Graduate Studies
Message from the Dean
Welcome to the Office of Graduate Studies website!
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 to the people of Western Michigan as well as the state, nation, and world, 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 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 provide the flexibility to address unique issues and individual learning experiences.
The OGS is responsible for supporting all graduate degree and certificate programs, administration of the graduate assistantships, including the Special Projects program, conducting graduate student orientations and celebrations, supporting the work of Graduate Council and the Graduate Enrollment Management Committee, supporting the Graduate Student Association, producing the Graduate Directors Handbook and the Graduate Student Guidebook, and administration of the Presidential Research Grants program.
Recent initiatives include the Graduate Showcase event to promote graduate student research and scholarship and to highlight the best of what our graduate programs have to offer; and the graduate co-curricular program titled PACES, which is designed to improve our dissemination of professional information to graduate students.
The OGS is also involved in several university wide initiatives designed to enhance the quality and capacity of graduate education at GVSU. Examples of these initiatives include the Graduate Education Task Force and the International Graduate Student Recruitment Initiative.
The OGS plays an important role in supporting our students and faculty which are engaged in graduate education. We're here to serve you, whether you are a student, faculty member, or staff, and to make your graduate experience rewarding and successful.
Jeffrey A. Potteiger, Ph.D., FACSM
Dean of Graduate Studies
Page last modified January 4, 2013
