2011-2012 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog

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Student Life and Services

Student Life

Office of Student Life

Website: www.gvsu.edu/studentlife

Grand Valley State University reaches far beyond the typical college activity list to make life on campus exciting and enjoyable. Students can take advantage of a great variety of clubs and organizations, including cultural organizations, performing arts groups, recreational clubs, faith-based groups, social organizations, fraternities, and sororities, professional associations, special interest groups, leadership groups, and community service organizations.

Students are in class an average of 30 percent of the time during a week of college life. Historically, students who are successful have developed a plan for how they will spend the other 70 percent of their time. Students are encouraged to MAXimize their college experience through participation in a variety of campus experiences. Employers continue to look for employees who have a broad base of experiences and are comfortable working with others.

The Office of Student Life, located in the Kirkhof Center, creates an exciting environment for students to experience unlimited opportunities to interact with other students in addition to their traditional academic classroom times. This interactive environment provides a student development experience that fosters individual student growth.

Students are encouraged to participate in student organizations, attend campus events, and become involved in leadership and service projects. The Office of Student Life annually registers more than 300 student organizations. More information is available at www.gvsu.edu/studentlife or by calling (616) 331-2345.

The Kirkhof Center, named in honor of Russel Kirkhof, is a place for students to come and enjoy an environment that offers the opportunity to gather in a formal and informal setting. The Kirkhof Center is charged with supporting the educational, cultural, social, and recreational needs of Grand Valley State University. Located within the student center are the Office of Student Life, Office of Event Services, 2020 Information Desk, University Bookstore, Office of Multicultural Affairs, LGBT Resource Center, Women's Center, and Dining Services. The following services can also be found: food services, postal services, copy center, ATM machines, and commuter lockers.

Area 51 provides a venue for students to coordinate musical events and showcase student performers. There is also a big screen and projector to watch television or movies, or to participate in video-game tournaments.

Information Desk
Website: www.gvsu.edu/2020
Located in the main lobby of the Kirkhof Center, the 2020 Information Desk provides the campus community with up-to-date information regarding campus events and what to do in West Michigan. The student staff members who operate the desk are there to answer questions and assist students. Contact the 2020 Information Desk staff at (616) 331-2020 or follow them on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GVSU2020 or search for twentytwenty on Facebook and become a fan.

Campus Events Calendar
A comprehensive electronic calendar of events for Grand Valley is available online for easy reference. The calendar is a great resource for the campus community to stay current on the many events and programs scheduled. Check out the campus events calendar at www.gvsu.edu/events/.

For additional information on campus events, contact the Office of Student Life at (616) 331-2345 or call (616) 331-8800 for athletic event information.

University Promotions
Website: www.gvsu.edu/upo
The University Promotions Office provides graphic design and advertising to assist student organizations in promoting their events. Students produce various promotional pieces to publicize upcoming campus activities. Contact (616) 331-2340 for more information.

Laker Leadership Programs

Website: www.gvsu.edu/leadership
First-year Leadership Experience
The first-year leadership experience program is designed to help newer leaders create and enhance their personal philosophy of leadership while developing basic leadership skills and learning about leadership opportunities the Grand Valley community has to offer. All students, especially first-year students, are encouraged to be a part of this program, particularly those who are interested in future leadership roles. This program teaches leadership through interactive activities and discussions led by student leaders and staff members from the Office of Student Life.

Intermediate Leaders Institute
Opportunities are designed for those who are eager to improve their interpersonal leadership skills, team dynamics, networking, and communication abilities. This experience will help students become leaders in groups and in the community, while developing the characteristics needed to become established members of the Grand Valley leadership community.

Community Leader Seminar
This program is for experienced leaders who desire to increase their impact as a civically engaged member of the Grand Valley community. The interactive program teaches advanced skills, focusing on societal and lifelong leadership development. Through this program, students realize the experiences at Grand Valley can be transferred far beyond the reaches of this campus, to affect future workplaces or communities. There is a special emphasis on civic engagement and citizenship, which will allow these advanced leaders to adapt their skills for life after college. Participants also will be asked to share the skills that they have gained to influence other future Grand Valley student leaders to follow in their paths.

Additional Leadership Opportunities

Leadership Summit is a one-day statewide conference that provides student leaders from throughout the state the opportunity to come together to discuss leadership topics with national and regional leaders while networking and sharing ideas. With topic areas such as fraternities and sororities, student government, cultural programming, campus-wide programming, service-learning, and many others, Leadership Summit is one of the largest multifocused gatherings in the state of Michigan. Leadership Summit provides excellent networking and developmental opportunities for student leaders at any level.

Workshops on Demand is a year-round program that the Office of Student Life offers free of charge to registered student organizations and university affiliated nonformal groups. The program offers specialized leadership and service-related workshops. This is a great way to provide educational workshops and community building experiences to group constituents.

Venderbush Leadership Reception recognizes Kenneth R. Venderbush who served as vice president of student affairs at Grand Valley State University from 1969-1973. The event features a speaker from the community or a past Grand Valley alumni sharing their experiences and inspirations on the topic of leadership and service.

Community Service Learning Center (CSLC)

Website: www.gvsu.edu/service
TheCommunity Service Learning Center, located in the Kirkhof Center, is an outreach office that encourages the Grand Valley population to engage themselves in community awareness through community issues education, volunteer skill-set training, campus-wide volunteer/service opportunities, and community agency partnerships. Students are encouraged to become involved in a community service activity that will enhance their understanding of civic responsibility and challenge them to be committed to a life of community service. Students can connect with opportunities by visiting the website or the CSLC.

Campus Life Night

Campus Life Night, held the Tuesday evening after Labor Day in the Fieldhouse Arena, provides students with the opportunity to find out about their extensive choices for involvement on campus. Student organizations, campus departments, volunteer agencies, and area businesses set up displays and provide information.

Traditions and Festivals

Student organizations and special committees work with professional staff in sponsoring and planning campus traditions including such events as Family Weekend, Homecoming, Renaissance Festival, Make a Difference Day, Dance Marathon, Battle of the Valleys, Intercultural Festival, Sibs and Kids Weekend, Presidents' Ball, Community Outreach Week (COW), and Relay for Life.

Asian Festival: Each February the Asian Student Union sponsors a variety of events, the most celebrated being the annual celebration honoring the Asian New Year. An authentic and diverse type of Asian food is provided to festival participants. In addition, the festival coordinators provide traditional New Year's dances and songs presented by professional artists.

Black History Month: Each February the campus community offers a comprehensive series of programs to celebrate black history.

Hispanic Heritage Month: Each fall the university community celebrates Hispanic history and culture with a variety of events. Students, faculty members, and staff members educate attendees on the diversity within the culture and offer campus-wide celebrations featuring traditional foods and presenting and teaching music and dance.

Intercultural Festival: Students, faculty, and staff sponsor booths showcasing cultural cuisine, traditions, and crafts specific to a culture of their choice. The campus community enjoys good food, lively entertainment, and an exchange of ideas as the world comes to Grand Valley.

Pow Wow: The annual spring event celebrates the Native American culture. The Native American Student Association, with the leadership and permission of the Ottawa Tribal Council, shares an entire day of ceremony and trade with the campus and the general public.

