Faculty Awards Convocation took place on February 10 at Loosemore Auditorium.
Photos and video from the event are posted on the Office of the Provost website.

Lakers Ready

Division of Academic Affairs

February 23, 2026

Lakers Ready is sent by the Office of the Provost
to faculty and staff within the Division of Academic Affairs

In this issue of Lakers Ready:

A Note from the Provost

Dear Colleagues, 

On February 10, we gathered for our 19th annual Faculty Awards Convocation, one of my favorite events each year. 

There is something deeply grounding about setting aside time to recognize the outstanding work of our colleagues. The positive energy in the room was real and reflects the respect we hold for one another and the pride we take in the work we share. 

Professor Adrienne Wallace’s convocation address, “Building Sandcastles During a Hurricane: Strategic Hope in Higher Education,” gave voice to much of what our community members have been feeling. With candor and humor, she reflected on the complexities facing higher education. She invited us to remain steadfast in our commitment to students, to each other, and to our calling, even in these uncertain times: 

The skills we build in the messy middle with our students—translating complex problems into clear messages, building coalitions across differences, persisting when other attempts have failed—are exactly what the world needs from the resilient generation being built by the people in this room... 

This is not naive optimism talking here. 

This is strategic hope. 

As faculty, we model this for students: that intellectual rigor and hope are not mutually exclusive; that you can critique systems while working within them to change them; that you can acknowledge real constraints without letting them become excuses for complacency. 

That is the education this moment demands for our future leaders—and my fellow faculty, we are not sinking; we are evolving, and—dare I say it—rising? 

Thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating our colleagues and to those who helped make the afternoon so meaningful. I invite you to view the event photos and read Professor Wallace’s full remarks. I hope they leave you, as they did me, with renewed pride in our work together and confidence in the journey ahead. 

Best, 

Jen 

Projects and Initiatives Updates

The Integrated Student Success Initiative is a comprehensive approach to enhancing student experiences through coordinated academic policies. Rather than treating institutional policies in isolation, this initiative recognizes how various requirements collectively influence student outcomes. In collaboration with multiple campus departments and student representatives, educational modules were developed to address key policy areas that impact student success. Click on the links below for resources pertaining to upcoming academic events. For questions or additional information about this initiative, please contact Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs Felix N. Ngassa.

Video Resources:

Student Success

First-year learning communities are an opt-in program for new students that pairs two courses around a unique theme and taught by faculty from across the campus. Each pairing satisfies portions of the general education and/or academic program requirements and incorporates a shared set of student success learning objectives. Students have opportunities to participate in out-of-class experiences connected to course work, learn about resources and success strategies, and create lasting relationships with faculty. This year the program consisted of 18 unique themes consisting of 59 courses and served 513 students. You can learn about this year’s offerings by visiting the First-Year Learning Community webpage.

Offered since Fall 2017, the program has proven to be a powerful tool in increasing student success. When comparing students who participated in a learning community to those who did not, data from past 5 years have shown a 2% increase in fall-to-winter and a 1.8% increase in fall-to-fall retention along with a 10.7% increase in 4-year graduation rate (N=1118). The data below indicate the impact on the program among selected subpopulations of students.

Updates

SLT policy 3.12 was published many years ago to address (1) textbook and course material orders to the university bookstore, and (2) mitigating conflicts of interest when a faculty member wishes to require course material purchases for which they have a financial interest.  Recently, based on a recommendation from the faculty senate, the policy has been revised to also encourage the use of open educational resources.  Please spend a few minutes to review the updated policy.

Resources from The Nuts and Bolts of Curriculum Review Zoom session are now available. Thank you for your active engagement and dedication to improving our curriculum. If you have any questions or ideas to share, please reach out to Felix Ngassa, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Applications are now being accepted for the next Padnos/Sarosik Civil Discourse Faculty Fellow. Affiliate, Tenure-track, and Tenured faculty are invited to apply for this opportunity to help foster constructive and productive dialogue on campus and beyond. Fellows serve for two-year appointments and are selected through a competitive process. See the Padnos/Sarosik Center for Civil Discourse's homepage for details. Submission deadline: March 16, 2026.

The Employee Ombuds Office is proud to celebrate its fifth year of service. Established in 2021 by President Mantella, the Ombuds Office provides faculty and staff with a confidential and informal space to navigate workplace concerns and conflict. In addition to supporting individuals, the Ombuds Office can elevate themes and concerns to help strengthen the university community and improve institutional practices. The Employee Ombuds Office also produces reports that highlight trends and patterns to inform organizational learning and improvement. Learn more on the Employee Ombuds website.

