Updated September 25

Winter 2021 Academic Calendar
For the Winter 2021 semester, classes will begin Tuesday, January 19, the day after the Martin Luther King Jr. commemoration. Spring break has been eliminated and the semester will end on May 1. This results in a 15-week semester, consistent with past semesters; instructional time is unchanged. The operational continuity of the university also remains unchanged – university offices will be open beginning Monday, January 4 as normal.

COVID-19 Data Dashboard and "Staying in Place" order
The number of positive cases of COVID-19 within our community continues to decline, as do active cases. For a full look at our data, see the university dashboard. We are a week into Ottawa County’s two-week “Staying in Place” order affecting the Allendale Campus, which is scheduled to lift October 1. We thank all who are following the additional requirements of the order, including wearing face coverings outside. We battle this contagious virus together.

Random and Selected testing
The Virus Action Team is overseeing a variety of testing plans for the GVSU community, including randomized and selected testing. The purpose of randomized testing is to estimate the true prevalence of the virus in our community, as well as to support those who test positive.

• Selected testing looks at high-risk groups more closely. Groups targeted include instructors teaching on-campus courses, public-facing staff members, senior leadership, on-campus residents and off-campus residents in complexes with increasing positive tests. 
• Each week, about 4,000 members of the community are invited to test. If you are invited, please make every effort to schedule a test and get it done. The testing times are flexible to accommodate a variety of schedules. Cooperation with testing and tracing plays an enormous role in mitigating the spread of the virus.
• Exceptions: Individuals who have symptoms or who have been exposed to someone who has tested positive are asked not to participate in the random/selected testing, but instead, schedule their tests through Spectrum Health by logging into MyChart or calling the GVSU Spectrum Health COVID Resource Center at 833-734-0020.  

Students who complete their self-assessment every day, including weekends, for the rest of the semester will earn $200 toward the Winter 2021 semester. Students who will be graduating after the Fall semester will be rewarded for this semester in January 2021.  In order to qualify for the incentive, students must complete their self-assessment at least 80 times, beginning September 18. For answers to other questions, please visit the self-assessment incentive site.

A reminder for those in isolation or quarantine: You will be released from isolation or quarantine via an email, phone call, or text from the county health department, which is the only entity that can release you from quarantine or isolation. Once you have received notification of release, please remember to update your status on your Grand Valley online self-assessment.

The Lakers Together call center (616) 331-INFO (4636) continues to operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Personal health concerns should be directed to the GVSU/Spectrum 24-hour call center at (833) 734-0020. Other questions can also be directed to virusactionteam@gvsu.edu.

More Information about Ottawa County's Stay In Place Order

Self-Assessment

Creating a safer environment is a shared responsibility among all who come to GVSU and its off-campus partners. The university is encouraging personal responsibility by providing education, supplies, and resources to assist individuals in following public health guidance and university policy.  As part of our work toward a safe environment, a web-based self-assessment (accessed by phone, tablet or computer) is available for faculty, staff and students. 

• Due to an executive order from Gov. Whitmer (EO 2020-161), employees must complete a self-assessment on any day they are working on campus.
• Students coming to campus for class or work must complete a self-assessment before coming to campus.
• While not required, it is expected that all members of the GVSU community will complete the self-assessment daily to support efforts to protect the health of the community. It is strongly suggested that the self-assessment be completed before noon.

The daily self-assessment is simple and quick to complete. The self-assessment is the primary means for us to collect daily information – including weekends – about how the virus is affecting the GVSU community, minimize its spread, promote public health and make sound decisions.

Learn how to create an easy-to-use bookmark for the self-assessment on your smartphone.

Self-Assessment

Lakers Together Handbook

Grand Valley has developed a handbook, “Lakers Together Protecting Each Other.” This handbook contains all the decisions we have made to date, and we will update the information as decisions are made and requirements change.

Lakers Together Handbook

Students need your help more now than ever. Please consider a gift to the Student Support Fund.