Student Organization Center

Located on the lower level of the Kirkhof Center, the Student Organization Center (SOC) provides an exciting environment for campus student organizations to interact and conduct their daily business. The SOC provides resources and information for students who are interested in getting involved. The SOC also features interactive spaces for the organizations to collaborate with each other. Additional resources include computers, telephones, business center, resource information, library, and meeting spaces. More than 300 student organizations are supported by this center.

Student Organizations

Academic and professional organizations focus on academic disciplines or are related to a specific professional field.

Cultural organizations educate the campus community about nondominant cultures to enhance students' worldviews. They also provide students with an avenue to explore and celebrate their own cultural heritage and provide programs and services designed to support students of various cultural heritages at the university.

Fraternities and sororities provide lifelong opportunities for leadership, service, academic achievement, and social involvement through association with a national organization (see the Fraternity and Sorority Manual at www.gvsu.edu/greeklife/.)

Performing arts organizations provide opportunities for involvement and exposure to the performing arts.

Faith-based organizations serve to enhance a student's spiritual life while providing fellowship and outreach opportunities.

Service and advocacy organizations are centered on positive student engagement and social change through community service and educational programming. These organizations hope to raise awareness on social issues.

Special interest organizations serve to enhance student life through the cocurricular involvement of special interests and hobbies.

Sports and recreation organizations provide opportunities for competition, personal fitness, recreational activities, and/or school spirit support.

Student government organizations serve as governing bodies in various aspects of campus life.

Media and entertainment organizations include two types of opportunities for students. Entertainment organizations provide campus with a variety of student-sponsored entertainment events and programs. Media organizations provide an opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience with student media including newspaper, television, radio, film, and video.

• The Lanthorn: The Lanthorn is an award-winning, twice-weekly student newspaper that gives students an opportunity to gain experience in the production of a newspaper. The Lanthorn office, conveniently located in 0051 Kirkhof, is close to the Student Organization Center. The Lanthorn team includes editorial, advertising, business, graphic art, staff writing, and staff photography positions. Call (616) 331-2460 to find out more information.
• GVTV: Grand Valley State University's own student-run broadcasting network offers hands-on experience in technical areas of producing as well as writing, reporting, promotions, directing, and acting. The channel is noncommercial and broadcasts on cable access channel 10. GVTV's office is located next to the Student Organization Center, lower level of the Kirkhof Center. Contact GVTV at (616) 331-4888 for more information.
• WCKS: The student-run campus radio station is located on the lower level of the Kirkhof Center. Opportunities for all aspects of radio production and broadcast are available to students. Call (616) 331-2356 for more information.

Student Senate

Website: www.gvsu.edu/studentsenate
The Student Senate is an elected body of 50 students. The senate conveys student opinion to the Grand Valley administration and the Board of Trustees in matters of institutional policy. The senate also provides a forum for discussion, investigation, and resolution of student ideas and concerns.

The senate is responsible for the allocation of the Student Life Fund and for the appointment of student representatives to all university standing committees and advisory boards. Call (616) 331-2333 for more information.

Spotlight - Campus Life Programming

Spotlight Productions, the campus entertainment board, selects and organizes large-scale concerts, big-name comedians, a series of free movies, monthly coffeehouse performers, nationally recognized speakers, aspiring artists, and many traditional Grand Valley events such as Sibs and Kids Weekend. Students work together to choose and produce events while obtaining numerous event planning, marketing, and collaboration skills that will transfer to their professional lives. Call (616) 331-2806 for more information.

Student Services

Intercollegiate Athletics

Grand Valley is a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). Membership in the GLIAC includes Ashland, Ferris, Findlay, Grand Valley, Hillsdale, Lake Erie College, Lake Superior, Michigan Tech, Northern Michigan, Northwood, Ohio Dominican, Saginaw Valley, Tiffin, and Wayne State. Grand Valley is also a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA Division II).

Since the creation of the GLIAC in 1972, Grand Valley has won the President's Cup, the conference all-sports trophy, and symbol of athletic excellence, 17 times; and has won the Director's Cup, the NCAA Division II all-sports trophy, the last seven consecutive years. Grand Valley's men's teams have won conference championships in football 15 times; basketball, eight; baseball, 14; wrestling, six; tennis, one; golf, four; indoor track, 11; swimming and diving, three; outdoor track, six; and cross country, nine. In women's sports, Grand Valley has won championships in basketball eight times; cross country, 11; soccer, six; softball, 11; tennis, three; volleyball, 10; swimming and diving, one; indoor track, 12; outdoor track, 11; and golf, six.

Scholarships are offered in all men's and women's sports.

Grand Valley competes in the following sports: men's baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, swimming and diving, tennis, and indoor and outdoor track; women's basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, indoor and outdoor track, and volleyball.

The Barbara H. Padnos International Center

Grand Valley's mission, values, and vision statement includes references to educating students in the global community beyond Michigan or the U.S.A. Grand Valley recognizes that a foundation to a strong university education includes an understanding of other cultures as well as a global vision. The mission of the Barbara H. Padnos International Center is to engage the university community in the development of meaningful international experiences which foster an appreciation and awareness of diverse cultures, people, and ideas.

New populations, environmental challenges, and global interdependence add to the agenda for global competency skills. Individuals, businesses, agencies, and organizations need employees who are culturally and linguistically capable. Second-language fluency and the ability to work with various cultures are critical to the future of West Michigan.

The Barbara H. Padnos International Center organizes and coordinates the university's international programs and activities, working with all academic departments, colleges, and other units. It oversees international partnership agreements, faculty-led group programs, study abroad programs, work and internship programs in other nations, and international volunteer and service-learning activities. It serves as a catalyst for international curriculum development and helps make Grand Valley's international resources and expertise available to the Grand Valley community.

The center coordinates with student affairs and the Office of Admissions to recruit, admit, and advise international students. The center also works with universities, nongovernmental organizations, and governmental agencies to develop and administer programs and services. In addition, it works with academic departments, colleges, the Center for Teaching and Learning, and the Modern Languages department to internationalize the curriculum and provide overseas study opportunities relevant to the curriculum.

International Partnership Agreements

Partnerships with overseas institutions create meaningful opportunities for students, faculty members, and staff members and allow for educational and living experiences in other nations. Partnerships also increase the presence of international students and faculty at Grand Valley. Currently, Grand Valley has institution-to-institution agreements with the following institutions, which offer a variety of study abroad opportunities for students:

Australia: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Macquarie University, Sydney
China: China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing; East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai; East China Normal University, Shanghai; East China Normal University, Shanghai
England: Kingston University, Kingston-on-Thames; University of Brighton, Brighton
France: Groupe ESC Grenoble; L'Ecole Superieure Des Sciences Commerciales of Angers l'Universite Catholique de L'Ouest, Angers
Germany: Duale Hochschule Baden Wurttemberg, Mosbach Padagogische Hochschule Schwabisch Gmund Fakultaet I, Schwabish Gmund
Ghana: University of Cape Coast
Hungary: University of Debrecen, Debrecen
Italy: Universita degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia; Universita per Stranieri di Perugia, Perugia.
Jamaica: University of the West Indies - Mona Campus
Japan: International Christian University, Tokyo; The Japan Center for Michigan Universities
Hikone: Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Beppu
Mexico: Universidad de las Americas-Puebla
Norway: University of Oslo
Poland: Cracow University of Economics
Taiwan: National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei
Turkey: Middle East Technical University, Ankara

Consortia Programs

Japan Center for Michigan Universities (JCMU), Hikone, Japan
Consortium for Overseas Student Teaching (COST), various locations
Midwest Consortium for Study Abroad (MCSA), various locations

Affiliate Programs

American Institute for Foreign Studies (AIFS), various locations
Australearn/Eurolearn/Asialearn, various locations
Council on International Education Exchange (CIEE), various locations
Cultural Experiences Abroad (CEA), various locations
Edge Hill University (EHU), Ormskirk, England
International Studies Abroad (ISA), various locations
John Cabot University (JCU), Rome, Italy
University of Deusto (CIDE), Bilbao, Spain
European Study Abroad (EUSA), various locations
Hellenic International Studies of the Arts (HISA), Paros, Greece
Semester in India, Pondicherry, India

International Student Services Program

Grand Valley recognizes the importance of international students to the campus community. Accordingly, the program serves as the organizer, promoter, and facilitator of various cross-cultural exchange activities. Also, the program provides support services that include extensive orientation, cross-cultural adjustment seminars, housing assistance, and overseas immigration regulations and work authorization.

