Gayle R. Davis
Provost and Vice President for
    Academic Affairs
024 Zumberge Library
616-331-2400

Faculty – you are the absolute core of this place. 

Whether you have been here for six months or years and years, your service to the University is so valuable, though we are officially celebrating individual milestone years at Grand Valley at this ceremony. It is also our wonderful task today to highlight each of those honorees who will receive the University Awards of Excellence because they have each contributed so much. 

For the Pew Facutly Teaching and Learning Center Awards nominees are selected by students, alumni, other faculty, or academic units, based on criteria related to the faculty member’s ability to use multiple approaches in instruction and evaluation and to refine classroom practices based on reflection on their experiences and student learning outcomes. The honorees use the latest material in their fields to stimulate intellectual curiosity in students, and they commit themselves to their students as not only an instructor but also as a positive professional role model.

I see these annual awards as also symbolic, though, as emblematic of the regard in which we hold each and all of our colleagues. Thanks for being such dedicated, excellent faculty. I’m proud to have this role as provost – to support you, plan with you, confront challenges with you, and to honor you.