Updates

Open Access (OA) refers to material that is digital, online, free of charge, and free from most (or all) restrictions on how it is used. University Libraries & Art Museum (ULAM) provides various publication services to faculty and staff. Contact your liaison librarian or the Scholarly Communications team to discuss Open Access publishing options, evaluate OA journals, and identify OA journals that do not charge authors. Authors looking to secure financial support to pay OA journals that do charge publication fees should consult with their unit heads, deans’ offices, and/or the Faculty Research Innovation Center to determine a plan prior to submitting their work.

We have read-and-publish agreements with a number of publishers (The Company of Biologists, Wiley, Cambridge University Press, American Chemical Society (ACS), Oxford University Press), allowing Grand Valley authors to publish OA research articles with no article publishing charge. We welcome recommendations for new read-and-publish agreements.

Did you know that almost every academic journal allows authors to share a pre-publication version of their article online, with no fees? The terms vary by journal, but our author “rights checking” service can help! We encourage authors to submit their articles for us to check the copyright permissions and determine any version(s) of an article that can be shared in ScholarWorks, GVSU’s open-access repository. Sharing content in ScholarWorks improves the visibility and reach of your work while providing long-term access to the work with a static URL. 

This fall, Academic Affairs is continuing the budget education series begun last year with Budget 101: Understanding the GVSU Budget and Budget 201: Understanding Budgetary Levers. 

Budget 102 will focus specifically on the Academic Affairs budget and our ongoing work to ensure our long-term financial sustainability. The session will include a brief overview of where Academic Affairs ended the 2025-2026 fiscal year, where our budget stands today, and the three-year plan to right-size the budget, improve resource distribution, and create greater flexibility across the division. 

Two sessions will be offered: 

The same content will be presented at both sessions. These are in-person sessions only, and seating is limited, so an RSVP is essential. A recording will be available following the sessions for those unable to attend in person. 

To make the most of Budget 102, participants are encouraged to review the materials from Budget 101 and Budget 201 before attending. Materials are available on the Office of the Provost website (GVSU credentials are needed to view content). 

Our goal for these sessions is to continue to build shared understanding of the budget and provide greater transparency about how Academic Affairs is planning and making decisions for the years ahead. 

All members of the University community have the right to engage in political activities as individuals on their own behalf (see BOT 4.1.6.3). However, Section 57 of the Michigan Campaign Finance Act (“Section 57”) provides that the University and those acting for the University are prohibited from using or authorizing the use of public resources to assist, oppose, or influence the nomination or election of a candidate for public office or the qualification, passage, or defeat of a ballot question. This means that University resources, including funds, personnel, office space, computer hardware or software, property, stationery, postage, vehicles, equipment, supplies, or other public resources, cannot be used to support or oppose a candidate or a ballot question. SLT 10.5 provides guidelines intended to help faculty and staff with compliance with applicable law. Here are some illustrative examples of political activities involving University resources would be prohibited by applicable law. To read more, review the new political engagement resource provided in collaboration with the Office of General Counsel.

With the new user interface on Digital Measures, some faculty are reporting having trouble finding previous or current activities or Faculty Workload Plans (FWPs). To view or add activities, use the My Profile link on the left column menu of the home page. To run current or past FWPs, go to Reports on the menu, and then find the report created for your college. Be sure to use the correct dates. Also, another reminder that access to Digital Measures is now through GVSU’s single sign-on (SSO) system.

Completion of the Acrisure Amphitheater and pending completion of the Amway Stadium have changed the parking environment in downtown Grand Rapids. These changes have resulted in multiple changes to parking on the City Campus, affecting the Seward Ramp, Seward Flat Lot, and the DeVos, Fulton, and Mt. Vernon Lots with expansion into more lots in the upcoming months. More information is available at the following website: https://t.e2ma.net/message/3pozci/n1m1sfrf.

Registration is now open for Workday Student Live-Instruction Training Courses for Staff and Faculty Mentors/Advisors. Review the course options on the Workday@GVSU website and enroll through Workday Learning. Prerequisite reading is anticipated for most courses and will be available in late October. Please note: Faculty Mentors will participate in the January 2027 Advising and Academic Progress Report (APR) training offerings. Non-mentor faculty will begin registration for training in August 2027.

As classes get underway, remind students to sign in to Zoom using their GV account (@mail.gvsu.edu) when joining classes and course meetings. Signing in helps instructors identify participants, allows access to meetings restricted to authenticated users, and provides a more secure class environment. Encourage students to sign in before clicking the meeting link. For help, visit the Zoom at GVSU Knowledge Base article.

The Padnos/Sarosik Center for Civil Discourse is excited to announce the selection of the 6th Civil Discourse Faculty Fellow. Dan Cope, Affiliate Faculty in the School of Interdisciplinary Studies, Brooks College, was selected from a field of competitive applications. We look forward to learning from Dan throughout her two-year post as she shares her vision for fostering a culture of constructive and productive conversation rather than polarizing debate.

Ongoing updates and resources related to new executive orders, federal memos, and other important federal actions are available on Division of People, Equity, and Culture website. Updates on executive orders impacting federally-funded projects can be found on the Office of Sponsored Programs website.

