Incoming Student Information
This page includes information to help you prepare for your GVSU move in and welcome to the Honors family! Please read more to find a snapshot of what your incoming days to Grand Valley will look like. If you do not plan to participate in the Frederik Meijer Honors College, please let us know at [email protected]. If there are any questions regarding the process below please call our office at 616-331-3219 or email [email protected].
Move-In
All first-year Honors students living on campus in Fall 2026 are scheduled to move in on Wednesday, August 26. Honors mentors will be available on this day to aid with the move-in process. Find out more about the move-in process on the GVSU housing website linked here. Honors "Welcome Days" activities for first-year students begin the morning of Thursday, August 27.
What Is Welcome Days?
Welcome Days is a series of activities running on August 27th and 28th to help welcome incoming students into the Honors community. Events such as a campus wide scavenger hunt, tie dye, major mixers, and campus tours are designed to help acquaint students with the campus and their peers. New students will receive an Honors mentor, a current Honors student, to help guide them through these initial days. Incoming students should look for an email from their assigned peer mentor sometime in July. This email will include more details. In the meantime, call us at (616) 331-3219 or email us at [email protected] if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there separate Honors Orientation dates?
Yes. There are specific Orientation dates designated for Honors students, though attending a non-Honors date is an option if necessary. On the Honors specific dates an overnight orientation program is available to parents and students the night before - please see this great video about the overnight! These programs are designed not only to familiarize you with the Frederik Meijer Honors College, but also to give you the opportunity to meet other incoming freshman, current students, and faculty/staff.
Do I take only Honors College courses?
No. The Honors College courses comprise the general education component of your undergraduate curriculum. Therefore, you still take courses in your major, minor, and any other courses you choose. Here's a quick overview of the curriculum.
What is a first-year "sequence"?
The Honors curriculum at GVSU begins with a year-long grouping, or "sequence," of four integrated courses, two in the first semester and two in the second semester, that are team-taught by at least two faculty and that focus on a single interdisciplinary topic.
Do I have to take an Honors course every semester?
No. You do not have to be enrolled in an Honors course every semester to remain in the Frederik Meijer Honors College.
Do I need to live in Honors housing?
No. Honors housing is optional.
How do I apply for Honors housing?
You must submit the Grand Valley general housing application, the $150 housing deposit, and designate the University Honors housing as your first choice.
What are the advantages to Honors housing?
Whether you’re in Honors housing on the north side of campus in the Holton-Hooker Learning and Living Center, or on the south side in the Glenn A. Niemeyer building, residing in Honors allows you to be surrounded by like-minded students while simultaneously forming a strong sense of community. Living with other Honors students facilitates interactions and relationships between students that carry over into the classrooms, further enhancing students’ learning. Students can easily collaborate on course materials, have quick access to faculty and staff, and participate in other unique opportunities from the comforts of their buildings.
For specific housing details and the differences between our options please see our housing information page.