Study Abroad

The Padnos International Center (PIC) supports the academic programs in all departments, divisions, and schools by offering and coordinating study abroad opportunities in countries around the world. Semester and year-long academic programs are available to all degree-seeking students in all academic majors and minors.

Grand Valley offers various scholarship and grant opportunities, including the Barbara H. Padnos Study Abroad Scholarship (year-long study with preference given to majors in the arts and humanities), The Mark A. and Elizabeth E. Murray Study Abroad Scholarship (related to financial need), and the PIC Study Abroad Grant (open to both graduate and undergraduate students). The Padnos International Center also maintains a roster of other scholarships and grants for study abroad.

The Padnos International Center maintains a fully staffed resource room, where students can explore participation in overseas opportunities throughout the world. Guidance, enrollment support, financial aid coordination, and credit transfers are services offered by PIC staff members. Students are encouraged to visit the center's resource room early in their academic studies, so that appropriate planning can be undertaken.

IS 380
International Studies 380 is the special topics course in which students enroll when they study abroad. Students on study abroad programs enroll in this "placeholder'' course until the transcript arrives from the overseas institution, at which time the course is converted to an equivalent Grand Valley course (replacing IS 380 on the transcript). In cases where there is no comparable Grand Valley course, the original IS 380, with an appropriate subtitle, remains on the transcript. Students may enroll in one to 16 credits of IS 380 per academic term, if approved for study abroad through an application process administered by the Padnos International Center.

IS 680
International Studies 680 is similar to IS 380, but serves the role of placeholder for graduate credit, for Grand Valley graduate students participating in study abroad programs.

Global Programs
Students can acquire international experience through a variety of short-term, Grand Valley-sponsored programs, generally led by Grand Valley faculty members. Summer programs may include:

Central London, England: urbanization/geography and British culture
Egypt: Middle Eastern studies
El Salvador, Central America: social work
Guadalajara, Mexico: Spanish language and culture
Kingston, England: Art
Krakow, Poland: Polish language, culture, and economics
Nice, France: French language, culture
Shanghai, China: Eastern philosophy, language, and civilization
Sydney, Australia: public administration
Tuebingen, Germany: German language and culture

PIC assists students with their plans and participation in these programs. It coordinates programs with the financial aid and registrar's offices to ensure academic credit and financial aid for program participation. It also maintains a comprehensive file of authorized international study programs throughout the world, assists with the coordination of faculty exchanges, and provides information on opportunities for research, teaching, and working abroad.

Academic Activities
The Padnos International Center organizes various academic activities, including lecture series, break roundtables, conversation series, and research forums during fall and winter semesters. Also PIC works with the International Club in organizing the student-led Global Issues Forum, a monthly discussion of various international issues.
For more information, contact the Padnos International Center in room 130, Lake Ontario Hall, or call (616) 331-3898.

The Bookstore

Website: www.ubs.gvsu.edu
Textbooks for classes taught at Grand Valley State University are available through University Bookstore with locations in Allendale and Grand Rapids. Students attending classes on the Allendale Campus will find their textbooks and required supplies at the bookstore on the first floor of the Kirkhof Center. In addition, the store offers a large selection of Grand Valley imprinted clothing and gifts, as well as classroom supplies, computers, technology and software, and books for leisure reading. The Allendale store also provides textbooks for students who attend classes at satellite locations throughout Michigan, including Holland, Muskegon, and Traverse City. Textbooks and merchandise may be ordered on the Web at www.ubs.gvsu.edu or by phone at (866) 299-0001.

The University Bookstore in Allendale is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Hours are extended the first week of the semester. Telephone (616) 331-2450.

Students who attend classes on the Robert C. Pew Grand Rapids Campus may purchase textbooks at the University Bookstore adjacent to the plaza on the first floor of the Richard M. DeVos Center. Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday; and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Telephone (616) 331-6602.

Campus Ministry

The interdenominational Campus Ministry Council offers a ministry to the university community through worship services, bible study groups, speakers, retreats, discussions, service opportunities, and pastoral counseling. Weekly services include Sunday worship at 10:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. and Catholic Mass at 5:30 p.m. The campus ministry offices are located in the Cook-DeWitt Center. Telephone (616) 331-3111 or (616) 331-3251.

Campus Recreation

Website: www.gvsu.edu/rec

Shaping students and the university community to commit to a healthy lifestyle
The Campus Recreation department (www.gvsu.edu/rec) is committed to the well-being of the university community. Our programs and services are offered through intramural sports and the Fitness and Wellness Center. Together we strive to be a leader on campus by developing a culture that values health and wellness as a lifelong goal.

Intramural Sports
The intramural sports program provides a quality recreational sports experience for a diverse university community. Through sport and leisure activities, the program enhances the participant's university experience by promoting student development in a safe environment. The intramural sports program offers sports in the fall, winter, and spring semesters in men's, women's, and corecreational divisions of play for both competitive and recreational skill levels. Grand Valley students, faculty members, and staff members are eligible to participate. The intramural sports program includes basketball, flag football, softball, soccer, volleyball, tennis, golf, racquetball, bowling, table tennis, billiards, dodgeball, kickball, punt-pass-kick, roller/floor hockey, rowing, 5K run/walk, badminton, and indoor track and field. For more information, call (616) 331-3218.

Fitness and Wellness Center
The Fitness and Wellness Center is located on the lower level of the Recreation Center. The center offers a variety of fitness and wellness services for the university community. Services include health risk appraisals, health screenings, fitness testing, exercise programming, equipment orientations, nutrition consultation, group exercise classes, cholesterol testing, personal training, and massage. The Fitness and Wellness Center sponsors various programs such as recreation clinics, health fairs, CPR training, fitness challenges, and on-campus education outreach. For more information, call (616) 331-3659.

Communications

WGVU-TV 35/WGVU-DT 11 and WGVK-TV 52/WGVK-DT 5, affiliated with the Public Broadcasting Service, present a variety of informative and entertaining programs, including children's shows, public affairs, cultural offerings, and sports. The stations also supply educational programming for thousands of elementary and secondary school children, and produce several local programs for West Michigan.

WGVU 88.5 FM Grand Rapids and 95.3 FM Whitehall are National Public Radio (NPR) stations licensed to the Grand Valley Board of Trustees. The stations broadcast jazz and news and information programs from NPR. A strong commitment to local news is emphasized.

