The Laker Family Network is a resource of the Division of Student Affairs of Grand Valley State University.
To ensure continued delivery of this newsletter to your inbox, please ask your student to keep their Banner Self Service account up to date with your preferred email address.

Grand Valley is celebrating Black History Month! Visit The Office of Multicultural Affairs website  to learn more about programs and organizations like Black Excellence, You Beautiful Black Woman, Black Male Scholars, NIARA, and other resources available to Black students at GV. You can also check out Unnatural Causes, a documentary series highlighting how social factors impact health and health care in the US. 

Academic Support

The middle of the semester is when motivation starts to slip and students start to feel drained. 

It’s cold and we all miss the sunshine. It’s easy to curl up under a blanket and procrastinate…but how can you help? Encourage your student to set appointments in the Tutoring and Reading Center! Having an appointment is a great way to increase accountability and keep students up-to-date on class material, and tutors are a great source of motivation and information. Students can make a 50-minute appointment in Navigate or by calling us at (616) 331-3451.

As students get back into the swing of balancing their new course load, it's a good idea to also lock down their career action plan. If your student is looking for a part-time summer job, wanting to land an internship, or obtain a full-time job, now is the time to submit applications and reach out to employers. 

Career Action Plan To Do’s:

Tell your student to mark the calendar for the Winter ‘23 Career and Internship Fair on Thursday, February 23 from 1-5 p.m.

Encourage them to stop by the weekly Employer Showcase to learn more about organizations in their field and network.

Let them know they can sign up for Career Fair Prep Events and listen to our Work Like a Laker podcast for tips/advice!

The start of the new semester is also an exciting time to join a student organization! These student-led groups are excellent for expanding your student’s campus community in addition to resume building benefits. 

The Student Academic Success Center (SASC) is offering academic success group workshops throughout the winter semester.

February topic:
• Parallel Pathways

All interested students should RSVP on the SASC website and view a list of all workshops. If students prefer to discuss these topics one-on-one with a success coach, they can make an appointment on the Success Coaching website. 

Getting Involved 

Sibs and Kids Weekend 2023 was a success! From Feb 10-12, GVSU hosted 218 siblings and kids for this Jurassic-themed weekend. Multiple campus departments were involved, including Club Sports, Student Life, RecWell, Housing and Residence Life, and many more. Stay tuned for info on next year’s Sibs and Kids weekend!

Wear your Laker pride on your sleeve at the Red Wings hockey game on Sunday, March 12 at 1:30 p.m. at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. When you buy a ticket, $5 is donated to the GVSU Scholarship Fund. Sport your blue and black to support future Lakers!

Wellness

Being a college student can come with some unexpected obstacles. The CARE Team is here for your student's academic, mental, financial, and personal support.

Did you know that adults can get chickenpox? The disease spreads through respiratory droplets and is highly contagious. You can get it just by being in the same room as someone who has it. A typical chickenpox blister is a small, clear blister on a red surface on the skin. To prevent chickenpox, you can get the vaccine, wash your hands, stay home when sick, and clean frequently touched objects. If your student experiences symptoms, they can visit the Campus Health Center (Allendale), the GVSU Family Health Center (Downtown), or call (616) 685-7600 and press 3 to be connected directly to a nurse.

February is Black History Month, and the University Counseling Center (UCC) would like to highlight some of the support resources that it offers the Black and African-American student community. In addition to a newly hired Coordinator of Black Student Mental Health, students can take advantage of:

*  Racial Trauma, Management, and Self-Care Workshop

*  Let's Talk: Black Student Mental Health

*  Black Student Support Website

*  Black Voices and Student of Color Support Groups

*  Resources for Students of Color

Additional support resources are available through the Division of Enrollment Development and Educational Outreach and Division of Inclusion and Equity. 

• Encourage your student to try a new food venue!

• Students can learn about special events and limited-time offers by following @gvsufood on Instagram or TikTok.

• Check the Laker Food Co. Events Calendar

• Remind your student to check their Dining Dollar balance. Balances do not roll over to the next semester so pace spending to be complete by the end of April.

• Encourage your student to learn about compostable items in food locations.

Financial Aid

The GVSU MoneySmart Lakers program is in full swing this semester with virtual appointments to help your student understand their finances or build a monthly budget. If your student is graduating soon, please encourage them to meet with us to discuss loan repayment. They can sign up for a 30-minute phone or Zoom appointment on the MoneySmart website.

It’s Scholarship Season! Make a scholarship appointment today! For the answers to all your questions, we are here to help. Schedule an appointment for assistance with your scholarship search by emailing scholarships@gvsu.edu.

Other Resources and Reminders

Important Dates:

March 5 - 12 Spring Break

April 22 Classes End

April 24 - 29 Examinations

April 28 and 29 Commencement

Academic Calendar

Events Calendar