T. Haas Timeline
Scroll through for some highlights of T. Haas' decade as Grand Valley's president.
2015
The 100,000th Grand Valley student graduates.
The P. Douglas Kindschi Hall of Science opens in August.
Haas appoints Lynn McNamara Blue as the first Vice President for Enrollment Development.
Grand Valley is ranked second nationally for the number of faculty members who are Fulbright Scholars and within the top 15 for the number of U.S. Fulbright students.
Grand Valley earns its 10th Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup, given to the top athletic program among NCAA DII institutions.
2014
Enrollment is 25,094, with a record-breaking number of first-year students at 4,226.
The GVSU Surplus Store opens, providing the public an opportunity to buy inventory that is no longer in use.
Recommendations are reported during a town hall meeting following the 2011 campus climate survey.
More than 1,180 people attend a session during the first annual Teach-In, which addresses issues of privilege, power, and social justice.
The university's endowment surpasses $100.2 million.
Grand Valley introduces the Design Thinking Initiative, led by John Berry. The initiative continues the university's commitment to preparing students for lifelong learning.
Grand Valley expands its master's in physician assistant studies program to the Traverse City Center.
Grand Valley's Board of Trustees approves a property exchange and purchase in downtown Grand Rapids to enable the university to expand its growing nursing and health professions programs.
2013
Record number of first-year students, students of color, out-of-state students, and international students mark the fall semester.
For the first time, Grand Valley cancels classes on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, allowing more students, faculty and staff to participate in on-campus activities.
New L. William Seidman Center opens.
Detroit Center opens, serving southeast Michigan and housing classrooms and a regional office for the Small Business and Technology Development Center.
Mary Idema Pew Library Learning and Information Commons opens.
Annis Water Resources Institute's Robert B. Annis Field Station opens.
For 18th straight year, Grand Valley is named one of the America's 100 Best College Buys.
Board of Trustees approves 11-acre expansion of health campus in Grand Rapids.
President Haas states in an MLive.com editorial that field placements have grown by nearly 40 percent.
GVSU signs reverse transfers with every community college in Michigan.
Grand Valley joins all Michigan public universities in providing in-state tuition to veterans. The Student Veterans Lounge is dedicated in the Russel H. Kirkhof Center.
2012
Enrollment: 24,654, including a record number of 370 international students.
President Thomas J. Haas visits Ghana to celebrate the 50th anniversary jubilee at the University of Cape Coast, one of Grand Valley's international partners.
2011
Enrollment: 24,662
Seidman College of Business announces its Full-Time Master of Business Administration (FIMBA) degree.
Campus leaders announce that the first university comprehensive campaign, Shaping Our Future, surpassed the original goal of $50 million and raised $95.3 million.
Grand Valley and many West Michigan partners launch the 2012 Year of Interfaith Understanding, designed to cultivate peace through community interest and understanding of all faith traditions.
Results of fourth campus climate study show 90 percent of students and 76 percent of faculty and staff members are comfortable with the overall climate in their classes and workplaces.
Students and faculty and staff members completed approximately 26,233 hours of volunteer work as part of the President’s 50-Hour Service Challenge, led by President Haas.
Grand Valley is the second higher education institution and first public university in Michigan to complete STARS, a system designed to help gauge the progress of universities toward sustainability.
2010
Enrollment: 24,541
The Mobile Applications and Services Lab in the School of Computing and Information Systems launches its first mobile app, Laker Mobile.
Grand Valley establishes the Richard M. and Helen DeVos Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation in the Seidman College of Business.
President Thomas J. Haas is honored by the Detroit Free Press as one of 16 "green leaders" in Michigan.
Grand Valley is named one of the country's most environmentally responsible colleges by the Princeton Review. Grand Valley is selected to be included in The Princeton Review's Guide to 286 Green Colleges.
Grand Valley researchers across the disciplines receive $1.1 million in grants from the National Science Foundation.
The 75,000th Grand Valley student graduates.
The Board of Trustees approves the first completely online degree program, a master's in educational technology.
Thousands watch a LipDub video produced by the university for the 50th anniversary with the song Come Sail Away by Styx. President Haas and his wife, Marcia Haas, make cameo appearances.
2009
Enrollment: 24,408
Grand Valley is the only Michigan school cited in Kaplan College Guide's "cutting-edge green" colleges. Grand Valley also ranked top "up and coming" institution in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report.
By spring 2009, more than 70,000 students graduated from Grand Valley, with nearly half that number living or working in the West Michigan area. The total number of graduates has nearly doubled in the previous ten years, with an enrollment growth rate of about 42 percent. Nearly all graduates are employed or in graduate school, with 94 percent working or studying in Michigan.
2008
Shaping Our Future campaign launched to fund multiple capital and endowment priorities, including a new library to be named the Mary Idema Pew Library Learning and Information Commons.
The Kelly Family Sports Center opens, providing increased recreational opportunities for students. LEED Gold certification awarded in 2009.
Honors College re-dedicated in celebration of move into Glenn A. Niemeyer Learning and Living Center. College renamed Frederik Meijer Honors College in October. Niemeyer Learning and Living Center awarded LEED Silver rating in July 2009.
The Princeton Review ranks the Seidman College of Business as one of the top business schools in the country.
Grand Valley receives U.S. Green Building Council Recognition Award and Sustainable Endowments Institute National Sustainability Innovator Award.
President Thomas J. Haas was recognized by the mayor of Grand Rapids as a leader of racial equity. Mayor George Heartwell named Haas a "Champion of Diversity" during his State of the City address.
LGBT Resource Center opens; named for founder Milton E. Ford in 2014.
2007
First Accountability Report published, a public review of Grand Valley's academic and economic performance.
Haas appoints Jeanne Arnold as the university’s first Vice President for Inclusion and Equity.
To learn more historical information about Grand Valley State University, please see the university's historical timeline.