Dear Lakers,

I hope your summer is full of moments of rest, relaxation and spending time with those closest to you. While campus life may feel quieter during these months, we continue to move full speed ahead with our vision to continue making a bold impact on the future, for both our learners and our region.

At the heart of that vision is our continued building and shaping of the Blue Dot ecosystem, an initiative that will transform Grand Valley into a regional center of innovation and technology. This includes the Blue Dot Lab, which will be the future home of our College of Computing and cross-university interdisciplinary collaborations that will serve not only as a hub for cutting-edge learning but also foster dynamic partnerships to support industry leaders, start-ups and nonprofits as new opportunities emerge with the tech/AI revolution.

This summer, as we head toward a target of breaking ground in the spring, planning and development for Blue Dot continues on both the physical structure and the impactful collaborations that will take place. More than a building, college or program, Blue Dot represents the importance that the digital world will play in every facet of our lives. By embedding digital literacy in every academic discipline and by bringing together the community, industry, faculty and students, Blue Dot will create a learning environment where innovation and creativity will flourish to help create the future. 

In a world defined by rapid change, we are embracing this opportunity to ensure our graduates and our community are poised to lead. Thank you for your support. We look forward to having you continue with us as we move forward together. 

Philomena Mantella, President, Grand Valley State University