2026-2027 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog [In Progress]
Undergraduate Information
- Academic Advising Centers/Offices
- Academic Success Resources
- Academic Standards and Other Services
- Undergraduate Academic Programs
Undergraduate Policies and Regulations
Refer to the General and Undergraduate sections of the Academic Policies and Regulations section of this catalog for Undergraduate Policies and Regulations.
Academic Advising and Student Instructional Support Information
Academic Advising Mission
Academic advising engages students in the process of exploring and defining their academic and career goals and in creating effective strategies to achieve these goals.
Through collaborative relationships with academic advisors, students are encouraged and supported as they develop the skills necessary to take responsibility for their own development and success.
Academic advisors educate students by providing accessible, accurate, and timely information regarding academic requirements, university resources, and opportunities to develop critical thinking skills and enrich the college experience and their personal lives.
Definition of Academic Advising
Academic advising is an integral part of a college education, establishing a collaborative relationship between students and their advisors to map out a meaningful and successful educational experience and help guide the students' paths to graduation and a career. Academic advising centers and offices are listed as follows.
Academic Advising Centers/Offices
Exploratory Study (Undecided) Advising
1138B ASH, (616) 331-8855, [email protected], gvsu.edu/exploratory
Exploratory advisors are available to help students who have not yet declared a major or are transitioning from one major to another. Advisors assist students with the process of choosing a major, monitor students' academic progress, and discuss other academically related concerns with students. Once students declare their major, they are referred to their major department for advising.
Contact information for academic advising centers and offices for each college are listed as follows and on the website at gvsu.edu/advising. Students interested in programs in a particular college can contact the advising center or office to learn more about specific programs or courses.
Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies - Brooks College Advising Center
260 LMH, (616) 331-8200, [email protected], gvsu.edu/brooksadvising
College of Computing - Computing Advising Center
B-3-241 MAK, (616) 331-2310, gvsu.edu/computing/advising
College of Education and Community Innovation - Office of Certification and Accreditation
401C DEV, (616) 331-6650, [email protected]
College of Education and Community Innovation - Undergraduate Advising Center
321C DEV, (616) 331-6890, [email protected]u, gvsu.edu/ceciadvising
College of Health Professions - Student Services Office
113 CHS, (616) 331-5900, [email protected], gvsu.edu/chpss
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences - Academic Advising Center
C-1-140 MAK and C-1-120 MAK, (616) 331-8585, [email protected], gvsu.edu/clasadvising
Kirkhof College of Nursing - Office of Student Services
DCIH 415, (616) 331-7160 or (800) 480-0406, [email protected]
gvsu.edu/kcon/oss
Seidman College of Business - Seidman Undergraduate Programs
1031 SCB, (616) 331-7500, [email protected]
gvsu.edu/seidman/undergraduateprograms
Seymour and Esther Padnos College of Engineering
Declared Major Advising (prior to secondary admission)
Advising Center
212 Innovation Design Center, (616) 331-6025, [email protected], gvsu.edu/pce/advising
Faculty Advising
College of Engineering
136 KEN, (616) 331-6750, [email protected]
Academic Coaching
200 Lubbers Student Services Center, (616) 331-3588, gvsu.edu/sasc
Individual academic coaching is available from both professional and peer coaches. Academic coaching sessions focus on topics, including general college learning strategies, test preparation and post-test reflection, organization and time management, note-taking, motivation, and goal setting. Academic coaches can assist students in identifying their academic challenges and develop a plan for improvement using campus resources for support. Group presentations about academic success topics are also available to help students improve their academic performance and confidence.
Student Accessibility Resources
215 The Blue Connection, (616) 331-2490, [email protected], gvsu.edu/dsr
Student Accessibility Resources (SAR) provides support services and accommodations that enhance the environment for persons with disabilities and helps educate the university community on disability issues. The office also provides access to programs and facilities for faculty members, staff members, and students. Grand Valley promotes the full inclusion of individuals with varying abilities as part of our commitment to creating a diverse, inclusive community. It is the policy of Grand Valley to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act as amended by the ADA Amendment Act (2008), 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 a documented disability upon request.
