New Web tool aimed at student success

A new Web-based tool aimed at helping connect students to the help they need to succeed at Grand Valley will be launched September 14.

The service is called MAP-Works — “MAP” stands for Making Achievement Possible. Students in their first or second year at Grand Valley (either first-time students or transfers) will recieve an invitation to participate in MAP-Works on September 14. They will be directed to a Web-based questionnaire about their college expectations and experiences that takes around 15 minutes to complete. The service will then generate a personalized report showing how the student compares to other Grand Valley students. It will also direct the participant to campus resources tailored to his or her personal situation.

MAP-Works was developed at Ball State University and has been in use for more than 20 years. It is now in place nationally at about 140 institutions to help academic advisors and student affairs professionals identify students at retention risk earlier than traditional benchmark points such as midterm or semester grades.

The form must be completed by September 28. For more information, visit www.gvsu.edu/mapworks.