2017-2018 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
Student Life and Services
Student Life
Student life at Grand Valley State University reaches far beyond the typical college activity list to make life on campus exciting, enjoyable, and to help students get involved outside the classroom. The Office of Student Life challenges students to be engaged through a department campaign: Become More. Students can take advantage of a great variety of clubs and organizations, including cultural organizations, performing arts groups, recreational clubs, interfaith groups, social organizations, fraternities and sororities, professional associations, special interest groups, leadership groups, and community service organizations.
Campus Life Night
www.gvsu.edu/campuslifenight
Campus Life Night, held the Tuesday evening after Labor Day in Parking Lot H across from the library, 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.
Community Service Learning Center
www.gvsu.edu/service
The Community Service Learning Center (CSLC), located in 1108 Kirkhof Center, prepares students to become active, global citizens and challenges them to be committed to a life of community engagement and democratic participation. This is accomplished through campus-wide volunteer/service activities, community issues education, community agency partnerships, and various civic learning initiatives. Students are encouraged to become a part of the activities of the CSLC to enhance their understanding of civic responsibility now and in the future. Every student can become an active citizen and can connect with the CSLC by coming into the center or visiting the website.
Festivals and Events
Student organizations and special committees work with professional staff in sponsoring and planning campus events such as the Renaissance Festival, Make a Difference Day, 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.
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.
Laker Traditions Team
www.gvsu.edu/traditions
Many traditional Grand Valley events such as Family Weekend, Homecoming, Founders Day, Battle of the Valleys, Sibs and Kids Weekend, Presidents' Ball, Intercultural Festival, and Laker Remembrance are coordinated by a committee of students, along with their staff advisors. The Laker Traditions Team produces these high-profile events that provide team members with event planning, marketing, and collaboration skills that will transfer to their professional lives.
Leadership Programs
Laker Leadership
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 and transfer 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 conference that provides student leaders 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 Connection 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 Grand Valley alumnus sharing experiences and inspirations on the topic of leadership and service.
Office of Student Life
Successful students make the most of their college experience by getting involved outside the classroom. The Office of Student Life, located in the Kirkhof Center, provides opportunities for students to "Become More" by joining a student organization, actively engaging with their communities, serving as leaders on campus, and gaining real-world experience, while enjoying the numerous activities provided on campus.
Because only 30 percent of a student's time on campus is spent in the classroom, students should develop a plan on how to spend the other 70 percent of their time to maximize their college experience. Through the broad range of opportunities, students make connections and gain valuable competencies which make them more marketable to employers upon graduation.
Students can follow Student Life on Twitter @GVSUStudentLife and Facebook by searching Grand Valley Student Life. More information is available on the website or by calling (616) 331-2345.
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.
Named in honor of Russel H. Kirkhof, this student center provides opportunities 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 center are the Office of Student Life, Event Services, 2020 Information Desk, Office of Multicultural Affairs, Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center, Gayle R. Davis Center for Women and Gender Equity, Student Veteran's Lounge, and Dining Services. There are three ATM machines located near the lobby for convenience.
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.
20/20 Information Desk
www.gvsu.edu/2020
Located in the main lobby of the Kirkhof Center, the 2020 Information Desk provides up-to-date information regarding campus events. Student staff members operate the desk and are there to answer questions and assist students. Contact the 2020 Information Desk staff at (616) 331-2020 and follow them on Twitter at @GVSU2020.
Promotions Office
www.gvsu.edu/promotions
The Promotions Office provides graphic design and advertising to assist student organizations in promoting their events. The Video Team produces a variety of videos promoting campus events and educating students. Services are also available for creating and producing videos. Contact (616) 331-2340 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, and aspiring artists. Visit the website at www.gvsu.edu/studentlife/programming or call (616) 331-2806 for more information.
Student Organizations
The Office of Student Life is proud to host over 400 student organizations to help you "Become More." Student organizations may be identified in any of the following ways.
Academic and professional organizations focus on academic disciplines or are related to a specific professional field.
Cultural organizations educate the campus community about world cultures to enhance students' views. 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. Learn more about fraternity and sorority lifeat www.gvsu.edu/greeklife/.
Graduate student organizations are connected with a graduate program.
Honor societies serve to recognize students for high achievement on campus.
Interfaith organizations serve to enhance a student's spiritual life while providing fellowship and outreach opportunities.
Media organizations provide an opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience with media, including newspaper, television production, and radio. The student campus media entities listed as follows are all located on the lower level of the Kirkhof Center.
- 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 46.1 or on the Web at www.grandvalleytv.org/. Contact GVTV at (616) 331-4888 for more information.
- 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 team includes editorial, advertising, business, graphic art, staff writing, and staff photography positions. Read The Lanthorn online at www.lanthorn.com or call (616) 331-2460 to find out more information.
- WCKS The Whale: The student-run campus radio station provides opportunities for all aspects of radio production. Listen on the Web at www.whaleradio.org/. Call (616) 331-2356 for more information.
Performing arts organizations provide opportunities for involvement and exposure to the performing arts.
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 organizationsprovide opportunities for competition, personal fitness, recreational activities, and/or school spirit support. These organizations are broken down in to competitive and noncompetitive.
