Lakers Ready

Division of Academic Affairs

April 7, 2025

Lakers Ready is sent by the Office of the Provost
to faculty and staff within the Division of Academic Affairs

Projects and Initiatives Updates

Strategic planning for Academic Affairs is well underway. Colleges, units, centers, and offices across the division have been engaged in conversations around key strategic questions, including those related to teaching and learning, student success, research, scholarship, and creative activities.

To help bring sense of the extensive input gathered from these planning sessions, four GVSU faculty members with expertise in qualitative research have been selected to analyze data and identify emerging themes and priorities. We are excited to welcome Dr. Leifa Mayers (Honors), Dr. Adeline Borti (English), Dr. Richard Besel (Communications), and Dr. Brett Crawford (Management) to this important work.

The qualitative analysis phase will take place into early June, with writing and synthesis happening throughout June and into July. Academic Affairs personnel (e.g., deans, unit heads) in summer will offer early feedback as early drafts evolve with the process becoming iterative. Provost Drake will introduce a draft of the Academic Affairs Strategic Plan during the college opening meetings in August. The iterative process will continue using feedback from faculty and staff with the finalized plan for Academic Affairs released as the fall semester ends.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed so far. Your voices are helping shape the future of Academic Affairs at GVSU.

Updates

We want to acknowledge that these are uncertain times, particularly for our international students, staff and faculty. All are welcome at Grand Valley, and everyone contributes to the vibrancy and richness of our campus and community life. As always, support is available through International Student Services who can be contacted at (616) 331-4895 and istudents@gvsu.edu, as well as by visiting the Padnos International Center in 130 Lake Ontario Hall on the Allendale campus. Thank you for the care and support you extend to all our students.

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.

Vice Provost for Research and Innovation and Executive Director, Center for Scholarly and Creative Excellence, finalists will be on campus this week and next week. In addition to meetings with key constituency groups, each finalist will participate in two open sessions where all faculty and staff are invited to engage with the candidates. Please note that all sessions will be held in person only. Visit the Vice Provost search website for access to candidate materials and feedback surveys.

Open Events:

Candidate 1 - Monday, April 7, 2025

Candidate 2 - Thursday, April 10, 2025

Candidate 3 - Monday, April 14, 2025

Thank you to the 247 faculty who participated in the 2024 Classroom Issues and Innovations Survey. Your feedback is driving the ongoing efforts to enhance classroom environments across our campuses.

Based on your input, the Faculty Facilities Planning Advisory Committee (FFPAC) has worked with IT, Facilities Services, and the Academic Space Committee to address urgent concerns and shape future classroom planning. Key areas of focus include projector and control panel functionality, classroom layout and furniture, lighting, whiteboard access, and electrical power for student devices.

Read the full report to learn more about faculty feedback, actions taken, and recommendations for future planning: FFPAC Report of 2024 Classroom Issues and Innovations Survey. To view your classroom layouts and features, visit the academic spaces website. To report problems in a classroom and make recommendations for improvement, visit the FIXIT website.

Important Dates and Links

Previously Shared Events
4/14 - Student Awards Convocation - 6:00 p.m.,  L.V. Eberhard Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
4/15 - Graduate School Showcase - 3:00 p.m., Hager-Lubbers Exhibition Hall and Loosemore Auditorium,  DeVos Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
5/13 & 14- Establishing University-Industry Partnerships Workshop - 9:00 a.m., 104 DeVos Center for Interprofessional Health, Health Campus
5/15 - Insight and Ideas: Staff Sessions - 9:00 a.m., Mary Idema Pew Library, Allendale Campus

Dates
4/19 - Classes End
4/19-26 - Examination Week
4/25-26 - 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

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