October 17, 2023 (Volume 47, Number 4)
President Philomena V. Mantella, third from right, and other leaders from REP4 are pictured on the Boise State Broncos football field.
President Philomena V. Mantella and other leaders from the REP4 Alliance met in Boise, Idaho, in late September to discuss how to empower even more students.
REP4, which stands for Rapid Education Prototyping for Change, Learners, Community, Equity, is a national alliance founded by GVSU and other universities. It's designed to empower students from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines to take their education into their own hands.
Since its inception in 2021, REP4 programs have engaged more than 850 learners, giving many students an introduction to higher education that they may not have received before.
“We're taking the hard path of transforming organizations, and enabling others to see what we have of value that we can contribute,” Mantella said. “I've never been in a place with a community that starts in a messy space, invites others in, and adapts it in their own institution in just a couple of years."
This article was last edited on October 13, 2023 at 3:48 p.m.
Participants spent 10 weeks in an accelerator program offered by the DeVos Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, in partnership with GVSU's Northern Michigan Region.
Featured
July 14, 2026 (Volume 49, Number 19)
Article by
Shannon Owen
The vice president for Enrollment Development and College Futures discusses the successful launch of "The Pathways Project Podcast."
July 14, 2026 (Volume 49, Number 19)
Messages during the keynote presentations and breakout sessions focused on authentic communication and practical ways to tell the GVSU story.
July 14, 2026 (Volume 49, Number 19)
Article by
Michele Coffill
