2013-2014 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog

Entire Catalog Colleges Content & Navigation Course Filters Courses Degree Types Program Acronyms Program Descriptions Program Emphases Program Requirements Program Types Subjects Search Search Help
Search Descriptions

Student Life and Services

Student Life

Grand Valley State University reaches far beyond the typical college activity list to make life on campus exciting and enjoyable. Students can take advantage of a great variety of clubs and organizations, including cultural organizations, performing arts groups, recreational clubs, faith-based groups, social organizations, fraternities, and sororities, professional associations, special interest groups, leadership groups, and community service organizations.

Office of Student Life

Website: www.gvsu.edu/studentlife

Students are in class an average of 30 percent of the time during a week of college life. Historically, students who are successful have developed a plan for how they will spend the other 70 percent of their time. Students are encouraged to MAXimize their college experience through participation in a variety of campus experiences. Employers continue to look for employees who have a broad base of experiences and are comfortable working with others.

The Office of Student Life, located in the Kirkhof Center, creates an exciting environment for students to experience unlimited opportunities to interact with other students in addition to their traditional academic classroom times. This interactive environment provides a student development experience that fosters individual student growth. Students can follow Student Life on Twitter @GVSUStudentLife.

Students are encouraged to participate in student organizations, attend campus events, and become involved in leadership and service projects. The Office of Student Life annually registers more than 300 student organizations. More information is available at www.gvsu.edu/studentlife or by calling (616) 331-2345.

Kirkhof Center, named in honor of Russel Kirkhof, is a place for students to come and enjoy an environment that offers the opportunity to gather in a formal and informal setting. Kirkhof Center is charged with supporting the educational, cultural, social, and recreational needs of Grand Valley State University. Located within the student center are the Office of Student Life, Office of Event Services, 2020 Information Desk, University Bookstore, Office of Multicultural Affairs, LGBT Resource Center, Women's Center, and Dining Services. The following services can also be found: food services, postal services, copy center, ATM machines, and commuter lockers.

Area 51 provides a venue for students to coordinate musical events and showcase student performers. There is also a big screen and projector to watch television or movies, or to participate in video-game tournaments.

Information Desk
Website: www.gvsu.edu/2020
Located in the main lobby of Kirkhof Center, the 2020 Information Desk provides the campus community with up-to-date information regarding campus events and what to do in West Michigan. Student staff members who operate the desk are there to answer questions and assist students. Contact the 2020 Information Desk staff at (616) 331-2020 or follow them on Twitter at @GVSU2020 or search for twentytwenty on Facebook and become a fan.

Campus Events Calendar
A comprehensive electronic calendar of events for Grand Valley is available online for easy reference. The calendar is a great resource for the campus community to stay current on the many events and programs scheduled. Check out the campus events calendar at www.gvsu.edu/events/.

For additional information on campus events, contact the Office of Student Life at (616) 331-2345 or call (616) 331-8800 for athletic event information.

Promotions
Website: www.gvsu.edu/upo
The Promotions Office provides graphic design and advertising to assist student organizations in promoting their events. Services are also available for creating and producing videos. Contact (616) 331-2340 for more information.

Laker Leadership Programs

Website: www.gvsu.edu/leadership
Laker leadership programs provide opportunities for leadership development that encourage growth as lifelong leaders of integrity and social change in students' lives, students' professions, and students' societies.

First-year Leadership Experience
The first-year leadership experience program is designed to assist newer leaders as they create and enhance their personal philosophy of leadership while developing basic leadership skills and learning about leadership opportunities the Grand Valley community has to offer. All students, especially first-year students, are encouraged to be a part of this program, particularly those who are interested in future leadership roles.

Additional Leadership Opportunities

Leadership Summit is a one-day statewide conference that provides student leaders from throughout the state the opportunity to come together to discuss leadership topics with national and regional leaders while networking and sharing ideas. With topic areas such as fraternities and sororities, student government, cultural programming, campus-wide programming, service-learning, and many others, Leadership Summit is one of the largest multifocused gatherings in the state of Michigan. Leadership Summit provides excellent networking and developmental opportunities for student leaders at any level.

Venderbush Leadership Reception recognizes Kenneth R. Venderbush who served as vice president of student affairs at Grand Valley State University from 1969-1973. The event features a speaker from the community or a past Grand Valley alumni sharing their experiences and inspirations on the topic of leadership and service.

Community Service Learning Center (CSLC)

Website: www.gvsu.edu/service
The Community Service Learning Center, located in Kirkhof Center, is an outreach office that encourages the Grand Valley population to engage themselves in community awareness through community issues education, volunteer skill-set training, campus-wide volunteer/service opportunities, and community agency partnerships. Students are encouraged to become involved in a community service activity that will enhance their understanding of civic responsibility and challenge them to be committed to a life of community service. Students can connect with opportunities by visiting the website or the CSLC.

Campus Life Night

Campus Life Night, held the Tuesday evening after Labor Day in the Fieldhouse Arena, provides students with the opportunity to find out about their extensive choices for involvement on campus. Student organizations, campus departments, volunteer agencies, and area businesses set up displays and provide information.

Student Organization Center

Located on the lower level of the Kirkhof Center, the Student Organization Center (SOC) provides an exciting environment for campus student organizations to interact and conduct their daily business. The SOC provides resources and information for students who are interested in getting involved. The SOC also features interactive spaces for the organizations to collaborate with each other. Additional resources include computers, lockers for storage, business center, resource information, library, and meeting spaces. More than 300 student organizations are supported by this center.

Student Organizations

Academic and professional organizations focus on academic disciplines or are related to a specific professional field.

Cultural organizations educate the campus community about nondominant cultures to enhance students' worldviews. They also provide students with an avenue to explore and celebrate their own cultural heritage and provide programs and services designed to support students of various cultural heritages at the university.

Fraternities and sororities provide lifelong opportunities for leadership, service, academic achievement, and social involvement through association with a national organization (see the Fraternity and Sorority Manual at www.gvsu.edu/greeklife/.)

Performing arts organizations provide opportunities for involvement and exposure to the performing arts.

Faith-based organizations serve to enhance a student's spiritual life while providing fellowship and outreach opportunities.

Service and advocacy organizations are centered on positive student engagement and social change through community service and educational programming. These organizations hope to raise awareness on social issues.

Special interest organizations serve to enhance student life through the cocurricular involvement of special interests and hobbies.

Sports and recreation organizations provide opportunities for competition, personal fitness, recreational activities, and/or school spirit support.

Student government organizations serve as governing bodies in various aspects of campus life.

Media and entertainment organizations include two types of opportunities for students. Entertainment organizations provide campus with a variety of student-sponsored entertainment events and programs. Media organizations provide an opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience with student media including newspaper, television, radio, film, and video.

