Lakers Ready

Division of Academic Affairs

August 25, 2025

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, 

Welcome to the start of a new academic year! It has been wonderful to connect with so many of you at our start-up events and to feel the energy of our students returning. The excitement across our campuses is a reminder of the strong community we share. 

As I noted in my start-up remarks, the higher education landscape is complex right now. That said, at Grand Valley we are moving forward with confidence and optimism, grounded in our mission, vision, and values. What gives me the greatest confidence is you – the faculty and staff whose daily work has such a profound impact. Your teaching, mentorship, advising, and support shape the student experience in lasting ways, creating opportunities for learning, belonging, and growth that extend far beyond the classroom. 

This year, our most important shared work will be shaping and activating the Academic Affairs Strategic Framework. This framework is our roadmap for the future, bringing together the breadth of a liberal education with career-focused preparation, and positioning us to lead with resilience, creativity, and purpose. Because Academic Affairs drives Grand Valley’s mission, the framework we create will inform Reach Higher Together and the work of other divisions as they align with the institutional plan. 

On August 27, you will receive a special message with a link to the new Academic Affairs Strategic Framework website, where you can review the draft vision, strategic priorities, moves, and sample actions. That message will also include the schedule of Open Forums taking place across our campuses in September. I encourage you to attend, share your perspectives, and join in this important work. Your voices and insights are essential as we finalize our framework together. 

Thank you for the creativity, dedication, and care you bring to our community. I am grateful to be on this journey with you. 

With appreciation, 

Jennifer Drake 
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs 

Projects and Initiatives Update

The Strategic Plan to Augment Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity (SPARCA) is now available on the Office of the Provost website. The outcomes of SPARCA are being directly utilized to inform specific strategic priorities, moves and actions in the Academic Affairs Strategic Framework. Be sure to review the document and provide comments/suggestions for improvements on the integration of SPARCA into the Academic Affairs Strategic Framework.

Updates

Earlier this year, the University Academic Senate supported the report and recommendations from the Taskforce on Admissions Standards. Building on that important work, Provost Drake and Vice President Truss invite faculty and staff to apply for two opportunities to be involved in the University’s admissions process. 

Opportunity #1 – Holistic Admissions Committee 

Two tenured faculty members will be appointed to serve on this committee. We are seeking faculty members with experience analyzing student success data and teaching first-year students. The committee reviews student applications based on the holistic review rubric. The committee will also recommend updates to the evaluation rubric and annually review student success data from Institutional Analysis for students admitted under the holistic process. 

Opportunity #2 – Holistic Review Study Team 

A team of faculty and staff with expertise in admissions processes, analyzing student success data, or data science will be appointed to study the success of students admitted through Holistic Review from 2020 to 2025.  

How to Apply 

Applications will be accepted until 5 PM on Friday, September 12 via this web form. Provost Drake and Vice President Truss will review all submissions and make appointments by the end of September. Those appointed to these groups will begin their service in October. 

If you have any questions, please contact AVP Aaron Lowen. 

Catch up on past Lakers Ready anytime - previous editions are available online. The archives are a great way to revisit announcements, highlights, and helpful resources you may have missed. 

Faculty are reminded that Sabbatical leave proposals are due on the sabbatical website no later than 11:59 p.m. on September 1.

Faculty who were on sabbatical for the 2024-2025 academic year or the Winter 2025 semester, are reminded that a final sabbatical report is due by the end of the Fall 2025 semester. However, you are encouraged to submit your sabbatical report as soon as possible. Guidelines for writing a successful sabbatical report as well as directions on how to submit the report are available on the sabbatical website. 

The Student Outreach Toolkit is a folder only visible to instructors within each Bb course. This optional resource provides templates to support your communication with students on a range of topics and concerns. Created in 2023, these templates have been refined in 2025 with input from FTLC, the Provost's Office, the Counseling Center, and advisors to ensure the messaging remains accurate, relevant, practical, and asset-minded. Reach out to your eLearning Liaison for Bb assistance.

The deadline for students to request a change from a letter grade to a credit/no credit grading format coincides with the 75% tuition refund deadline for a course. For full-term fall courses, this deadline is September 19 at 5:00 p.m. For courses that meet for only a portion of the term, deadlines can be determined by reviewing the searchable course schedule.

As part of GVSU's transition to Workday Student, two important support groups have been established: the Workday Leader Network and the Workday Student Liaisons. These individuals will play a key role in facilitating a smooth and successful implementation across the university. Each college or area has one or more representatives in these groups, acting as resources and communication bridges throughout the project. We invite you to explore the full rosters to see who is representing your area.

