The 2024 Faculty Awards Convocation is scheduled this week - Thursday, February 15.

Lakers Ready

Division of Academic Affairs

February 12, 2024

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

Laker to Laker

Dear Colleagues

I look forward this week to celebrating faculty achievements and milestones at the Faculty Awards Convocation. Congratulations to all of those I will greet in person on Thursday for milestones and awards. The Convocation is an opportunity to showcase and remind us all of the multiple roles faculty play and of their impact on students, colleagues, GVSU, and the disciplines.

The juggling of the multiple roles and the intensity of the work are at their peak now, as we enter the sixth week of the winter semester, according to Dr. Rener, Vice Provost for Instructional Development and Innovation and Director of the Pew Faculty Teaching and Learning Center. So, this note is also a recognition for all faculty and staff and a reminder that everyone at the Provost's Office is here to serve you. Please reach out for anything we can do to support you.

Have a great week everyone,

Fatma

Honoring Faculty and Staff

Join us in honoring the outstanding contributions of our faculty at the Faculty Awards Convocation scheduled February 15, 4:00 p.m., Loosemore Auditorium, DeVos Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus.

University awards recognize outstanding achievements in teaching excellence, scholarly contributions that advance the professions and benefit society, mentorship that guides students successfully on their academic journey, and dedication to service to our University and the broader community.

The Convocation Address will be provided by Dr. Samhita Rhodes, Professor of Engineering and Director of the Engineering Graduate Program. Dr. Rhodes is also a 2024 recipient of the Glenn A. Niemeyer Award. 

In addition to other awards, we will honor 32 faculty members who will celebrate a career milestone at this year's ceremony.

For the complete list of Faculty Award recipients, please visit the Faculty Awards Convocation website.

Nominate an AP colleague for a GVSU AP Award. 

Nominations in these six categories are now open until 5 p.m. on February 16.

To learn more about the awards and to nominate an AP colleague, visit the AP Awards website.

The Office of the President invites you to join the Service Award Celebration virtually on March 12 as the University recognizes and celebrates the outstanding contributions of our Service Award recipients. Livestream begins at 1:00 p.m. Submit your RSVP here.

Are you a Service Award Recipient? Email Morgan Knapp at knappmor@gvsu.edu to submit your RSVP for the in person celebration.

Share warm wishes and congratulations in honor of your colleagues receiving Service Awards recognition this year. Your thoughtful words will be featured on a slide show during the ceremony and posted online after the event. Submit your congratulations here.

Empowered Education

Join President Mantella, Provost Mili, and David Ruiter as they discuss a learning framework designed to help discover what we've lost, what we've found, and how to apply that at this critical moment. "Lost & Found: Higher Education Equity Post-Pandemic," will take place on February 20, 2:00-3:00 p.m., Alumni House, Allendale Campus. A reception will follow.

To attend, either in person or via livestream, please RSVP by February 16.

Join colleagues for the next GVSU Quest Series titled Academic Freedom: Building Trust and Community in a Time of Discord. The panel will take place on February 27, 3:00-4:00 p.m., Allendale Campus. Additional information will be posted soon to the GVSU Quest Series webpage.

Students can join the Student Academic Success Center (SASC) to discuss learning strategies, study skills and how they can contribute to their success at GVSU. This is a great place for students to strengthen academic success skills in preparation for those first big exams of the semester!

Culture of Educational Equity

The Hauenstein Center's Wheelhouse Talk Series and Frederik Meijer Lecture Series are excited to welcome Khalilah Burt Gaston, founding Executive Director of the Song Foundation. This event will take place on February 16, 5:00-6:00 p.m., Loosemore Auditorium, DeVos Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus. Khalilah will present on the Song Foundation's efforts to "invest in ideas, people, and organizations that amplify equity, power, prosperity, and joy throughout Southeast Michigan." Khalilah will be joined in conversation by Stacy Stout, from Steelcase Foundation.

Engaged Scholarship

Daniel Knapper, Visiting Faculty Member of Writing, published Pauline Style and Renaissance Literary Culture. This book is a history of Saint Paul's rhetorical style in the Renaissance, 1500-1700. It explores how European humanists conceptualized Paul's style in their biblical scholarship; and how, informed by such humanist scholarship, literary artists imitated Paul's style in their works. Click here to learn more about this book.

Updates

Based on a recommendation from GVSU’s Network of Advisors/AALT initiative, work over the past year has been finalized to refresh processes for employee exit interviews. Human Resources has created a new web site with details, including the questions now asked during exit interviews and how the feedback is used.  Academic Affairs faculty and staff with questions about the new process should direct them to Senior Associate Vice President Ed Aboufadel.

Important Dates and Links

Previously Shared Events 
2/14 - 3-Minute Thesis Competition - 3:00 p.m., Loosemore Auditorium, DeVos Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
2/15 - Faculty Awards Convocation - 4:00 p.m., Loosemore Auditorium, DeVos Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
2/16 - Khalilah Burt Gaston, Song Foundation - 5:00 p.m., Loosemore Auditorium, DeVos Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
2/16 & 2/17 - 8th Roger That! Conference: Life in Space - Seidman College of Business and Grand Rapids Public Museum
2/19 - Laker Club Talk with Dean Jackie Zhang - 4:00 p.m., University Club, DeVos Campus, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
2/20 - President's Forum with David Ruiter - 2:00 p.m., Alumni House, Allendale Campus
2/22 - Career and Internship Fair - 1:00 p.m., DeVos Place Convention Center, Grand Rapids
2/27 - GVSU Quest Series: Academic Freedom - 3:00 p.m., Allendale Campus
3/12 - Service Awards Celebration - Virtual Event
4/8 - Student Awards Convocation - 6:00 p.m., L.V. Eberhard Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
4/10 - Student Scholars Day 
4/12 - Reach Higher Showcase - 4:00 p.m., Loosemore Auditorium, DeVos Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
4/19 - The Graduate School Citation Awards - 5:00 p.m., Loosemore Auditorium, DeVos Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus.

Dates
2/5-2/23 - Registration Open for Student Scholars Day
2/16 - AP Award Call for Nominations Due
3/3-3/10 - Spring Break
4/20-4/27 - Exam Week
4/26-4/27 - Commencement Ceremonies 

Links
Lakers Ready - repository of this weekly 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