• The Lanthorn: The Lanthorn is an award-winning, twice-weekly student newspaper that gives students an opportunity to gain experience in the production of a newspaper. The Lanthorn office, conveniently located in 0051 Kirkhof, is close to the Student Organization Center. The Lanthorn team includes editorial, advertising, business, graphic art, staff writing, and staff photography positions. Call (616) 331-2460 to find out more information.
• GVTV: Grand Valley State University's own student-run broadcasting channel offers hands-on experience in technical areas of producing as well as writing, reporting, promotions, directing, and acting. The channel is noncommercial and broadcasts on cable access channel 10 or on the Web at grandvalley.com/. GVTV's office is located next to the Student Organization Center, on the lower level of Kirkhof Center. Contact GVTV at (616) 331-4888 for more information.
• WCKS The Whale: The student-run campus radio station is located on the lower level of Kirkhof Center. Opportunities for all aspects of radio production and broadcast are available to students. Listen on the Web at whaleradio.org/. Call (616) 331-2356 for more information.

Student Senate

Website: www.gvsu.edu/studentsenate
The Student Senate is an elected body of 50 students. The senate conveys student opinion to the Grand Valley administration and the Board of Trustees in matters of institutional policy. The senate also provides a forum for discussion, investigation, and resolution of student ideas and concerns.

The senate is responsible for the allocation of the Student Life Fund and for the appointment of student representatives to all university standing committees and advisory boards. Call (616) 331-2333 for more information.

Spotlight - Campus Life Programming

Spotlight Productions, the campus entertainment board, selects and organizes large-scale concerts, big-name comedians, a series of free movies, monthly coffeehouse performers, nationally recognized speakers, aspiring artists, and Laker weekends. Call (616) 331-2806 for more information.

Laker Traditions Team

Many traditional Grand Valley events such as Family Weekend, Homecoming, Battle of the Valleys, Sibs and Kids Weekend, Presidents' Ball, and Intercultural Festival are coordinated by a committee of students who, along with their staff advisors, work together to choose and produce these events while obtaining numerous event planning, marketing, and collaboration skills that will transfer to their professional lives.

Festivals

Student organizations and special committees work with professional staff in sponsoring and planning campus events such as the Renaissance Festival, Make a Difference Day, Dance Marathon, Community Outreach Week (COW), and Relay for Life. In addition, many other cultural celebrations are held throughout the year.

Asian Festival: Each February the Asian Student Union sponsors a variety of events, the most celebrated being the annual celebration honoring the Asian New Year. An authentic and diverse type of Asian food is provided to festival participants. In addition, the festival coordinators provide traditional New Year's dances and songs presented by professional artists.

Black History Month: Each February the campus community offers a comprehensive series of programs to celebrate black history.

Hispanic Heritage Month: Each fall the university community celebrates Hispanic history and culture with a variety of events. Students, faculty members, and staff members educate attendees on the diversity within the culture and offer campus-wide celebrations featuring traditional foods and presenting and teaching music and dance.

Intercultural Festival: Students, faculty members, and staff members sponsor booths showcasing cultural cuisine, traditions, and crafts specific to a culture of their choice. The campus community enjoys good food, lively entertainment, and an exchange of ideas as the world comes to Grand Valley.

Pow Wow: The annual spring event celebrates the Native American culture. The Native American Student Association, with the leadership and permission of the Ottawa Tribal Council, shares an entire day of ceremony and trade with the campus and the general public.

Student Services

Intercollegiate Athletics

Grand Valley is a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). Membership in the GLIAC includes Ashland, Ferris, Findlay, Grand Valley, Hillsdale, Lake Erie College, Lake Superior, Malone, Michigan Tech, Northern Michigan, Northwood, Ohio Dominican, Saginaw Valley, Tiffin, Walsh, and Wayne State. Grand Valley is also a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA Division II).

Since the creation of the GLIAC in 1972, Grand Valley has won the President's Cup, the conference all-sports trophy and symbol of athletic excellence, 19 times; and has placed as a top two finisher in the past 11 years in the Director's Cup, the NCAA Division II all-sports trophy. Grand Valley's men's teams have won conference championships in football 15 times; basketball, eight; baseball, 16; wrestling, six; tennis, one; golf, six; indoor track, 12; swimming and diving, three; outdoor track, eight; and cross country, 11. In women's sports, Grand Valley has won championships in basketball eight times; cross country, 13; soccer, eight; softball, 12; tennis, three; volleyball, 10; swimming and diving, one; indoor track, 13; outdoor track, 13; and golf, eight. Grand Valley's teams have earned national championships as follows: men's football, four; women's basketball, one; women's cross country, two; women's indoor track, two; women's outdoor track, two; women's soccer, two; and women's volleyball, one.

Scholarships are offered in all men's and women's sports.

Grand Valley competes in the following sports: men's baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, swimming and diving, tennis, and indoor and outdoor track; women's basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, indoor and outdoor track, and volleyball.

Barbara H. Padnos International Center

Grand Valley's mission, values, and vision statement includes references to educating students in the global community beyond Michigan or the U.S.A. Grand Valley recognizes that a foundation to a strong university education includes an understanding of other cultures as well as a global vision. The mission of the Barbara H. Padnos International Center is to engage the university community in the development of meaningful international experiences which foster an appreciation and awareness of diverse cultures, people, and ideas.

New populations, environmental challenges, and global interdependence add to the agenda for global competency skills. Individuals, businesses, agencies, and organizations need employees who are culturally and linguistically capable. Second-language fluency and the ability to work with various cultures are critical to the future of West Michigan.

The Barbara H. Padnos International Center organizes and coordinates the university's international programs and activities, working with all academic departments, colleges, and other units. It oversees international partnership agreements, faculty-led group programs, study abroad programs, work and internship programs in other nations, and international volunteer and service-learning activities. It serves as a catalyst for international curriculum development and helps make Grand Valley's international resources and expertise available to the Grand Valley community.

The center coordinates with student affairs and the Office of Admissions to recruit, admit, and advise international students. The center also works with universities, nongovernmental organizations, and governmental agencies to develop and administer programs and services. In addition, it works with academic departments, colleges, the Center for Teaching and Learning, and the Modern Languages department to internationalize the curriculum and provide overseas study opportunities relevant to the curriculum.

