President Emeritus Arend D. Lubbers and retired Provost Glenn
Niemeyer reminisced about Grand Valley’s early history during a
lecture series for the 50th anniversary celebration.
About 70 people attended the “50th at Noon” lecture, held
October 13, at the Cook-DeWitt Center.
Lubbers said there were three important characteristics of the
founding of Grand Valley that made it unique. “Grand Rapids was the
most populous area in Michigan without indigenous, state-supported
education,” Lubbers said. “We were able to offer unique programs and a
more efficient and less-costly way to run an institution. These were
advantages not fully understood at the outset.”
Lubbers likened Grand Valley to an unexpected child born to
45-year-old parents after the other kids reached adulthood. “Just as
the infant does not comprehend what will happen in life, so the new
college did not know how profoundly these conditions would affect its
future.”
Lubbers said he received resistance for some of his actions over
the years like pushing for professional programs and making steep cuts
during the recession of the late 70s and early 80s. “Some faculty
wanted a vote of no confidence in the president, but the trustees and
faculty chair supported me,” Lubbers said.
Niemeyer said the early curriculum was founded on the liberal
arts. “There were nine courses offered in the first year and the
institution was on a term or quarter schedule,” Niemeyer explained.
“Students were expected to take three, five-credit courses each term.
Looking back, it was a fairly rigorous program of study for students.”
Niemeyer said they faced several challenges in the early years
like not meeting enrollment expectations because of a limited
curriculum and dispelling rumors that Grand Valley might be turned
into a prison.
“Things really started to change and the university started to
flourish after the reorganization in 1982,” he said. “The
reorganization signaled a new era for Grand Valley."
To hear their entire remarks visit www.gvsu.edu/anniversary/50th-at-noon-lectures-41.htm.
The next "50th at Noon" lecture is scheduled for
Wednesday, November 10, in the Cook-DeWitt Center with Joan Boand,
associate professor emerita of physical education, and James Scott,
associate professor of movement science. They will discuss the early
history of physical education and intercollegiate athletics at Grand Valley.