Student government organizations serve as governing bodies in various aspects of campus life.
Student Senate
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.
Student Services
Athletics, Intercollegiate
Grand Valley is a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). Membership in the GLIAC includes Ashland, Davenport, Ferris, Grand Valley, Lake Superior, Michigan Tech, Northern Michigan, Northwood, Purdue NW, Saginaw Valley, Tiffin, 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 23 times and has placed as a top two finisher in the past 15 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 17 times; basketball, eight; baseball, 18; wrestling, six; tennis, one; golf, six; indoor track, 16; swimming and diving, five; outdoor track, 11; and cross country, 15. In women's sports, Grand Valley has won championships in basketball eight times; cross country, 17; soccer, 12; softball, 12; tennis, three; volleyball, 10; swimming and diving, one; indoor track, 17; outdoor track, 17; women's lacrosse, four; and golf, 13. Grand Valley's teams have earned national championships as follows: men's football, four; women's basketball, one; women's cross country, five; women's indoor track, two; women's outdoor track, two; women's soccer, five; and women's volleyball, one.
Scholarships are offered in all men's and women's sports.
Grand Valley competes in 20 sports, including men's baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, swimming and diving, tennis, and indoor and outdoor track, and women's basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, indoor and outdoor track, and volleyball.
Barbara and Stuart 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. 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 Padnos International Center is to engage the university community in 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 and Stuart 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 and Literatures 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:
Austria: FH Joanneum University of Applied Sciences, Graz
Australia: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Macquarie University, Sydney
China: China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing; 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, Grenoble; L'Ecole Superieure Des Sciences Commerciales of Angers l'Universite, Angers; Catholique de L'Ouest, Angers; L'Universite de Versailles, Saint-Quentin-en Yvelines
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.
Japan: International Christian University, Mitaka; Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Beppu
Mexico: Universidad de las Americas-Puebla
Norway: University of Oslo
Poland: Cracow University of Economics, Cracow
Romania: Babes-Bolyai University
Spain: Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Madrid
South Korea: Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul
Switzerland: Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Zurich
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
Academic Programs International (API), various locations
American Institute for Foreign Studies (AIFS), various locations
Council on International Education Exchange (CIEE), various locations
Cultural Experiences Abroad (CEA), various locations
Edge Hill University (EHU), Ormskirk, England
European Study Abroad (EUSA), various locations
Global Semesters, various locations
Hellenic International Studies of the Arts (HISA), Paros, Greece
International Studies Abroad (ISA), various locations
University of Deusto (CIDE), Bilbao, Spain
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.
Faculty-led 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 25 programs per year. Summer programs may include:
Bordeaux, France: French language and culture
Capetown, South Africa: Women and gender studies
Central London, England: Urbanization/geography and British culture
El Salvador, Central America: Social work
Kingston, England: Art
Oman 38 UAE: Business Arabic and Middle East culture
Osaka, Japan: Japanese language and culture
Schwäbisch-Gmünd, Germany: German language and culture
Shanghai, China: Eastern philosophy, language, and civilization
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, 130 Lake Ontario Hall, or call (616) 331-3898.
Career and Employment Resources
Career Center
The Career Center helps you explore career options, develop short- and long-term career action plans, and connect with employers and professionals in your field of study. Through a variety of programs and one-on-one appointments, we can help you develop strategies that will lead to meaningful careers.
Individual Assistance
Career Center advisors help undergraduate students, graduate students, and alumni determine their interests and values as they relate to career choices and provide career guidance or job/internship search assistance.
Services include:
- Career testing and self-assessment
- Career planning
- Career and major exploration
- Graduate and professional school exploration
- Internships and cooperative education
- Interviewing and resume/cover letter writing skills
- Job and internship search strategies
- Networking strategies
To schedule an appointment, call or stop by one of our two primary locations: 206 Student Services Building and 101B DeVos Center, (616) 331-3311, [email protected]. Appointments can be made between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Walk-in sessions are also available. Time for Ten is a walk-in program that allows for a 10-minute individual consultation without an appointment during the academic year. Services are also available at the L. William Seidman Center, 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/.
LakerJobs
LakerJobs is an online job search tool for students and alumni that contains thousands of internships, as well as part- and full-time career opportunities with Grand Valley employer partners. New opportunities are posted daily and it is free to use.
Login with your GVSU network ID and password at www.gvsu.edu/lakerjobs/.
You can also use LakerJobs to
- get information on and register for upcoming career fairs, workshops, and information sessions;
- participate in on-campus interviews;
- make your resume available to employers through resume books;
- have jobs automatically emailed to you with search agents and job blasts; and
- research employers that recruit at Grand Valley.
Focus II
Focus II is a free, personalized career and education planning tool. It is designed to help you explore careers and majors by identifying those that best fit your career interests, values, personality, and skills. From the results, you can explore in-depth information related to specific careers.
Create an account at www.gvsu.edu/careers/focus2/.
Employer Connections
Engaging with employers early and throughout a student's college career is critical to successful career development, along with gaining experience, and obtaining postgraduate employment. The Career Center has dedicated resources to help you discover and nurture local, regional, and national employer connections. This is done through on- and off-campus events offering opportunities to meet and network with a wide variety of employers. Employers also come to campus throughout the year to conduct on-campus interviews for internships, cooperative education, and full-time employment.