International Partnership Agreements

Partnerships with overseas institutions create meaningful opportunities for students, faculty members, and staff members and allow for educational and living experiences in other nations. Partnerships also increase the presence of international students and faculty at Grand Valley. Currently, Grand Valley has institution-to-institution agreements with the following institutions, which offer a variety of study abroad opportunities for students:

Australia: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Macquarie University, Sydney
China: China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing; East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai; East China Normal University, Shanghai; East China Normal University, Shanghai
Chile: Universidad del Bío Bío, Concepcion
England: Kingston University, Kingston-on-Thames; University of Brighton, Brighton
France: Groupe ESC Grenoble; L'Ecole Superieure Des Sciences Commerciales of Angers l'Universite Catholique de L'Ouest, Angers
Germany: Duale Hochschule Baden Wurttemberg, Mosbach Padagogische Hochschule Schwabisch Gmund Fakultaet I, Schwabish Gmund
Ghana: University of Cape Coast
Hungary: University of Debrecen, Debrecen
Italy: Universita degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia; Universita per Stranieri di Perugia, Perugia.
Jamaica: University of the West Indies - Mona Campus
Japan: International Christian University, Tokyo; The Japan Center for Michigan Universities
Hikone: Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Beppu
Mexico: Universidad de las Americas-Puebla
Norway: University of Oslo
Poland: Cracow University of Economics
Taiwan: National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei
Turkey: Middle East Technical University, Ankara

Consortia Programs

Japan Center for Michigan Universities (JCMU), Hikone, Japan
Consortium for Overseas Student Teaching (COST), various locations

Affiliate Programs

American Institute for Foreign Studies (AIFS), various locations
Australearn/Eurolearn/Asialearn, various locations
Council on International Education Exchange (CIEE), various locations
Cultural Experiences Abroad (CEA), various locations
Edge Hill University (EHU), Ormskirk, England
International Studies Abroad (ISA), various locations
John Cabot University (JCU), Rome, Italy
University of Deusto (CIDE), Bilbao, Spain
European Study Abroad (EUSA), various locations
Hellenic International Studies of the Arts (HISA), Paros, Greece
Semester in India, Pondicherry, India

International Student Services Program

Grand Valley recognizes the importance of international students to the campus community. Accordingly, the program serves as the organizer, promoter, and facilitator of various crosscultural exchange activities. Also, the program provides support services that include extensive orientation, crosscultural adjustment seminars, housing assistance, and overseas immigration regulations and work authorization.

Study Abroad

The Padnos International Center (PIC) supports the academic programs in all departments, divisions, and schools by offering and coordinating study abroad opportunities in countries around the world. Semester and year-long academic programs are available to all degree-seeking students in all academic majors and minors.

Grand Valley offers various scholarship and grant opportunities, including the Barbara H. Padnos Study Abroad Scholarship (year-long study with preference given to majors in the arts and humanities), The Mark A. and Elizabeth E. Murray Study Abroad Scholarship (related to financial need), and the PIC Study Abroad Grant (open to both graduate and undergraduate students). The Padnos International Center also maintains a roster of other scholarships and grants for study abroad.

The Padnos International Center maintains a fully staffed resource room, where students can explore participation in overseas opportunities throughout the world. Guidance, enrollment support, financial aid coordination, and credit transfers are services offered by PIC staff members. Students are encouraged to visit the center's resource room early in their academic studies, so that appropriate planning can be undertaken.

IS 380
International Studies 380 is the special topics course in which students enroll when they study abroad. Students on study abroad programs enroll in this "placeholder'' course until the transcript arrives from the overseas institution, at which time the course is converted to an equivalent Grand Valley course (replacing IS 380 on the transcript). In cases where there is no comparable Grand Valley course, the original IS 380, with an appropriate subtitle, remains on the transcript. Students may enroll in one to 16 credits of IS 380 per academic term, if approved for study abroad through an application process administered by the Padnos International Center.

IS 680
International Studies 680 is similar to IS 380, but serves the role of placeholder for graduate credit, for Grand Valley graduate students participating in study abroad programs.

Global Programs
Students can acquire international experience through a variety of short-term, Grand Valley-sponsored programs, generally led by Grand Valley faculty members. There are more than 20 programs per year. Summer programs may include:

Central London, England: urbanization/geography and British culture
Egypt: Middle Eastern studies
El Salvador, Central America: social work
Guadalajara, Mexico: Spanish language and culture
Kingston, England: Art
Krakow, Poland: Polish language, culture, and economics
Nice, France: French language, culture
Shanghai, China: Eastern philosophy, language, and civilization
Sydney, Australia: public administration
Schwäbisch-Gmünd, Germany: German language and culture

PIC assists students with their plans and participation in these programs. It coordinates programs with the financial aid and registrar's offices to ensure academic credit and financial aid for program participation. It also maintains a comprehensive file of authorized international study programs throughout the world, assists with the coordination of faculty exchanges, and provides information on opportunities for research, teaching, and working abroad.

Academic Activities
The Padnos International Center organizes various academic activities, including lecture series, break roundtables, conversation series, and research forums during fall and winter semesters.

For more information, contact the Padnos International Center in room 130, Lake Ontario Hall, or call (616) 331-3898.

University Bookstore

Website: www.ubs.gvsu.edu

Textbooks for classes taught at Grand Valley State University are available through University Bookstore with locations in Allendale and Grand Rapids. Students attending classes on the Allendale Campus will find their textbooks and required supplies at the bookstore on the first floor of the Russel H. Kirkhof Center. In addition, the store offers a large selection of Grand Valley imprinted clothing and gifts, as well as classroom supplies, computers, technology and software, and books for leisure reading. The Allendale store also provides textbooks for students who attend classes at locations throughout Michigan, including Detroit, Holland, Muskegon, and Traverse City. Textbooks and merchandise may be ordered on the Web at www.ubs.gvsu.edu/.

University Bookstore in Allendale is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Hours are extended the first week of the semester. Telephone (616) 331-2450.

Students who attend classes on the Robert C. Pew Grand Rapids Campus may purchase textbooks at the University Bookstore adjacent to the plaza on the first floor of the Richard M. DeVos Center. Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Telephone (616) 331-6602.

Campus Ministry

The interdenominational Campus Ministry Council offers a ministry to the university community through worship services, bible study groups, speakers, retreats, discussions, service opportunities, and pastoral counseling. Weekly services include Sunday worship at 10:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. and Catholic Mass at 5:30 p.m. The campus ministry offices are located in the Cook-DeWitt Center. Telephone (616) 331-3111 or (616) 331-3251.

Campus Recreation

Website: www.gvsu.edu/rec

Enhance the Grand Valley experience through cocurricular learning, development, and recreational opportunities that promote health and well-being.

Campus Recreation provides intramural, fitness, and wellness programs and services. These programs enhance the quality of life of the Grand Valley community by developing a culture that values student learning, academic success, and a healthy lifestyle. Student employment, internships, and fieldwork positions are available.

Intramural Sports
The intramural sports program provides a quality recreational sports experience for a diverse university community. Through sport and leisure activities, the program enhances the participant's university experience by promoting student development in a safe environment. The intramural sports program offers sports in the fall, winter, and spring semesters in men's, women's, and corecreational divisions of play. Grand Valley students, faculty members, and staff members are eligible to participate. The intramural sports program includes basketball, flag football, softball, soccer, volleyball, tennis, golf, racquetball, bowling, table tennis, billiards, dodgeball, kickball, roller/floor hockey, 5K run/walk, and badminton. The Intramural Office is located on the main level of the Rec Center in B114 Fieldhouse. For more information, email [email protected] or call (616) 331-3224.

