College Crash Course
How to Anchor Up! in Your First Semester
- Schedule some appointments to get to know the faculty and staff here at GVSU. This can include a Success Coach, an Academic Advisor, a Professor or Faculty Advisor, and more!
- Coming to GVSU is a transition that will include new experiences, opportunities and challenges. Get excited! We can't wait to learn alongside you.
- Check out the Laker Welcome Events itinerary and attend a couple events.
- Attend Campus Life Night or explore LakerLink to connect with other Lakers who may share your hobbies, special interests, or professional goals.
First Day of Class Checklist
Check your GVSU email account
Check Banner to confirm your course schedule
Have your Network ID & password and G-number handy at all times
Log in to Blackboard to check for messages from your instructors and check out course information
Find Your Groove
Keeping routine
- Find what works for you; a planner, virtual calendars, to do lists etc.
- Establish routines early in the semester when workloads are light - this will pay off once things start to get crazy
Get organized
- Keep track of deadlines and big exams/projects coming up; in a calendar/planner, an easily accessible list, a printed syllabus
- Compare academic, extracurricular, and personal schedules
Give yourself time to adjust
- Transitions are hard - give yourself grace and space to adjust for success
- Think ahead where you can, and remember that challenge comes along with growth and learning
- The University Counseling Center offers some helpful information on what you may experience while adjusting to college.
Use Your Resources
Our faculty and staff are here to support YOU. This means that there are a lot of resources available to you as a student. It may take a bit of time to get to know what is available on campus, but below are some good places to start.
Get to Know Your Courses
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Confirm the date, time and location for each of your courses
- Pro Tip! It may be helpful to take a walk around campus to find your classrooms so you know where you are going and how long it will take to get there when classes start! Campus maps can be found here.
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Types of courses
- In-Person (Face-to-Face) - All meeting times are on campus in a physical classroom.
- Synchronous - All course meetings occur online during set times when students and instructor are expected to meet together.
- Asynchronous - No set meeting times, students are expected to complete coursework within the deadlines set by the instructor.
- Hybrid - Some face to face sessions and the rest online – these online meetings may have synchronous dates and times or be asynchronous. Specific dates will be listed in Banner and on your course schedule.
- More information on course delivery methods and how you can identify delivery method on Banner can be found here.
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Be familiar with your syllabus
- Your syllabus is an important document used to communicate information about the course. This includes contact information for your professor, learning objectives for the course, assignments/ assessment calendars and more. The syllabus can be found on a courses Blackboard page at any time.
Types of Support at GVSU
There are A LOT of opportunities to find support in the GVSU Community. Below is a guide of helpful faculty & staff, and why you may want to meet with them!
Academic Advisors
- Discuss your class schedule
- Understand your major requirements
- Discuss graduation plans
- Discuss major and career options
Career Advisors
- Receive advice and information on career planning
- Discuss the job search and interview process
- Learn about networking skills and opportunities
- Learn more about how to find internship opportunities
Success Coaches
- Learn about skills and strategies for time management, organization, goal setting, study skills, procrastination and motivation
- Discuss academic policies and procedures
- Find accountability and help with tracking progress
- Connect with general student success support
Faculty
- Discuss graduate school program options
- Discuss career options within your area of study
- Learn about professional development opportunities
- Better understand the world of work within your area of study
Explore more GVSU resources on our Helpful Campus Resources page.
Key Links
Blackboard - Where information on your classes and communications from your professors will be posted
Navigate - Connect with advisors, faculty, and student support services
Banner - A platform that you will use to register for classes, pay bills, & access student info
myPath - A tool designed to assist students in preparing for and tracking their academic progress toward graduation
Laker Store - Where you can purchase your text books and all the best GVSU gear!
Handshake - A student network where students can search for jobs, on-campus and off-campus
Workday - Where students can search and apply for on campus jobs
GVSU Lingo
G-Number - Your GV ID number. It's a good thing to memorize, but can also be found on your GV ID card!
GPA. - This is grade point average. An average of grades received in all courses used to determine academic standing at GV
R.A. - This is your Resident Assistant, a fellow student on your Living Center floor there to support you
Mid-Terms - Halfway through the semester you may have a larger exam to check progress in your courses
Office Hours - Time that professors have set aside to meet one on one with students