Lakers Ready

Division of Academic Affairs

March 16, 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, 

It was wonderful to see so many faculty and staff at the Budget 101 and 201 sessions these past few weeks. Our goal with these sessions was to demystify how the university budget works—from sources of revenue and the costs associated with operating a university, to how the Academic Affairs budget is built and the levers we have available to direct funds to our priorities. Your strong interest and participation reflect a shared commitment to Grand Valley, our colleagues, and, most importantly, our students.  

We received a lot of positive feedback on the budget sessions and want to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to hear the information presented. If you missed the Budget 101: Understanding the GVSU Budget sessions, the recording and presentation slides are available on the Office of the Provost website.  

The Budget 201: Understanding Budgetary Levers sessions provided participants with a hands-on opportunity to explore how adjustments to various budgetary levers, such as faculty workload, class size, and other factors, can impact the Academic Affairs budget. These sessions provided participants with an opportunity to share feedback that will inform me and other Academic Affairs leaders as we plan for the next several fiscal years.   

The Budget 201 sessions have been interactive, and registration for each session quickly reached capacity. We will host another Budget 201 in early April with details to be announced soon.   

One theme that emerged during the sessions was the need to do a deep dive on topics that impact the budget like university investments, institutional priorities, and initiatives. To address one of these topics, we are announcing a special topics session. Special Topics: Blue Dot will be open to all faculty and staff. Registration will be limited due to room capacity, and RSVPs can be submitted on the Office of the Provost website.  

I want to sincerely thank you for your continued engagement, feedback, and dedication. Things are rapidly changing in higher education and in our world. Building a shared understanding of the impact these changes have on Grand Valley allows us to create proactive pathways to a sustainable future together.  

Best, 

Jen 

Updates

LIFT student evaluations surveys will be available to students during the last two weeks of the semester. To encourage high response rates, instructors are expected to set aside 15 minutes of class time for students to complete the surveys. More information about the lift system, including short videos that can be shown in class, can be found at www.gvsu.edu/lift. Please note that units that want to modify formative or open-ended items on the LIFT forms must have approval from the LIFT Management Committee before making changes. 

Examination Week this semester is April 25 - May 2. As outlined in Shared Governance Policies (SG 3.04.F), instructors are expected to provide a culminating experience for each course during examination week. This experience should occur at the special time scheduled during examination week, which can be found on the Registrar's site (any exceptions must be approved by the appropriate academic dean). Final examinations should be given during the scheduled exam time unless that time is being used for another activity, such as presentations. By administering final examinations during examination week rather than the last week of classes, students are provided with the opportunity to better prepare, which will support student success. Additionally, the university counts class time during exam week as part of the contact hours for the course, and this is reported to our accreditors. 

The Padnos International Center invites you to contribute to the conversation about study away programs and the future of this experiential learning opportunity at GVSU. Please consider filling out this brief survey (approximately 5-10 minutes) to add your ideas.

The Annis Water Resources Institute (AWRI) requests proposals from GVSU faculty members (tenured, tenure-track, or affiliate) to participate in our inaugural cohort of Faculty Fellows. The program is intended to achieve two primary goals – 1) enhance collaboration between AWRI and GVSU faculty members in Allendale and Grand Rapids and 2) facilitate scholarly activities related to the Great Lakes and water resources. Any faculty member in good standing with their home unit and college is eligible. Applicants should have an initial conversation with their unit head prior to applying and official approval by the unit head and dean will be required before a fellowship can be bestowed.

As shared in a message to the campus community, GVSU is working towards digital content accessibility in alignment with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards, effective April 2026. This compliance applies to all digital materials, including course content, websites, documents, multimedia, and learning platforms. Faculty teaching Spring and Summer courses will receive additional outreach for support from eLearning Technologies liaisons. Everyone is strongly encouraged to engage with upcoming  eLearning training opportunities. Additional information and support resources can be found on the Digital Accessibility Committee website.

Join our graduates in celebrating their academic achievements when you process during the May Commencement Ceremonies on May 1 and May 2. Your participation in the ceremony procession will make this milestone even more special as Lakers mark the culmination of their hard work and begin the next chapter of their professional and personal journeys. Visit the Commencement website for details: gvsu.edu/commencement and register by April 22.

