Lakers Ready

Division of Academic Affairs

November 12, 2024

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:

Message from the Provost's Cabinet Team

Dear Academic Affairs Colleagues:

In this moment of change and uncertainty, we want to reach out to reaffirm our shared commitment to a safe, inclusive, and caring environment for all. While the environment and landscape may shift and create anxiety or concern, we are confident that some things will always stay the same, including Grand Valley being a place where all are welcome, and all belong.

Our community’s strength lies in our willingness to engage with respect, support one another, and maintain our commitment to values that transcend any uncertainty ahead. We are steadfast in our support for all and particularly committed to standing with anyone feeling vulnerable. We share a collective purpose: placing the well-being of our students and colleagues at the center of our work. Each of us has a role in creating a welcoming environment, one that celebrates diversity, upholds dignity, and fosters a sense of belonging.

We encourage you to connect with the social justice centers on our campuses or the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) if you need extra support during this time. For our students, our colleagues in Student Affairs have many resources available for support. To engage in learning and dialogue as a community, please participate in this week’s Teach-In occurring on Wednesday and Thursday. Our shared commitment to GVSU’s values will continue to guide us, ensuring that everyone is heard.

Thank you for your unwavering dedication to caring for one another and for fostering a community built on respect, inclusivity, and resilience. Together, we remain strong and connected.

Provost’s Cabinet Team
Jennifer Drake, Ed Aboufadel, Mary Albrecht, Donovan Anderson, Annie Belanger, Tim Born, Bonnie Bowen, Cathy Buyarski, Erica Hamilton, Marouane Kessentini, Sean Lancaster, Diana Lawson, Linda Lewandowski, Aaron Lowen, Felix Ngassa, Jeffrey Potteiger, Christine Rener, Mark Schaub, Robert Smart, Sherril Soman

Updates

As we move beyond faculty planning towards the reporting and review season, the following serves as a reminder of policies, procedures, and resources to support your efforts (this reminder is based on a recommendation of UAS, towards the goal of providing ongoing support for faculty lifecycle). Much of the following information has been 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:

GVSU’s Blue Dot initiative continues to proceed apace. Here are a few updates for Academic Affairs.

GVSU Digital Literacy Initiative: Following last year's establishment of our Digital Literacy definition, we have formed the Digital Literacy Inventory Task Force for the 2024-25 academic year. Several faculty members are included in this task force, which is developing a comprehensive inventory to assess digital literacy across our curriculum and programs, focusing on three key areas: essential competencies for incoming students, baseline skills expected at graduation, and advanced discipline-specific requirements. Working alongside the newly formed Digital Literacy Action Committee (DLAC), we are taking concrete steps to integrate digital literacy into our campus culture through curriculum development, co-curricular initiatives, and facilities projects.

Blue Dot Lab (BDL)/Eberhard Center renovations: Over the past several months, the BDL team has been meeting with faculty, staff, and external stakeholders to identify the kinds of activities that will occur in the renovated Eberhard Center, which will be home to the Blue Dot Lab. This fall, we have converged on key parts of the BDL: university collaborative spaces and multi-delivery areas for classes and other functions, and dedicated or blended spaces for the College of Computing, CLAS, IT Innovation & Research, WGVU, and Conference and Events Services. Next steps include “schematic design” and on-going planning for the outdoor space on the Grand River near the building. We are on track to finalize the design and construction schedule.

Curriculum Development in Computing: During the past six months, one of the main priorities of the new College of Computing has been to modernize our curriculum to democratize computing and align our programs with the skills needed in a fast-evolving computing world. Our faculty organized brainstorming sessions with the community, which engaged over 170 industry experts from across the Greater Grand Rapids tech industry and we have also received over 500 responses in surveys about the skills needed in computing. These sessions gave us invaluable insights and allowed us to refine our curriculum and develop new proposals. We are pleased to announce that the six degree proposals in Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, and Human-Centered Computing were developed and are currently under review.