WGVU 1480 AM Grand Rapids and 850 AM Muskegon are National Public Radio stations also licensed to the Grand Valley State University Board of Trustees. The stations broadcast oldies music with NPR and local news.

For those planning careers in broadcasting or nonprofit leadership, the television and radio stations offer many intern positions through which students can gain practical on-the-job training under actual broadcast conditions. Our television and radio stations also provide employment opportunities and professional experience for students, and two annual Grand Valley tuition scholarships are awarded. The offices and studios are located in the Meijer Public Broadcast Center on the Robert C. Pew Grand Rapids campus.

Computer Support

Grand Valley houses more than 30 classrooms/labs with Pentium Windows and Macintosh machines running more than 180 student applications; ADA stations in most labs; SMART technology (computer, LCD projector, DVD, and VCR) available in all classrooms; wireless connectivity in all academic buildings and housing locations; all classroom and student living areas networked for Internet access, email, courseware, registration, and many other student services; digital media assistance available to students and faculty members; free music service to students; free antivirus software for all campus computers including students in Grand Valley housing; and computing and technology support services available to all faculty members, staff members, and students.

Career and Employment Resources

Career Exploration and Development

The Counseling and Career Development Center assists students in making career decisions. The center provides individual counseling sessions in which personal values, interests, abilities, and goals are assessed and then used as a basis for career exploration and decision making. Individual career counseling is available at the Allendale Campus office, the Robert C. Pew Grand Rapids Campus, and the Meijer Campus in Holland. Call (616) 331-3266 to set up an appointment. The center also houses an extensive Career Library in which up-to-date information on a wide range of careers is available. Also offered each semester are career seminars and study skills that help students plan for the future by addressing topics such as study skill techniques, planning for graduate school, and identifying potential careers. Current career information and job trends data are included in both individual career counseling sessions and career seminars through the use of numerous websites emphasizing career exploration and information. The Counseling and Career Development Center and library are located in 204 Student Services building. Telephone (616) 331-3266.

Internships, Cooperative Education, and Experiential Education Programs

In today's highly competitive job market, employers hire candidates who possess not only a college degree, but also career-related experience. In a survey conducted by Career Services, 99 percent of employers agreed that most students would benefit from such an experience.

The best way to gain the experience employers are looking for is to complete one or more experiential education programs such as an internship or co-op. In addition to the possibility of earning college credit, other educational benefits of internships/co-ops include learning new skills and applying learned theory to the world of work. Career development benefits include exploring available career options, developing realistic career goals and expectations, and building relationships with professionals and employers. Employment advantages include gaining career-related experience, supplementing grades, and receiving possible employment offers or recommendations for future employment.

Academic Requirements and Credits. Each academic department determines the academic requirements for internships and cooperative education experiences. Unless an academic department requires completion of an internship/co-op, it is up to an individual student to decide whether or not they wish to pursue receiving credit for their experience (occasionally, employers require interns to receive college credit for their experience). When seeking credit for an experience, a faculty advisor within each academic department is responsible for final approval of internships/co-ops to ensure that the experience meets specific departmental criteria. Students are required to comply with academic departmental GPA requirements regarding internships/co-ops. The academic department provides a faculty member to evaluate the work submitted by the student to fulfill departmental requirements. Students seeking credit are typically required to have completed 60 academic credits before signing up for internships/co-ops. Work hours normally equate to 150 hours for three academic credits. However, this may vary by department. A maximum of 15 internship/cooperative education credits may be applied toward graduation. The nature of the academic component of an internship/cooperative education experience is defined by the academic department. A student may not use a single work experience to generate both internship/cooperative education credit and other forms of credit, e.g., independent study credit.

Cooperative Education (co-op). A co-op is a work-training program specified in engineering. A co-op is a specific type of work training experience in which students have at least two full- or part-time supervised and paid work experiences related to their major, each lasting at least one semester. The co-op program is specifically designated as such by the academic department.

Criteria. Internships and co-ops may be initiated by a faculty advisor, employer, student, or the Career Services office. The work setting for internships/co-ops must provide an opportunity for learning that is relevant to the student's academic field as well as a field supervisor to oversee and evaluate their work. The length of the internship/co-op is determined prior to the beginning of the internship by the employer, the student, and the faculty advisor. An internship/cooperative education experience can be terminated prior to completion by the faculty advisor, field supervisor, or student. However, permission for course withdrawal is vested exclusively in the faculty for credit-bearing internships.

Internships. An internship is a supervised work experience directly related to an academic discipline taking place outside of the classroom and directed by a field supervisor. The internship may be full- or part-time and may or may not be a paid work experience. An internship typically lasts for one semester. Internships are available in most Grand Valley majors.

Career Services and Postgraduation Employment Assistance

The Career Services office provides extensive services to students and alumni as they prepare for internship, cooperative and postgraduation employment. The staff assists students and alumni with preparing written application materials, along with developing interviewing skills and job search techniques. Individual appointments can be scheduled with advisors. Career Services offers a comprehensive calendar of career-related events, workshops and seminars, covering a wide variety of the career-related topics. The office coordinates several career fairs each year attracting hundreds of regional and local employers. Students and alumni may take advantage of LakerJobs, a Web-based job management system, to access current job and internship postings, sign up for on-campus interviews, and receive email correspondence regarding upcoming events and employment opportunities. LakerJobs also includes a résumé database available to employers for résumé referrals. Students and alumni may also utilize the Career Contact Bank, a searchable listing of professionals who have offered to provide career advice and informational interviews. In addition, the office provides experiential education listings and assistance in locating internships/co-ops for students. ((

The Career Services office has two primary locations: 206 Student Services building, (616) 331-3311; and 116B DeVos Center, (616) 331-6708. Both office locations have office hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Services are also available at the L.V. Eberhard Center and at the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences in Grand Rapids; the Meijer Campus in Holland; the Muskegon Regional Center at Muskegon Community College; and the Traverse City Regional Center by appointment. Visit our website at www.gvsu.edu/careers/.

Student Employment

The Student Employment office has a website to help students find jobs both on and off campus. Visit www.gvsu.edu/studentjobs to view job postings, a gallery of pictures showing students working at all types of jobs on campus, the on-campus wage schedule, the pay period calendar, hints for interviewing, student handbook, forms for employment, explanation of work study, and much more. The office is located at 105 Student Services building. Telephone (616) 331-3238.

Employment Statistics for 2009-2010

The employment rate for Grand Valley graduates continues to be high with 87.8 percent of 2009-10 graduates reporting employment or enrollment in graduate school. Students can enhance employment success by improving written and verbal communication skills, completing an internship or other experiential education program, developing skills in areas outside of the major academic program area, and thoroughly preparing for the employment search. In 2009-10, 6,811 students participated in an experiential education program.

Employment rates are affected by many factors, including the overall economy, local and national needs for people with particular skills, candidate's willingness to relocate, and individual performance. Below is breakdown of employment and graduate school attendance by college. For more specific information on statistics or assistance with preparation for the employment search, please contact Career Services at [email protected] or (616) 331-3311.