Workday Assistant is now available! This feature is an AI chatbot built into Workday, making it easier to get things done using natural language. Whether you're managing your own tasks or supporting your team, Assistant can help you do things such as requesting time off, finding information about employees you manage and updating personal information. Once signed into Workday, you will find a small chat bubble at the top right of the screen. Access Workday Assistant by clicking the bubble.

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

We extend our sincere thanks to Kim Squires for her leadership and service to GVSU during her tenure as the Director of the Office of Sponsored Programs. As we thank Kim for her contributions, we are also please to welcome Dr. Marsely Kehoe as the Interim Director. Dr. Kehoe brings a wealth of experience and commitment to continuing supporting research and innovation at GVSU. 

Congratulations to Mei Mah, Associate Director of the Center for Educational Partnerships (CECI) for a $2,250,000 award from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. Over the next three years, CECI in partnership with Battle Creek Public Schools will work to increase the cultural, civic, and economic vibrancy of Battle Creek through the continuation of education-focused programs supporting early career educators and Battle Creek Central High School graduates using the Bearcat Advantage program to enroll in GVSU.

Christina Beaudoin, Professor of Movement Science, authored Professional Development in Exercise Science. This new text, the first of its kind in the field of exercise science, is invaluable for all exercise science and kinesiology students. Students will gain insights into the critical intersections between personal growth and professional achievement. Click here to learn more about this book.

Policies & Classroom Quiz

Question: On the ribbon on the Policies site home page, how do you find the Affiliate Faculty Handbook?

Question: On the GV Classrooms site (search classrooms on gvsu.edu), find the page for D-1215 Mackinac Hall. This classroom was converted to an Active Learning Classroom in 2024, based on a request from the department that has primary scheduling priority for that room. Which department is it?

Events

The Pew Campus Staff Appreciation Event that was postponed due to a power outage has been rescheduled for September 3, 3:00 - 4:30 p.m., University Club Room, DeVos Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus. Come enjoy sweet summer treats, good conversations, plenty of laughs, and a little swag as our token of appreciation. RSVP your attendance. 

Join colleagues for an inspiring double-feature showcasing cutting-edge advancements in healthcare technology and human-centered AI. Through a series of rapid-fire, thought-provoking presentations, leading innovators, researchers, and changemakers will explore how technology is reshaping our world, improving lives, and transforming the future.

For a complete list of events, visit the Tech Week 2025 website. 

Historian and author Garrett Graff joins the Hauenstein Center on September 3, 6:00-7:00 p.m., Loosemore Auditorium, DeVos Campus, Pew Grand Rapids Campus, as part of the Greatest Generation Celebration to discuss two significant oral histories about the major turning points of World War II: the D-Day invasion of Europe and the Manhattan Project and the atomic bombings of Japan. Come here the untold stories of leadership and determination at all levels of the American war effort in World War II, from the Oval Office to the front lines.

Registration is filling quickly for the first-ever GV Technology Summit, scheduled for October 2. The deadline to register is September 19. The event is free and open to all GV students, faculty and staff to attend. Don't miss this opportunity to learn and explore first-hand how technology is enhancing teaching, research and learning at GVSU!

In Case You Missed It

8/20 - Quick Guide to AI Resources Fall 2025
8/22 - University Address
8/25 - Welcome to the New Academic Year!

Important Dates and Links

Previously Shared Events
9/3 - Greatest Generation Celebration: Why World War II Still Matters Featuring Garrett Graff, 6:00 p.m., Loosemore Auditorium, DeVos Campus, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
9/9 - Laker Club Talk: Bayo Ogundipe, Dean, Padnos College of Engineering, 4:00 p.m., Laker Club, Valley Campus
9/16 - Tech Talks: Health and Technology, 5:00 p.m., Loosemore Auditorium, DeVos Center Pew Grand Rapids Campus
9/18 - Tech Talks: AI & Human-Centered Design, 5:00 p.m., Loosemore Auditorium, DeVos Center Pew Grand Rapids Campus
10/2 - GV Technology Summit, 12:00 p.m., 102-104 DeVos Center for Interprofessional Health, Health Campus

Dates
8/25 - Classes Begin
8/31-9/1 - Labor Day Recess
10/19-21 - Fall Break
11/26-30 - Thanksgiving Recess
12/6-13 - Exam Week
12/6 - Commencement
12/16 - Grades Due 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

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