Lakers Ready

Division of Academic Affairs

June 23, 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

Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean—
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down—
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

—Mary Oliver

Summer has a way of shifting our routines. As things move at a different pace, don’t forget to carve out time to enjoy the season and all it has to offer. 

Jen

Updates

Following a comprehensive national search, the decision has been made to pause the process without making a permanent appointment at this time. We are pleased to share that Dr. Ryan Otter has been appointed to serve as Interim Vice Provost for Research and Innovation, effective July 1, 2025, for the next two years. Ryan currently serves as a Full Professor in the Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute and teaches in the Department of Chemistry. He brings a wealth of experience to this role, with a distinguished record as a teacher, researcher, and administrator. As Interim Vice Provost, Ryan will provide strategic leadership for the Center for Scholarly and Creative Excellence (CSCE) and will play a central role in finalizing and implementing our Strategic Plan to Augment Research and Creative Activity (SPARCA). His background in environmental toxicology and data science, combined with his commitment to innovation and his collaborative approach, make him a strong partner for faculty, staff and administrators across the university.

The electronic sabbatical site is open for eligible faculty to submit a proposal. Proposals are due by 11:59 p.m. on September 1. The sabbatical website provides a proposal template and helpful information for completing the proposal. 

In the recent Deep Dive newsletter, Provost Drake and President Mantella co-authored a piece exploring Empowered Learning—the cornerstone of a GVSU education. Grand Valley prioritizes high-impact practices and real-world applications to foster student agency, build a sense of belonging, and prepare individuals for meaningful lives and successful careers.

All Mac users and students using campus computer labs will transition to OneDrive for private file storage by the start of Fall semester. This summer, GVSU-managed Mac systems will begin migrating to OneDrive. During the migration, files stored in a user's private DFS location - often referred to as My Documents, the N: drive, or department L: drives - will be moved to OneDrive. Departmental DFS storage will not be affected. Also, campus labs, both Mac and Windows, will be configured for OneDrive.

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

Clayton Pelon, Director of the Center for Educational Partnerships, received a three-year grant of $73,881 from the Great Lakes Fishery Trust. Through this grant, West Michigan teachers and their students will gain awareness of the value of their local watershed to human and non-human communities using a place-based approach and the newly developed Great Lakes Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) Toolkit. Students will work with local partners to design and implement projects focused on improving and protecting the watershed for all. Congratulations, Clayton!

A. Scott Rood, Associate Professor of Community Leadership and Development, co-authored Introduction to Commercial Recreation and Tourism 8th Ed. This book provides an introduction to the scope, characteristics, management aspects, and trends of the commercial recreation and tourism industry. Five expert authors offer a blend of conceptual and practical material for the reader to achieve a basic understanding of this huge and diverse industry. Click here to learn more about this book.

Educational Equity

The Student Success Network (SSN) pairs our new Lakers with faculty who help new students learn "How to College". Faculty partners are asked to commit to sending messages (provided) throughout the year and be an active resource when necessary. Extensive support is provided, and participants report the time commitment to be light. This is a valued University service activity that has a significant impact on our students. Submit your interest by July 14 to join the Network.

Policies & Classroom Quiz

Question: On the GV Policies site, which Shared Governance (SLT) policy discusses parental leave – both birth parent and non-birth parent?

Question: Using the GVSU Classroom Search (by attribute), what is the very first classroom listed that has carpet flooring? Provide its building name, room number, and seating capacity.

Events

Provost Jennifer Drake and the Provost's Cabinet invite all Academic Affairs Staff to appreciation events in their honor. We want to take a moment to pause and thank you for all your dedication, your talent, and the countless ways you contribute throughout the year. Come enjoy sweet summer treats, good conversations, plenty of laughs, and a little swag as our token of appreciation. All events will be outdoors, with indoor options if the weather doesn’t cooperate. RSVP your attendance. 

In Case You Missed It

6/16 - Important Campus Health Center Update
6/23 - An Update and Deep Dive on Empowered Learning

Important Dates and Links

Previously Shared Events
7/10 - Faculty Sabbatical Proposal Workshop Q&A Session: One-hour, Q&A session on Preparing a Successful Sabbatical Proposal - 10:00 a.m., Virtual
7/15 - Academic Affairs Staff Appreciation - 3:00 p.m., Atrium, Haas Center for Performing Arts, Allendale Campus
7/23 - Academic Affairs Staff Appreciation - 3:00 p.m., The Schowalter Family Terrace, 5th floor, DeVos Center for Interprofessional Health, Health Campus
7/28 - Academic Affairs Staff Appreciation - 3:00 p.m., Regency Room, Robert C. Pew Grand Rapids Campus
7/29 - Health and Well-being Townhall - 2:30 p.m., 2266 Kirkhof, Allendale Campus

Dates
7/4 - Independence Day Recess
8/1 - Classes End
8/4-5 - Examinations

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.