Graduate Students

Graduate Student Orientation

Why should I attend?

All new graduate students are invited to attend a "general" graduate student orientation, coordinated by the Office of Graduate Studies and Pew Student Services. Its primary purpose is to introduce new graduate students to the services, resources, and opportunities available at Grand Valley, including learning resources provided by the library and information technology departments, regardless of your intended graduate program.

Additionally, students who attend the orientation session at the Pew Campus in Grand Rapids will also have opportunities to meet fellow students, faculty and administrators, participate in a resource fair, obtain student ID/Library cards (required), textbooks and attend hands-on library and technology sessions.

How beneficial will the general orientation be to me?

While all new graduate students are encouraged to attend, those having classes at the Grand Rapids or Allendale locations, and new to Grand Valley State University, seem to gain the most from attending this relatively brief Orientation.  All new graduate students will receive a postcard or e-mail invitation to attend the "New Graduate Student Orientation" in the weeks leading up to the event. Students who will be attending a location, other than Grand Rapids or Allendale, are advised to contact the Director at your regional site to help you determine how beneficial attending this Orientation might be.

Will I also be invited to a program-specific orientation?

In addition to the New Graduate Student Orientation described previously, many graduate programs will also host their own orientation. The program-specific orientation is going to provide you with very useful, if not invaluable, information regarding academic expectations, requirements, and program resources to help you succeed.   

Please note that these are two different activities, coordinated by different departments and new students are well-served to attend both; however, should you discover a scheduling conflict, we encourage you to attend your program-specific orientation.  Many students report that the information covered is not repetitive and that attending both types of orientation was beneficial.   

For additional information, please contact Steven Lipnicki at 616.331.7188.