The education of graduate students, as well as support of their personal and professional development, is an important aspect of our mission at Grand Valley State University.  In order to fulfill our responsibilities locally, nationally, and internationally, we continually strive to give our students the best educational experience possible.  We offer rigorous masters and doctoral programs taught by qualified faculty who are actively engaged with our students.

GVSU's excellent graduate programs are grounded in academically rigorous plans of study and supported by a university that adheres to policies and procedures that guide the academic process yet allow the flexibility to address unique issues and provide individual learning experiences.

The Graduate School is responsible for supporting all graduate degree and certificate programs, administration of graduate assistantships, including the Special Projects graduate assistantship program, conducting graduate student orientations, supporting the work of Graduate Council, supporting the Graduate Student Association, producing the Graduate Director’s Handbook and the Graduate Student Guidebook, and evaluating graduate programs.

Initiatives such as the Presidential Research Grants program and the Graduate Showcase event help promote graduate student research and scholarship and highlight the best of what our graduate programs have to offer.  We offer the PACES co-curricular program, which is designed to improve our dissemination of professional development information to our graduate students.

The Graduate School plays an important role in supporting our students, faculty, and staff who are engaged in graduate education.  It is our goal to make your graduate experience rewarding and successful.

Jeffrey A. Potteiger, Ph.D., FACSM
Associate Vice-Provost for The Graduate School