The Laker Family Network is a resource of the Division of Student Affairs of Grand Valley State University.
To ensure continued delivery of this newsletter to your inbox, please ask your student to keep their Banner Self Service account up to date with your preferred email address.

The end of the semester is almost here! As you and your student wrap up this year and transition to summer and fall, I want to thank you for all you do to support our learners. The multitude of ways family and supporters engage with students while they are growing and learning in college is vital.  

I also want to thank those of you who shared your feedback in our communications survey last month. We received a high level of engagement and will use the results as we evolve the methods we use to keep you informed. 

For those of you who have students returning to GVSU in the fall, there are things you can do right now to help prepare your family for next year. We know the FAFSA process has been especially challenging this year, due to issues with the federal government. Returning students will be getting their financial aid offers by the end of May and our Financial Aid Office strongly encourages you to fill out a FAFSA form and apply for scholarships if you’ve not yet done so. You can click here Financial Aid Updates at any time for the latest updates or you can contact Rachel Stephens at 616-331-3234 if you have questions.

If your student has not registered for classes, we encourage them to do this as soon as possible.  While it is possible to adjust schedules over the summer, students benefit from starting that process now, even while waiting for financial aid updates. Current students who have questions or issues should reach out to their academic advisor for assistance. Contact info for their advisor is available on myPath.  

We also know that your student’s future living accommodations are an important part of preparing for fall. If you have any questions about housing, please reach out to housing@gvsu.edu or Melanie Grover at 616-331-2120 for assistance. 

We appreciate that you and your learner have chosen GVSU. We take our responsibilities seriously and are inspired by the hard work and dedication to learning that our students exhibit every day. We wish you and your student a happy and restful summer!

Sincerely,

Philly

Philomena V. Mantella, President
Grand Valley State University

Belonging

ExtravaGRANDza: April 15-19 | various times and locations LakerPalooza: April 19 | 5-9 p.m. | Kirkhof lawn

Now that spring is in full swing, it’s time for students to let loose and have fun. ExtravaGRANDza is a series of on-campus events like food trucks, crafts, and stress relief activities, ending with Grand Valley’s music festival, LakerPalooza. Remind your student to come out and celebrate all of their hard work from the 2023-2024 academic year. 

Academics and Careers

Creating a successful resume can feel impossible for some students and being turned away during the job search is very discouraging. Luckily, the GVSU Career Center offers many resources for your students to make their resumes look flawless:

Work Like A Laker Podcast - Resume Do’s and Don’ts

ResumeAI: Students can use our new tool ResumeAI to scan their resume and get immediate feedback.

CareerLab: A peer-to-peer and career advisor-led drop-in program. Students are encouraged to bring a copy of their resume.

As finals season approaches, make sure your student knows about the many resources at the libraries. Each academic department has their own designated librarian that specializes in information searching and evaluation. Your Laker can also use the online guides provided by the Libraries. 

The GVSU community will celebrate our Winter 2024 graduates during the Commencement ceremonies on April 26 and 27 in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. Will you be attending to support a Laker in your life? Learn more about this exciting milestone and get answers to frequently asked questions by visiting the Commencement website. Can't attend in person but want to celebrate from afar? Watch the livestream which will appear on the Commencement website home page the day of the event.

Wellness

With new cases of Measles in Michigan, it’s important to keep yourself and your student healthy. To prevent the spread, advise your student to practice good hygiene and get their measles vaccine. Lakers can get vaccinated at the Campus Health Center on the Allendale campus. 

The University Counseling Center offers various mental health services that your student can access throughout the summer, including Togetherall, mental health screening tools, and self help resources. The Counseling Center is dedicated to providing support for your student. 

Financial Aid

Spring/Summer tuition deadline: Friday, April 26 | 5 p.m.

If your Laker is enrolling in spring/summer classes, it’s time to apply for financial aid. Be sure you or your student completes the spring/summer application to be considered for financial aid. Once completed, the Office of Financial Aid will use their current year FAFSA to determine your student’s financial aid eligibility. 

The state of Michigan's priority deadline for filing the 2024-2025 FAFSA has been extended to June 1!  If you haven’t already done so, be sure to file the FAFSA for the next academic year as soon as possible.

Important Dates

Classes end: April 20

Examinations: April 20-27

Commencement: April 26 & 27

Academic Calendar

Events Calendar