Engaged Scholarship

Deana Weibel, Professor of Anthropology, authored The Ultraview Effect: What We Can Learn from Astronauts about Awe, Humility, and Exploring the Unknown. Astronaut accounts reveal how viewing star fields beyond Earth can inspire profound humility. Anthropologist Deana L. Weibel connects this “ultraview effect” to pilgrimage, cognition, spirituality, and the scientific and cultural value of human space exploration. Click here to learn more about this book.

Events

Visiting Artist Maria Lux and students from the Department of Visual and Media Arts created and installed an art exhibition which will remain on view until October 9, during regular building hours at the Padnos Student Gallery, Calder Art Center. Additional events around this exhibition are also planned as part of the GVSU Arts Celebration. 

Please encourage your students to attend the Study Abroad Fair, Padnos Center for Global Experiences' biggest event of the year, September 23 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., 2250 Kirkhof Center, Valley 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 and more.

Join the GVSU Department of Psychology on September 25, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., Loosemore Auditorium, DeVos Center, City Campus, for an evening exploring how the brain experiences art, movies, good design, and even robots. Enjoy three short talks by psychology faculty, browse research posters by faculty and students, and watch guest artist Leon Lou paint live. You might even walk away with a one-of-a-kind portrait. There will be time to connect with alumni and the wider Grand Valley community over hors d'oeuvres. Free and open to the public, learn more on the Psychology website.

GVSU students, faculty, staff, dependents, and retirees are invited to receive a flu vaccine at clinics offered September 28–October 22,11:00 a.m.– 1:00 p.m., at select Valley and City Campus locations. Register in advance on the online form, as supplies are limited. Protect yourself and the GVSU community this flu season.

GVSU faculty and staff are invited to attend the CTE 101 Workshop on September 29,  9:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m., 2204 Kirkhof, Valley Campus. Lunch is provided. Learn how Career and Technical Education (CTE) connects K-12 learning with college and career pathways, hear from local CTE experts and GVSU colleagues, and explore opportunities to strengthen partnerships and support CTE students at GVSU. Space is limited, so register today. Contact Mike Eichberger (eichbem@gvsu.edu) with any questions.

Join the Women's Commission on October 7, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Grand River Room, Kirkhof Center, Valley Campus to celebrate our talented GVSU colleagues and honor the recipients of this year's Celebrating Women Awards. Come for a delicious meal and connect with colleagues from across campus. The Celebrating Women Awards is a longtime collaboration between the Women's Commission, Positive Black Women, the Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and the Center for Women and Gender Equity.

Dr. Steve Mortenson from the Communication Department at the University of Delaware will explain transformative learning theory in action on October 7, 7:00-8:00 p.m., Loosemore Auditorium, City Campus. Using a two-sided, jungian-inspired human personality 'strengths and shadows' deck of cards, Dr. Mortenson will discuss complementary and not-so-complementary interpersonal qualities with implications for improved confrontational interaction. 

Now is the time to register for the 2026 GV Technology Summit, taking place November 3. The event is free for GVSU faculty, staff and students. Explore the event webpage to learn more about the topics and presentations planned for the day. Interested in presenting? Proposals for poster presentations are being accepted through September 15. Be part of this exciting event and discover how GVSU is using technology to enhance teaching, learning, research and work across the university!

In Case You Missed It

8/25 - Tech Week: Is Your Body a Data Center?
9/8- Academic Affairs Future Design Task Force

Important Dates and Links

Previously Shared Events
9/15 - GV Technology Summit 2026 Proposals Due
9/17 - Chalk Art Symposium, 4:00 p.m., Mary Idema Pew Library, Valley Campus
9/18 - Art as a Way of Knowing (and not knowing) Animals: An Artist Talk by Maria Lux, 11:00 a.m., Grand River Room, Kirkhof Center, Valley Campus
9/18 - Animals & Art: Panel Discussion, 2:00 p.m., Grand River Room, Kirkhof Center, Valley Campus
9/23 - Study Abroad Fair, 10:00 a.m., 2250 Kirkhof Center, Valley Campus
9/25 - The Art & Science of Psychology: An Evening with GVSU Psychology, 6:00 p.m., Loosemore Auditorium, DeVos Center, City Campus
9/28 - 10/22 - GVSU Flu Vaccine Clinics
9/29 - CTE 101 Workshop,  9:30 a.m., 2204 Kirkhof, Valley Campus
10/7 - Celebrating Women Awards - 1:00 a.m., Grand River Room, Kirkhof Center, Valley Campus
10/7 - Strengths, Shadows, and Supportive Confrontation, 7:00 p.m., Loosemore Auditorium, City Campus
10/11 - Teach-In Proposals Due
10/13 - Fall Career and Internship Fair, 1:00 p.m., DeVos Place Convention Center
10/14-10/15 - CCESS2026 "Ways of Knowing in Climate Change Education", Kirkhof Center, Valley Campus
11/3 - GV Technology Summit, 8:30 a.m., Kirkhof Center, Valley Campus
11/10-11/11 - GVSU Teach-In

Important Dates
10/26-10/27 - Fall Break
11/25-11/29 - Thanksgiving Recess
12/12 - Commencement
12/12-12/19 - Examination Week
12/22 - Grades Due from Faculty by 12:00 p.m.

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
Laker Weekly - repository of the weekly e-newsletter sent by the Division of Student Affairs to current GVSU students
Inclusion and Equity Institute Workshops - Inclusion and Equity Institute offers free, dynamic, and helpful workshops on a variety of topics

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