Veteran-Inclusive Campus Community
By supporting the Peter Secchia Military and Veterans Program , your gifts will help Grand Valley take our standing as one of the top veteran-friendly universities and expand it to be the top veteran-inclusive community. Our veterans deserve the best we can offer and thanks to the generosity of donors like you, we can take our excellence in this area to a new level. Learn more about our veterans programming .
How We Create A Veteran Inclusive Campus Community
GVSU believes diversity is about individuals contributing their unique experiences, backgrounds, and ideas. While most universities know the cultural and competitive advantages of a diverse and inclusive campus, many aren’t prepared to successfully attract, educate, and graduate veterans.
GVSU values and considers the spectrum of skills, experiences, and perspectives that veterans bring to our campus and we're committed to and proud of our efforts to help service members and their families successfully transition from military service to graduation and beyond. Here are some initiatives that demonstrate what being a veteran-inclusive university looks like in practice to GVSU:
Two dedicated veterans' lounges — Whether at our main campus in Allendale or at the downtown Grand Rapids campus, veterans have new, dedicated spaces for them to study, eat, and connect. Our downtown campus lounge is designed especially to be family-friendly.
The GVSU Veteran Promise — We were the first (and so far, only) university in the country to guarantee enrollment to high school seniors who serve their country.
LEADS for Vets accelerated bachelor’s program — A fast-paced, online program designed specifically for career veterans who are looking to jump-start their second careers.
PAVE Peer Mentoring Program — You are not alone as a student veteran at Grand Valley. Each “new” veteran is assigned an established student veteran who serves as both an advisor and a listening ear.
MINGSTAP deferment plan — Allows Michigan Army National Guard 60 days after the semester ends to pay tuition.
Deployment support — If you’re deployed while attending GVSU, we’ll work with you either to create a plan to continue your studies while you serve, or give you a full tuition refund.
Faculty and staff training —Our veteran-specific training capitalizes on our campus diversity, purposefully embracing inclusion, and empowering all faculty, staff, and students to perform to their highest potential.
Plus, all the things that most of the other universities do — Waive application fees, provide in-state tuition regardless of where you live, offer priority registration, participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program, federal and state tuition assistance programs, and more.