Career Courses
The Career Center offers both career exploration (US 102) and job and internship search (US 301) classes.
Employment Statistics for 2014-2015
Grand Valley State University is focused on ways to enhance the success of our graduates, with success defined as advancing graduates to the next step along the career path of their choice. For students whose immediate postgraduation plans are to enter the workforce, success is securing a paid position that allows them to advance toward their long-term career goals. For students whose career choice requires an advanced degree, success is gaining admission to graduate or professional school. For other students, the next step may be military service, volunteer work, a focus on family, or some other activity that is unique to achieving their chosen personal and professional goals. It is important for the university to get feedback on how we are doing in preparing students for success in achieving their postgraduation plans. One source of feedback is responses to our annual First Destination Survey.
Results of this survey show that placement rates for Grand Valley graduates continue to be high; 93.83 percent of 2014-2015 graduates report being employed and/or enrolled in graduate school.
A breakdown of placement rates by GVSU college is included as follows. 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) |
70.37% | 8.64% | 11.11% | 90.12% |
|
College of Community and Public Service (CCPS) |
82.64% |
5.99% |
4.55% |
93.18% |
|
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) |
72.07% |
7.18% |
11.93% |
91.19% |
|
College of Health Professions (CHP) |
77.32% | 7.56% | 13.06% | 97.94% |
|
College of Education (COE)* |
83.80% | 4.93% | 3.17% | 91.90% |
|
Kirkhof College of Nursing (KCON) |
84.26% | 10.19% | 1.85% | 96.30% |
|
Seymour and Esther Padnos College of Engineering |
89.51% | 4.94% | 2.47% | 96.91% |
|
Seidman College of Business (SCOB) |
87.03% | 6.31% | 3.24% | 96.59% |
| University Total | 79.51% | 6.53% | 7.79% | 93.83% |
*College contains graduate programs only. Undergraduate employment statistics for teachers are reported in the college of their major.
Internships, Cooperative Education, and Experiential Education Programs
GVSU employer partners agree -- students 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. An internship typically lasts one semester, may be full- or part-time, a paid or unpaid work experience, and may be completed for-credit or not-for-credit.
Cooperative Education (co-op)
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, internships/co-ops provide opportunities to learn new skills and apply learned theory to the world of work. Other benefits include exploring available career options, developing realistic career goals and expectations, building relationships with professionals and employers, 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. 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 Center. 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 the work.
The length of the internship/co-op is determined prior to the beginning of the internship by the employer, the student, and the internship coordinator. An internship/cooperative education experience can be terminated prior to completion by the internship coordinator, field supervisor, or student. However, permission for course withdrawal is vested exclusively in the faculty for credit-bearing internships. In 2015-2016, there were 8,275 students who participated in some type of experiential education program.
Student Employment
The Student Employment office assists students in obtaining employment that will help finance their education and develop valuable work skills needed for their future careers. The office is a resource for students seeking employment opportunities while attending Grand Valley. The staff works directly with on-campus departments and off-campus employers. LakerJobs is our online database that contains both student and professional jobs in one convenient place, including on-campus, off-campus, work study, part-time, internship, co-op, and full-time career opportunities.
Visit LakerJobs at www.gvsu.edu/studentjobs to search for current job postings. Jobs are posted daily. For more information, contact the Student Employment Office by phone at (616) 331-3238 or email at [email protected]. The office is located at 100 Student Services Building.
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.
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 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 has more than 50 SMART technology classroom/computer labs (computer, LCD projector, document camera, DVD, and VCR) with Windows and Macintosh computers running more than 270 software applications. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), accessible stations are available in most labs. SMART technology is available in more than 440 classrooms and labs. There is wireless connectivity in all academic buildings and housing locations. All classroom and student living areas are networked for Internet access, email, courseware, registration, and many other student services. Digital media assistance is available to students and faculty members. Free printing is available in the labs, as well as cloud printing services from on/off campus. Microsoft Office 365 is available for all students and faculty and staff members free of charge; also, there is free antivirus software for all GVSU-owned computers including enrolled student-owned computers. Computing and technology support services are available to all faculty and staff members and students.
Division of Student Services
The Division of Student Services, led by the vice provost for student affairs and dean of students, is comprised of more than 150 employees and graduate staff members. The nine units in the division reflect a variety of functional areas in student affairs, including Campus Recreation, Career Center, Children's Enrichment Center, Health Center (Allendale), Housing and Residence Life, Student Academic Success Center, Student Life, University Counseling Center, and the Dean of Students Office. The division has a very close working relationship with the Division of Inclusion and Equity; the assistant vice president for inclusion and equity also serves as the associate vice provost for student affairs.
The mission of the Division of Student Services is to foster lifelong learning through programs and services that engage all students in the university community; support their academic, personal, and professional goals; and positively impact student success. Our ultimate goal is to create an unparalleled educational experience that creates engaged and independent students who are prepared to be active, principled contributors and leaders within their professions and communities.
