Lakers Ready

Division of Academic Affairs

October 14, 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:

A Note from the Provost

Dear Colleagues: 

As we reach the midpoint of the fall semester, I hope you have found moments of joy in the meaningful work that we do together to support the success of all our learners. I want to express my deep appreciation for the ways our faculty and staff collaborate to transform lives and create lasting impact. In the many meetings I’ve attended across our campuses, I’ve been consistently inspired by your commitment and dedication to our shared mission. It’s truly a privilege to be part of this vibrant Laker community.  

In the spirit of shared governance, and with the support of our ECS/UAS leadership, I would like to remind faculty of two important opportunities to engage and share feedback on ongoing discussions: 

UAS Forums on Artificial Intelligence in Teaching 

COACHE Forum 

Finally, I hope you take some time to enjoy the beautiful fall weather here in West Michigan. As fall break approaches on October 20-22, I encourage you to take advantage of the time to rest and recharge. 

Thank you for all that you do! 

Jen  

Updates

This semester, Fall Break is scheduled for October 20-22, which includes a Monday and Tuesday. Although Fall Break days are not university holidays, they are comparable to Spring Break in that classes are not held and other activities outside of teaching are suspended. As such, there should be no faculty meetings held during Fall Break. In terms of courses, no assignments may be due, and no quizzes, tests or exams may be administered, except for the limited programs that have received an exemption from Fall Break.

Each February during the Faculty Awards Convocation, excellent faculty are honored for a range of accomplishments: teaching, scholarship, service to the institution and community, and mentoring students. The nomination deadline for these awards is November 1. See the Office of the Provost website to learn more about the criteria and nomination processes.

Applications for the Oliver Wilson Scholars Faculty Liaison position are now being accepted. The person in this position plays a critical role in the academic program offered as part of the OWS Summer Student Success Program including course offerings, faculty recruitment/onboarding, and program leadership. To apply submit a letter of interest and CV to Dr. Jessica Jennrich by October 18. A complete job description and information on remuneration can be found on the website.

The GVSU Speech Lab now offers tailored one-on-one consultation sessions designed to help native and non-native English speakers practice English speaking skills and build confidence speaking in personal, professional, and academic settings. Students can work on specific speaking challenges with customized lessons and practice sessions to help improve pronunciation, articulation, and enhanced speech delivery. For more information email speechlab@gvsu.edu.

Faculty and staff are invited to join the Fall 2024 graduates to celebrate their academic achievements by participating in the Commencement ceremony scheduled on December 7, 4:00 p.m., at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids. If you plan to attend and process, complete the RSVP form on the Commencement website.

The student commencement speaker application is now open. Please encourage students graduating this semester to apply for this special honor. The online application will be open until October 27, at 11:59 p.m. To learn more, visit the Commencement website.

The Grand Valley State University Friends of Art is a group dedicated to supporting the GVSU art collection, art on campus, exhibitions, and events. Membership perks include early RSVP access to exclusive swag, workshops, and other events, invitations to member-exclusive events throughout the year, free drinks or discounts at The Borough Coffee Shop, and more! Every member will receive an exclusive welcome packet featuring artwork from the collection.

GVSU believes it is good practice to allow employees to take paid time off to vote if there isn't enough time for the employee to vote outside of working hours. In preparation for the upcoming election on November 5, please review GVSU’s voting release time guidelines.

Voting Reminders:

Engaged Scholarship

Congratulations to Brian Hatzel, Professor of Movement Science, Ross Sherman, Associate Professor of Movement Science, and Brian Krug, Assistant Professor of Engineering, on receiving a $39,760 grant from the Michigan Economic Development Center (MEDC) to develop a device prototype to objectively determine the presence and extent of a musculoskeletal injury and assist in recovery management. This will benefit the clinician and patient, providing information that aims to improve the standard of care while increasing efficiency and effectiveness of treatment and rehabilitation.

Oindrila Mukherjee, Professor of Writing, published The Dream Builders. A debut novel set in a fictional Indian city over the course of one summer. Written from the perspective of ten characters, and bookended by Maneka, a creative writing professor in a college town in the American Midwest, it deals with the impacts of globalization and American culture on The New India. Click here to learn more about this book. 

Events

Grand Valley is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Cook Carillon Tower with a series of concerts featuring popular tunes, holiday selections, and more! The community is invited to celebrate with GVSU as it marks this milestone for this iconic Laker landmark, centrally located in the heart of the Allendale Campus. See the Student Affairs website for a complete list of events. 

