In This Issue

Hope is a song in a weary throat 

--Rev. Pauli Murray 

Amidst anxieties of the larger world, and fears or concerns about higher education generally and GVSU specifically, we have come to this: the start of the academic year.  

Many of us are well practiced at this: revving up for another academic year. But for thousands of our first year students, this is their very first. These next days and weeks will be remembered their entire lives. I vividly recall my first days on my own undergraduate campus, and my father’s prediction that I would meet my lifetime friends as well as my life partner in those first few weeks. Neither one of those things happened. 

A few of us from the Dean’s Office helped new first year students and their families move in to the Honors College’s Niemeyer Hall. Their excitement (and anxieties) are palpable. And inspiring. Let us all approach this year as if it’s our first or our last. 

The start of a new academic year brings excitement, new beginnings, and a new campus community for Frederik Meijer Honors College students.

During move in, students and their families were welcomed to campus as they settled into their new homes and began their GVSU journey. Members of the Brooks College leadership team, including Honors College Program Director Roger Gilles, Dean Mark Schaub, Interim Associate Dean Julia Mason, and Assistant Dean Kate VanDerKolk, joined the move in experience to connect with students and celebrate this important milestone.

We are excited to welcome our Honors College students to campus and look forward to supporting their experiences throughout the year.

Our faculty and staff gathered together to kick off the new academic year during the annual Brooks College Start-Up Meeting. The gathering provided an opportunity for everyone to reconnect, share important updates, and look ahead to the opportunities and initiatives that will shape the year ahead.

The event included remarks and participation from university leaders, including President Philomena Mantella, Provost Jennifer Drake, Vice President for People, Equity, and Culture Robert Shorty, Ph.D., and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Paul Isely.

Adding to the community spirit, Brooks College pups Stella and Mr. Chad met for the first time during the gathering. Faculty and staff enjoyed lunch, meaningful conversations, and a raffle featuring GVSU gear.

It has been decided to move the university grading deadline for Fall 2026 to Monday, December 21 at Noon for the Fall 2026 semester only. Please note that the Brooks College Grading deadline will be Monday, December 21st at 8:00 am.

The Provost's Office and Office of the Registrar recognize that faculty with exams near the end of finals week will have less time than normal to complete their grades. Hopefully knowing ahead of time will allow plans for exams/culminating experiences in a way to minimize stress in the grading process. 

A Midterm is required for any course that begins before October 12. Brooks College midterms will be due for these courses on October 20th at 8:00 am.

The first Brooks College Town Hall meeting of the 2026–2027 academic year will take place this Friday, September 18, from 11:00am - 11:50am. Outlook invitations have previously been sent out to Brooks College faculty and staff. You can access the Zoom link through your Outlook calendar. If you have any trouble locating the invitation or Zoom link, please email brookscollege@gvsu.edu as soon as possible.

Celebrating Women Awards will take place on October 7th from 11:00am-1:00pm in room 2270 in the Kirkhof Center. This event will recognize award nominees for the Center for Women and Gender Equity, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Positive Black Women, and the Women's Commission

Please RSVP HERE

This Giving Tuesday, consider supporting Lakers facing food insecurity through Grand Valley’s Replenish Student Food Resource Fund.

Replenish provides essential resources to hundreds of students each month, helping ensure that Lakers have access to nutritious food and personal care items while they pursue their education. Gifts of any size help stock the shelves and provide immediate support to students in need.

Read more HERE

The Study Abroad Fair will take place on Wednesday, September 23, from 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. in the Grand River Room at the Kirkhof Center. Faculty are encouraged to share this opportunity with their students. This event gives students the opportunity to explore study abroad programs, connect with faculty program directors and students with international experience, and learn more about program options, funding, academics, and the application process.

Read more HERE:

Brooks College Faculty Council is sponsoring regularly scheduled drop-in office hours with Barb Stevens from IT. Zoom links were shared last month.1

These office hours provide Brooks College faculty and staff with an opportunity to ask questions and receive support. For more information, please contact Lisa Perhamus.

Looking for a way to connect with other faculty or staff this year? Searching for a community of colleagues to learn with? Hoping to refresh your teaching techniques or evidence-based practices? Join a Learning Community!

Here are a few that we’re highlighting that you might be interested in:

You can see the full list and sign up HERE:

The GVSU Inclusion and Equity Institute is committed to providing learning and development for faculty and staff to further knowledge, skills, and abilities related to these core values. Each week, the I&E Institute offers FREE, dynamic, and helpful workshops on a variety of topics. 

You can review the list of workshops HERE

The GVSU Teach-In: Lifelong Learning toward Educational Equity and Action returns November 10–11, 2026. This campus wide, student centered event brings together students, faculty, and staff to explore educational equity across disciplines. Submit your proposal by October 11, and consider presenting alongside a student.

Read more HERE:

Join colleagues on Thursday, September 24, from 8:00–10:00 a.m. for Sip & Shop, a Faculty & Staff Campaign kickoff event. Enjoy special discounts, complimentary coffee and donuts, and the chance to win exciting prizes while connecting with fellow faculty and staff.

Please RSVP HERE

Join the Kaufman Interfaith Institute and GVSU's Religious Studies Department for the first Sacred Site Visit of the year on Thursday, September 24, from 6–7:30 p.m. Visit the Native American Burial Mounds with Chairman Ron Yob of the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians. This outdoor experience includes hiking on uneven woodland trails, so long pants and hiking shoes are recommended. GVSU students may request transportation when registering (subject to availability). Registration is required.

