President Philomena V. Mantella, along with other university leaders, held a virtual town hall meeting April 10 to update students on how the university is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A series of Laker virtual town hall meetings is scheduled for members of the campus community; register for a meeting here.
Mantella told students that she is sad they can't be present filling Grand Valley halls and campuses, but said their health and safety remain her top priority.
"I'm so proud of your flexibility, and I hope you are staying safe and well," said Mantella. "Through periods like this, we can come out stronger. I urge you, don't let anything disrupt your learning. It's important to you, your family, your communities and the nation. We need you."
Mantella encouraged students to bring any needs forward so the university can help support them. She said students will each receive a phone call from the university through Project Reach Out, an initiative developed to connect with students to see how they are doing.
More than 200 students joined the April 10 Zoom session to ask questions about remote learning, academic flexibility, commencement plans and returning to campus. Jesse Bernal, vice president for Inclusion and Equity and executive associate for Presidential Initiatives, served as moderator.
• President Mantella said those scheduled to graduate in April will be celebrated at two ceremonies; one will be a virtual celebration. Details will be released in the coming week. Information can be found at gvsu.edu/commencement.
• Maria Cimitile, provost and executive vice president for Academic and Student Affairs, said students should first contact their faculty members and/or advisors about how to best complete internships, co-ops and clinical rotations and about credit/no credit or incomplete options. Students can then contact the Office of the Provost at (616) 331-2400 or www.gvsu.edu/provost.
Cimitile said all university services are open virtually, including virtual tutoring and the Student Academic Success Center.
• Loren Rullman, vice provost for Student Affairs and dean of students, encouraged students to utilize GVSU Career Center services, including virtual career lab appointments and a virtual career fair scheduled for early May. Rullman also told students their belongings are safe and secure on campus; students will be notified when they are able to return to complete the move-out process.
• Michelle Rhodes, associate vice president for Financial Aid, said changes have been made concerning scholarship guidelines and students should have received an email with more information. Rhodes said there is no GPA renewal criteria for merit scholarships; students just need to show they are advancing toward a degree. For more information, contact Financial Aid at (616) 331-3234 or www.gvsu.edu/financialaid.
• Greg Sanial, vice president for Finance and Administration, said the university is "very sound financially," and is well positioned to absorb the short-term impact of COVID-19. President Mantella said any increases in tuition would be consistent with other years.
The next student session is scheduled for April 14 at 5 p.m. To register for a town hall meeting, visit www.gvsu.edu/president/engagement-17.htm
Sign up and receive the latest Grand Valley headlines delivered to your email inbox each morning.