Fitness and Wellness Center
The Fitness and Wellness Center is located on the lower level of the Recreation Center, D001 REC. The center offers a variety of fitness and wellness services for the university community. Services include group exercise classes, the UFit plan, fitness testing, personal training, massage, nutrition consultation, equipment orientations, and health screenings. The Fitness and Wellness Center hosts various programs such as recreation clinics, health fairs, fitness challenges, small group training, and on-campus education outreach. For more information, call (616) 331-3659.

Communications

WGVU Public Media is a multiplatform Public Media organization licensed to the Board of Trustees, Grand Valley State University. WGVU Public Media provides content across TV, radio, mobile, and Web and in the community that offers a hands-on experience for students in broadcasting, communications, journalism, marketing, business and nonprofit leadership.

WGVU-TV 35/WGVU-DT 11 and WGVK-TV 52/WGVK-DT 5, affiliated with the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), present a variety of educational, informative, and entertaining programs, including children's shows, public affairs, cultural offerings, and sports. The stations also supply educational programming for thousands of elementary and secondary school children, and produce several local programs for west and southwest Michigan.

WGVU 88.5 FM Grand Rapids and 95.3 FM Whitehall are National Public Radio (NPR) stations licensed to the Board of Trustees, Grand Valley State University. The stations broadcast news and information programs from NPR, PRI, and Michigan Association of Public Radio. A strong commitment to local news is emphasized. Evenings and overnight hours broadcast jazz, with the weekends adding blues. WGVU 1480 AM Grand Rapids and 850 AM Muskegon are NPR stations also licensed to the Board of Trustees, Grand Valley State University. The stations broadcast oldies music with NPR and local news.

Wgvu.org provides news, local information, and community outreach as well as local and national PBS programming. WGVU Public Media also produces and facilitates a variety of community engagement initiatives and events throughout the year through WGVU Engage delving into the areas of inclusion, health, arts, veterans, and education.

For those planning careers in broadcasting or nonprofit leadership, the television and radio stations offer many intern positions through which students can gain practical on-the-job training under actual broadcast conditions. Our television and radio stations also provide employment opportunities and professional experience for students, and two annual Grand Valley tuition scholarships are awarded. The offices and studios are located in the Meijer Public Broadcast Center on the Robert C. Pew Grand Rapids Campus.

You can learn more at www.wgvu.org or call WGVU Public Media at (616) 331-6666 or (800) 442-2771.

Computer Support

Grand Valley houses more than 30 classrooms/labs with Pentium Windows and Macintosh machines running more than 250 student applications; ADA stations in most labs; SMART technology (computer, LCD projector, document camera, DVD, and VCR) available in all classrooms; wireless connectivity in all academic buildings and housing locations; all classroom and student living areas networked for Internet access, email, courseware, registration, and many other student services; digital media assistance available to students and faculty members; free antivirus software for all GVSU-owned computers including student computers in Grand Valley housing; and computing and technology support services available to all faculty members, staff members, and students.

Career and Employment Resources

Career Exploration and Development

The Counseling and Career Development Center assists students in making career decisions. The center provides individual counseling sessions in which personal values, interests, abilities, and goals are assessed and then used as a basis for career exploration and decision making. Individual career counseling is available at the Allendale Campus office, the Robert C. Pew Grand Rapids Campus, and the Meijer Campus in Holland. Call (616) 331-3266 to set up an appointment. The center also houses an extensive Career Library in which up-to-date information on a wide range of careers is available. Also offered each semester are career seminars and study skills that help students plan for the future by addressing topics such as study skill techniques, planning for graduate school, and identifying potential careers. Current career information and job trends data are included in both individual career counseling sessions and career seminars through the use of numerous websites emphasizing career exploration and information. The Counseling and Career Development Center and library are located in 204 Student Services building. Telephone (616) 331-3266.

Internships, Cooperative Education, and Experiential Education Programs

In a survey conducted by the GVSU Career Center, 99 percent of employers agreed that students would benefit from having career-related experience in addition to a college degree. The Career Center provides assistance in preparing for and obtaining internships and other meaningful work experiences.

Internships. An internship is a supervised work experience directly related to an academic discipline taking place outside of the classroom and directed by a field supervisor. The internship may be full- or part-time and may or may not be a paid work experience. An internship typically lasts for one semester. Internships are available in most Grand Valley majors.

Cooperative Education (co-op). A co-op is a work-training program specified in engineering. A co-op is a specific type of work training experience in which students have at least two full- or part-time supervised and paid work experiences related to their major, each lasting at least one semester. The co-op program is specifically designated as such by the academic department.

Benefits. In addition to the possibility of earning college credit, other educational benefits of internships/co-ops include learning new skills and applying learned theory to the world of work. Career development benefits include exploring available career options, developing realistic career goals and expectations, and building relationships with professionals and employers. Employment advantages include gaining career-related experience, supplementing grades, and receiving possible employment offers or recommendations for future employment.

Academic Requirements and Credits. Each academic department determines the academic requirements for internships and cooperative education experiences. Unless an academic department requires completion of an internship/co-op, it is up to an individual student to decide whether or not they wish to pursue receiving credit for their experience (occasionally, employers require interns to receive college credit for their experience). When seeking credit for an experience, a faculty advisor within each academic department is responsible for final approval of internships/co-ops to ensure that the experience meets specific departmental criteria. Students are required to comply with academic departmental GPA requirements regarding internships/co-ops. The academic department provides a faculty member to evaluate the work submitted by the student to fulfill departmental requirements. Students seeking credit are typically required to have completed 60 academic credits before signing up for internships/co-ops. Work hours normally equate to 150 hours for three academic credits. However, this may vary by department. A maximum of 15 internship/cooperative education credits may be applied toward graduation. The nature of the academic component of an internship/cooperative education experience is defined by the academic department. A student may not use a single work experience to generate both internship/cooperative education credit and other forms of credit, e.g., independent study credit.

Criteria. Internships and co-ops may be initiated by a faculty advisor, employer, student, or the Career Services office. The work setting for internships/co-ops must provide an opportunity for learning that is relevant to the student's academic field as well as a field supervisor to oversee and evaluate their work.

The length of the internship/co-op is determined prior to the beginning of the internship by the employer, the student, and the faculty advisor. An internship/cooperative education experience can be terminated prior to completion by the faculty advisor, field supervisor, or student. However, permission for course withdrawal is vested exclusively in the faculty for credit-bearing internships.

Career Services and Employment Assistance

The Career Center connects students and alumni to career-related resources including experiential learning programming and opportunities that enhance long-term career planning and preparation. These services include full-time job and internship search assistance, workshops and seminars, career fairs, on-campus recruitment, and simulated interviews. Individual appointments can be scheduled with advisors. Students and alumni may take advantage of LakerJobs, a Web-based job management system, to access current job and internship postings, sign up for on-campus interviews, and receive correspondence regarding upcoming events and employment opportunities. Students and alumni may also utilize the Career Contact Bank, a searchable listing of professionals who have offered to provide career advice and informational interviews. ((

The Career Center has two primary locations: 206 Student Services building, (616) 331-3311; and 116B DeVos Center, (616) 331-6708. Both office locations have office hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Services are also available at the L.V. Eberhard Center and at the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences in Grand Rapids; the Meijer Campus in Holland; the Muskegon Regional Center at Muskegon Community College; and the Traverse City Regional Center by appointment. Visit our website at www.gvsu.edu/careers/.