Read more HERE:

CONGRATULATIONS TO DAN COPE

6th Padnos/Sarosik Civil Discourse Faculty Fellow

The Padnos/Sarosik Faculty Fellowship program recognizes GVSU faculty who show outstanding civil discourse, dialogue, and bridge-building commitments through their teaching, service, and scholarship. Selected through a competitive application process, Faculty Fellows serve two-year terms as campus leaders of constructive and productive dialogue; bridge-building; and civic engagement.

The Padnos/Sarosik Center for Civil Discourse is excited to announce that Dan Cope has been selected as the 6th Civil Discourse Faculty Fellow! Currently Affiliate Faculty in the School of Interdisciplinary Studies in Brooks College, Professor Cope has a wealth of experience working across political ideologies, divergent personal beliefs, and different life experiences, and she is excited to bring her passion for civic participation to the Fellowship. 

As the Civil Discourse Faculty Fellow, Professor Cope intends to bring her practical knowledge of democratic institutions into dialogue with the philosophical principles she teaches in her upcoming course INT 312: Collaborative Dialogue, a general education course that teaches the “theory and practice of dialogue through personal reflection, integration, and action.” Directed by the Hellenic principle of eudaimonia, the contentment that comes from living a full life dedicated to the individual pursuit of the truth (knowing and mastering the self) and the public pursuit of social well-being, Professor Cope views dialogue as an essential act of caring for the self and others, thereby living a full life lacking nothing. She is looking forward to bringing this ethic of care to the larger community as she represents the Center for Civil Discourse.

Congratulations, Dan!

Read about Dan Cope's thoughts on civil discussions during election season HERE

Read about the 12th Annual Padnos/Sarosik Civil Discourse Symposium: Ethics & Responsibility in Online Spaces event HERE

Exploring Representation, Community, and Connection at Isle Royale

This summer, Faculty member Malik Raymond participated in “Isle Royale for All,” a collaborative expedition which was created to expand access and connection to public lands by creating space for diverse voices and stories that help people see themselves represented in outdoor experiences. Through backpacking, shared exploration on Minong (Isle Royale), and storytelling, Malik spoke on community, representation, Indigenous perspectives, and the importance of building more inclusive outdoor spaces. Episode 3 of the Isle Royale trip is out now on YouTube. Click HERE to watch.

Read more about Malik's experience and reflections HERE:

Dr. Joy C. Schaefer, Affiliate Professor in SIS, published her first co-authored article with her collaborator Cristina Ruiz-Poveda Vera, a film scholar working in Spain (they got to meet in person in Paris, May 2023, as pictured here!). Their article, "The New Monstrous-Feminine and Teen Body Horror: Queer Crip Witches in Blue My Mind and Thelma," examines two contemporary European films through the lenses of disability, feminist, and queer studies. They argue that these films offer a new type of "teen body horror" that represents protagonists cultivating harmony with the non-human, thereby imagining alternative ways of existing. 

Read more about it HERE:

Brooks College faculty, staff, and student workers joined the Rainbow Resource Center’s Rainbow Social to connect with students and welcome them during the first week of the semester. The event provided an opportunity for students to learn more about the majors and minors offered within Brooks College while connecting with members of the college community.

Samantha Rypstra

Program Assistant, School of Interdisciplinary Studies

Academic Program Coordinator, Environmental and Sustainability Studies Program

"This summer my friends and I celebrated the summer solstice by jumping in all 5 Great Lakes in one day (between sunrise and sunset). The whole trip took us just under 14 hours. It was a great item to check off our summer bucket list!"

Ginele Johnson

Academic Program Coordinator: Digital Studies & Data Literacy, Integrative Studies, Leadership & Professional Innovation, and Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies

Ginele enjoyed a memorable summer with a 10 day trip to Japan, including time at the beach in Kawatana, followed by 18 fun filled days with family in Michigan, including a visit to Boulder Ridge.

Victoria B.

Dean's Office Front Desk & Administrative Student Assistant

"This summer, I went back home to France and spent a lot of time with my grandma and family. It was definitely a summer full of traveling and moving around! I stayed with my grandma all summer, and we traveled to the Netherlands twice, as well as Belgium and Lille. I also visited family in Albi and Brittany. I had so much fun and was really happy to spend quality time with everyone.

I also got to stop by Paris with some of my best friends from high school. Since one of my friends lives there, we all stayed with her for a few days. We visited museums and monuments, explored the city, and went to some of her favorite places. It was especially special to experience Paris together as we did before and reconnect with friends I hadn’t seen in a while.

Overall, my summer was busy but full of travel, family, friends, and lots of great memories!"

October 25 - 27 - Fall Break

November 25 - 29 - Thanksgiving Day recess

December 12 - Classes end

December 12 - Commencement

December 12 - 19 - Examinations

December 19 - Semester ends

December 21 - Grades due 8:00am

Note: partial term courses have different tuition and refund deadlines. View additional deadlines in the course index. 

View the rest of the Fall 2026 Academic Calendar HERE 

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Fill out the form below to submit an event or announcement (with photos!) for the Brooks College Newsletter or email brookscollege@gvsu.edu