The GVSU Student Mental Health Summit, hosted by the Pace Initiative for Student Mental Health and sponsored by the Pew FTLC, will take place on October 16, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m., 3000 Zumberge Hall, Allendale Campus. This event brings together faculty, students, and staff to explore strategies for enhancing mental health support on campus.

The GVSU Arts Celebration provides free art events for our campus and local communities. These curated events explore and promote the written, visual, and performing arts. Check out the upcoming events on the website.

Discover the vital links between social equity and sustainability in an engaging introductory workshop "Equity and Sustainability: What's the Connection?" led by Dr. Yumiko Jakobcic, Director of the Office of Sustainability Practices, on October 23, 10:00-11:00 a.m., 2259 Kirkhof Center, Allendale Campus. Participants will explore how resource distribution affects our environment and learn practical strategies to advance equity within sustainable practices. Click here to RSVP for this event.

Join a Creative Wellness workshop on October 29, 11:00-12:30 p.m., via Zoom, led by AJ Young, Coordinator of Tutoring and Supplemental Instruction. This interactive workshop will cover simple yet effective techniques that harness the power of creative practices. All you need to participate are paper and a writing utensil; additional creative materials like markers or colored pencils are welcome but not required. RSVP is required to receive your Zoom link.

Join for an exciting afternoon exploring cutting-edge projects and technologies that are shaping the future of education hosted by the IT Innovation and Research team. This event will feature demonstrations, discussions with colleagues, and opportunities for collaboration across disciplines. The open house is on October 29, 2:30-4:30 p.m., 3015 Zumberge Hall, futureEDlab, Allendale Campus. Light refreshments will be available.

Join Jacquelynn Doyon-Martin, Professor and Director of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Legal Studies, and Bellamy Creek Program Director Aaron Yore-VanOosterhout as they lead a panel discussion on incarceration, education, and the arts on November 6, 5:30-7:00 p.m., Loosemore Auditorium, Pew Grand Rapids Campus. Hear first-hand from Michigan residents on how access to the arts and education impacted them during and after their incarceration. This panel is co-sponsored by the School of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Legal Studies and the GVSU Art Gallery, in recognition of the exhibition Humanize the Numbers (in DEV-A).

Federal TRIO Programs are excited to offer a First-Generation Luncheon on November 6, 12:00-2:00 p.m., 2204 Kirkhof Center, Allendale Campus, as part of the national First-Generation College Celebration. Come hear about the first-generation college experience here at GVSU and find ways to better support first-generation college students in your departments and classrooms.

Important Dates and Links

Previously Shared Events
10/16 - GVSU Student Mental Health Summit - 2:00 p.m., 3000 Zumberge Hall, Allendale Campus
10/23 - Equity and Sustainability: What's the Connection? - 10:00 a.m., 2259 Kirkhof Center, Allendale Campus
10/24 - Poetry Night with Paisley Rekdal - 7:00 p.m., Wealthy Theatre, Grand Rapids
10/29 - Graphic Liberation: Image Making and Political Movements, a presentation by Josh MacPhee - 6:30 p.m., Louis Armstrong Theatre, Haas Center for the Performing Arts, Allendale Campus
10/29 - Creative Wellness Workshop - 11:00 a.m., via Zoom
10/29 - Innovation Open House - 2:30 p.m., 3015 Zumberge Hall, futureEDlab, Allendale Campus
10/30 - Graphic Liberation: A Conversation About Culture as a Tool of Transformation - 1:30 p.m., Louis Armstrong Theatre, Haas Center for the Performing Arts, Allendale Campus
11/2 - Cook Carillon Tower Homecoming Concert - 11:30 a.m., Carillon Tower, Allendale Campus
11/6 - Inside the Walls: Examining the Impact of the Arts - 5:30 p.m., Loosemore Auditorium, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
11/6 - First-Generation Luncheon - 12:00 p.m., 2204 Kirkhof Center, Allendale Campus
12/5 - Cook Carillon Tower Holiday Concert - 2:30 p.m., Carillon Tower, Allendale Campus
Every Wednesday through October - SAP Farm Stand - 10:00 a.m., Carillon Tower, Allendale Campus

Dates
10/20-22 - Fall Break
11/27-12/1 - Thanksgiving Recess
12/7 - Commencement
12/7-14 - Examination Week

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.