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 the grantees of the 2026 Michigan Space Grant Consortium and many thanks to GVSU Campus Representative Bopi Biddanda, Professor of Water Resources.

Congratulations to Matt Cooper, Associate Professor of Biology, along with Carl Ruetz, Professor of Water Resources, and Jen Moore, Professor of Biology, on a $159,134 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (via subaward from Central Michigan University) for assessment of coastal wetlands across the Great Lakes Basin. GVSU will conduct field work to assess fish, aquatic macroinvertebrates, water, birds, and amphibians in 15 sites.

Timothy Penning, Professor of Communications, authored Public Relations Theory in Practice: Strategic Applications for Professionals. This book is an overview of theories that are relevant to a strategic practice of public relations. The book begins with a simple explanation of what theories really are, and chapters cover theories of communication, mass media, ethics, persuasion, and public relations. Click here to learn more about this book.

Events

GVSU’s Day of Giving returns on March 26, and it is an opportunity for our community to unite in support of the people and programs that shape Grand Valley. Community support allows the university to advance its mission and create meaningful impacts for students, and your participation is essential to that effort. By making a gift, you can help unlock special challenge and matching opportunities that significantly increase the impact of your support. We need the entire Laker community’s help to make this day a success. You can help make a difference for Grand Valley this Day of Giving!

Engage in conversation with political scientist Christina Wolbrecht on March 19, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m., Loosemore Auditorium, DeVos Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus. Drawing from her research, Wolbrecht examines how women politicians serve as powerful role models for future generations, inspiring civic confidence and long-term engagement with democratic life. The program will also feature reflections from students on leadership and representation, offering firsthand perspectives on how seeing women in public office shapes aspirations, confidence, and civic identity. RSVP on the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies website.

Registration is now open for the March DeVos Medical Ethics Colloquy, taking place March 23, 5:30 - 8:00 p.m., Loosemore Auditorium, DeVos Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus. Titled "Ethics in Determining Decision Making Capacity", the upcoming colloquy will focus on end-of-life decision making. Before a clinician can rely on a patient's consent to or refusal of care, the clinician must determine whether the patient has the capacity to make the medical decision at hand. Learn more and RSVP on the DeVos Medical Ethics Colloquy website.

As part of the Mosaic Lecture Series, Dr. Trachette Jackson from the University of Michigan will present, "Mobilizing Mathematics for the Fight Against Cancer" on March 23, 7:00 p.m., 103 Loutit Lecture Hall, Allendale Campus. This lecture is about how mathematical oncologists apply mathematical and computational modeling approaches to every aspect of cancer biology, including the use of targeted drug treatment strategies in combination with immunotherapy.

Information Technology, along with Academic Affairs and other campus partners, is conducting a routine review of how our community uses Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. This work is focused on understanding how these platforms support teaching, research, collaboration, and administration, and ensuring future planning aligns with the needs and experiences of our community. Three sessions will be offered with one on the Valley Campus, one on the City Campus, and a Zoom option. 

Register to attend the Workday Town Hall on March 23, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Virtual and in-person options are available, with the in-person session held in the Kirkhof Center, Grand River Room, Allendale Campus. This session is an opportunity to pause, reflect, and look ahead together as we continue strengthening Workday as one unified system for the university.

GVSU will be the host to a Champions of the Heart free CPR training event on April 12 at the Kelly Family Sports Center. The event is led and inspired by former MSU Assistant Head Basketball Coach, Michael Garland, whose life was restored because two bystanders knew CPR and acted fast. Their story is a reminder of what's possible when a community is equipped, empowered, and engaged. All faculty, staff, and students are invited to participate in this important and inspiring event. Register online to reserve your spot.

In Case You Missed It

3/5 - People, Equity, and Culture Message: Supporting Our Campus Community During Global Uncertainty
3/5 - Message from Provost Drake and Vice President Miloš Topić: RSVP For Our Upcoming AI Town Halls
3/6 - People, Equity, and Culture Message: Aligning to WCAG Guidelines
3/11 - Reminder: MLK Keynote Rescheduled for March 18
3/16 - A Message from President Philomena Mantella: Meeting the Moment Together

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
4/12 - Champions of the Heart: Bystander Hands-Only CPR Training - Kelly Family Sports Center, Allendale Campus
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
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
Laker Weekly - repository of the weekly e-newsletter sent by the Division of Student Affairs to current GVSU students
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.