It's time to celebrate our Lakers who are making a difference in their professions, in their communities, and in the lives of others. Nominate a Laker alum or faculty member whose work, leadership, or impact deserves recognition by February 28 on the Alumni website. Nominations are now being accepted for the Distinguished Alumni Award, Outstanding Educator Award and Young Alumni Award.

The Workday project team is inviting faculty and staff to share feedback as part of the Workday Governance Group's call for input. If you have ideas, challenges, or suggestions, share them with your direct supervisor or unit head so they can be passed along to your Appointing Officer. Your input helps shape what's prioritized next as we continue improving Workday for the GVSU community.

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

Congratulations to Amanda Buday, Associate Professor of Sociology, on her award of $258,921 from the Great Lakes Fishery Trust for "Fishing for Purpose: Angler Motivations for Fishing in Drowned River Mouth Lakes." Dr. Buday and a team of undergraduate students will conduct surveys over three years with anglers at Muskegon, Pentwater, and Pere Marquette Lakes to understand why they fish, what species they catch, and how important fishing is for household provisioning.

Congratulations to Kelly Margot, Associate Professor of Teaching and Learning, on receiving a grant from the State of Michigan's Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP), for $431,840. This grant will support after-school, weekend, and summer enrichment at schools in the Detroit metro area. This programming will engage gifted learners in advanced academic and creative experiences to build confidence, leadership, and connection to school.

Matt Boelkins, Professor of Mathematics, authored Active Calculus: Single Variable, 2nd Edition. Active Calculus is an open-source textbook that is available free in HTML and PDF, as well as in a low-cost print version. The style of the text requires students to be active learners and is suitable for a 2-semester course in single variable calculus. Click here to learn more about this book.

Events

GVSU students are encouraged to present their scholarly and creative work at the 30th Annual Student Scholars Day (SSD). Registration closes on February 27, at 11:59 p.m. This deadline includes all presentation details, including a finished abstract. All faculty mentors and co-presenters must approve their students' presentations by this date. No late submissions or changes will be accepted. The 30th Annual Student Scholars Day (SSD) will take place on April 8, 2026.

The Office of Research Compliance and Integrity, in conjunction with the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Advisory Committee, is hosting a free RCR workshop on February 27, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., 2204 Kirkhof Center, Allendale Campus. Visit the workshop website to view the full agenda. Can’t attend the entire day? Feel free to drop into the sessions that works for your schedule.

Day of Giving is almost here! On March 26, faculty and staff are invited to rally support for their college or unit to amplify the impact of philanthropy at GVSU. Many areas across campus will have challenges available, making your gift go even further. Spread the word to your colleagues to help strengthen our academic mission and advance student success. Show your support at gvsu.edu/giving/lakersgiveback.

The inaugural GVSU CommCon, presented by the University Communicator Network on June 17, is a daylong conference geared toward helping you in all stages of communication. Faculty and staff are invited to attend the June 17 conference at DCIH and/or submit a proposal for a breakout session. We are seeking dynamic presenters to showcase transformative communication projects or share best practices that have worked for them in breakout sessions. Learn more on the CommCon website.

In Case You Missed It

2/9 - Rescheduled MLK Keynote Presentation
2/16 - President's Message: Moving Forward Together
2/16 - Message from the Provost

Important Dates and Links

Previously Shared Events
3/16 - Civil Discourse Faculty Fellow Submission Deadline
3/20 - Connecting with Opportunity Workshop - 3:00 p.m., via Zoom
3/26 - Day of Giving 
4/7 - SSD Keynote Address - 4:00 p.m., Pere Marquette Room, Kirkhof Center, Allendale Campus
4/8 - Student Scholars Day
5/12 & 5/13 - Developing External Partnerships Workshop - 9:00 - 4:30 p.m. (5/12), 9:00 - 12:00 p.m. (5/13), GVSU Bike Factory, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
6/17 - GVSU CommCon - All day, DeVos Center for Interdisciplinary Health, Health Campus

Dates
2/23-27 - Mid-term Evaluations
3/8-14 - Spring Break
4/25-5/2 - Examination Week
5/1 & 5/2 - Commencement 

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
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.