Student Employment

The Student Employment office has a website to help students find jobs both on and off campus. Visit www.gvsu.edu/studentjobs to view job postings, a gallery of pictures showing students working at all types of jobs on campus, the on-campus wage schedule, the pay period calendar, hints for interviewing, student handbook, forms for employment, explanation of work study, and much more. The office is located at 105 Student Services building. Telephone (616) 331-3238.

Employment Statistics for 2010-2011

The placement rate for Grand Valley graduates continues to be high; 88.8 percent of 2010-11 graduates reported being employed and/or enrolled in graduate school. Students can enhance employment success by improving written and verbal communication skills, completing an internship or other experiential education program, developing high-demand skills in areas outside of their major academic program area, and thoroughly preparing for the employment search. In 2010-11, 7,007 students participated in an experiential education program.

Placement rates can be affected by a variety factors, including the overall economy, local and national needs for people with particular skills, candidates' willingness to relocate, and individual performance. A breakdown of placement rates by GVSU college is included below. For more detailed information on reported statistics or assistance with preparation for the employment search, please contact the Career Center at [email protected] or (616) 331-3311.

GVSU College	Employed Only	Employed and in Graduate School	Graduate School Only	Placement Rate
Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies (BCOIS)	63.2%	26.3%	5.3%	94.7%
College of Community and Public Service (CCPS)	62.9%	14.8%	8.6%	86.3%
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS)	55.1%	13.3%	16.9%	85.3%
College of Health Professions (CHP)	58.0%	17.0%	18.0%	93.0%
College of Education (COE)*	76.8%	17.2%	1.0%	94.9%
Kirkhof College of Nursing (KCON)	83.1%	7.7%	1.5%	92.3%
Seymour and Esther Padnos College of Engineering and Computing (PCEC)	87.5%	7.8%	3.1%	98.4%
Seidman College of Business (SCOB)	73.9%	14.5%	5.0%	93.4%
University Total	63.5%	13.9%	11.4%	88.8%

*College contains graduate programs only. Undergraduate employment statistics for teachers are reported in the college of their major.

Dean of Students

The function of the Dean of Students Office is to maintain the quality of campus life by providing leadership and supervision for the division's staff and programs. The office serves as an information resource and problem-solving center for students and faculty members, academic departments, and student organizations. The office is an advocate for student concerns, provides support services for returning adult students, coordinates the university judicial system and mediation program, and represents the division to constituencies in and outside of the institution. The Dean of Students Office is located in 202 Student Services building. Telephone (616) 331-3585.

Mediation

Mediation is a nonjudicial, confidential, and voluntary process that helps people resolve their own conflicts and design their own solutions with the assistance of a trained facilitator. Trained staff members are available to help students resolve conflicts.

Returning Adult Students

The Dean of Students Office serves as a resource and referral service for returning adult students, generally defined as nontraditional students over the age of 25.

University Judiciary

The University Judiciary department is responsible for informing students about their rights and responsibilities on campus. Grievance procedures and judicial referrals are available for handling students' concerns regarding university practices. Prompt and confidential investigations and resolutions of judicial cases are standard procedures. Filing a complaint does not affect a student's standing at Grand Valley.

The Student Code lists Grand Valley rules and regulations and outlines campus judicial processes. Persons attending Grand Valley automatically place themselves under the rules and regulations published in the Student Code. Infraction of these rules is dealt with by campus judiciary bodies made up of students, faculty members, and staff members.

Health Services

The Campus Health Center is located at 10383 A 42nd Avenue on the Allendale Campus. The center is designed to provide health care for students, faculty members, staff members, and their families on a walk-in basis. Services include (but are not limited to) the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses and accidents, physical exams, immunizations, women's health services, STD testing, and referrals. Physician assistants and nurses staff the center Monday through Friday. The Campus Health Center accepts all major health insurance plans and will bill them accordingly.

Children's Enrichment Center

The Children's Enrichment Center enriches the lives of Grand Valley's youngest students. Located on West Campus Drive, the center serves young children 2 ½ to 12 years of age from the Allendale campus and the nearby community. The program is designed to help children nurture habits of intellectual growth, curiosity, and a love for learning. To learn more about enrollment or volunteer opportunities call (616) 331-KIDS (5437) or visit the website at www.gvsu.edu/child/. Hours are from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, year round.

Counseling Center

The staff of the Counseling and Career Development Center (CCDC) provides students with short-term counseling on personal issues such as relationships, anxiety, depression, self-awareness, and substance abuse. In addition, staff members work with students who have questions concerning future career direction including assessing career interests through testing, deciding on a major, exploring change of major, and gathering information on different careers. Counseling is provided using individual and/or group sessions at no cost to currently enrolled students. Various seminars and groups are offered each semester to help students connect with peers, make more effective decisions, develop better coping skills, and learn to handle the challenges associated with academic study. To make an appointment please contact the front desk at either the Allendale Campus (616) 331-3266 or the Pew Campus (616) 331-7596. Visit our website at www.gvsu.edu/counsel to learn more about our services.

Inclusion and Equity Division

The mission of the Inclusion and Equity Division is to provide leadership in the development and implementation of a university-wide integrated approach to enhancing the intercultural competency of students and faculty and staff members. The division is committed to creating a campus climate that is welcoming and inclusive. Below are the four functional areas.

Affirmative Action
The office of Affirmative Action provides leadership to the campus for all facets of promoting and monitoring equal opportunity and affirmative action. It develops and monitors institutional goals and plans related to all equal opportunity compliance obligations of the university. The Affirmative Action office works with the campus community to define connections between unit plans and affirmative action goals and provides guidance and monitors the hiring activities of the university to improve recruitment and retention of under-represented groups. The office is responsible for developing training and education programs on affirmative action and equal opportunity laws, policies, and procedures, as well as issues of sexual harassment and discrimination, and investigates and resolves discrimination complaints. It also is responsible for data analyses and reporting, ongoing communication, and updating of the university's Affirmative Action Plan.

The assistant vice president for Affirmative Action also acts as GVSU's Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX Coordinator is responsible for monitoring and oversight of the overall implementation of the university's Title IX compliance, including the coordination of training, education, communications, and the administration of grievance procedures for faculty and staff members, students, and other members of the university community.

Grand Valley State University is required under Title IX to prevent and address sexual discrimination, which includes sexual harassment, sexual assault, and sexual misconduct, against students and faculty and staff members whether perpetrated by peers or by employees of the institution. The Title IX Coordinator is responsible for investigating sexual discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual assault.

