Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
I know someone inside who is interested in enrolling in the Bellamy Creek Program. What do they need to do to get in touch?
First, this is wonderful! Support from family and/or friends can help our students a great deal as they enroll in our program.
Second, please ask your friend or family member to send a kite to their school principal, asking for help contacting the GVSU Bellamy Creek Program. If that doesn't work, have them reach out (or you may do so on their behalf) to:
The Bellamy Creek Program
Grand Valley State University
285C
DeVos
401 Fulton Ave. S.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Please note that the Michigan Department of Corrections has an internal waiting list of incarcerated folks interested in applying to postsecondary programs, with its own screening criteria as detailed in Policy Directive 05.02.119.
I know one of your students! Where can I find the photo gallery for the inaugural convocation ceremony?
We're glad you asked!
You can find photos from our convocation ceremony in August 2024 on our Photo Gallery page, along with pictures from a classroom visit in September of that year.
Do you take into account an applicant's ability to pay for the program when they apply? That is, what if I don't qualify for federal financial aid?
We do not ask about an applicant's financial aid status. Once a student is enrolled, friendly folks from our Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships will work with them to learn what aid they are eligible for. Regardless of what they find, our students will not carry any debt from our program .
When will the next cohort start?
Our goal is to enroll a new cohort of roughly 20 students each academic year. This won't be possible without additional financial support for the program, however. If you are interested in supporting our next group of students, please reach out!
I represent a nonprofit organization, and I am interested in hosting an intern from your program. How does this work?
Thanks for inquiring!
Our students will need to take an internship in Year 5 of our program; for our first cohort, this is academic year 2028–29. We're currently working with the Michigan Department of Corrections on the logistics, but we'd love to hear from you in the meantime. Please contact us and let us know what you're thinking — if you're willing, we may ask you to join a workgroup dedicated to planning this out!
I would like to teach in the program. What do I need to do next?
Please reach out. We'd love to hear from you!
I am interested in visiting to learn more. What are the next steps?
Several of our students have expressed to us that, the more contact they have with the outside world, the more they feel seen and heard. We strongly encourage any supporters to learn more about the program directly from the students themselves. Please reach out, and we'll try to coordinate opportunities for larger group visits a few times each year.
I'd love to speak on a topic of interest to your students. What do I do next?
We're very excited to welcome guest speakers, musicians — maybe even sports teams! — to our classroom. Please reach out!
Who pays for this program?
The Bellamy Creek Program is funded a few different ways.
- First, many of our students pay for at least a portion of their education through their federal Pell grants.
- Next, the state of Michigan pays a portion through a new line item in the state budget, administered through the Michigan Department of Corrections.
- The remaining gap is paid for by scholarships and other funds at GVSU.
If we grow this program — and this is our plan! — we'll need additional financial support. If you are interested in supporting our students, please reach out.