Dean of Students Office: University Intervention and Support
Grand Valley State University strives to provide a safe and healthy environment where all students can successfully learn and grow. In the Dean of Students Office, our goal is to help students develop a greater sense of self-awareness and to provide support on their paths toward becoming engaged and productive global citizens.
We recognize that issues may arise when students make choices that conflict with the values and policies of the university. We work with students to address these issues, while focusing on what may be causing the behavior. We focus on informing students about all aspects of the conduct process, while ensuring fair treatment of everyone involved.
In addition to working with student conduct, the Dean of Students Office also coordinates intervention and support for students who may be struggling on campus. In some cases, students might be confronting certain issues for the first time, while for others these issues may be ongoing. We focus on helping these students get connected with campus resources and we provide outreach and follow-up to support student success.
The Dean of Students Office serves as a resource for the campus community students and faculty and staff members.
The Student Code lists Grand Valley rules and regulations and outlines campus conduct processes. People 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 conduct bodies comprised of students, faculty members, and staff members. The Student Code also outlines academic grievance and nonacademic grievance processes. For more information regarding conduct and grievance processes, please refer to www.gvsu.edu/conduct and/or www.gvsu.edu/studentcode/.
Student Ombuds
The ombuds strives to promote fairness and foster a positive campus environment by offering students a number of mechanisms for early conflict resolution and problem-solving. Students may contact the ombudsman at any time during a conflict for assistance. The ombuds will listen, help them come up with next steps, and discuss other resources that might be helpful. Typical concerns brought to the student ombudsman include disciplinary concerns, academic concerns, discrimination, harassment, cultural conflicts, financial concerns, administrative issues (procedural questions), roommate concerns, housing issues, supervisor/employee concerns, workplace issues, professionalism (or lack thereof), and interpersonal communications.
Veterans Network
The Veterans Network provides support services and resources to active service members, military veterans, guards/reservists, and family members. The Veterans Network coordinates Grand Valley's Peer Advisor for Veteran Education (PAVE) program, which pairs a returning student veteran with each entering student. Additionally, the network provides training for faculty and staff members; outreach with community and governmental agencies; event coordination for military veterans; and maintenance of a comprehensive website. Additionally, the Veterans Network provides support and assistance to Grand Valley State University's Chapter of the Student Veterans of America (SVA) in creating a channel for student veterans to connect with and support one another.
Division of Inclusion and Equity
Through collaboration, consultation, and leadership with students, faculty and staff members, administrators and community partners, the Division of Inclusion and Equity advances Grand Valley's social justice framework for equity and inclusion. The division coordinates sustainable and strategic institutional efforts to engage all members of the community, while also intentionally supporting and advocating for historically underrepresented communities. The division's work furthers the university's liberal education and student-centered mission. Offices in the division fall under two main units:
- Inclusion, Service, and Social Justice Centers
- Equity, Planning and Compliance
Inclusion, Services, and Social Justice Centers
Campus Interfaith Resources
The university provides opportunities for positive interfaith engagement around the religious, spiritual, and secular diversity of students, staff members, and faculty members. The aim of this work is to foster a campus climate inclusive of various identities and communities, to ensure that students are able to develop their worldviews in an affirming environment, and to promote an open and pluralist understanding of our increasingly diverse schools, workplaces, and communities.
Some of the religious and interfaith services and resources at Grand Valley:
- Faith-based, spiritual, and secular student organizations, including Campus Ministry (interdenominational), Center for Inquiry, Hillel, Mindfulness and Meditation, Muslim Students Association, and more.
- An inclusive prayer and meditation space located in 2243 Kirkhof Center, available as an open, silent space for all students, staff members, and faculty members.
- Interfaith community service projects both on campus and with community partners.
- On-going opportunities for intergroup dialogue.
Campus Interfaith Resources are provided through the Division of Inclusion and Equity and supported by the Kaufman Interfaith Institute. Information on campus interfaith efforts can be found at www.gvsu.edu/campusinterfaith, and information on community interfaith efforts can be found at www.gvsu.edu/interfaith/. Katie Gordon, Campus Interfaith Resources coordinator and Kaufman Interfaith Institute program manager, can be reached by calling (616) 331-5702 or emailing [email protected].
The mission of the Gayle R. Davis Center for Women and Gender Equity 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 and faculty, staff, and community members can increase self-awareness about gender justice, connect with resources, apply skills through conducting research or internships, and perform service learning.
The center works to achieve the following:
Make connections to campus and community resources.
The center serves as a welcome starting place for any student needing assistance with personal and/or academic challenges. Staff members are trained to help connect students with those who can best assist them. The center also offers food resources, as well as personal care items, at no cost to support students dealing with food and financial insecurity.
Engage the campus community in antiviolence work.
The center houses the campus victim advocate who provides resources and support for victim/survivors of gender-based violence. It collaborates with numerous campus partners to work toward ending instances of sexual assault, dating/domestic violence, and stalking.
Provide internship and service-learning opportunities.
The center works with numerous nonprofits in the community that seek to advance gender justice. Through the Women's Community Collaborative, Activate (the center's service learning training system), and the South Africa study abroad program, students can make a meaningful difference by engaging with our center, our campus, and our community.
Foster 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 ambassador program, the Gender Justice House (a living/learning residential community), Niara (a mentoring program for women of color), and internship experiences in the center.