GVSU College	Employed	Enrolled in Graduate School
Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies (BCOIS)	54%	19%
College of Community and Public Service (CCPS)	83%	12%
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS)	58%	24%
College of Health Professions (CHP)	66%	22%
College of Education (COE)	92%	3%
Kirkhof College of Nursing (KCON)	75%%	10%
Seymour and Ester Padnos College of Engineering and Computing (PCEC)	86%	9%
Seidman College of Business (SCB)	76%	12%
University Total	73.8%	14%

*College contains graduate programs only. Undergraduate employment statistics for teachers are reported in the college of their major.

Dean of Students

The function of the Dean of Students Office is to maintain the quality of campus life by providing leadership and supervision for the division's staff and programs. The office serves as an information resource and problem-solving center for students and faculty members, academic departments, and student organizations. The office is an advocate for student concerns, provides support services for returning adult students, coordinates the university judicial system and mediation program, and represents the division to constituencies in and outside of the institution. The Dean of Students Office is located in 202 Student Services building. Telephone (616) 331-3585.

Mediation

Mediation is a nonjudicial, confidential, and voluntary process that helps people resolve their own conflicts and design their own solutions with the assistance of a trained facilitator. Trained staff members are available to help students resolve conflicts.

Returning Adult Students

The Dean of Students Office serves as a resource and referral service for returning adult students, generally defined as nontraditional students over the age of 25.

University Judiciary

The University Judiciary department is responsible for informing students about their rights and responsibilities on campus. Grievance procedures and judicial referrals are available for handling students' concerns regarding university practices. Prompt and confidential investigations and resolutions of judicial cases are standard procedures. Filing a complaint does not affect a student's standing at Grand Valley.

The Student Code guide lists Grand Valley rules and regulations and outlines campus judicial processes. Persons attending Grand Valley automatically place themselves under the rules and regulations published in the Student Code guide. Infraction of these rules is dealt with by campus judiciary bodies made up of students, faculty members, and staff members.

Health Services

The Campus Health Center is located at 10383 A 42nd Avenue on the Allendale Campus. The center is designed to provide health care for students, faculty members, staff members, and their families on a walk-in basis. Services include (but are not limited to) the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses and accidents, school, sports and work physicals, gynecologic exams, birth control counseling, STD screening and treatment, allergy injections, flu shots, immunizations, TB testing, lab testing, and referrals. Physician assistants and nurses staff the center Monday through Friday.

Children's Enrichment Center

The Children's Enrichment Center enriches the lives of Grand Valley's youngest students. Located on West Campus Drive, the center serves young children 2 ½ to 12 years of age from the Allendale campus and the nearby community. The program is designed to help children nurture habits of intellectual growth, curiosity, and a love for learning. To learn more about enrollment or volunteer opportunities call (616) 331-KIDS (5437) or visit the website at www.gvsu.edu/child/. Hours are from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, year round.

Counseling Center

The staff of the Counseling and Career Development Center (CCDC) provides students with counseling on personal issues such as relationships, anxiety, depression, self-awareness, eating disorders, personal wellness, and substance abuse. The staff also works with students who have questions concerning future career direction including assessing career interests through testing, deciding on a major, exploring change of major, and gathering information on different careers. Counseling is provided to students using individual and/or group sessions at no cost to enrolled students. In addition, various seminars and workshops are offered each semester to help students make more effective decisions, develop better coping skills, and learn to handle the challenges associated with being students. Seminars and groups cover such topics as stress management, assertiveness training, relationship skills, finding a major, developing personal wellness, and building self-confidence. Seminars are held in the Counseling and Career Development Center in 204 Student Services building and in the Residence Hall - North C (please visit www.gvsu.edu/counsel for seminar topics and times). Staff members are available for appointments from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday at the Allendale Campus office. At the Pew Grand Rapids Campus, staff members are available from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Mondays and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays. Drop-in appointments are available from 10 a.m. till noon and 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Allendale Campus.

Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender (LGBT) Resource Center

The LGBT Resource Center works to create an inclusive environment for all students, faculty members, and staff members, and supports the educational achievement and personal growth of lesbian, gay, bisexual, questioning, and intersex students and their allies. To celebrate and support the diversity of Grand Valley State University, the LGBT Resource Center strives to provide resources, services, education, and leadership programs related to gender and sexuality. The center seeks to educate and involve anyone wishing to expand their knowledge about and/or advocate on behalf of the LGBT community. Offering a warm and welcoming environment, the LGBT Resource Center is committed to meeting the many needs of the diverse LGBT and allied community. The LGBT Resource Center is located in 1161 Kirkhof Center. Contact us by phone at (616) 331-2530, visit our website at www.gvsu.edu/lgbtrc, or email us at [email protected]/.

Office of Multicultural Affairs

The Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) is committed to building an inclusive campus that yields social harmony and learning vitality. Through our signature Professionals of Color Lecture Series and heritage cultural celebrations, OMA fosters an appreciation and respect for the history, tradition, and culture of different ethnic groups and empowers students to be active and engaged learners.

OMA is home to the four multicultural cohort programs: Multicultural Business Education Cohort (MBEC), Multicultural Higher Education Cohort (MHEC), Multicultural Science Education Cohort (MSEC), and Multicultural Teacher Education Cohort (MTEC). Students are selected to join one of four cohort programs designed to support academic majors in business, higher education, science, and teacher education. The cohort programs offer a learning community for freshman students to transition from high school to college, foster peer-to-peer support, and form networking connections. High-impact learning outcomes are integrated into programs' activities to offer an array of opportunities for students to develop lifelong skills that will benefit their lives and careers after college.

OMA administers two college-preparation programs - the Wade H. McCree Incentive Program and the King-Chavez-Parks GEAR UP/College Day program - to prepare underrepresented students in selected school districts for postsecondary education.

Visit the office at 1240 Kirkhof Center on the Allendale Campus or contact us at (616) 331-2177, email us at [email protected], or visit our website at www.gvsu.edu/oma/.

Veterans Network

The Veterans Network is a proven, decentralized approach to providing support services and resources to military veterans, Guard/Reservists, and family members. Additionally, the Veterans Network provides training for faculty members, staff members, and students; provides outreach with community and governmental agencies; coordinates events for military veterans; works closely with the Student Veterans of America organization; and maintains the website.

By identifying knowledgeable staff as veteran specialists in the most crucial student services areas, an effective support network for veterans has been established. Some of the departments comprising the network include admissions, advising, counseling, dean of students office, disability support resources, financial aid, records and registration, student accounts, and the Women's Center - to mention a few. The individual specialists within these areas are trained to understand and appreciate the unique circumstances of veterans, and are readily identifiable on the Veterans Network webpage along with contact information.
For more information, visit the Veterans Network website at www.gvsu.edu/veterans or call (616) 331-3327.

Women's Center

The mission of the Grand Valley Women's Center is to create meaningful learning about women and gender and to advocate for gender justice through the education, engagement, and empowerment of students and the greater Grand Valley community. The center creates an environment where students increase self-awareness, connect with resources, apply skills, conduct research, complete internships, and perform service learning around gender equality.

Here is a sampling of the many programs and services we provide:

Eyes Wide Open Peer Sexual Assault Education Group: An educational group that works to create a campus culture that prevents assaults from occurring, informs students about the available resources for survivors of sexual assault, and provides campus-wide programming to students, faculty members, and staff members.

Student Food Pantry: The Women's Center hosts the GVSU Student Food Pantry to meet the short-term challenges that students sometimes face when it comes to accessing food. The pantry is available to all students in need of these resources.

