GLEE Academy
Global Learning through Engineering Experience (GLEE) Academy for International Students & Early-Career Professionals
The Padnos College of Engineering invites you to an on-campus, two-week, residential summer program for international undergraduate students and early-career professionals (graduated within the last 3 years) in engineering, STEM, or business fields. A hands-on, design & build, project-based learning experience, paired with cultural exploration and community engagement.
Dates have been finalized so mark your calendars for 21st June, 2027 - 2nd July, 2027! We will start accepting applications in September 2026 so stay tuned!
Scenes from GLEE Academy 2026
Check out the daily blogs from 2026 to see what the academy participants did!
Program Highlights
You will:
- Work in teams to solve real-world challenges in emerging areas like sustainability and healthcare technology.
- Have the opportunity for technical upskilling in embedded programming, solid modeling, and advanced manufacturing.
- Engage with local industry & community via industry and museum tours, cultural exploration, guest speakers, and a final showcase of projects.
- Network with domestic students and faculty, fostering intercultural friendships and building networks.
- Explore Graduate Education options at GVSU since all participants will
- Earn a GVSU Graduate Badge in Design Thinking (anticipated May 2026),
- Earn graduate credit towards the Masters of Science in Engineering degree via Prior Learning Assessment (1 credit), and
- Be eligible for full Graduate Assistantship positions to pursue an MSE degree at GVSU - 2 GAs will be reserved for eligible summer camp participants.
Program Goals
This comprehensive program provides a valuable opportunity for undergraduate engineering students to gain meaningful experience, develop essential skills, and prepare for future success in a supportive and stimulating environment.
Upon completion of the program, students will:
- Gain practical experience and deepen their knowledge about the engineering design process.
- Develop valuable transferable skills crucial for academic and professional success.
- Build a strong network of peers, mentors, and professionals.
- Enhance their understanding of design methodology and ethical practices.
- Make informed decisions about their post-graduation plans, whether pursuing further education or entering the workforce.
Program Logistics
Dates: 21st June, 2027 - 2nd July, 2027
Eligibility: Open to international undergraduate students (engineering, STEM, or business) and early-career professionals who have graduated within the last 3 years. This is a hands-on engineering design experience — no prior engineering coursework is required, but a genuine interest in building, prototyping, and problem-solving is expected.
Program Fee: After March 1st 2027, $2,200/student. Early bird registration: $2,000/student (before 3/1/27, 5:00 pm).
- To be paid within a week of admission to the program. Refundable (minus CC transaction fees) with proof of visa rejection.
- Includes room and board, tuition and supplies, cultural and educational trips, letter of invitation, final reception, and graduation.
- Rooms are double occupancy in a university dormitory.
- Airfare, and the visa application fee are NOT covered in the program fee.
Application: Complete the online application form and send supporting documentation via email to [email protected]. Also include a copy of your passport so a custom letter of invitation can be sent if you are accepted to the program.
- Current students: unofficial transcripts and institutional bona fide certificate.
- Early-career professionals (graduated within the last 3 years): proof of degree completion (diploma or final transcript) and a brief statement of interest.
We will start accepting applications in September 2026 so stay tuned!
GLEE Academy FAQ
No. GLEE Academy is designed to be accessible regardless of your prior technical experience. Business majors, other STEM students, and early-career professionals are welcome — our workshops (CAD, embedded programming, manufacturing, etc.) start from foundational skills. What matters most is curiosity and willingness to engage in hands-on, team-based design work.
You may be living in dorms in the Valley campus or City campus. Click on the links to see room layouts.
Rooms on the City campus are apartment style to accommodate 2, 3, or 4 students. Each apartment includes a kitchenette with refrigerator and stovetop, and a bathroom.
Rooms on the Valley campus are traditional, double occupancy with a community bathroom for that "true" American college experience.
Your program fees ($2,000/person) will cover
- tuition and supplies,
- room and board including on-campus breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and a linen package
- industry and cultural excursions
- campus buses from the Valley to the City campus each day
Costs not included are
- Airfare
- Visa application fees
- Taxi to and from GRR airport (~ $45 - $55 for an UBER Comfort ride)
- Personal expenditure (souvenirs, additional excursions)
GVSU campus is cashless for the following reasons:
- Improve speed of student and guest transactions
- Improve safety of students and employees
- Reduce contact
- Improve accountability and internal control
- Improved security over transactions
We accept the following forms of payment: Credit Card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Tap-and-Go.
