Strategic Plan for Student Affairs
Mission
To elevate, challenge, and empower all learners to develop
their passions and purpose in a healthy, inclusive, and equitable
environment. The Division of Student Affairs positively impacts the
university through engaging experiential learning and exceptional
student support.
Vision
Every learner will belong, persist, and create meaningful
lives, careers, and communities.
Values Statement
As student affairs professionals, we value:
Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Justice
Creating a Community of Care and Respect
Embracing Collaboration and Creativity
Empowering Experiential and Engaged Learning
Enhancing Health and Well-being
Seeking Understanding Across Differences
Planning Process
PLANNING & ASSESSMENT PROCESS
Collaboration
The Division of Student Affairs Strategic Plan is a living document
linked to the University Strategic Plan. Progress updates are added
annually to support the GVSU Strategic Plan and Reach Higher 2025.
Building Capacity
The process of division assessment includes self-assessment,
benchmarking, external review, and action plan results.
Commitments
Empowered Educational Experience
Key Performance Indicator
Student Retention First Year Students
Baseline
Fall 2023 participation during the first six weeks
Description
Revise orientation, summer modules, and first six weeks activities to
enhance student retention for first year students
Progress - Winter 2024
FTIAC Retention Rates
F22 to F23, 84.5% of RecWell participants identifying as FTIAC were
retained. Compared to 72.4% non-RecWell participants. F22 to F23, 85.2%
of Fraternity and Sorority Life Students identifying as FTIAC were
retained. Compared to 76.4% overall FTIACs.
Key Performance Indicator
Sense of Belonging In DSA
Baseline
Student Affairs 62.2% January 2023
Description
Increase personal sense of belonging in DSA for employees from 62.2 %.
Progress (2023) 78.4%
Progress - Fall 2023
Increased Personal Sense of Belonging
Personal Sense of Belonging Satisfied or Very Satisfied is at 78,4% for
the Division of Student Affairs. GVSU All - 72.5% Baseline was 62.2%
for Division of Student Affairs.
Progress - Winter 2023
Sense of Belonging of Students
90% of Recreation & Wellness participants indicated a greater sense
of belonging as a result of participating in RecWell programs. 95.83%
of students stated Office of Multicultural Affairs programming helped
them foster a sense of belonging.
82% of students involved in Registered Student Organizations or Office
of Student Life programs said they “feel like they belong at GVSU”.
Progress - Fall 2023
Personal Sense of Belonging
Personal Sense of Belonging Satisfied or Very Satisfied is at 78,4% for
the Division of Student Affairs. GVSU All - 72.5%
Progress - Winter 2024
Division of Student Affairs staff personal sense of belonging as
measured in April 2024 was 68.4%.
Key Performance Indicator
Student Co-Curricular Learning
Baseline
Determine participation baseline.
Description
Improve learning experiences through co-curricular opportunities that
help achieve learner outcomes for all participants. Specifically for
student employment. DSA Marketing Committee will measure progress.
Key Performance Indicator
Student and Parent Awareness of Campus Resources
Baseline
Determine participation baseline.
Description
Create a comprehensive communication strategy for students and parents.
Conduct student and parent surveys to determine awareness of resources
(i.e., DSA Newsletters).
Progress - Fall 2024
Complete
A communication strategy has been developed for both students (including
Laker Weekly and individual campaign/programming communications as
needed: ie. Laker Welcome) and for supporters (including supporter
newsletter. In collaboration with the President’s office, a newsletter
schedule and themes/topics was determined in July 2024 for the 24-25
academic year. ) The President’s office conducted a supporter
communication survey. DSA Marketing collaborated with Admissions to
form a First-Year Laker Experience Advisory Committee to gain feedback
and measure success and effectiveness of programming, marketing
materials, communications, etc. The first session took place Nov 2024
and will occur throughout the academic year.
Key Performance Indicator
Division Communication Strategy
Baseline
Determine participation baseline.
Description
Consolidate Division of Student Affairs Communications and Marketing.
Develop a complete annual inventory of methods used for communication.