NIARA Mentoring Program: The purpose of the NIARA program is to help women students of color connect and build meaningful relationships with professional women of color to strengthen connections to the campus and the community at large, and to enrich their college experience.

Women's Community Collaborative: This for-credit course is a unique learning opportunity for students to combine an analytical experience with the practical field placement within a community agency that serves women and girls. This course is offered every winter semester.

Women's Issues Volunteer Corps: The Women's Issues Volunteer Corps is a service learning and volunteer placement program coordinated through the Women's Center with the mission of making a difference in the lives of women and girls through volunteer opportunities that pair education with activism.

The Women's Center is committed to creating an environment in which the diversity of all students is affirmed and appreciated. In response, programs and services are offered in a variety of formats and on many topics. In addition to programs and services, the Women's Center provides an area for people to relax in the lounge, complete academic work at study tables, seek resources from the information desk, host meetings, or check out books.

The Women's Center is located in 1201 Kirkhof Center. Telephone (616) 331-2748, visit the website at www.gvsu.edu/women_cen, or email [email protected]/.

Housing and Residence Life and Campus Dining

Although Grand Valley does not require on-campus residency for any classification of student, the university does consider residential living to be particularly beneficial in helping all students become oriented and adjusted to college life. A university staff member for each living center, together with student resident assistants, arrange educational, diversity, and recreational programs that serve to foster and maintain pleasant living and study conditions. Our full-time staff members work in conjunction with a graduate assistant and student resident assistants. Two students are assigned to a room and, whenever possible, students are allowed to choose their roommates. The traditional-style living centers accommodate approximately 900 freshman students. Traditional-style living centers accommodate two people per room with semiprivate bathrooms in the hallway for all floormates to access. Suite-style living centers accommodate 1,000 students. The centers are divided into suites consisting of two double rooms (for four students) and a shared bathroom. Apartment-style living centers provide two students with bedrooms, a private bathroom, and a small kitchen. There are approximately 1,000 apartment-style living center beds.

Room and board may be paid in full at the beginning of each semester or, for a service charge, in four installments. All room-and-board rates are subject to change by action of the Board of Trustees.

Admission to Grand Valley does not guarantee housing of any kind, and students must make their own arrangements by contacting the Office of Housing and Residence Life. This should be done immediately upon acceptance for admission as living centers are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications, contracts, and housing information are available at www.gvsu.edu/housing/. Approximately 3,000 spaces in the living centers are reserved for freshmen; the remaining spaces are available for upper-class students. All rooms are smoke-free.

Dining

Campus Dining offers meal plans to all Grand Valley students. There are three room-and-board plans for residents including 10 Plus, 14 Plus, and 19 Plus. Additional plans are available for students living on and off campus. Meals are served in Kleiner, Fresh Food Company, Fuel, River Landing, Engrained, and at the Plaza Café in the DeVos Center.
Kleiner:

• Marketplace: Flat Tops, Asian Kitchen, Montague's Deli, Pizza and Pasta
• C3 Convenience Store: snacks, produce, frozen foods, breads, health and beauty items. Late night meals available daily, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
• Java City: espresso, cappuccino, specialty coffee drinks, and blended drinks

Commons:

• Fresh Food Company, upper-level: a wide variety of entrée choices, from baked salmon and made-to-order pasta to steamed vegetables and Laker Bowls
• Einstein Bros. Bagels, upper-level: fresh baked bagels, gourmet breakfast sandwiches, and a very tempting lunch menu
• Fuel, lower-level: four stations, including Bleecker Street, Jump Asian Cuisine, Freshens Energy Zone, and Papa John's Express

Kirkhof Center:

• River Landing, lower-level: Crouton's, pizza and pastas, Zoca, Flat Tops, Subway, and Sushi
• The Lobby Shop, main level: featuring Java City Coffee and specialty drinks, Freshens Smoothie Co. and Convenience Store

The Connection:

• Engrained: a sustainably rich restaurant with a rotation of entrees, made-to-order salads, and deli
• P.O.D.: an integrated market and c-store with many quick-serve items and full coffee shop
• Papa John's Pizza: carryout or delivery, late night hours, convenient online ordering

Mackinac and AuSable Halls:

• C3 Express: freshly brewed coffee, beverages, fruits, snacks, fresh sandwiches, and many grab 'n' go options

DeVos Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus:

• Gazebo Market: salads, wraps, smoothies, sushi, snacks
• Plaza Café: Flat Tops, sushi, salad and soup
• Starbucks: salads, sandwiches, bakery items and coffee drinks

Meal plans and Dining Dollars are accepted at all Campus Dining locations including c-stores, coffee shops, restaurants, and C3 Express locations. For more details regarding Campus Dining, visit www.gvsufood.com/.

Apartments

Grand Valley has apartment living available on both our Allendale Campus and the Robert C. Pew Campus in Grand Rapids. The apartment complexes on the Allendale Campus provide housing for students who have completed at least one full year of living on campus or have earned a minimum of 30 semester hours. There are four-bedroom, two-bedroom, one-bedroom, and efficiency apartments. A university staff member living in the complex, together with graduate assistants and student resident assistants, arranges educational, diversity, and recreational programs that foster pleasant living and study conditions.

Our apartments range from town home communities to more traditional apartment living, each providing a community building or lounge/common area. Each apartment has a stove and refrigerator, beds, dresser, desks, chairs, and a sofa. Students provide other furnishings to suit their tastes. All apartments are smoke-free. Rent may be paid in full at the beginning of the semester or, for a service charge, spread out in four installments.

Apartments located on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus include one-, two-, three-, four-bedroom, and single/double efficiency units. Secchia Hall units are partially furnished with a couch and a chair. Winter Hall is fully furnished and offers an on-site fitness center. Students residing here may also select a meal plan at an additional cost.

Family housing is available for eligible students and requires a three semester contract/commitment. We offer two bedroom units on our Allendale Campus and limited availability in Secchia Hall's one-bedroom units. Furniture is not provided in family housing.

All of our units resemble privately developed apartments in every way, yet are conveniently located right on campus and offer support services that are highly beneficial to residents. Students must apply for housing each year. We accept applications daily and encourage any interested student to apply for housing. Applications and contracts are available online at www.gvsu.edu/housing/.

Housing Application Process

New students who want to live on campus should apply to the Office of Housing and Residence Life upon acceptance to Grand Valley. All first-year students are encouraged to apply before March 1 for the fall semester in which they plan to attend. Spaces are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. To be considered for on-campus residency, students must submit a housing application, contract, and $150 security deposit. Housing applications are accepted and encouraged at any time and are available at www.gvsu.edu/housing/.

Grand Valley offers housing options 12 months per year, with applications available for fall and winter, winter only, and spring/summer semesters. Specific building availability varies from fall/winter to summer semesters, though is offered on both campuses year-round. Residents may cancel their contract with written notice and will be charged according to our cancellation breakage schedule. This schedule is available online at our website.

Other Housing

Other living accommodations near the campus, including rooms, apartments, houses, and mobile homes are available at a wide variety of costs. Grand Valley does not involve itself in negotiations for off-campus rentals but does provide, solely as a service to students, a listing of available housing at www.gvsu.edu/housing/. The university will not knowingly list substandard housing but it does not inspect the units available, and students are advised to exercise normal caution in making rental agreements.