Disability Support Resources
The office of Disability Support Resources provides access to programs and facilities for all faculty and staff members and students. Grand Valley promotes the full inclusion of individuals with disabilities as part of our commitment to creating a diverse, intercultural community. It is the policy of Grand Valley to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other applicable federal and state laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability. Grand Valley will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

Intercultural Training, Learning, and Development
The office of Intercultural Training, Learning, and Development initiates, designs, delivers, and evaluates training and development programs related to enhancing diversity awareness, inclusive excellence, and building intercultural competency skills. It supports faculty and staff members and students in learning to manage diversity by utilizing best practices that align values, guiding principles, and a commitment to inclusion and equal opportunity. The office also fosters an environment for open communication through public opportunities to dialogue about race, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities, and other dimensions of diversity and inclusion to promote understanding, interaction, and communication between cultures.

Inclusion Initiatives
The office of Inclusion Initiatives works with deans, colleges/schools, departments, and divisions to provide informational resources, consultation, and other support that helps to enhance the university's inclusion work in various areas such as strategic plan implementation, program evaluation, pipeline, recruitment, and retention initiatives for faculty and staff members and students. In addition, it serves as a liaison to the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Women's Center, and the LGBT Resource Center.

Please visit www.gvsu.edu/inclusion for more details and contact information.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Resource Center

It is the mission of the LGBT Resource Center to educate, support, and empower students to lead authentic lives, to challenge gender and sexuality stereotypes, and to work for social justice.

The LGBT Resource Center strives to create an inclusive and just environment where the many expressions of gender and sexuality are celebrated within the complex identities of all students. We support and challenge LGBT students on their developmental journey as well as create a space for all students to confront and overcome personal bias. We envision our students becoming dynamic leaders in the social justice community who demonstrate solidarity with other marginalized communities by working together to challenge intersecting systems of oppression.

The LGBT Resource Center provides resources, services, education, and leadership programs related to gender and sexuality in order to meet the many needs of the diverse LGBTQ and allied communities. These programs include our Freshman Queer Alliance, Pipeline Leadership Program, LGBT Ambassadors, and student Allies and Advocates.

The LGBT Resource Center is located in 1161 Kirkhof Center. Contact us by phone at (616) 331-2530, visit our website at www.gvsu.edu/lgbtrc, or email us at [email protected].

Office of Multicultural Affairs

The Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) is committed to building an inclusive campus that promotes acceptance and appreciation of the diversity, background, and perspective of each individual. Through our signature Professionals of Color Lecture Series and heritage cultural celebrations, OMA fosters an understanding and respect for the history, tradition, and culture of different ethnic groups and empowers students to be active and engaged learners.

OMA is home to the four multicultural cohort programs: Multicultural Business Education Cohort (MBEC), Multicultural Higher Education Cohort (MHEC), Multicultural Science Education Cohort (MSEC), and Multicultural Teacher Education Cohort (MTEC). Students are selected to join one of four cohort programs designed to support academic majors in business, higher education, science, and teacher education. The cohort programs offer a learning community for freshman students to transition from high school to college, foster peer-to-peer support, and form networking connections. High-impact learning outcomes are integrated into programs' activities to offer an array of opportunities for students to develop lifelong skills that will benefit their lives and careers after college.

OMA administers two college-preparation programs - the Wade H. McCree Incentive Program and the MI GEAR UP program - to prepare underrepresented students in selected school districts for postsecondary education.

OMA offers a welcoming environment with gathering space at 1240 Kirkhof Center on the Allendale Campus. Call (616) 331-2177, email [email protected], or visit our website at www.gvsu.edu/oma/.

Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship

The Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship (OURS) offers a variety of opportunities and resources for undergraduates to pursue research and scholarship in various disciplines under the direction of a faculty mentor. These intensive research and scholarship opportunities enrich students' academic experiences and challenge them to strengthen their critical, analytical, and writing skills.

Some of the hallmark programs of OURS are:

• Student Summer Scholars, an opportunity for mentored, student-driven research and reflection on diverse and intersecting disciplines
• Student Scholars Day, a year-end discussion and celebration of the academic and creative accomplishments of GVSU students
• OURS Grant, a mini-grant opportunity designed to encourage collaborative scholarly research and creative work between undergraduate students and faculty on a semester project
• Academic Conference Fund, a grant program established to provide travel funds for GVSU students to present/perform at an academic conference
• Academic and Professional Enrichment Fund, a grant program established to provide travel funds for GVSU students to accompany an eligible faculty member to an academic conference

Participating in undergraduate research and scholarship will expand your academic experience at GVSU. Research is a process of careful inquiry leading to the discovery of new information. Although there are some differences in how research is conducted across disciplines, research is not restricted to certain disciplines and occurs in all programs at GVSU.

For more information, visit www.gvsu.edu/ours/.

Veterans Network

The Veterans Network is a proven, decentralized approach to providing support services and resources to active service members, military veterans, Guard/Reservists, and family members. Additionally, the Veterans Network provides training for faculty members, staff members, and students; provides outreach with community and governmental agencies; coordinates events for military veterans; works closely with the Student Veterans of America organization; and maintains the website.

By identifying knowledgeable veteran specialists in the most critical student services areas, an effective support network for veterans has been established. Some of the departments comprising the network include admissions, advising, counseling, Dean of Students office, disability support resources, financial aid, records and registration, student accounts, and the Women's Center - to mention a few. The individual specialists within these areas are trained to understand and appreciate the unique circumstances of veterans, and are readily identifiable on the Veterans Network webpage along with contact information.

For more information, visit our website at www.gvsu.edu/veterans or call (616) 331-3327.

Women's Center

The mission of the Grand Valley Women's Center is to create meaningful learning about women and gender and to advocate for gender justice through the education, engagement, and empowerment of women students and the greater Grand Valley community. The center creates an environment where students increase self-awareness, connect with resources, apply skills, conduct research, complete internships, and perform service learning around gender equality.

The Women's Center is committed to creating an environment in which the diversity of all students is affirmed and appreciated. In response, programs and services are offered in a variety of formats and on many topics. In addition to programs and services, the Women's Center provides an area for people to relax in the lounge, complete academic work at study tables, seek resources from the information desk, host meetings, or check out books. Examples of specific activities include:

Connecting students to campus and community resources. The center serves as a welcome starting place for any student needing assistance with personal and/or academic challenges, and helps students connect with those who can best assist them. It also offers a Student Food Pantry that offers short-term support for students struggling with food insecurity and a clothing voucher program for students who struggle with affording professional attire for internships and/or job interviews.

Engaging the campus community in antiviolence work. The center collaborates with numerous campus partners to end instances of sexual assault, dating/domestic violence, and stalking on campus, and to connect victims/survivors to resources through educational outreach and prevention programs. Partners include the Eyes Wide Open peer sexual assault education group, The College Men's Group, and ReACT! Peer theatre troupe, among others.