The Center for Women and Gender Equity is located at 1201 Kirkhof Center. Contact us by phone at (616) 331-2748, visit our website at www.gvsu.edu/women_cen, or email us at [email protected].
Kaufman Interfaith Institute
The Sylvia and Richard Kaufman Interfaith Institute at Grand Valley works to promote interfaith understanding and mutual respect in West Michigan through programs and conferences. As a community-focused organization housed at the university, the Kaufman Interfaith Institute organizes events, service opportunities, and trainings in the community and works closely with religious and nonprofit organizations in West Michigan. The Kaufman Interfaith Institute seeks to promote a vibrant and diverse community, benefiting people of all generations, through interfaith dialogue and service. Learn more about the Kaufman Interfaith Institute at www.gvsu.edu/interfaith/.
Milton E. Ford Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Resource Center
The Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center is committed to educating, supporting, and empowering students to lead authentic lives, to challenge systems of gender and sexuality, and to work for social justice.
The 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 center also provides resources, services, education, and leadership programs related to gender and sexuality in order to meet the many needs of the diverse LGBTQIA and allied communities.
The center
- supports several student groups, including First-year Queer Alliance, Loud and Queer, and T2, a group for transgender and nonbinary-identified students;
- provides social and educational programming throughout the year; and
- delivers training to students and faculty, staff, and community members on topics related to gender and sexuality.
The Milton E. Ford 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, cultural heritage celebrations, and social justice programs, OMA enhances student learning and development by fostering an appreciation for the history, tradition, and culture of different ethnic groups and empowering students to be active and engaged learners.
OMA also provides retention programs that engage all students, while also intentionally advocating for students from historically underrepresented communities. These programs assist students in achieving personal and academic success by promoting a smooth transition from high school to college, creating a sense of belonging, and connecting students to resources and mentors. 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 offers a welcoming environment with a 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/.
Social Justice Education
The mission of the Social Justice Education program is to advance the application of Grand Valley's framework for inclusion and equity by supporting and providing transformational self and professional development for all community members. The Social Justice Education program provides regularly scheduled training opportunities and fulfills requests for trainings tailored to the specific needs of a department, class, or campus group. In addition, the Social Justice Education program partners with the Affirmative Action and EEO office on trainings for Inclusion Advocates. Request a training or view scheduled opportunities at www.gvsu.edu/socialjustice/.
Equity, Planning, and Compliance
The Equity, Planning, and Compliance (EPC) unit ensures the university's compliance with all federal and state laws related to civil rights; investigates complaints of discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct in accordance with university policy; provides consultation to university departments on accessible, equitable, and inclusive practices and processes; and oversees the division's strategic planning process. Equity, Planning, and Compliance includes the Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) office, the Title IX office, and Disability Support Resources (DSR).
Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity provide leadership to the campus for all facets of promoting and monitoring equal employment opportunity and the university's affirmative action program. They also monitor the implementation of the Board of Trustee's Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Policy, develop educational programs on affirmative action and equal opportunity laws, policies, and procedures, as well as issues of harassment and discrimination, and investigate and address related complaints. Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity is located in 4035 Zumberge Hall. Contact us by phone at (616) 331-2242, visit our website at www.gvsu.edu/affirmative or email us at [email protected].
Disability Support Resources
Disability Support Resources (DSR) provides support services and accommodations that enhance the environment for persons with disabilities and helps educate the university community on disability issues. The office also provides access to programs and facilities for faculty members, staff members, and students. Grand Valley promotes the full inclusion of individuals with varying abilities 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 as amended by the ADA Amendment Act (2008), 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. DSR is located in 4015 Zumberge Hall. Contact us by phone at (616) 331-2490, visit our website at www.gvsu.edu/dsr, or email us at [email protected].
Title IX protects any person from sex-based discrimination, regardless of their real or perceived sex, gender identity, and/or gender expression. Female, male, and gender nonconforming students, faculty members, and staff members are protected from any sex-based discrimination, harassment, and violence. Grand Valley State University is committed under Title IX to address incidents involving acts of sex-based discrimination and sexual misconduct, which includes sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, and stalking against students, faculty members, and staff members. The Title IX coordinator is responsible for the 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. Theresa Rowland, Title IX coordinator and equity officer/director, can be reached by calling (616) 331-9530 or emailing [email protected]. You may also visit the Title IX website at www.gvsu.edu/titleix/.
Grand Valley Department of Public Safety
Grand Valley Department of Public Safety (GVDPS) is a multidisciplined department. We provide police, security, emergency management, and parking services to the campus community. We strive to provide a safe and secure environment in which to work, live, and learn.
The Grand Valley Police Department (GVPD) is a full-service law enforcement agency responsible for enforcing the laws of the State of Michigan and the university rules and regulations. Officers have full police authority and are licensed by the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards. Services provided by GVPD include, but are not limited to, criminal investigations, traffic and parking enforcement, community policing, and educational programming. Additionally, we provide emergency management for the university with respect to preparedness, awareness, and education.
Our Security Department is based at the Robert C. Pew Grand Rapids Campus, from which we provide 24/7 security patrol and nonsworn response to calls for service. We partner with the Grand Rapids Police Department for law enforcement services and emergency response.