If a student or guest only has cash, they can visit one of our Cash to Card Kiosk ATM kiosks to convert cash to a prepaid card. Cards can be used anywhere that Visa and MasterCard are accepted!
Cash to Card Kiosk ATM kiosk locations are located within:
- Kirkhof Center (South Entrance)
- Laker Market Place (Main Entrance)
- Devos Center Bld. C (Outside “U” Club Room)
There is no fee to convert your cash to a prepaid card at a kiosk on campus. GVSU does not assess any fees. However, an Anti-Money Laundering Fee will be applied to a card after 92 days with no activity.
Each prepaid card can be loaded up to $500.00 USD. Prepaid cards are not reloadable after the initial transaction.
We highly recommend new students fly into Grand Rapids airport: Gerald R. Ford International, code GRR. Flying into a larger airport such as Chicago or Detroit and then taking public transportation is not recommended.
The Grand Rapids airport is small with a helpful information desk, only 5 baggage carousels, and taxi services on-site.
We highly recommend purchasing Travel Insurance.
Suggested Airport Transportation Options
- a local taxi company such as Metro Cab (616) 827-6500 or Yellow Cab (616) 459-4646 (cost varies, review cash and card options)
- a transport app such as Uber or Lyft (cost varies - need to download in advance, review cash and card options)
- A trusted local resource V's Anytime chauffeur service LLC, 616-406-9664
Buses and trains are not an option from the Grand Rapids airport. Please be prepared by booking your transportation to your accommodation in advance or waiting for a taxi upon arrival.
We will hold an informational session via zoom on Friday, October 30th, 2026 at 8:00 am EDT to answer any questions regarding travel to campus and the program. The zoom link will be sent to all applicants - application site will be live in September 2026.
An Onboarding zoom session will be held on Tuesday, June 1st, 2027 at 8:00 am EDT for all campers. Zoom link will be sent to all accepted students.
For any other information, reach out to Dr Samhita Rhodes ([email protected]).
2026 GLEE Academy Schedule
|
Day & Date |
Activity |
|---|---|
|
Sunday, 6/21 |
Arrival and Check-in, housing assigned on Valley Campus 4:00 pm Valley Campus tour |
|
Monday 6/22 |
9:00 am - 11:30 am Project Introduction, Team building, Empathize (Prof. Christopher) 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm Workshop on Network Traffic Analysis (Dr. Vijay Bhuse) 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Laboratory skills - Soldering and Intro to CAD (Ryan Aldridge) |
|
Tuesday 6/23 |
9:00 am - 11:30 am Project Define (Prof. Christopher) 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm Workshop on C Programming for Embedded Systems (Prof. Kamphuis) 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Industry Visit - Atomic Objects |
|
Wednesday 6/24 |
9:00 am - 11:30 am Project Ideate (Prof. Christopher) 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm Lunch and learn about Entrepreneurship with Shiva Sundaram, industry mentor 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Additive Manufacturing Workshop (Dr. Abishek Kamaraj) |
|
Thursday 6/25 |
9:00 am - 2:00 pm Project Prototype (Prof. Christopher) 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Industry Visit - Stryker Medical |
|
Friday 6/26 |
9:00 am - 11:30 am Project build (Dr. Rhodes) 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm Workshop on motors and pulse-width modulation (Ryan Aldridge) 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Industry visit - BAMF |
|
Saturday 6/27 and Sunday, 6/28 |
Cultural Experience - Visit to Henry Ford Museum, Greenfield Village, and Detroit. Visit to Grand Haven and Lake Michigan |
|
Monday, 6/29 |
9:00 am - 11:30 am Workshop on Prototyping and Manufacturing (Ryan Aldridge) 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm Lunch and Design Reviews with faculty from the Product Design and Manufacturing department 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Workshop on the Wind Tunnel (Dr. Sanjivan Manoharan) |
|
Tuesday, 6/30 |
9:00 am - 11:30 am Final Prototype Team build time (Prof. Christopher) 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm Lunch and learn about Professional Development - resume writing, interview skills etc (Rachel Brecklin from Career Services) 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Industry visit - Array of Engineers |
|
Wednesday, 7/1 |
10:00 am - noon: Final Project Showcase Noon - 1:30 pm Award ceremony and Lunch |
|
Tuesday, 7/2 |
Check-out |