Providing internship and service-learning opportunities. The center works with numerous nonprofits in the community that seek to improve the lives of women and girls. Through the Women's Community Collaborative, the Women's Issues Volunteer Corps (WIVC), and the South Africa study abroad program, students can make a meaningful difference through volunteering and service-learning.

Fostering leadership and advocacy. The center engages students in leadership development and works with students to advocate for gender justice. This is done through the ATHENA Leadership program, the Women's Center Ambassador Program, and internship experiences in the center.

The Women's Center is located in 1201 Kirkhof Center. Contact us by telephone at (616) 331-2748, visit our website at www.gvsu.edu/women_cen or email us at [email protected]/.

Housing and Residence Life and Campus Dining

Although Grand Valley does not require on-campus residency for any classification of student, the university does consider residential living to be particularly beneficial in helping all students become oriented and adjusted to college life. A university staff member for each living center, together with student resident assistants, arrange educational, diversity, and recreational programs that serve to foster and maintain pleasant living and study conditions. Our full-time staff members work in conjunction with a graduate assistant and student resident assistants. Two students are assigned to a room and, whenever possible, students are allowed to choose their roommates. The traditional-style living centers accommodate approximately 900 freshman students. Traditional-style living centers accommodate two people per room with semiprivate bathrooms in the hallway for all floormates to access. Suite-style living centers accommodate 1,000 students. The centers are divided into suites consisting of two double rooms (for four students) and a shared bathroom. Apartment-style living centers provide two students with bedrooms, a private bathroom, and a small kitchen. There are approximately 1,000 apartment-style living center beds.

Room and board may be paid in full at the beginning of each semester or, for a service charge, in four installments. All room-and-board rates are subject to change by action of the Board of Trustees.

Admission to Grand Valley does not guarantee housing of any kind, and students must make their own arrangements by contacting the Office of Housing and Residence Life. This should be done immediately upon acceptance for admission as living centers are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications, contracts, and housing information are available at www.gvsu.edu/housing/. Approximately 3,000 spaces in the living centers are reserved for freshmen; the remaining spaces are available for upper-class students. All rooms are smoke-free.

Dining

Campus Dining offers meal plans to all Grand Valley students. There are three room-and-board plans for residents including 10 Plus, 14 Plus, and 19 Plus. Additional plans are available for students living on and off campus. Meals are served in Kleiner, Fresh Food Company, Fuel, River Landing, Engrained, and at the Plaza Café in the DeVos Center.
Kleiner:

• Marketplace: Flat Tops, Asian Kitchen, Montague's Deli, Pizza and Pasta
• C3 Convenience Store: snacks, produce, frozen foods, breads, health and beauty items. Late night meals available daily, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
• Java City: espresso, cappuccino, specialty coffee drinks, and blended drinks

Commons:

• Fresh Food Company, upper-level: a wide variety of entrée choices, from baked salmon and made-to-order pasta to steamed vegetables and Laker Bowls
• Einstein Bros. Bagels, upper-level: fresh baked bagels, gourmet breakfast sandwiches, and a very tempting lunch menu
• Fuel, lower-level: four stations, including Bleecker Street, Jump Asian Cuisine, Freshens Energy Zone, and Papa John's Express

Kirkhof Center:

• River Landing, lower-level: Crouton's, pizza and pastas, Zoca, Flat Tops, Subway, and Sushi
• The Lobby Shop, main level: featuring Java City Coffee and specialty drinks, Freshens Smoothie Co. and Convenience Store

The Connection:

• Engrained: a sustainably rich restaurant with a rotation of entrees, made-to-order salads, and deli
• P.O.D.: an integrated market and c-store with many quick-serve items and full coffee shop
• Papa John's Pizza: carryout or delivery, late night hours, convenient online ordering

Mackinac and AuSable Halls:

• C3 Express: freshly brewed coffee, beverages, fruits, snacks, fresh sandwiches, and many grab 'n' go options

DeVos Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus:

• Gazebo Market: salads, wraps, smoothies, sushi, snacks
• Plaza Café: Flat Tops, sushi, salad and soup
• Starbucks: salads, sandwiches, bakery items and coffee drinks

Meal plans and Dining Dollars are accepted at all Campus Dining locations including c-stores, coffee shops, restaurants, and C3 Express locations. For more details regarding Campus Dining, visit www.gvsufood.com/.

Apartments

Grand Valley has apartment living available on both our Allendale Campus and the Robert C. Pew Campus in Grand Rapids. The apartment complexes on the Allendale Campus provide housing for students who have completed at least one full year of living on campus or have earned a minimum of 30 semester hours. There are four-bedroom, two-bedroom, one-bedroom, and efficiency apartments. A university staff member living in the complex, together with graduate assistants and student resident assistants, arranges educational, diversity, and recreational programs that foster pleasant living and study conditions.

Our apartments range from town home communities to more traditional apartment living, each providing a community building or lounge/common area. Each apartment has a stove and refrigerator, beds, dresser, desks, chairs, and a sofa. Students provide other furnishings to suit their tastes. All apartments are smoke-free. Rent may be paid in full at the beginning of the semester or, for a service charge, spread out in four installments.

Apartments located on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus include one-, two-, three-, four-bedroom, and single/double efficiency units. Secchia Hall units are partially furnished with a couch and a chair. Winter Hall is fully furnished and offers an on-site fitness center. Students residing here may also select a meal plan at an additional cost.

Housing and Residence Life offers living-learning communities in a number of our on-campus apartments. Students living in these buildings have chosen to expand their education through shared learning experiences, and each community is built upon a specific theme, major, or area of interest. Professional and graduate staff members work closely with a faculty coordinator in these communities to provide a rich living-learning experience that extends outside of the classroom (programs, events, field trips, research, etc.). The living-learning communities offered are: Art Housing, Honors College, International House, Movement Science House, W.I.S.E (Women in Science, Engineering, and Math), and Women's Leadership House.

All of our units resemble privately developed apartments in every way, yet are conveniently located right on campus and offer support services that are highly beneficial to residents. Students must apply for housing each year. We accept applications daily and encourage any interested student to apply for housing. Applications and contracts are available online at www.gvsu.edu/housing/.

Housing Application Process

New students who want to live on campus should apply to the Office of Housing and Residence Life upon acceptance to Grand Valley. All first-year students are encouraged to apply before March 1 for the fall semester in which they plan to attend. Spaces are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. To be considered for on-campus residency, students must submit a housing application, contract, and $150 security deposit. Housing applications are accepted and encouraged at any time and are available at www.gvsu.edu/housing/.

Grand Valley offers housing options 12 months per year, with applications available for fall and winter, winter only, and spring/summer semesters. Specific building availability varies from fall/winter to summer semesters, though is offered on both campuses year-round. Residents may cancel their contract with written notice and will be charged according to our cancellation breakage schedule. This schedule is available online at our website.

