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Fall Beginnings
Whether your student is beginning their first semester here at Grand Valley or their last, the fall brings excitement, anticipation, and hope for the start of something new. Your student is experiencing a variety of emotions and, no doubt, so are you. If this is your first student to go away to college, you are navigating what your new "normal" will look like with one less individual in your house. For those who are sending off their last student, this too brings new dynamics and emotions to your world.
You may have already received phone calls from your student expressing excitment, nervousness, or even loneliness. This is a great time for you to discuss realistic expectations with your student. Finding one's group or place in the campus community takes time. Your student may not find their stride, confidence, friends, or connections within 24 hours or even in 24 days. It is up to your student to find opportunities to get involved and meet new people. This will not happen instantly. As a parent and supporter, encourage your student to get out of their room, apartment or house, ask questions to help them find resources, and be patient. Below are some resources to help you when supporting your student:
Remember to keep your line of communication open, let your student know that you support them, and encourage them to explore their interests. Additionally, please know that the Division of Student Affairs is here to support your student and partner with you to ensure a succesful year.
Lastly, please take a few minutes to complete our short survey and let us know what information you hope to see in upcoming newsletters. We are always looking for ways to improve and since this newsletter is for YOU, we want to make sure we are providing the information that you seek. We appreciate your feedback and here's to a great fall semester!
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Parent & Supporters Orientation PresentationsThank you to our newest Laker Parents and Supporters for attending summer orientation! We enjoyed meeting you and we look forward to our time together over the next few years. Below are links to the presentations from summer orientation, as well as a link to our Family Guide:
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Family WeekendFamily Weekend is approaching fast! Family Weekend, October 4 - 6, is a tradition at Grand Valley State University that welcomes families to join in on the Laker fun. Come enjoy spontaneous fun or register for additional activities with a purchased ticket. To register or for more information, visit the Family Weekend website.
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Navigating Off-Campus Housing Options
Now that your student is on campus, they will begin to see advertisements from many of the off-campus apartments promoting the benefits and resort-style amenities of residing off campus for next year. This can be an overwhelming experience for students, especially first year students, as they begin their academic year. Many off-campus apartments will pressure students into signing a lease and advertise limited availability, however do not feel pressured, they do not fill up! The good news is that there is plenty of time and options as students explore living on or off campus during their time at GVSU.
Here are a few important things to keep in mind when considering off-campus housing options:
Read & Know Lease Terms: Understand all applicable charges or fees associated with the lease as well as what utilities the student is responsible for putting in their own name.
Safety & Security: Ask for safety information prior to signing a lease. On-campus housing has access to GVPD, Resident Assistants, Graduate Assistants, and Living Center Directors. GVSU housing buildings external doors are locked 24/7 and only accessible by those who reside in that building. Do not assume that off-campus provides the same level of security as residing on campus.
Understand the Length of the Lease: Just because your student’s academic status changes, doesn’t mean they will be released from the terms of their lease. On-campus residents have the option of academic year and/or spring/summer contracts. Don’t assume that sub-leasing will be available if your academic and personal status changes. If your student has to withdraw for any medical reasons, they may be held to the terms of their leasing contract.
If your student plans to: study abroad, have an internship, clinical placement, student teaching, or other academic related practicums that require assignment outside of Kent or Ottawa County, they can be released from their on-campus contract with appropriate supporting documentation.
We know that every student’s situation is different. It’s best to make informed and educated decisions based on your students interests, academic, and financial situation. If your student wishes to live off campus, be involved in the decision. Know what they are signing. Tour the property – look at building materials and quality, parking lots, lighting, locks, etc. Ask questions, and do not rush through it. Talk through the pros and cons of living on-campus versus off-campus, and support the decision your student wishes to pursue.
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Recap of GVSU's Move-In Week 2019GVSU had more than 6,000 students move onto both the Allendale and Pew Grand Rapids campuses this year! To see photos from this years move-in, visit Grand Valley's website and check out the video below for a recap of all the action!