Laker Academic Success Center
B061 Fieldhouse, (616) 331-5272, gvsu.edu/lakeracademiccenter
The Laker Academic Success Center academic advisors provide one-on-one academic advising and support to student athletes. Students maintain a regular schedule of appointments to help with academic success and ensure athletic eligibility.
Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship
230 Mary Idema Pew Library, (616) 331-8100, gvsu.edu/ours
The Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship (OURS) offers a variety of opportunities and resources for undergraduates to pursue creative practice, scholarship, and research in various disciplines under the direction of a faculty mentor. These intensive opportunities enrich students' academic experiences and challenge them to strengthen their critical thinking, problem-solving, analytical, and writing skills. OURS provides support to undergraduate students and faculty through programs such as the Academic Conference Fund, the GVSU McNair Scholars program, the Student Summer Scholars program, and Student Scholars Day, to name a few. More information about OURS programs can be found on our websites: gvsu.edu/ours/mcnair, gvsu.edu/ours/ssp, and gvsu.edu/ours/ssd.
Oliver Wilson Scholars Program
1240 Kirkhof Center, (616) 331-5200, [email protected], gvsu.edu/ows
The Oliver Wilson Scholars Program is a comprehensive academic support program for students who have demonstrated a strong potential to be successful at Grand Valley. The program provides multidimensional student support that can be broken down into two components: academic support and personal development.
Student Academic Success Center (SASC)
200 Lubbers Student Services Center, (616) 331-3588, gvsu.edu/sasc
The Student Academic Success Center is committed to helping students reach their academic and personal goals. We foster student development and academic success by providing support resources for students to assist them in achieving their educational goals. Programs include academic coaching and academic skills workshops.
McNair Scholars Program
200 Lubbers Student Services Center, (616) 331-2668, gvsu.edu/mcnair
The GVSU McNair Scholars Program provides support to first-generation students with significant financial need or members of racial and ethnic groups that are traditionally underrepresented in careers that require a Ph.D.
TRIO Student Support Services (SSS)
200 Lubbers Student Services Center, (616) 331-3401, gvsu.edu/sss
TRIO Student Support Services provides academic advising, study skills instruction, and career planning to first-generation, financially eligible college students at Grand Valley.
TRIO Student Support Services STEM - Health Sciences
200 Lubbers Student Services Center, (616) 331-5430, gvsu.edu/triostem
TRIO STEM advisors provide specialized services developed to support first-generation, financially eligible college students in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and health sciences.
Academic Success Resources
Support Services and Programs
Tutoring
Knowledge Market gvsu.edu/library/km/
The Knowledge Market has highly trained peer consultants and tutors who can help students improve their academic skills. Consultants and tutors work one-on-one with individuals and small student groups to explain course content, develop research strategies, improve writing, and polish presentations. All consultants and tutors are trained in helping students learn reading and study strategies. Mae up of the Tutoring and Reading Center, Library Research Center, Writing Center, Speech Lab, and Digital Creator Lab, Knowledge Market services are available at both the Valley and City campuses, and online at the Knowledge Market Website.
Tutoring and Reading Center gvsu.edu/tutoring
The Tutoring and Reading Center at Grand Valley State University provides individual and small group peer tutoring at no additional cost to students. Subject-specific, in-depth tutoring is provided for many 100- and 200-level courses and a select number of upper-level courses. Tutoring sessions are 50-minutes in length and encourage student success by providing a collaborative learning environment in which students can ask questions, clarify material, and benefit from course-appropriate learning strategies shared by students who have successfully completed the course and undergone extensive training in tutoring best practices. Students can make a tutoring appointment in Navigate. Links and more information can be found on the tutoring website.
Drop-in Tutoring
Unscheduled drop-in tutoring is offered in discipline-specific centers across GVSU campuses. Drop-in centers provide peer and faculty support for students in a model that is best suited for homework assistance and quick help. For up-to-date hours and locations, check each center's website.