GVDPS is located in the Service Building in Allendale, on the north end of campus. We can be reached at (616) 331-3255. In the event of an emergency, always dial 911.
To learn more about our department and the services we offer, please visit our website at www.gvsu.edu/gvpd/.
Parking
Parking at Grand Valley requires a permit, unless opting to pay to park at conveniently located meters or pay stations. Annual permits are available for students to purchase online or from Parking Services after July 1 each year. Temporary permits are also available to visitors. All permits may be obtained at the Grand Valley Department of Public Safety in Allendale or at Grand Valley Campus Security Department on the Pew Campus in the L.V. Eberhard Center. All permits are available during Parking Services business hours only.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Parking
A State of Michigan ADA plate or tag and a GVSU parking permit are required to park on campus in any ADA space. In addition to allocating a number of designated ADA parking spaces, Grand Valley has instituted a shuttle service through Disability Support Resources. There are designated lots on both the north and south sides of the Allendale Campus to accommodate a "park and ride" service for those needing ADA accommodations. For additional information, please visit our website and click on the Disability Parking tab or call Disability Support Resources at (616) 331-2490.
Parking Services strives to provide excellent customer service and communicate changes concerning parking to the Grand Valley community. For more information about parking, including our hours of operation, please visit our website at www.gvsu.edu/parking or call (616) 331-PARK (7275).
GVSU Laker Store
lakerstore.gvsu.edu
Textbooks for classes taught at Grand Valley State University are available through GVSU Laker Store with locations in Allendale and Grand Rapids. Students attending classes on the Allendale Campus will find their textbooks and required supplies at the store in the Marketplace located across from the Student Services Building. In addition, the GVSU Laker 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 lakerstore.gvsu.edu/.
GVSU Laker Store 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 can purchase textbooks at the GVSU Laker Store 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.
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 during fall and winter semesters. The center is closed when classes are not in session. The Campus Health Center accepts all major health insurance plans and will bill them accordingly.
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 students are allowed to choose their roommates whenever possible.
There are a variety of housing options on campus.
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 of two double rooms (for four students) and a shared bathroom.
Cluster-style living centers offer student rooms that are similar to traditional-style (but are the size of suite-style units) and feature two- and three-person units. Resident rooms are clustered around shared bathroom and lounge spaces.
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. On-campus apartments are available for upperclass students and range from studios to four bedroom units.
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 upperclass students. All rooms are smoke-free.
Apartments
Grand Valley has apartment living available on both our Allendale Campus and the Robert C. Pew Grand Rapids Campus. 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. Apartments include 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 furnished one-, two-, three-, four-bedroom, and single/double efficiency units. Winter Hall offers an on-site fitness center. Students residing here may 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. 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 May 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 on our website.
Additional Housing
Additional 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. The university does not inspect the units available, and students are advised to exercise normal caution in making rental agreements.
Campus Dining
www.gvsufood.com
Nine meal plans are available to all Grand Valley students. Students living on north campus can choose from the 10 Plus, 14 Plus, and 19 Plus plans. Other on-campus and commuting students can select any plan.
Meals
Meals are offered in six of the nine meal-plan options. Meals provide the opportunity to enjoy all-you-care-to-eat dining in the Fresh Food Company or can be used to purchase meal combos at 14 dining locations. One meal is subtracted from the meal balance each time a meal is eaten in the Fresh Food Company or a meal combo is used. Students on weekly meal plans may use up to three meals per day.
Dining Dollars
All nine meal plans offer Dining Dollars. Dining Dollars are a debit account attached directly to a student's meal plan. Dining Dollars are accepted in all Campus Dining restaurants, C-Stores, coffee shops, and concession stands. It works like a debit card and can be used for beverages, snacks, or full meals at any time. Students may check their account balance online, at Campus Dining registers, or by using the GV mobile app. Students may add dollars at www.gvsufood.com or by visiting the Campus Dining office in 100 Commons on the Allendale Campus. Dining Dollars carry over from the fall to winter semester.
Meal Plan Options 2017-2018
Weekly Plans: Meals are per week and do not transfer to the next week.
19+: 19 meals/week plus $150 Dining Dollars
14+: 14 meals/week plus $250 Dining Dollars (included with north campus housing contract)
10+: 10 meals/week plus $350 Dining Dollars
7+: 7 meals/week plus $325 Dining Dollars
5+: 5 meals/week plus $150 Dining Dollars
Semester Plans: Meals can be used at your discretion throughout the semester.
VALUE+: 80 meals plus $450 Dining Dollars
CASUAL: $725 Dining Dollars
CASUAL+: 40 meals plus $350 Dining Dollars
EXPRESS: $300 Dining Dollars
Meals and Dining Dollars must be used before they expire at the end of the academic year. Purchases are nonrefundable. Visit www.gvsufood.com for more information.
Meal plans and Dining Dollars are accepted at all Campus Dining restaurants, C-stores, coffee shops, and concessions.