Department of Public Safety

The Department of Public Safety is a full-service law enforcement agency on the Allendale Campus. The department is charged with the responsibility of enforcing all state and local laws as well as university rules and regulations. Public safety officers have full police authority and are licensed by the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards. Allendale fire rescue provides campus with medical first aid support as well as fire response. The department maintains a Lost and Found Bureau and a Parking Violations Bureau and approves drivers for operating state vehicles. The department is located in the Service building at the north end of campus. Telephone (616) 331-3255.

Public Safety Liaison Committee

The Grand Valley State University Public Safety Liaison Committee is an oversight committee for the Grand Valley State University Department of Public Safety, created under the authority of Act 120 of the Public Acts of 1990 of the State of Michigan.

The primary function of the committee is to consider grievances by persons with complaints related to the Department of Public Safety and its personnel. The Public Safety Liaison Committee is comprised of individuals nominated and elected by faculty members, students, and staff members of Grand Valley as determined by the university president. The committee includes a minimum of two students, two members of faculty, and two members of staff who are neither members of faculty nor the Public Safety department. The director of Public Safety serves as an ex officio and nonvoting member. The committee encourages complainants to first attempt informal resolution of any dissatisfaction by working with the Grand Valley State University Department of Public Safety. For more information, please contact the Public Safety Liaison Committee at www.gvsu.edu/publicsafety/.

Parking

Approximately 8,100 parking spaces are available in 16 lots on the Allendale Campus and 3,000 spaces in 12 lots on the Robert C. Pew Grand Rapids Campus for students who wish to drive their cars to Grand Valley. Anyone wishing to park on Allendale or Pew campuses must have a parking permit. Permits for resident or commuting students can be ordered electronically at www.gvsu.edu/publicsafety/. The permit cost will be charged to the student's account.

Visitors to the Allendale Campus can obtain a free visitor permit from the Department of Public Safety office located in the service building on the north end of campus. When visiting the Pew Grand Rapids Campus, free visitor permits are available from the security office in the L.V. Eberhard Center. There is also metered parking available on both campuses.

Transportation Services

Transportation between, within, and around the Robert C. Pew Grand Rapids Campus and Allendale Campus is easy and convenient with the variety of shuttle service options available. Grand Valley State University offers five separate routes for students, faculty, and staff. All Grand Valley and Rapid routes are free to ride with your student or faculty/staff ID card. All Grand Valley routes are listed below. Please see other routes at www.ridetherapid.org/.

Campus Connector Route (Route 50)
The Campus Connector provides service between Allendale and Grand Rapids with runs Monday through Friday during fall, winter, spring, and summer semesters. The Campus Connector makes round trips from Pew Grand Rapids Campus to Russel H. Kirkhof Center on the Allendale Campus with stops along Lake Michigan Drive and at Mackinac Hall.

CHS Express Route (Route 51)
The CHS Express provides service between the main Campus Connector stop on Pew Grand Rapids Campus and Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences (CHS). The CHS Express runs Monday through Friday during fall, winter, spring, and summer semesters. Parking for all students attending class at Center for Health Sciences is located in Grand Valley's Seward parking ramp at the corner of Lake Michigan Drive and Seward Avenue on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus.

North Campus Apartment Shuttle (Route 37)
The North Campus Express provides service between a variety of private apartment complexes immediately adjacent to the northwest portion of the Allendale campus and Kirkhof Center. The North Campus Apartment Shuttle runs Monday through Friday during fall and winter semesters only.

South Apartment Shuttle (Route 48)
The South Campus Express provides service between a variety of private apartment complexes immediately adjacent to the southwest portion of the Allendale Campus and Kirkhof Center. The South Campus Apartment Shuttle runs Monday through Friday during fall and winter semesters only.

Weekend Connector (Route 50)
The Weekend Connector combines all four routes - Campus Connector, CHS Express, North Campus Express, and South Campus Express - into one continuous loop. It also provides service to the Rapid Transit Center for easy transfers to the Rapid system. The Weekend Connector runs Friday evening to Sunday evening each weekend during fall and winter semesters only.

Schedules and frequencies for all services are subject to change, so please review current schedules at www.gvsu.edu/transportation/. Please note that frequencies of service are reduced during spring/summer semesters and Grand Valley State University break periods. Questions about the shuttle bus services should be directed to the Robert C. Pew Grand Rapids Campus operations office at (616) 331-6700 or to [email protected]/.

ACES (Alcohol Campus Education Services)

Counseling and Career Development Center
Because dangerous drinking affects us all, ACES is devoted to promoting and developing opportunities for students to increase existing knowledge and skills necessary to make healthy choices regarding alcohol and other drugs.

ACES is a multicomponent and multidisciplined program housed in the Counseling and Career Development Center. It addresses the needs of individuals who want to be informed about the facts regarding alcohol, may themselves be struggling with alcohol or other drugs issues, or are concerned or impacted by someone else's behaviors and wish to help. The program has three main areas of focus: 1) prevention and education, 2) intervention, and 3) recovery.

Our staff provides prevention and educational presentations on campus to various groups and organizations. The presentations can be tailored to specific needs and may be requested by using the contact information listed below. We also facilitate the ACES Group, an educational session provided to students who have had their first alcohol offense and who are required to attend an educational group as a part of their sanction.

Students who are in need of substance abuse counseling, assessment, or have had two or more alcohol offenses may access counseling services at the Counseling and Career Development Center located in Student Services Building, Room 204 (616) 331-3266 www.gvsu.edu/counsel/. The Counseling Center has several staff members who specialize in outpatient substance abuse counseling. Counseling Center staff can provide referral information if more intensive services are deemed necessary. Counseling services are free for currently enrolled Grand Valley students, however, there is a fee for court-ordered evaluations (please contact the Counseling Center for the most current information).

The ACES office also coordinates on-campus 12-Step Meetings for students in recovery. These meetings are offered daily and are held at our office (10383 B 42nd Avenue). These groups are open to students, faculty, staff, and community members. The most current schedule can be found on our website www.gvsu.edu/aces/. We also keep a current listing of other local recovery services and agencies.

For more information, or to request a presentation, please contact us at (616) 331-2537 or at [email protected]/. You may also drop by our office at 10383 B 42nd Avenue, please see our website www.gvsu.edu/aces for current office hours.

Academic Support Services

College of Community and Public Service Advising Center

The College of Community and Public Service Advising Center provides advising assistance and information to current and prospective undergraduate students in the School of Criminal Justice (criminal justice and legal studies majors and minors); School of Public, Nonprofit, and Health Administration; School of Social Work; and the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management.

The advising process is a collaborative relationship where the student is encouraged and supported by the advisor as they develop the skills necessary to realize their goals and facilitate timely degree completion. Students should plan to meet with their academic advisor at least once per semester to review their academic plan.

Our Services

• Degree Planning - Advisors help students make informed choices about degree and graduation requirements. They can help clarify the curriculum, course content, and optimal course sequences. Advisors will enhance student awareness of diverse educational experiences to further enrich the academic plan.
• Goal Setting - Advisors can assist students with the clarification of career and life goals, development of decision-making skills, reinforcement of self-direction, and evaluation of student progress toward established goals.
• Outreach and Support - Advisors can assist students with academic support needs through individual sessions, group workshops, and connections with educational resources across the university.
• Policies and Procedures - Students are responsible for their role in the academic process and navigating the university system. Advisors can help clarify university policies and procedures to enhance the student's ability to participate in the academic process.
• Referrals - Advisors can refer students to faculty mentors, other campus services, and student success resources.

