Lakers Ready

Division of Academic Affairs

November 10, 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, 

This week, Grand Valley State University will host its annual Teach-In on November 12–13.  

“Critical conversations don’t have to be difficult. They just have to begin.” 

Since its start in 2014, the Teach-In has been a way for students, faculty, and staff to come together for mutual learning and dialogue around topics of inequality, oppression, and social justice. It’s one of the ways we live out our values as a learning community by listening, sharing experiences, and creating space for honest, thoughtful conversation. 

This year’s event includes more than 50 sessions over two days, and I encourage you to participate as your schedule allows. You’ll find the full schedule on the Teach-In website. 

I also want to highlight two opportunities that will bring our community together. The opening plenary and keynote address will feature Emmanuel A. Guillory, Senior Director of Government Relations at the American Council on Education (ACE). His talk, “The Future of Higher Education: Peril or Potential?”, will take place on November 12 at 10:30 a.m. in 1008 Seidman Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus. Emmanuel Guillory will share timely insights on where higher education is headed and what that means for us all. 

The Teach-In will end with the closing plenary and celebratory reception on November 13 at 5:30 p.m., 2250 Grand River Room, Kirkhof Center, Allendale Campus. This is an opportunity to connect and reflect on the insights gained over the two days. 

I hope you’ll take part in this meaningful GVSU tradition. The Teach-In reminds us that progress begins with conversation and that when we engage with curiosity and courage, we continue building a university where every voice matters. 

Best, 

Jen 

Student Success

The Office of Student Support and Belonging (OSSB) helps Grand Valley State University students thrive academically, personally, and professionally. Through programs centered on success coaching, OSSB offers holistic, individualized support to ease students’ transition to college and foster campus engagement.

A key initiative is the Oliver Wilson Scholars (OWS) Program, which provides academic, professional, and social support through a dynamic learning community. Originally launched in 2003 as the Freshman Academy and renamed in honor of Dr. Oliver Wilson in 2009, the program continues his legacy by bridging the gaps of opportunity and equity. The purpose of the OWS Program is to emphasize academic readiness, personal growth, and skill development. Success coaches offer personalized mentorship, study skills development, community building opportunities, and social/emotional support. In 2023 the program underwent changes including adding the one-credit course EDH 181- Navigating College Success as a requirement as well as emphasizing enrollment in SLA courses, First-Year Learning Communities, and increasing academic support during study tables.

Results show strong progress. Retention rates for OWS students increased by more than 9 percent compared to last year. Additionally, the average GPA for our summer bridge students remained 3.0 for the second year in a row! These remarkable achievements reflect the program’s commitment to fostering a strong sense of belonging to equip students with the tools they need to success both in and out of the classroom.

Through the Office of Student Support and Belonging and the Oliver Wilson Scholars Program, Grand Valley continues to prioritize student success and create a strong foundation for lifelong learning.

The Integrated Student Success Initiative is a comprehensive approach to enhancing student experiences through coordinated academic policies. Rather than treating institutional policies in isolation, this initiative recognizes how various requirements collectively influence student outcomes. In collaboration with multiple campus departments and student representatives, educational modules were developed to address key policy areas that impact student success. Click on the links below for resources pertaining to upcoming academic events. For questions or additional information about this initiative, please contact Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs Felix N. Ngassa.

Video Resources:

Updates

As we transition from faculty workload planning to the reporting and review period, the following information serves as a reminder of the policies, procedures, and resources that support your work. This reminder reflects recommendations from the UAS and was developed in collaboration with the Faculty Personnel Policy Committee. Contact Senior AVP Ed Aboufadel with questions.

For regular faculty:

For affiliate faculty:

For all faculty:

The Academic Affairs Strategic Framework invites us to explore the possibility of a small number of place-based, mission-aligned research Ph.D. programs at Grand Valley as part of growing our commitment to graduate education. Provost Drake hopes to engage faculty from across the university in imagining how Ph.D. programs might fit within Grand Valley’s mission and our teacher-scholar model. To begin this broader discussion, Provost Jennifer Drake and Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School Erica Hamilton will host faculty conversations as an opportunity to explore together, generate ideas, and discuss what this could mean for our university’s future.

Please RSVP your attendance plans and contact Mary Albrecht, Office of the Provost, with any questions. 

With the changing seasons and winter weather upon us, faculty and staff are encouraged to review the Cancellation/Closure/Remote policy (SLT 6.3). More details specific to teaching classes are also available. (Note: Guidelines for Final Exam week will be updated soon based on timely work in faculty governance.)

