Dean's Message

Liberal education is and has always been preparation for community engagement.

-- Judy Whipps

For any of us who’ve had the pleasure of teaching GVSU students in INT 100, the introductory essay in the common text Reflect, Connect, and Engage, serves as a useful reminder of the whole point of our efforts. Professor Emerita Judy Whipps concludes with the statement that “Liberal Education calls each of us into question,” in terms of our individual role in a collective—be it classroom, college, city, or democracy.

Attentive and participating citizens are essential. No more than ever. We are so lucky. We are lucky to be in a position to help prepare generations of these neighbors and colleagues and fellow citizens. Their—our—future depends on it.

All the best on a fantastic Winter semester and 2025!

On behalf of the Brooks College Dean's Office team, we'd like to wish you a Happy New Year and warm welcome back to campus! We hope that 2025 will bring about good things and enriching experiences, academically or otherwise.

(Re) Start Reminder - January 17th

Mark your calendars, because our annual winter Re Start meeting is just around the corner! Join us for a complimentary breakfast, a panel of Brooks non-traditional adult learners, as well as a series of activities focused on sustainability practices on campus!

The meeting will take place on Friday January 17th, from 8:30 to 11:30 am. It will take place in the DCIH Building on GVSU's Health Campus located in Downtown Grand Rapids.

Have any questions or concerns? Contact us at (616) 331 8655 or brookscollege@gvsu.edu for more information.

Jakia Marie named Recipient of 2025 The Burch, Jacobs & Moore Diversity Teaching Excellence Award

Our very own professor of Interdisciplinary Studies and program coordinator of Africana Studies, Jakia Marie, has been awarded the 2025 Burch, Jacobs & Moore Diversity Teaching Excellence Award from the Pew Faculty Teaching and Learning Center. Her scholarly and personal contributions to our campus community cannot be understated, and we could not be happier for her to receive this recognition for her work. This honor will be officially awarded on February 18 at the Faculty Awards Convocation.

Congratulations Jakia!

Writing Center Virtual Support Deemed Equally Effective as In-person Support

A Message from Patrick Johnson, Director of the Fred Meijer Center for Writing

Throughout the Fall 2024 semester, the Fred Meijer Center for Writing and Michigan Authors conducted an assessment of its online and in-person services to determine if there was any difference in quality. Working in collaboration with Phillip Batty from Institutional Analysis, over 4,000 student feedback surveys were evaluated based on the student’s comfortability working with a writing consultant, the helpfulness of the consultant’s feedback, and the writer’s confidence moving forward. In all three areas, there is no evidence of a difference in the quality of support provided. While student feedback of Writing Center services is traditionally high, with 95-96% of students responses being positive, this assessment provided an opportunity to reflect on the current state of online usage as compared to the explicitly virtual support offered during the pandemic. Most importantly, this assessment was aimed at ensuring that the support available to online and branch campus students was equitable compared to on-campus options. The Writing Center is pleased to report the dedicated feedback and support of a writing consultant is valuable however it is received.

WGS Alum reflects on her path to Graduation

WGS major and 2024 Jean Enright Scholarship recipient, Moesha Jones, was featured among various Fall 2024 graduates in a recent GV Next article where she was able to share her journey within the program and her professional goals post-graduation. Moesha was also heavily involved on campus, as she was an employee of the Milton E. Ford LGBT Center, and a member of several on campus organizations that expanded her learning and passions.

Click here to read more about Moesha!

"You do not have to do it all by yourself, (...) Whether it's for academics or social problems or whatever, just ask for help and take care of yourself.” - Moesha Jones

GVSU nationally recognized for being environmentally responsible

Grand Valley was named among the Top 50 Green Colleges for 2025 by The Princeton Review, and is the only institute from Michigan featured on the list. From green roofs, to waste receptacles, to our very own on campus agriculture project, there is no shortage of opportunities to continually participate in GVSU’s mission to staying sustainable.

Click here to read more!