GVSU team to participate in AAC&U institute

May 17, 2022 (Volume 45, Number 17)
Article by Peg West

students sitting on ledges near Zumberge Pond, one bicyclist in background; pride flags in background on Kirkhof Center office

Grand Valley is one of 41 institutions nationwide selected to participate in the 2022 Institute on High-Impact Practices and Student Success.

Photo Credit: Amanda Pitts

A team from Grand Valley, led by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, will participate in an institute conducted by the American Association of Colleges and Universities that is focused on student success through active teaching and learning practices.

Grand Valley is one of 41 institutions nationwide selected to participate in the 2022 Institute on High-Impact Practices and Student Success, AAC&U recently announced. The virtual institute will be held in June.

“The AAC&U Institute on High-Impact Practices and Student Success provides an unparalleled opportunity for colleges and universities to become more intentional in serving all their students and to improve both completion rates and the quality of student learning,” said Lynn Pasquerella, AAC&U president. “We look forward to partnering with the participating institutions and to supporting their student success efforts.”

Those participating in the institute will work with leading educators and practitioners on efforts to implement educational change with a focus on designing equity-centered practices and plans, according to the AAC&U.

Members of the Grand Valley team are Jennifer Drake, CLAS dean; Donovan Anderson, associate CLAS dean; George McBane, associate CLAS dean; Susan Mendoza, director for the Center of Undergraduate Scholar Engagement; Len O'Kelly, associate director of the School of Communications; Kris Pachla, director of the Regional Math and Science Center and Robert Talbert, professor of mathematics and a presidential fellow for the advancement of learning.

“The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is committed to the success of all students, and we aim to deliver an empowered educational experience shaped by equitable access to high-impact practices, experiential learning, and multidisciplinary collaboration," Drake said. "We are proud to represent Grand Valley at the AAC&U Institute for High-Impact Practices and Student Success.”