Dale Johnson, a writing major from Hartford, has won the East Central Writing Centers Association Tutor of the Year award. In doing so, he beat out writing consultants from other universities in the region.



Johnson, a senior, has worked for three years as a consultant in Grand Valley’s Fred Meijer Center for Writing & Michigan Authors. He received his award certificate and $200 prize at the 2012 ECWCA annual conference hosted by Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, in Indianapolis, March 30-31. This award recognizes innovative approaches to tutoring/consulting, the quality of work with writers, and the articulation of a tutoring/consulting philosophy.

To see the full article click HERE

Stephen C. Rowe, professor of philosophy and liberal studies, has written a book that suggests America is now at a tipping point of either:

• being overcome by its multi-faceted, ideological battles (big government, corporate wealth, immigration), or

• being able to overcome those battles and “reclaim its integrity.”

Rowe wrote “Overcoming America/America Overcoming: Can We Survive Modernity?” (Lexington Books) because, he said, he felt it was his patriotic duty.

Click HERE for the full story!

Grand Valley State University ranked 16th for sustainable practices in an international survey called the GreenMetric World University Ranking.



The ranking system was developed by faculty members from Universitas Indonesia and allows universities throughout the world to compare their efforts in sustainability and environment-friendly university management. The system also allows universities in developing countries to evaluate how sustainable they are compared to universities in developed countries.



“Our efforts continue to shine, and now on a global scale,” said Norman Christopher, director of the Sustainable Community Development Initiative. “This new recognition can be a platform for many new discussions, such as our partnerships with international universities where our students travel to study.”

For the full story click here

Local history efforts get a boost from the Kustche Office of Local History. The Kutsche office is highlighted in the latest issues of the Grand Valley Magazine.

Click HERE to read the article.

Click here to listen to the WGVU Morning Show with Shelley Irwin as she interviews our new Liberal Studies Chair, Dr. Wendy Burns-Ardolino.

 Representatives from Brooks College are interviewed every third Wednesday of each month at 9:30 a.m. Tune in!!

Dr. Craig Benjamin was the guest on WGVU Radio's Morning Show with Shelley Irwin on October 19th.  To listen to a podcast of the interview, please click here. 

Representatives from Brooks College are interviewed every third Wednesday of each month at 9:30 a.m. Tune in!!

Friday, October 14th kicks off this year’s seventh annual GVSU Campus Sustainability Week (CSW). We invite all Grand Valley students, faculty, staff and community members to take part in a week of presentations, events, discussions, and challenges revolving around the topic of sustainability.

For more information & schedule of events, please go to: http://www.gvsu.edu/csw/

Please join us for the Association for Integrative Studies’ 33rd Annual Conference October 13-16, 2011. The Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies and the Liberal Studies Department will host the conference at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel located in downtown Grand Rapids.

The theme is: “Traditions and Trajectories: Interdisciplinarity and Integrative Learning.”

For more information, please go to: http://www.gvsu.edu/aisconference/

Nontraditional students at Grand Valley sometimes stand out in their classes because they are older than their classmates. Sherri Slater stands out for other reasons: the liberal studies major is a force for change in her community.

Slater was one of four recipients of the Lakeshore Athena Scholarship, an award for nontraditional students pursuing college degrees. “The great thing about the Athena people is they keep tabs on your progress after you win the scholarship,” Slater said. “So it shows they have an vested interest in you.”  

see the full story HERE

New on campus this fall, faculty and staff members can be matched with other commuters to share a ride to work. Carpooling partners can be found by searching the website for other faculty and staff members who live near you and have similar commute schedules.



Sharing a ride or carpooling is a great way to save money and reduce traffic congestion. Statistics show that sharing rides with just one other person can reduce commuting costs by 50 percent.

See the full story HERE

The Sustainable Agriculture Project celebrated the opening of a new Hoophouse.  A ribbon cutting ceremony for the new addition took place Friday, August 19.

See full story HERE.

Norman Christopher, director of the Sustainable Community Development Initiative at Grand Valley State University, was appointed to a federal committee that will advise the U.S. Secretary of Commerce on trade issues facing the U.S. environmental technologies services and goods industry.

See full story HERE.

Jim and Donna Brooks, longtime Holland philanthropists and Grand Valley University Foundation members, received the Russell G. Mawby Award for Philanthropy May 10 at the Michigan Nonprofit Superconference in Lansing. Gov. Rick Snyder was at the ceremony which honored the couple for their work in philanthropy and dedication to helping others.



The Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies at Grand Valley is named after the Brooks family.

See the Full Story HERE