Allendale Campus Dining Locations
Au Sable Hall: C3 Express
Commons: Bleeker Street, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Fresh Food Company, Freshens, Jump, Papa John's Express
Holton Hooker Learning and Living Center: Einstein Bros. Bagels
Kirkhof Center: Ciao, Croutons, Grille Works, Lobby Shop, Panda Express, Subway, Zoca
Kleiner: Bene, Center Plate, C3 Convenience Store, Croutons, ecoGrounds, Grille Works, Late Night, Montague's Deli, Qdoba, The Bistro
Mackinac Hall: P.O.D. Express
Mary Idema Pew Library:Argo Tea
The Connection: 42nd St. Deli, Croutons, Green Plate, Late Night, P.O.D., Papa John's Pizza
The Marketplace: Starbucks, WhichWich
Pew Grand Rapids Campus Dining Locations
DeVos Center: Asian Kitchen, Bene, Grille Works, Trattoria, Starbucks
Seidman College of Business: Seidman Cafe
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:
- 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/.
Recreation
Get involved. Be active. Live healthy. GVSU Campus Recreation has a wide variety of recreational, wellness, competitive, and educational resources for the Grand Valley community. Our values include providing inclusive and diverse recreational opportunities that inspire participation, promote health and well-being, and encourage student development and success. The Student Recreation Center provides access to exercise equipment, as well as multipurpose courts. For those who are looking to participate in organized sports, there are both recreational and competitive level options through intramural sports and club sports programs. Also, there are organized fitness offerings through Fitness and Wellness services, including group exercise classes, small group training programs, instructional clinics, personal training services, massage appointments, swim lessons, and nutrition services. In addition, outdoor recreation options, trips, and bike rentals are offered through the Climbing Center and Outdoor Adventure program. A full list of offerings and schedules are available on our website, along with information on student employment, internships, and fieldwork positions.
Outdoor Adventures
Outdoor Adventures (OA) strives to empower and inspire the Grand Valley community through outdoor and adventure based activities. Whether you're looking for gear for your next epic adventure, a fun trip with friends, or an educational clinic to improve future outdoor experiences, OA can help!
OA oversees the 26.5 foot tall artificial climbing wall inside the Fieldhouse, which offers three styles of climbing and accommodates participants of all abilities. Best of all, it's FREE to Grand Valley students! The Climbing Center is also home to OA's outdoor gear rental inventory, which covers all your basic needs for a camping trip with friends at unbelievable prices. Items include hammocks, backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, snowshoes, and more!
OA also operates the GVSU Bike Shop located in Laker Village. The Bike Shop strives to develop a positive biking culture and offer services that support an educated and active cycling community. Services currently include affordable used bike rentals, free self-service maintenance, as well as educational and recreational programming. We will soon be adding drop-off maintenance/basic parts sales. The Bike Shop has played a significant role in GVSU's silver level award as a Bicycle Friendly University.
For more information, please visit www.gvsu.edu/outdooradventures/.
Club Sports
Club sports provide an exciting athletic alternative that bridges the gap between intramural play and varsity athletics. There are 55 club sports and 20 intramural sports that range from recreational to highly competitive levels. Many of our team sports are affiliated with national associations and compete on a regional and national level. Competitive teams often have coaches, as well as faculty advisors, travel regularly, and some are nationally ranked. If you are interested in joining a club sport, you can visit the website (www.gvsuclubsports.com) and fill out the "Recruit Me" form, which will be sent to the appropriate sport's coach to let someone know that you are interested in joining a team. Some club teams hold try-outs, depending on the level of play. You can also visit www.orgsync.com to look through the various sports, health, dance, and recreation organizations that are offered at Grand Valley. For more information, visit www.gvsuclubsports.com/.
Fitness and Wellness Center
The Fitness and Wellness Center is located on the lower level of the Recreation Center. Learn how to safely and effectively train, be active, and live a healthy lifestyle. Services include a free UFit exercise program for students, in addition to personal training, fitness testing, equipment orientations, nutritional services, massage, and more. Group exercise classes are offered during the fall and winter semesters. Certified instructors teach more than 50 group exercise classes weekly, including land, mind/body, spinning, and functional fitness. Passes are available for purchase to students, faculty and staff members, and GVSU alumni Recreation Center members. For more information, visit www.gvsu.edu/rec, email [email protected], or call (616) 331-3659.
Intramural Sports
The intramural sports program provides a quality recreational sports experience for a diverse university community, including students and faculty and staff members. The intramural sports program offers events in the fall, winter, and spring semesters that include men's, women's, and co-recreation leagues. The intramural sports program offers more than 15 sports, including basketball, flag football, softball, soccer, and volleyball. For more information or to get an updated list of our offerings, visit www.gvsu.edu/rec, email [email protected], or call (616) 331-1REC.
Injury Care Clinic (ICC)
The ICC exists to provide free injury care services to the campus community. Metro Health, Campus Recreation, and Movement Science have teamed up to offer athletic training services right on campus. The ICC is located in B-145 of the Fieldhouse near the Recreation Center and Climbing Center. The ICC provides injury assessment and evaluations, acute injury care, and short-term rehabilitation services. Individuals can opt to bring their own supplies for treatment or supplies are available on site for a minimal cost. For more information, including hours, visit www.gvsu.edu/icc or email [email protected].
