in confidential roles, such as counselors in the University Counseling Center, health service providers, Victim Advocates, Student and Employee Ombuds, Human Subjects Researchers (during their studies), and associated staff.  

As a mandatory reporter, you are required to report all known details of actual or suspected discrimination, harassment, or misconduct to OCRTIX. Reporting is available online 24/7, by phone at (616) 331-9530, or through walk-ins (JHZ 4015) during regular business hours. Once a report is made, you are also required to provide information to the impacted party about how to submit their own report and how we can help them.

For any questions about reporting, reach out to our team at titleix@gvsu.edu or (616) 331-9530.

Stop by the Office of the Employee Ombuds on October 9 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in Lake Michigan Hall, 133 LMH, for an open house!

Join us to celebrate National Ombuds Day, explore the office, meet our team, and see what we're all about! Enjoy freepizza, refreshments, and fun door prizes for attending.