Engineering Student Success Center
Seidman College of Business Tutoring Lab
Structured Learning Assistance (SLA)
SLA is a form of peer-led supplemental instruction available in some challenging courses at GVSU. Supplemental instruction is a format of peer-led instruction and tutoring that focuses on collaboration, group learning, and interaction to help students succeed in historically difficult courses. In their SLA and PASS sessions, students are provided with course-specific learning and study strategies like notetaking, test-taking, reading skills, and more, while also engaging in structured review and study time with a group of their peers.
Students who enroll in SLA courses will also enroll in a required additional weekly study session with their classmates lead by a peer facilitator. There is no additional charge for this session. The goal of our SLA programs is to help students build foundational knowledge and skills that will improve their course performance and help retain them through graduation.
Assistance can be found within the Tutoring and Reading Center. For more information and a list of SLA courses, visit the Tutoring and Reading Center website.
Library Research Center gvsu.edu/library/km/library-research-center-11.htm
The Library Research Center is a peer service providing library research assistance for all students at the university. Research consultants help students select research topics, find quality information, read and evaluate sources, create annotated bibliographies and literature reviews, and cite research. The Library Research Center is part of the Knowledge Market in the Mary Idema Pew and Steelcase Libraries and also offers online consultations. Students can drop in for help or make appointments on the Library Research Center website.
Fred Meijer Center for Writing and Michigan Authors gvsu.edu/wc
The Fred Meijer Center for Writing and Michigan Authors provides all university writers with the resources and services they may need to meet their writing goals. Students, faculty, and staff can receive feedback on any writing project, at any stage of the writing process. The center's well-trained peer consultants can hep brainstorm ideas, organize content, integrate research, and/or polish a draft. The goal of these writing consultations is to help writers help themselves - not just with that single piece of writing, but also to become better writers overall. Appointment bookings and information regarding Writing Center services can be found online at the Writing Center website.
Speech Lab gvsu.edu/speechlab
The GVSU Speech Lab is a peer-to-peer communication center that helps students with all elements of oral presentations including, but not limited to overcoming speech anxiety, organizing presentations, oral citations, and practicing delivery. Speech consultants consist of students from a wide variety of majors. All consultants have completed a rigorous semester-long training program certified by the National Association of Communication Centers, meaning students are given the same consistent service no matter who they work with. The GVSU Speech Lab is one of only 18 communication centers with a nationally certified training program. To learn more and make an appointment, visit the Speech Lab Website.
Digital Creator Lab www.gvsu.edu/dcl
The Digital Creator Lab provides support to students working on digital projects. Located in the Mary Idema Pew and Steelcase Libraries, students can get help from peer consultants, use podcast booths to record audio, check out equipment for media projects, and access Adobe Creative Cloud. Tutorials and more information can be found on the Digital Creator Lab website.
Academic Standards and Other Services
Student Academic Success Center
200 Lubbers Student Services Center, (616) 331-3588
Academic Review Committee
Review appeals of the withdrawal deadline, Petition to Return, and Academic Forgiveness process.
Credit Overload Appeals
Review appeals to enroll in more than 20 credits in a semester.
Academic Forgiveness
Review appeals for Academic Forgiveness from undergraduate students who wish to change or have already changed to a different major.
Emergency Notification
It is the responsibility of students to notify their professors of attendance issues. The SASC will email students' professors in cases of extended illness, death, family emergencies, etc. This process does not excuse students from classes, but serves as an official notification to professors. Students are responsible for making arrangements with professors about missed work.
Residency Waiver Requests
Review appeals to take a course or courses at another institution during the final 30 semester hours of a student's degree program; 18 of the last 30 credits of a student's degree program must be completed at GVSU.
Undergraduate Academic Programs
Grand Valley State University has more than 300 areas of study, 107 undergraduate degrees, and 44 graduate degrees.