Progress - Fall 2024
DSA Marketing was established as a department (moving Promotions Office
and the Laker Events and Communications Manager role out of Office of
Student Life) in August 2023. During the 2023-24 academic year, we
piloted a centralized marketing model with free services to DSA
departments. It wasn’t a true pilot, as some departments were still
doing their own graphic design, photography, etc… and at the end of the
year, it was deemed unsustainable financially. We have now reverted back
to a cost-recovery model for FY25 but do encourage DSA departments to
lean on and utilize design, photography, and video resources that DSA
Marketing’s Promotions Office provides. Through the work of the
Marketing Committee, communications audits are in progress. Most
recently and most specifically, we have done a social media audit of all
DSA accounts that exist. Individual account owners have set goals for
their various channels and we’re meeting 11/19 to review the progress of
the goals. We will be able to report out early January on these F24
goals related to social media engagement, impact, etc.
Key Performance Indicator
Access for low-income students
Baseline
Determine participation baseline.
Description
Remove barriers to programs and services for low-income students that
inhibit participation; fees, hours, and frequency
Lifetime of Learning (25+ Enrollment)
Key Performance Indicator
Well-being and Inclusion leadership
Baseline
Goal 100% completion
Description
Hire an AVP for Student Affairs well-being & inclusion.
Progress - Fall 2023
Hired AVP for Well-Being and Inclusion
A search was completed to hire a new Assistant Vice President for
Well-Being and Inclusion
Progress - Fall 2023
Complete
AVP was hired.
Key Performance Indicator
Health and Wellness Institutional Benchmarking
Baseline
Increase participation of prior ACHA survey participation
Description
Increase student participation in the ACHA survey. Share ACHA survey
with campus and community partners.
Progress - Winter 2024
ACHA Participation
Spring 2024 - This Executive Summary highlights results of the ACHA-NCHA
III Spring 2024 survey for Grand Valley State University consisting of
2297 respondents. Spring 2022 - This Executive Summary highlights
results of the ACHA-NCHA III Spring 2022 survey for Grand Valley State
University consisting of 873 respondents.
Key Performance Indicator
Division of Student Affairs student well-being strategy
Baseline
AVP for student well-being collective
Description
Well-being collective will develop and advance a strategic plan for
student well-being. Strategic Plan for Student Health & Well-being.
Progress - Winter 2023
Complete
Advancing Student Health and Well-being Strategic Plan Completed. GVSU
adopted the Okanagan Charter.
Culture of Educational Equity (CEE)
Key Performance Indicator
Cultural Competence
Baseline
Goal 100% completion
Description
Build cultural competency into job descriptions of all DSA employees.
DSA will report on DEI-AB progress by unit.
Progress - Fall 2023
Begun process to review all Student Affairs Job Descriptions
Currently all Student Affairs Job Descriptions are being updated to
include DEI-AB language.
Progress - Fall 2023
DEI-AB added to all Student Affairs professional staff evaluations.
Each Student Affairs professional has added at least one professional
and personal DEI-AB goal to their performance plans.
Progress - Fall 2023
DEI-AB added to all Student Affairs professional staff evaluations.
Each Student Affairs professional has added at least one professional
and personal DEI-AB goal to their performance plans.
Progress - Fall 2023
Employees of Color
Division has increased the percentage of employees of color to 20.3
Progress - Winter 2024
All new job descriptions include cultural competency as part of
Division expectations.
Key Performance Indicator
Cultural Professional Development
Baseline
Goal 100% completion
Description
Every employee will have a personal and professional development goal
around diversity. DSA DEIB Committee will collect division progress
quarterly through surveys and department reports.
Progress - Winter 2024
Every employee has a personal and professional development goal around
diversity. DSA DEIB Committee will continue to collect and measure
division progress quarterly through surveys and department reports.
Key Performance Indicator
Employment Equity Strategy
Baseline
Increase DSA employees - HR OIA and I & E
Description
Increase employees of color within the Division of Student Affairs.
Measure progress based on university employee information. DSA employees
of color are currently at 20.3% within the division. The goal is to be
above 18.8%
Progress - Fall 2024
As of Fall 2024, DSA employees of color are currently at 28% within the division.
Back to list
