MARCH 2026 PEC NEWSLETTER

Dear faculty and staff,

March often brings a renewed sense of energy, marking the beginning of spring–despite what the current weather indicates–and I hope you're as excited as I am about the changing seasons and the many opportunities we have to engage this time of year.

As we continue to celebrate Women's History Month, I want to thank those of you who have engaged in these moments already. I had the pleasure of seeing many of you this week at EqualiTEA, and I encourage you to explore the remaining events on the Women's History Month calendar, provided by the Center for Women and Gender Equity. Thursday, March 19, we are cohosting a discussion with Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, We Fem the Past to Fem the Future. Hope to see you there!

Next week, GVSU's Day of Giving takes place March 26. You are invited to take part by supporting the area of campus that matters most to you. Wherever your passion lies, your participation helps strengthen Grand Valley and enhances the student experience. Donors who give $30 or more will receive a pair of exclusive GVSU socks: gvsu.edu/giving/lakersgiveback.

Also next week, we recognize Transgender Week and Transgender Day of Visibility, celebrating the courage it takes to be authentic and visible. Explore the full week of events posted on The Rainbow Resource Center website.

I can't believe it's nearly this time of year, but the season of celebrating our graduates is close. In addition to the University Commencement ceremonies on May 1 and May 2, graduation celebrations will be taking place throughout April, with dates and times being continuously updated online. Visit the commencement volunteer registration page for more information on assisting with set up, greeting our guests, and more.

Continue engaging with each other through the moments mentioned above, and the many I missed. I am grateful for your continued commitment to one another and to the shared work of making GVSU inclusive for all.

Sincerely,

Robert Shorty, PhD
Vice President for People, Equity, and Culture
Chief People and Inclusion & Equity Officer

H. Julian Woods, executive director for Human Resources, recently departed from GVSU. We appreciate H. Julian's contributions to the Human Resources team and wish him the very best on his next adventure. Amidst this transition, the HR team remains committed to supporting you. Stay tuned for future updates about this role.

Your Form 1095-C is available in Workday for your review and printing. To access your form, follow these steps:

Please note that while the electronic and paper copy formats look slightly different, the relevant tax data is the same.

UDemy, launched February 2026, offers thousands of on-demand courses led by industry experts and academics. To get started on expanding your skills, check out the three highlighted trainings below that address key themes we often hear from the community:

Workday regularly releases new features and enhancements to improve functionality. The first major release of 2026 will took place on March 15. You may notice small system updates and minor visual changes, like a slight adjustment to the location of the search bar. On the homepage, the search bar will appear slightly lower on the screen. When you navigate to another page within Workday, it will return to the top of the page.

Share the Wealth: How to Grow Your Career & Community
Mar. 25, 2-2:45 p.m., Virtual

Visionary storyteller and entertainment powerhouse Shonda Rhimes teams up with Fidelity to help you make the most of your future.

Thriving Through Menopause
Mar. 27, Noon-1 p.m., Kirkhof Center 2266

Engage in conversation about menopause and midlife health, open to all faculty and staff who want to better understand menopause or support someone experiencing it.

Hosted by the Faculty Teaching and Learning Center, engage in a rigorous and reflective learning experience exploring the history of systemic oppression in the United States. Through a series of thoughtfully designed online modules created by GVSU faculty and in-person discussions, participants will critically examine the histories and lived experiences of diverse peoples, groups, and communities over the past two centuries.

While the introductory meeting has passed, there's still time to engage in the self-paced training and discussions on March 30 and April 28. Learn more and sign-up.

Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness to Support Well-being & Belonging
Mar. 27, 11-12:30 p.m., Kirkhof Center 2259

Learn about and experience the benefits of trauma-sensitive mindfulness (TSM).

Creative Wellness: Mindful Making
Apr. 2, Noon-1:30 p.m., Kirkhof Center 2201

Join us in creating paper and fabric collage cards as a way to support personal and community well-being through creative practice. 

Advocating For Food Security: A Food System Plan for Kent County
Apr. 2, 3-4 p.m., Zoom

Hear how the Kent County Food Policy Council champions food justice and deepen your understanding of food sustainability.

To kickoff Trans Week of Visibility, the LGBTQ+ Faculty & Staff Association is hosting a panel of GVSU faculty and staff to share their experiences as trans and gender diverse employees.

Hosted by International Faculty & Friends (IFF), Last Thursday Coffee & Snacks series is a casual, community-building gathering where you can enjoy the Laker Club’s complimentary coffee, tea, and snacks while meeting colleagues. 

Hosted by the Women's Commission, the annual Reflections Leadership Panel spotlights the journeys and accomplishments of women leaders at GV, offering a platform for them to share their perspectives on leadership, management, work-life integration, professional strategy, self-care, and more.

Ready to step into leadership? The Women’s Commission is opening three leadership positions this May and would love your voice at the table. Open roles include Vice Chair and Treasurer, Events and Volunteer Chair, and Advocacy Co-Chair and Faculty Institutional Representative. Learn more and apply by April 3.

Join International Faculty & Friends (IFF) for a presentation and discussion led by Dr. Sofia Karampagia, along with an opportunity to enjoy Greek food and cultural conversation with colleagues across campus. For more information, contact: jadharya@gvsu.edu.

Women’s health concerns are frequently minimized, dismissed, or misattributed within medical systems; a phenomenon often described as medical gaslighting. Learn more and RSVP for this Conscious Conversation, hosted by the Women’s Commission.

Next month, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, is a time for our community to focus on education, prevention, and survivor well-being. We encourage faculty, staff, and students to make time to engage with campus resources and programming throughout the month.

Our campus partners in the Center for Health and Well-being provide year-round support, prevention education, and confidential services. We invite you to connect with their programs and explore ways to help foster a safer and more compassionate campus community.

In response to the visits made to the Employee Ombuds office, semesterly reports are created to highlight emerging systemic themes and patterns, share high-level stats on the utilization of the office, and more.

Read the 2025 Fall Semester Report to explore trends and understand how the Employee Ombuds continues to support faculty and staff.

Click to read the Fall 2025 semester report.

Developed by the College of Computing and Information Technology, “AI Literacy for Life & Work” is a seven-module course offered entirely online. It is designed to help faculty and staff build practical AI skills and learn how to use artificial intelligence responsibly in everyday life and work. Learn more and register now.

RSVP for the Vietnam Veterans Day Ball, dedicated to honoring military veterans, particularly Vietnam Veterans, and to fostering a meaningful connection between university students and our Grand Rapids community. Military dress uniform and formal attire are encouraged. All are welcome to enjoy a catered dinner from Mission BBQ, live music, and a silent auction. 

In honor of Women's History Month, we welcome students, faculty, and staff to a screening of the award winning documentary, She's Beautiful When She's Angry. Hosted by the Center for Women & Gender Equity.

Pow Wow is a community gathering and celebration of culture through ceremony, song, dance, feasting and socializing. Learn more about the GVSU All Walks of Life Pow Wow and sign up to volunteer.