Other Housing

Other living accommodations near the campus, including rooms, apartments, houses, and mobile homes are available at a wide variety of costs. Grand Valley does not involve itself in negotiations for off-campus rentals but does provide, solely as a service to students, a listing of available housing at www.gvsu.edu/housing/. The university will not knowingly list substandard housing but it does not inspect the units available, and students are advised to exercise normal caution in making rental agreements.

Grand Valley Police Department

Grand Valley Police Department (GVPD) is a full-service law enforcement agency on the Allendale Campus. The department is charged with the responsibility of enforcing all state and local laws as well as university rules and regulations. Grand Valley police officers have full police authority and are licensed by the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards. Allendale fire rescue provides campus with medical first aid support as well as fire response. The department maintains Lost and Found property, approves drivers for operating state vehicles, and processes parking violations. The department is located in the Service building at the north end of campus. Telephone (616) 331-3255.

Public Safety Liaison Committee

The Grand Valley State University Public Safety Liaison Committee is an oversight committee for the Grand Valley State University Police Department, created under the authority of Act 120 of the Public Acts of 1990 of the State of Michigan.

The primary function of the committee is to consider grievances by persons with complaints related to Grand Valley Police Department (GVPD) and its personnel. The Public Safety Liaison Committee is comprised of individuals nominated and elected by faculty members, students, and staff members of Grand Valley as determined by the university president. The committee includes a minimum of two students, two members of faculty, and two members of staff who are neither members of faculty nor GVPD. The director of Public Safety serves as an ex officio and nonvoting member. The committee encourages complainants to first attempt informal resolution of any dissatisfaction by working with GVPD.

For more information, please contact the Public Safety Liaison Committee at www.gvsu.edu/gvpd/.

Parking

Approximately 8,100 parking spaces are available in 16 lots on the Allendale Campus and 3,000 spaces in 12 lots on the Robert C. Pew Grand Rapids Campus for students who choose to drive their cars to Grand Valley. Anyone choosing to park on Allendale or Pew campuses must have a parking permit. Permits for resident or commuting students can be ordered electronically at www.gvsu.edu/gvpd. The permit cost will be charged to the student's account.

Visitors to the Allendale Campus can obtain a free visitor permit from GVPD located in the Service building on the north end of campus. When visiting the Pew Grand Rapids Campus, free visitor permits are available from the Security Office in the L.V. Eberhard Center. There is also metered parking available on both campuses.

Transportation Services

Transportation between, within, and around the Robert C. Pew Grand Rapids Campus and the Allendale Campus is easy, convenient, and free.

Grand Valley State University offers five separate routes for students, faculty members, and staff members. All Grand Valley and The Rapid routes are free to ride with your student or faculty/staff ID card. All Grand Valley routes are listed below. Please view other routes at www.ridetherapid.org/.

Campus Connector Route (Route 50)
The Campus Connector provides service between the Allendale Campus, Pew Grand Rapids Campus, and The Rapid Central Station with runs Monday through Friday during fall, winter, spring, and summer semesters. The Campus Connector makes round trips from Pew Grand Rapids Campus to Russel H. Kirkhof Center on the Allendale Campus with stops along Lake Michigan Drive and at Mackinac Hall. The Campus Connector also stops at The Rapid Central Station to provide access to additional routes offered by The Rapid.

CHS Express Route (Route 51)
The CHS Express provides service between the main Campus Connector stop on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus and Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences (CHS). The CHS Express runs Monday through Friday during fall, winter, spring, and summer semesters. Student parking for the Center for Health Sciences is located in Grand Valley's Seward parking ramp at the corner of Lake Michigan Drive and Seward Avenue on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus.

North Campus Apartment Shuttle (Route 37)
The North Campus Express provides service between a variety of private apartment complexes immediately adjacent to the northwest portion of the Allendale Campus. The North Campus Apartment Shuttle runs Monday through Friday during fall and winter semesters only.

South Apartment Shuttle (Route 48)
The South Campus Express provides service between a variety of private apartment complexes immediately adjacent to the southwest portion of the Allendale Campus. The South Campus Apartment Shuttle runs Monday through Friday during fall and winter semesters only.

Weekend Connector (Route 50)
The Weekend Connector combines all four routes (Campus Connector, CHS Express, North Campus Express, and South Campus Express) into one continuous loop. It also provides service to The Rapid Central Station for easy transfers to The Rapid system. The Weekend Connector runs Friday evening to Sunday evening each weekend during fall and winter semesters only.

Schedules and frequencies for all services are subject to change. Current schedules can be found online at www.gvsu.edu/transportation/. Please note that frequencies of service are reduced during spring/summer semesters and Grand Valley State University break periods. Questions about the shuttle bus services should be directed to the Pew Campus Operations office at (616) 331-6700 or to [email protected].

ACES (Alcohol Campus Education Services)

Counseling and Career Development Center
Because dangerous drinking affects us all, ACES is devoted to promoting and developing opportunities for students to increase existing knowledge and skills necessary to make healthy choices regarding alcohol and other drugs.

ACES is a multicomponent and multidisciplined program housed in the Counseling and Career Development Center. It addresses the needs of individuals who want to be informed about the facts regarding alcohol, may themselves be struggling with alcohol or other drugs issues, or are concerned or impacted by someone else's behaviors and wish to help. The program has three main areas of focus: 1) prevention and education, 2) intervention, and 3) recovery.

Our staff provides prevention and educational presentations on campus to various groups and organizations. The presentations can be tailored to specific needs and may be requested by using the contact information listed below. We also facilitate the ACES Group, an educational session provided to students who have had their first alcohol offense and who are required to attend an educational group as a part of their sanction.

Students who are in need of substance abuse counseling, assessment, or have had two or more alcohol offenses may access counseling services at the Counseling and Career Development Center located in Student Services Building, Room 204 (616) 331-3266 www.gvsu.edu/counsel/. The Counseling Center has several staff members who specialize in outpatient substance abuse counseling. Counseling Center staff can provide referral information if more intensive services are deemed necessary. Counseling services are free for currently enrolled Grand Valley students, however, there is a fee for court-ordered evaluations (please contact the Counseling Center for the most current information).

The ACES office also coordinates on-campus 12-Step Meetings for students in recovery. These meetings are offered daily and are held at our office (10383 B 42nd Avenue). These groups are open to students, faculty, staff, and community members. The most current schedule can be found on our website www.gvsu.edu/aces/. We also keep a current listing of other local recovery services and agencies.

For more information, or to request a presentation, please contact us at (616) 331-2537 or at [email protected]. You may also drop by our office at 10383 B 42nd Avenue, please see our website www.gvsu.edu/aces for current office hours.

Pew Campus Student Services

Working closely with students, faculty members, and staff members, including the offices of graduate studies, student life, multicultural affairs, and other stakeholders, our goals are to enhance learning, involve students, and help maintain a sense of community by providing more opportunities for all students.

Within the office located in 101B DeVos Center, students can obtain general assistance, career planning and job seeking information, counseling, and support for students who previously served, or currently serve in the U.S. military.

For more information visit our website at www.gvsu.edu or call (616) 331-7220.