WE BELIEVE EXPERIENCE CAN BE THE BEST WAY TO LEARN.
Whether working on a faculty member’s research project or developing an independent project guided by a professor, Grand Valley students have opportunities to engage in original, hands-on research and scholarship in a variety of disciplines from art history to zoology. While faculty/student research opportunities are usually reserved for graduate students at other universities, Grand Valley puts an emphasis on undergraduate research, better positioning our students for admission to top graduate schools and successful careers.
REAL RESEARCH. REAL WORLD LEARNING. REAL IMPACT.
Experience Matters At GVSU.
We believe that experience can be the best teacher. And because learning doesn't stop when you graduate and get a job, those who know how to continue to learn and solve problems are most likely to thrive professionally and personally. At Grand Valley, experience is part of the curriculum. From the theoretical to the practical, our faculty members work with you to ensure you get a broad range of experiences in the classroom, in the lab, in faculty-led or guided research, and in internships. It's no wonder why more than 500 companies come to our campus every year to recruit our graduates -- they know our graduates have the experience they need to hit the ground running and the discipline and curiosity to continue to learn and grow throughout their careers.
Watch GVSU students, alums, and faculty members talk about how GVSU's real-world learning experiences prepare grads to hit the ground running.
500+
STUDENT RESEARCH PROJECTS PRESENTED EACH YEAR AT STUDENT SCHOLARS DAY
25%
OF STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP WITH FACULTY MEMBERS
8,200+
STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING EACH YEAR
FROM CO-OP TO CAREER
Experiential Learning Opens Doors
When it comes to more career opportunities and long-term success, experience is a competitive advantage. At Grand Valley, that means plenty of chances for co-ops, internships, study abroad, collaborative student/faculty member research, and other experiential learning opportunities. In 2017-2018, more than 8,200 students participated in internships, co-ops, and other experiential learning programs and Grand Valley ranks 10th nationally in study abroad participation. That's a lot of students getting their foot in the door of a career before they even step on stage to get their diplomas.
Grant Borregard chose Grand Valley largely because of the opportunity to expand his learning through the School of Engineering’s co-op program. Watch his interview here.
THINK BIGGER
Bigger Than Your Job. Bigger Than Yourself.
One result of the Laker Effect is being ready and able to tackle challenges and make meaningful contributions. At Grand Valley you'll learn to look outward, focusing on others instead of just yourself. You'll learn how to make a lasting difference. And then you'll put it all into practice and realize that while having a positive impact on the greater good is rewarding in and of itself, the chance to lead the good life you've personally and professionally always hoped for is pretty great too.
Doing the kind of research generally reserved for graduate students at other universities, Gloire Rubambiza developed algorithms to improve internet traffic as an undergraduate at Grand Valley. He expects that experience to give him an advantage in graduate school. Watch Gloire's interview here.