Lakers Ready

Division of Academic Affairs

December 8, 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

Dear Colleagues, 

As we reach the close of the semester and look ahead to a well-earned break, I want to pause and offer my deep appreciation for all you have accomplished this year. Your care for students, your commitment to one another, and your continued dedication to our shared mission define the very best of Grand Valley. 

This semester, we advanced important work together grounded in shared leadership, trust-building, and the values at the heart of our Academic Affairs Strategic Framework.  

In classrooms, offices, labs, studios and community-based learning spaces, your expertise shapes our collective impact in meaningful and lasting ways. 

I am grateful for the generosity of spirit you bring to the Grand Valley community and for the many ways you show up for students and for each other. As you step into the break, I hope you find time for rest, reflection, and renewal with those who matter most to you. 

With gratitude and best wishes for the season, 

Jen 

Updates

Following up on last week’s message, the new procedures that apply if we go to remote status during finals week were supported on Friday by UAS and then approved by Provost Drake. Please review the new procedures to be prepared just in case.

Thank you to all who completed the recent Worlday Student Survey. As the project team reviews results, they are committed to sharing insights from the feedback along the way. Many survey respondents were curious about indepth training. In response, the Workday Student Training Team is building a comprehensive and accessible training program that will be available to ensure all users feel supported. Bookmark the training webpage to stay informed about opportunities and resources.

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 Elizabeth Arnold, Professor of Anthropology, on her $219,446 award from the National Science Foundation, for a two-year project entitled "Assessing Animal Management Within an Urban/Rural Continuum." This project will perform zooarchaeological analysis of Iron Age sheep teeth in order to better understand human-environment interactions and urbanism in the southern Levant. GVSU student researchers will take part in field research.

Congratulations to Mario Andre Maximilian Couto Ferrari, Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary Health, on his $4,000 grant from the West Michigan Dental Foundation. Dr. Ferrari will be evaluating the public knowledge and perceptions of water fluoridation in Kent County, where Grand Rapids was the first city in the world to fluoridate drinking water, back in 1945.

We appreciate the commitment of GVSU authors who invest significant time, effort, and rigorous research into their publications. We want to recognize not only individual contributions but also underscore the collective impact our intellectual endeavors have on academia and society. Submit your book publications to be featured in an upcoming Lakers Ready!

Events

Join your Grand Valley colleagues at the Faculty Awards Convocation on February 10, 4:00 p.m., Loosemore Auditorium, DeVos Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus, for a ceremony to celebrate this year's university-wide awards for outstanding faculty achievements in teaching, scholarship, and service. Award recipients will be announced in January.

What does "home" mean to you? Join the Art Museum at the reception of Between Rooms to see how artists can interpret this concept which means something different to all of us on January 14, 5:00-7:00 p.m., 1121 Haas Center for Performing Arts Gallery, Allendale Campus. Meet the artists, socialize with your friends, and enjoy refreshments.

The Inclusion and Equity Institute offers free, dynamic, and helpful workshops on a variety of topics. For a complete list of upcoming workshops and to RSVP, visit the Inclusion and Equity Institute for Lakers website.

In Case You Missed It

12/3 - Inclement Weather during Finals Week
12/5 - End-of-Year Payroll Reminders

Important Dates and Links

Previously Shared Events
1/14 - Opening Reception: Between Rooms - 5:00 p.m., 1121 Haas Center for Performing Arts Gallery, Allendale Campus
2/10 - Faculty Awards Convocation - 4:00 p.m., Loosemore Auditorium, DeVos Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
4/7 - SSD Keynote Address - 4:00 p.m., Pere Marquette Room, Kirkhof Center, Allendale Campus
4/8 - Student Scholars Day

Dates
12/6-13 - Exam Week
12/6 - Commencement
12/16 - Grades Due by 12:00 p.m.

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.