The $15,000 scholarship will be awarded in the academic year that you are selected for the program. You will receive $7500 in the fall semester and $7500 in the winter semester. If you would like to defer one of those awards to the spring/summer semester, you will have to contact Jenna Poll in the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships. Exceptions may be made depending on the other financial aid you may be receiving.

Speak with your academic advisor to determine how the addition of the certificate course fits with your graduation plan. Add the certificate to your record in MyBanner. Request an override for the course you intend to register for. Typically courses are online, 6-week accelerated courses offered through our LEADS program. If your override is not granted and you need help enrolling in these courses, Reach out to Anna Krystiniak ([email protected]) or Kate VanDerKolk ([email protected]) in the Center for Adult and Continuing Studies.

The academic course structure may vary depending on the certification program. Please check with the Assistant Director of the CLAS Center for Experiential Learning if you have any questions. In general: 

• Project Management Courses - only available through LEADS (Lifelong Educational Attainment for Determined Students) (6-week accelerated format)
• Applied Data Analytics - a few courses are only available through LEADS

The rest of the certification courses are available in a traditional semester-long format. Please contact your Academic Advisor for specifics and to create an academic schedule.

While considering Talent Link, it is important to talk with your academic advisor about the course structure to understand whether certificate courses are online, traditional, or a mix. The courses offered through LEADS are offered fully online, in six-week accelerated formats. 

The Laker Accelerated Talent Link Program is a year-long commitment. As a Talent Link Scholar, you agree to attend a monthly cohort meeting (Tuesday nights) and layer on a technical certification which may include 3-6 academic courses. The internship will average 20 hours per week with a preference for those students able to provide a large block of time to the employer (I.e. two full days or multiple half days). 

To be eligible for the full scholarship amount as a Talent Link Scholar, you need to be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student at GVSU. If you are enrolled part-time, the employer-sponsored scholarship will be adjusted.