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The Power of Involvement
Involvement outside of the classroom is an important piece of the college experience. You, as a parent and supporter, can have a dramatic impact on helping your student see the value in life outside of the classroom. Research shows the more a student is engaged in campus activities, the greater the likelihood of them succeeding and graduating. Involvement helps students find their place in the campus community, meet new people, establish a support system, and ultimately feel like they belong.
Involvement looks different for each student. If your student has a hard time finding opportunities, here are some suggestions for you to have ready:
- Start early and talk about your expectations to have them involved in at least two organizations. Visit the Laker Link website for more information on student organizations.
- If they missed Campus Life Night, have your student make an appointment with one of the Office of Student Life’s Involvement Ambassadors who can help them find the perfect student organization.
- Encourage them to find an on-campus job through Handshake, our online resource.
- Encourage them to get involved in the community. There are plenty of opportunities for them to give back by serving in a variety of capacities. They can find more information by visiting our Community Service Learning Center website.
- Remind them to get out of their rooms. Our events calendar is full of events happening on and around campus. Find an event that looks interesting and attend it.
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Continue to encourage them to pick out activities, employment, or student organizations that will enable them to engage in life on campus and find their niche here at Grand Valley.
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Tips for Supporting Your Student's Career Success
The GVSU Career Center has three quick tips to ensure that your student is set up for success this year.
1. Every student has a career advisor. Encourage your student to meet them!
As our motto, "connect early, connect often" suggests, it is important for students to meet with their career advisor beginning in their first year and continuing throughout their time at GVSU to:
- Explore fields of study and how they relate to the "world of work"
- Create and refine professional documents used to apply for student jobs, scholarships, campus leadership roles, internships, and early career position
- Begin to build their professional network
- Learn how to gain and communicate skills desired by employer
2. Handshake is the leading job and career management platform for college students. Urge your student to log in!
Students can use their GVSU network credentials to log into Handshake to:
- Find on- and off- campus jobs and internships
- Schedule appointments with their career advisor
- Sign up for professional development and networking events
- Learn about employers that recruit at GVSU
3. Attend the GVSU/JCPenney Suit-Up Event at RiverTown Crossings Mall on October 6 from 6:30-9:30 p.m.!
Help prepare your student for internships, interviews, and jobs while spicing up your own wardrobe too! Lakers and their families receive an EXTRA 30% off career dress apparel, accessories, and shoes. There will be prizes given away throughout the evening for students. The store will be closed to the public so make sure to attend with your GVSU family member!
We look forward to seeing you at our Suit-Up Event! Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns:
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Laker RaveGuardian AppGrand Valley State University Police Department joins over 1,000 campuses nationwide to use the Guardian mobile safety app powered by Rave Mobile Safety.
Encourage your student to sign up with their GVSU email and download the free app to use on all of GVSU's campuses. For more information, visit the Laker Guardian website.
The emergency call button can send an immediate alert to GVPD with a single click, providing the user's information and GPS location to Police. Users can also send text or photos directly to GVPD if they witness something suspicious.
Grand Valley Alert System
Grand Valley's Emergency Notification System delivers time-sensitive notifications to the GVSU community. Alerts are automatically sent to your student's email. Your student has the option to add phone numbers to receive alerts by text or voice. To add phone numbers, visit the Department of Public Safety website.
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- Time Management
- Note-taking Skills
- Technology
- Study Skills
- Goal Setting
- Motivation
- Stress Management
All students are welcome to attend these free workshops! Or they can schedule an appointment with an Academic Coach to discuss these topics one-on-one. To schedule an appointment please visit the Academic Coaching website.
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Resources for Parents & Supporters
Out to Sea: A Parents' Survival Guide to the Freshman Voyage, by Kelly Radi
You're on Your Own (But I'm Here if You Need Me): Mentoring Your Child During the College Years, by Marjorie Savage
Letting Go: A Parent's Guide to Understanding the College Years, by Karen Levin Coburn and Madge Lawrence Treeger
The Naked Roommate: For Parents Only, A Parent's Guide to the New College Experience, by Harlan Cohen
For more book and article suggestions, visit our CARE website.
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