Recreation Facilities
The Fieldhouse Complex houses the Aquatic Center, Arena, Climbing Center, Outdoor Adventure (OA) program, Fitness and Wellness Center, Injury Care Clinic, and the Recreation Center. Access to the Recreation Center, Aquatic Center, and OA is free to students for drop-in use when they present their student ID card. Within the Recreation Center, there are multisport courts, racquetball courts, strength training equipment, functional fitness areas, cardiovascular machines, an elevated track, and locker rooms. The Kelly Family Sports Center is also available for use of the indoor turf field space and the track. There are many outdoor facilities available to students, as well, including multiple turfed fields, tennis courts, basketball courts, sand volleyball courts, roller hockey space, The Meadows golf course, an outdoor track, softball fields, walking and running trails, and the ravines. For more information, including hours, visit www.gvsu.edu/sportsfacilities or call (616) 331-3313.
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 designated 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 as follows. Please view other routes at www.ridetherapid.org.
Campus Connector Route (Route 50)
The Campus Connector provides service between the Allendale Campus and Pew Grand Rapids Campus with runs Monday through Friday during fall, winter, and spring/summer semesters. The Campus Connector (Route 50) makes round trips from the Cook DeVos Center for Health Sciences (CHS) to Russel H. Kirkhof Center on the Allendale Campus with stops in downtown Grand Rapids, along Lake Michigan Drive, and at Mackinac Hall. Connections to The Rapid Central Station can be made through several routes including the Silver Line and Route 12.
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 (Route 50) provides late night and weekend service between Kirkhof Center and CHS. The Weekend Connector is only offered during fall and winter semesters.
Apartment Connector (Route 85)
On early mornings and weekends, the two apartment shuttles combine into one loop, called Route 85. The Apartment Connector (Route 85) is only offered during fall and winter semesters.
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].
University Counseling Center
The University Counseling Center supports the well-being of individual students and the campus community through a broad spectrum of services, including individual counseling, group counseling, and outreach. The center is staffed by a diverse team of professional counselors committed to recognizing the unique needs and experiences of each student.
Concerns that might benefit from counseling:
- Feelings of anxiety or depression
- Thoughts of harming yourself or someone else
- Problems in relationships
- Issues related to cultural, sexual, or gender identity
- Recent or past trauma
- Death or loss of a loved one
- Drug or alcohol use
- Academic difficulties
Individual and Group Counseling Services
The University Counseling Center offers counseling services on both the Allendale and Pew campuses at no cost to enrolled Grand Valley students. Counselors and students work together to determine the best course of treatment, which may include individual counseling, group counseling, or referral to a community provider. Students can schedule an initial screening appointment by phone at (616) 331-3266 or in person on the Allendale Campus in 204 STU.
The center also offers urgent care services for students experiencing a mental health crisis. More information about urgent care and emergency mental health resources is available on the University Counseling Center website at www.gvsu.edu/counsel/emergency-services-100.htm or by calling the center during business hours.
Outreach Services
Outreach workshops and events are scheduled throughout the academic year and equip students with the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to maximize their emotional and physical health. Presentations related to well-being may also be requested on behalf of a student group or organization at any time. To view the outreach calendar or to submit a request for a presentation, please visit the University Counseling Center website at www.gvsu.edu/counsel/outreach-141.htm. In addition, counselors are available to provide consultation to students with concerns about a roommate, classmate, or other member of the Grand Valley community.
More information about the University Counseling Center and its services can be found at www.gvsu.edu/counsel/.
Alcohol and other drugs Campus Education Services (ACES)
Alcohol and other drug use (especially underage and dangerous drinking and illegal drug use) can affect all aspects of a student's life. ACES is devoted to developing and promoting opportunities for students to increase existing knowledge and skills necessary to make healthy and responsible choices regarding alcohol and other drugs.
ACES is a multidisciplinary program coordinated through the University Counseling Center. ACES provides services for individuals who
- want to be informed about the facts regarding substance use;
- may be struggling with alcohol or other drug issues;
- want to explore ways to have fun and enjoy life without substances; and
- are concerned or impacted by someone else's behavior and wish to help.
ACES 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 as follows. We also facilitate alcohol and marijuana education workshops. These workshops were developed for students who have had an alcohol or marijuana offense and are required to attend an educational group as a part of their legal or university sanction.
Students who are in need of substance abuse counseling, assessment, or support for their recovery can access counseling services at the University Counseling Center located in the Student Services Building, room 204. The counseling center has staff members who specialize in outpatient individual and group substance abuse counseling. The staff can provide community referral information if more intensive or longer term services are deemed necessary, or if counseling services have been court-ordered or mandated. Counseling services are available and free for currently enrolled Grand Valley students only. Please contact the University Counseling Center for the most current information. Students may call (616) 331-3266 for an appointment or visit us online at www.gvsu.edu/counsel.
The ACES office also supports 12-Step meetings for students in recovery. For the most up-to-date information about 12-step meetings, visit www.gvsu.edu/aces. Our website also provides listings of other local counseling and recovery services and agencies.
If you have additional questions or would like to request a presentation, please contact us at (616) 331-2537 or [email protected]. General information about programs and services may be found at www.gvsu.edu/aces. You can also drop by our office at the Student Services Building, room 204.