Families of Residents - Office of Housing and Residence Life

Families of Residents

Phone: 616-331-2120
Fax: 616-331-3790
Office of Housing & Residence Life
housing@gvsu.edu

103 Student Services Building
Allendale, MI 49401

Information for Families of Residents

Living on-campus gives our residents the opportunities and advantages that can make the collegiate experience more memorable, more enjoyable, and more successful. Living with us allows a student to connect with other students both on an academic and social level, making their time at GVSU an experience in life skills development. Family support systems may find the following transition information helpful, as they assist their students in making decisions regarding living on-campus at GVSU.

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Helpful Transition Information

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We treat our residents as adults.

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The Office of Housing and Residence Life views parents, guardians, and family members as partners in the journey that a students takes in continuing their education. Although your role may be changing from “caregiver” to “consultant” you play an important part in your student’s academic and social success at GVSU. We view your student as a young adult and will work with them directly to address any issues that they may have. We support the Family Educational Right to Privacy Act (FERPA), and therefore are not able to share educational information with family members. Our focus is your student. Although prior to the GVSU experience you may have had access to your student’s information, with the Office of Housing and Residence Life, the student’s confidentiality of information is supported......

Help your student grow.......

Our office strives to offer out of classroom co-curricular programs that will connect with your students in classroom experiences. Encouraging your students to attend these programs will enhance their learning in the areas of critical thinking, self-awareness, communication, diversity, citizenship, membership, leadership, and relationship development. In and out of classroom experiences are valuable to your student and play a role in developing your student as a liberally educated individual. Your support in encouraging them to look at the GVSU experience from a holistic sense is appreciated.

Support your student by asking questions.

Often times, it is equally challenging for family members to send a student “away to school,” as it may be the first time your student is living away from home. While your student needs the space to grow and learn, it is also important for them to know that you support them. Please consider reading: “Letting Go: A Parents’ Guide to Understanding the College Years” and/or “The Launching Years: Strategies for Parenting from Senior Year to College Life.”