Contact Senior Associate Vice President Ed Aboufadel with questions

Fall Commencement is on December 7, 4 p.m., Van Andel Arena, in Grand Rapids. Volunteers are needed to assist with set up, directing guests and graduates, faculty robing room, and more! If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up to volunteer by November 22. The Commencement planning team will communicate assigned roles closer to the event. If you have any questions or need any additional information, please contact Megan Wierenga or Susan Sigler.

GVSU's Assessment Conference is on January 10, 8:30 - 12:30 p.m., Eberhard Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus. This collaboration between the Office of the Provost and the Pew Faculty Teaching and Learning Center is a great way to share and learn about assessment practices from colleagues focused on curricular and co-curricular assessment, but also program assessment. Please RSVP to reserve your spot. Morning refreshments and coffee and lunch are all included.

We are also now inviting proposal submissions for the Conference! We encourage presentations on course or program assessments from both curricular and co-curricular units. Interdisciplinary approaches are always welcomed! This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your work and contribute to the ongoing conversation about effective assessment practices that enhance student learning and experiences at GVSU. Please submit your proposals by December 4.

With the changing seasons and winter weather upon us, faculty and staff are encouraged to review the Cancellation/Closure/Remote policy (SLT 6.3).

Engaged Scholarship

Jonathan Wessell, Senior Adjunct Instructor of Geography and Sustainable Planning, was the editor of Experiential Learning in Geography: Experience, Evaluation and Encounters. This book provides insight into the importance and impacts that experiential learning has in geographic education by examining the experience, the methods of evaluation, and the encounters that students have shared about their experiences. Click here to learn more about this book.

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

Attend the Teach-In opening plenary on November 13, 10:30-11:50 a.m., 1008 Seidman Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus. Hear professor, organizer, and artist, Dr. Charles H.F. Davis III, explore the contemporary landscape of higher education during a decline in democracy in his keynote "In Pursuit of Possibility: Power, Precarity, and Democracy in Decay." Through historical anecdotes, data stories, and critical theories of social transformation, Davis offers a contested analysis of American postsecondary institutions. Learn more by visiting the Teach-In website.

Learn more about the Oliver Wilson Scholars program, how students get placed in the program, the program requirements, meet success coaches, and learn how to work together to support student success! Sign up for this virtual info session on November 15, 3:00-4:00 p.m.

Athletics is hosting open houses on November 19 and November 20, 9:00 - 5:00 p.m., Fieldhouse Trophy Case Area, Allendale Campus, for faculty and staff to experience aspects of a day in the life of student-athletes. You will get a glimpse into student-athletes' routines from practice sessions and 1:1 advising meetings to studying, attending classes, and focusing on nutrition. This will be a great opportunity to foster stronger connections between our athletic and academic communities, and for you to better understand the commitments and challenges our student-athletes face.

Important Dates and Links

Previously Shared Events
11/12- Women in Leadership: Discussion Panel with Q&A - 4:30 p.m., Loosemore Auditorium, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
11/13 - Teach-In Opening Plenary - 10:30 a.m., 1008 Seidman Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
11/13 - Teach-In - Pew Campus
11/14 - Teach-In - Allendale Campus
11/15 - Oliver Wilson Scholars Faculty Virtual Info Session - 3:00 p.m., Virtual
11/19-20 - Student Athletes Open House - 9:00 a.m., Fieldhouse Trophy Case Area, Allendale Campus
11/21 - Gen Z Voices: If We Were President - 6:00 p.m., Seidman Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
12/2 - Toast to the Class of 2024 - 6:30 p.m., L.V. Eberhard Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
12/5 - Cook Carillon Tower Holiday Concert - 2:30 p.m., Carillon Tower,
Allendale Campus
1/10 - GVSU Assessment Conference - 8:30 a.m., Eberhard Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
Every Wednesday through October - SAP Farm Stand - 10:00 a.m., Carillon Tower, Allendale Campus

Dates
11/27-12/1 - Thanksgiving Recess
12/7 - Commencement
12/7-14 - Examination Week

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.