Dear Colleagues: 

Over the past seven weeks, the Academic Affairs Future Design Task Force has been engaged in thoughtful conversations about Grand Valley's future. I want to share an update on the task force's progress and the important work taking place. 

The task force began with a shared commitment to GVSU's future, and also with uncertainty about the work ahead. Entry and exit tickets from the first meeting reflected excitement, cautious optimism, and difficult questions: What problem are we solving? How much must we save? What futures might we imagine and build towards? Can this process build trust while protecting the quality of a Grand Valley education? Even then, the priorities were clear: put students first, reduce barriers to success, support collaboration, and make the reasoning behind recommendations transparent. 

In weeks two and three, those aspirations met the complexity of our current structure and the financial realities facing GVSU and higher education more broadly. Members identified silos, redundancies, and confusing pathways, while also recognizing the expertise, sense of belonging and institutional knowledge embedded in existing colleges and units. Learning about one another through a college "gallery walk" helped members move beyond their own perspectives, identify possible connections, and ask more specific questions about the evidence needed to make responsible recommendations. 

Weeks four and five moved the task force toward exploring possible designs and testing them against the student experience. Creating hypothetical models opened possibilities but also sharpened attention to what changes in structure could unintentionally affect: disciplinary identity, liberal education, interdisciplinary work, and less-visible labor. Student navigation became a more concrete design test, bringing advising, clear and flexible pathways, equitable support, and cross-college coordination into sharper focus. During this time the task force launched 14 listening sessions across campus to gather input in addition to the ideas being shared through the Provost’s Office website form. The task force also welcomed guests to discuss successes and pain points in their areas of Academic Affairs. 

By weeks six and seven, members were discussing more tangible opportunities: shared resources, cross-disciplinary teaching, clearer pathways, and stronger connections among programs. They were also naming tradeoffs more openly and recognizing where additional expertise was needed, particularly around advising. Colleagues with expertise in student advising joined the conversations to help members better understand the complexities of this important work. 

The task force's confidence has not risen in a straight line. Concerns about time, communication, voice, and identity remain. The entry and exit tickets nevertheless show progress: members have moved from asking what this work means to examining what opportunities our different choices could make possible and what impacts must be understood before recommending change. 

With recommendations due to me in December, the task force is preparing to conclude its information-gathering phase and turn its attention to deliberation and developing possible models. Three listening sessions remain, and the feedback form will close at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, November 2. I encourage members of the university community who have not yet shared their perspectives to participate in a remaining listening session or submit feedback before the form closes. 

The task force is not a decision-making body. Its role is to explore possibilities and develop recommendations for consideration. I appreciate the thoughtful and creative approach members have brought to this work, and I thank everyone across the university who has contributed to these conversations. Your engagement is helping us consider what the future of higher education and student success could look like at Grand Valley. 

Jen

The Future Design Task Force (FDTF), created to provide proposals for future designs of the Academic Affairs division, is entering a key input phase, and invites your participation.  

Faculty and Staff perspective is particularly important in the development of the FDTF recommendations to the Provost. The leadership of the group has already reached out to schedule conversations and input sessions with representative bodies including the University Academic Senate and other governance committees. They invite all colleagues in the Academic Affairs Division to participate in two ways:

1. Provide insights and suggestions on the Future Design Task Force website.
2. Register for and attend one of several campus conversations by responding here.

The FDTF campus conversations will be guided sessions, and the facilitators plan to use these and other questions: 

• What institutional strengths, academic functions, or governance practices must be protected in any future academic affairs design?
• What changes could produce meaningful recurring savings without weakening program quality, student support, or the university’s capacity to innovate?
• Where does the current structure create unnecessary complexity, duplication, unclear accountability, or barriers to student success and interdisciplinary collaboration?
• Where do current structures, processes, handoffs, systems, or communication practices create duplication, delay, confusion, or unnecessary work?
• Where could work be better coordinated, standardized, or shared while retaining the local knowledge and relationships necessary for effective service? 

By the end of the Fall semester, the Task Force will provide recommendations to the Provost. The Task Force does not have authority to implement changes or make decisions; it will provide recommendations on future organizational and administrative structures. Collectively, they will determine next steps through normal governance and decision-making processes. 

Thank you in advance for your participation, input, and ideas.

Mark Schaub & Adrienne Wallace, FDTF Co-Chairs

At the college start-up meetings, I shared some of the ways we are working together to position Academic Affairs for a strong and sustainable future. Our work is grounded in Grand Valley's mission, vision and values, Reach Higher Together and the Academic Affairs Strategic Framework, and in our shared commitment to providing a high-quality Grand Valley education for generations to come. 

As part of that work, I am pleased to announce the Academic Affairs Future Design Task Force, a six-month effort bringing faculty, staff, academic leaders, and representatives of faculty governance together to consider how the academic infrastructure of our programs, units, and colleges can best position Academic Affairs for the years ahead. 

The task force will be co-chaired by Mark Schaub, Dean of Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies, and Adrienne Wallace, Professor of Communications and Chair of the CLAS Faculty Council. I will participate as an ex-officio and active member of the group. 

The task force will consider an academic structure that supports student belonging and academic success; strengthens interdisciplinary collaboration, experiential learning, teaching, and research; builds upon our disciplinary strengths; enhances delivery of our academic portfolio; and creates greater organizational and financial sustainability. 

There are several clear parameters for the work. The task force will examine models at other institutions as well as imagine new models and possible futures. The resulting structure will not add colleges beyond our current eight degree conferring colleges. Finally, the recommendations must produce meaningful cost savings that contribute to long-term sustainability. 

The task force begins its work in September with research and exploration before developing potential options. There will be opportunities for faculty, staff, and students to participate in conversations and provide feedback as the work progresses. 

You can learn more about the task force, see its membership, and follow updates on its work on the Office of the Provost website: https://www.gvsu.edu/provost/academicaffairsfuturedesigntaskforce. 

This is an opportunity for us to think intentionally about what should endure and what should evolve, and how we can best position Academic Affairs to fulfill Grand Valley's mission to serve our students, the region, and the state of Michigan. I am grateful to the task force members for taking on this important work, and I encourage you to follow the process and participate as opportunities for engagement are announced.