The advising center is located 218C DeVos Center. There is also a satellite office in Allendale. More information is available on the at www.gvsu.edu/ccpsadvising/. Contact the office by telephone at (616) 331-6890 or by email at [email protected] for hours of availability or to schedule an advising appointment.

The College of Education: Student Information and Services Center

The College of Education: Student Information and Services Center provides advising and
information that supports undergraduate and graduate students through a variety of transitions within
the College of Education.

The center provides centralized services for admitting students into the undergraduate and graduate schools of education; placing teacher assistants and student teachers in the field; providing informational advising at both the undergraduate and graduate levels; and teacher certification.

The College of Education: Student Information and Services Center is located at 101 Eberhard Center, (616) 331-6650.

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Academic Advising Center

The CLAS Academic Advising Center serves as a key resource for students pursuing majors and/or minors in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The goal is to complement faculty advising with professional advising services and serve students by:

• Providing initial academic advising through freshman and transfer orientation;
• Assisting in the development of an achievable academic plan;
• Disseminating Grand Valley policies and procedures as they pertain to degree completion in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences;
• Offering a central location for students seeking information on preprofessional programs such as premedical, predental, prepharmacy studies and many other postbaccalaureate programs;
• Assisting students interested in attaining teacher certification through the undergraduate programs or the graduate teacher certification program, as well as current teachers seeking an additional endorsement in a CLAS-related area;
• Providing support for nontraditional students and students returning to Grand Valley after an absence.

The CLAS Academic Advising Center's location is C-1-140 Mackinac Hall and can be reached by calling (616) 331-8585 or via email [email protected]/. Additional information can also be found on the center's website at www.gvsu.edu/clasadvising/.

Fred Meijer Center for Writing and Michigan Authors

The Writing Center offers free peer consulting services in writing for students enrolled in classes. The center provides weekly small group activities for Writing 098 students, assistance to Writing 150 students in computerized classrooms, occasional workshops as requested by faculty members, and a walk-in center available for students with papers in all Grand Valley classes, particularly Supplemental Writing Skills courses. Students who are writing papers for any course can stop by for a walk-in session to get detailed feedback on their work at any stage in the writing process. Writing Center services are provided at the Allendale Campus, Pew Grand Rapids Campus, and Meijer Campus in Holland. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/GVWritingCenter.

Math and Science Student Support (MS3)

Math and Science Student Support is an academic assistance and enrichment program offered in the Learning Center, located in room 399 of the Seymour and Esther Padnos Hall of Science. We offer academic support and problem-solving assistance for all students interested in the fields of mathematics and science. Our student facilitators, successful upper-level students in biology, chemistry, biomedical sciences, mathematics, and physics, assist students by forming study groups, providing problem-solving assistance, and connecting students to other appropriate support services on campus. The Learning Center provides an area for both group and independent studying. The goal of MS3 is to assist students in the transition to upper-level science and mathematics courses.

Structured Learning Assistance

Structured Learning Assistance (SLA) is an academic support program within science and mathematics that is attached to historically difficult courses. It is available to all interested students. SLA features weekly study and practice workshops in which students master course content to develop and apply specific learning strategies. The workshops are led by trained facilitators who develop the workshop materials in collaboration with faculty members. These sessions meet from one to three hours per week throughout the semester and are optional once the student achieves a grade of C or higher in the course. The additional hours are formally attached to the student's schedule and are offered at no additional charge. Additional information can be found at www.gvsu.edu/sla/.

Transitions Fall Orientation: Transitions is a four-day program for all first year students the weekend before school begins each fall. Transitions leaders are Grand Valley student leaders who facilitate Grand Valley traditions, academic sessions and campus knowledge to groups of first-year students. Through the program they participate in large and small groups to become acquainted with Grand Valley.

Business Advising: Seidman Undergraduate Student Services

The mission of Seidman Undergraduate Student Services is to facilitate business students' successful progress through graduation. This office provides all routine advising for program requirements and course sequencing for undergraduate business students. Students are encouraged to maintain contact with the office for support in meeting all graduation requirements. The office is located in 101B DeVos Center and can be contacted via email at [email protected] or by telephone at (616) 331-7500. Appointments and walk-ins are accepted at the Richard M. DeVos Center. Appointments are also offered in Allendale during the fall and winter semesters.

Padnos College of Engineering and Computing Advising: Undergraduate Student Services

The Seymour and Esther Padnos College of Engineering and Computing (PCEC) Student Services Center is available for incoming freshman and transfer students, and currently enrolled students. We offer academic advising services to those students interested in a major or minor in the fields of engineering, computer science, and information systems. You will find us at 315 KEN and C-2-218 MAK. For more information, call (616) 331-6025 or email [email protected]. Students admitted to the major have a faculty advisor assigned who may be contacted at one of the following locations:

School of Engineering: 136 KEN, (616) 331-6750, [email protected]

School of Computing and Information Systems: C-2-100 MAK, (616) 331-2060, [email protected]

Inclusion and Equity Division

The mission of the Inclusion and Equity Division is to provide leadership in the development and implementation of a university-wide integrated approach to enhancing diversity awareness and intercultural competency for students, faculty members, and staff members. The division is comprised of four functional areas.

Affirmative Action
Affirmative Action provides leadership to the campus for all facets of promoting and monitoring equal opportunity and affirmative action. It develops and monitors institutional goals and plans related to all equal opportunity compliance obligations of the university. The Affirmative Action office works with campus community to define connections between unit plans and affirmative action goals and provides guidance and monitors the hiring activities of the university to improve recruitment and retention of under-represented groups. The office is responsible for developing training and education programs on affirmative action and equal opportunity laws, policies, and procedures, as well as issues of sexual harassment and discrimination, and investigates and resolves discrimination complaints. It is also responsible for data analyses and reporting, ongoing communication, and updating of the university's Affirmative Action Plan.

Disability Support Resources
Grand Valley is committed to providing access to programs and facilities for all students, faculty members, and staff members. Grand Valley promotes the full inclusion of individuals with disabilities as part of our commitment to creating a diverse, intercultural community. It is the policy of Grand Valley to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other applicable federal and state laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability. Grand Valley will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The office is in 200 Student Services building and can be reached by calling (616) 331-2490.

Intercultural Training
Intercultural Training at Grand Valley State University is committed to creating a campus climate that is welcoming and inclusive. The office initiates, designs, delivers, and evaluates training and development programs related to enhancing diversity awareness and building intercultural competency skills. It supports colleagues and departments in learning to manage diversity by utilizing best practices that align values, guiding principles, and a commitment to equal opportunity. The office also fosters an environment for open communication through public opportunities to dialogue about race, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities, and other dimensions of diversity to promote understanding between cultures.

Inclusion Initiatives
Inclusion Initiatives works with colleges, departments/schools, and divisions to provide informational resources, consultation, and other support that help to enhance the university's inclusion work in various areas such as strategic plan implementation, program evaluation, pipeline, recruitment, and retention initiatives for faculty members, staff members, and students. In addition, it serves as a program liaison to the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Women's Center, and LGBT Resource Center.

Please visit www.gvsu.edu/inclusion for more details.