The Laker Family Network is a resource of the Division of Student Affairs of Grand Valley State University.
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Dear Laker Families,

As our students return from Fall Break and settle into the rest of the semester, I want to take a moment to thank you for the important role you play in the Grand Valley community. 

Your encouragement, care, and belief in your students make a meaningful difference in their journeys. 

Every day, I see the energy, curiosity, and determination our Lakers bring to their learning, their experiences beyond the classroom, and the communities they are helping to shape. It is inspiring to see them discover new interests, build meaningful connections, and grow in confidence as they pursue their goals. 

At Grand Valley, we believe education is about more than earning a degree. It is about opening doors to opportunity, discovering what's possible, and preparing students to make a difference in the world. Our dedicated faculty and staff work every day to create an environment where students feel supported, challenged, and empowered to succeed. And we know that the support they receive from you is an essential part of that experience. 

As we look toward the remainder of the semester, I am excited about the opportunities ahead for our students and grateful for the partnership we share with you.

Thank you for being part of our Laker family and for all you do to support our students. Together, we are helping them build bright futures and make a lasting impact. 

With appreciation, 

Philomena V. Mantella, PhD
Grand Valley State University
President

Students are invited to learn about campus safety strategies and join the GVSU Department of Public Safety officers, faculty, and classmates for the Valley Campus Safety Tour on Friday, November 6, from 12-2 p.m. Let your Laker know to meet in the Customer Service area of the Valley campus Service Building in Allendale. Refreshments will be provided. If you have questions about the event, please contact Amanda Buday at budaya@gvsu.edu or (616) 331-3137.

Join the Center for Health and Well-being and the GVSU Violence Prevention Task Force for the inaugural Purple Strides: A Domestic Violence Awareness Month Virtual 5K on October 30. Whether you run, walk, roll, or move at your own pace, your participation helps amplify an important message: everyone deserves to feel safe, respected, and supported in their relationships and communities. The Purple Strides 5K is a virtual event, so you can complete your 5K wherever you are! Receive a t-shirt with your $35.00 registration. T-shirts will be mailed or available for pick up on campus.

Need Halloween plans? Take the family for trick-or-treating at the GV Halloween soccer game! Enjoy candy and a fang-tastic game against Northern Michigan.  

In honor of National Mental Health Awareness Month, the University Counseling Center invites parents and supporters to join the campus-wide suicide prevention efforts by attending  a free, online parent and supporter QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training on Tuesday, November 3 at 6 p.m.  

You will learn the highly effective QPR method of suicide prevention, including how to identify the warning signs of mental health distress and respond to mental health emergencies. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college-aged students and, like CPR, QPR saves lives.  

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and GVSU Information Technology wants the Laker Community to stay safe online. Here's a few simple habits can help protect information: 

Pause before you click. Be cautious with unexpected emails, links and attachments. If a message creates a sense of urgency or asks for sensitive information, take a moment to verify it first.

Report phishing. If your student thinks they've received a phishing email, they should forward it to phishing@gvsu.edu for review.

Keep your information private. When using AI tools, only provide the information that’s necessary. For example, a weather app doesn’t need your birthday or email address.

Update your devices. Keep your phone, apps and operating system up to date. Updates often include important security fixes that help protect your device.

Learn to spot and avoid fake social media groups and posts by examining the group’s posts and reviewing administrator profiles to assess whether they may be fake or bot profiles. Some telltale signs that a user is either fake or not human are: their profile/group is newly created and sparse, admins post content that does not match content from reliable, official resources, (usually intended to incite fear or confusion), or content contains AI-generated images or images that are stolen from others’ profiles. 

Interacting with fake groups and profiles by liking or commenting on a post creates the kind of engagement that helps such groups/pages/profiles gain traction. When you encounter a group, page or profile you believe to be fake or potentially harmful, it's best practice to report it to the social platform where it is posted.

The fall Commencement ceremony will be held on December 12 at 4 p.m. in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan at the Van Andel Arena. If your Laker is eligible to graduate this semester, they should apply to graduate. Once they do this, they will receive an invitation to attend the December ceremony. The deadline for graduates to RSVP for the ceremony will be on November 8. Learn more about the ceremony, what graduates can expect, parking, and get answers to frequently asked questions. 

Ahhhh, Laker Family Weekend... one of the best weekends on campus each year! Thank you to all who visited to experience GV with your Laker. Whether you took advantage of the jam-packed schedule of fun, or stopped by just a few of the events, take a moment to relive the grand memories of Laker Family Weekend! 

Thanksgiving Recess: November 25 - 29

Commencement: December 12

Exams: December 14-19

Academic Calendar

Events Calendar

A gift of any size to the Laker Experience Fund goes directly to supporting students and ensures students have access to programs and academic resources that help them succeed at Grand Valley.