Sign up to serve at the upcoming Commencement ceremony on Saturday, December 6. Volunteers are needed from 12:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. to assist with setup, greeting guests and graduates, and related support. Please register by November 21, and celebrate our newest Laker Alumni!

There is a new opportunity for students to receive college credit for their Michigan Seal of Biliteracy. Faculty and advisors are encouraged to share the Credit By Exam website with students and direct questions as follows:

Many Lakers face unexpected challenges that make it difficult to access nutritious food. Your support of the
Replenish Student Food Resource Fund helps ensure no Laker goes without the essentials needed to succeed in and out of the classroom.

This Giving Tuesday, your gift makes an immediate impact by keeping shelves stocked and Lakers supported. As a token of our thanks, you’ll receive a digital recipe book
filled with favorite dishes from the Laker community—perfect for the holiday season.
Give today at gvsu.edu/giving/givingtuesday.

Since 1993, GVSU has administered seven climate surveys to faculty, staff and students, gathering a wealth of insights from our community. With these thoughtful insights, we are excited to announce a revised approach for the myGVSU Climate Survey initiative this Fall 2025: Climate Survey Insight Teams. In a collaborative effort, Insight Teams will revisit and act on recommendations from past surveys (2015, 2019, 2021). To become part of an Insight Team, please share your interest via the online form.

The Business and Finance team regularly shares updates and best practices on the Workday Finance Updates webpage. This includes a recent Workday Finance Updates and Best Practices Overview presentation. You can subscribe on the website to be notified when updates are added.

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 Stuart Jones, Executive Director of Annis Water Resources Institute, on a two-year, $873,634 grant from the National Science Foundation for "Advancing Marine Technology Careers through Immersive Autonomous Vehicle Deployment (AUV) Experiences." The aim is to offer an impactful, experiential opportunity for students and professionals preparing them for cutting-edge AUV deployment in the marine technology profession.

Congratulations to Christian Glupker, Senior Affiliate of Economics, for obtaining contracts to assess the Economic and Social Impact of Grand Rapids Art Prize and YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids.

Deana Weibel, Professor of Anthropology, authored The Ultraview Effect: What We Can Learn from Astronauts about Awe, Humility, and Exploring the Unknown. Interviews with astronauts and space professionals demonstrate that awe, humility, and curiosity continually shaped their experiences of understanding and experiencing outer space, revealing the deeper meaning of human exploration. This book will be available May 12, 2026. Click here to learn more about this book.

Events

Critical conversations don't have to be difficult. They just have to begin. Be part of something powerful - GVSU's 13th Annual Teach-In is happening November 12-13, 2025. This two-day campus-wide event is built around the voices of students, faculty, and staff, all coming together to explore and challenge systems of inequity and oppression while working toward justice and liberation - both on campus and across the globe.

On November 14, 1:00- 2:30 p.m., via Zoom, the Inclusion and Equity Institute will host a Know Your Rights session. Participants will learn what constitutional rights you hold, whether or not you are a citizen of the United States. The presenters will share when and how to exercise those rights and how to assist students, faculty, staff, and community members in doing the same. Visit the Inclusion and Equity Institute for Lakers website for a complete list of upcoming learning opportunities.

Join WGVU for a special book swap event on November 14, 5:00-7:00 p.m., at Küsterer Brauhaus. This family-friendly community event invites book lovers around West Michigan to bring books you've already read, leave with some fresh new reads, and make some friends in between! Please bring between 2-4 books, and make sure that your books are in reasonably good condition. Küsterer Brauhaus will also be doing a giveback to support WGVU Public Media's mission of service to West Michigan.

In Case You Missed It

10/31 - Community Read - Meet the Author
11/3 - Office of the President: Holiday Gathering
11/3 - PEC Message: Celebrating Native American Heritage Month 2025
11/5 - PEC Message: 13th Annual Teach-In

Important Dates and Links

Previously Shared Events
11/12- 13 - Teach-In - Seidman Center, Pew Campus and Kirkhof Center, Allendale Campus
11/12 - Teach-In Keynote Speaker - 10:30 a.m., 1008 Seidman Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
11/14 - Know Your Rights - 1:00 p.m., via Zoom
11/14 - WGVU Fresh Reads Book Swap - 5:00p.m., at Küsterer Brauhaus

Dates
11/26-30 - Thanksgiving Recess
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.