Academic centers receive certification

As Grand Valley student-athletes participate in post-season play this weekend in football and volleyball, and vie for a national championship in soccer, the Laker Academic Success Center has received certification from a national organization for its support of student-athletes.

And, while some Grand Valley students participate in commencement ceremonies Saturday, the Student Academic Success Center has earned international certification for tutor training.

The GVSU Laker Academic Success Center received certification from the National Association for Academic Advisors in Athletics (N4A). Grand Valley is the first NCAA Division II institution in the country to achieve this certification.

Damon Arnold, director of the Laker Academic Success Center, said the certification shows the emphasis Grand Valley places on academics. “We are putting an investment into different resources and programs for our student-athletes to be successful,” said Arnold. “We know we are going to be successful on the field and on the court, but this speaks to the high quality of services available to our student-athletes.”

The Student Academic Success Center received certification from the College Reading and Learning Association’s International Tutor Training Program. Grand Valley has more than 250 student tutors who collectively provide about 60,000 hours of tutoring in an academic year.

“This certification means we have met an internationally accepted standard of skills and training for our tutors,” said Mike Messner, director of the Student Academic Success Center. “This also means our tutors are qualified to tutor outside of Grand Valley.”

Joyce Van Baak, director of tutoring, said: “Watching our tutors is like watching something magical. They do more than just help their peers with certain subjects, they help them become independent learners.”

For more information, contact the Student Academic Success Center at (616) 331-3588.