Our Mission & Values
Mission
To empower and support students to pursue their overall well-being by providing impactful experiences to build community, develop life skills, discover passions, and have fun.
Vision
The GVSU community will be involved, active, and well.
Recreation & Wellness is part of the Division of Student Affairs at GVSU. Our offices are located in the Recreation Center on the Allendale campus. Make your time at Grand Valley healthy, fun, and memorable by taking advantage of a wide variety of recreational, wellness, competitive, and educational resources that support your physical and mental well-being.
Our Values
WELL-BEING | We promote health, support personal development and advance a culture of well-being
INNOVATION | We welcome new ideas and embrace changes to enhance the student experience
IMPACTFUL EXPERIENCES | We create intentional, meaningful experiences that lead to lifelong learning. Everything we do has a purpose.
COMMUNITY | We provide enjoyable and safe experiences that encourage connection and belonging.
INCLUSION | We are committed to creating experiences that are accessible, adaptive and welcoming for everyone. We will celebrate and respect the diversity of every person.
Strategic Plan & Outcomes
Student Centered Outcomes (SCO) Assessment
Recreation & Wellness is committed to continuous improvement. Learn more about our student centered outcomes by accessing the report below.
Strategic Plan Reporting
Wondering how Recreation & Wellness is doing related to our Strategic Plan? Learn more by accessing our report.
Accessibility Information
Recreation & Wellness strives to make its programs and services accessible to all participants. If you have questions or would like to or receive additional information about accessibility, please contact us.
For additional information or if you have questions, need assistance, or an accommodation, please call us at 331-3659 or email at [email protected] at least 2 days in advance so arrangements can be made in a timely manner.
Recreation & Wellness schedules, programs and services are subject to change due to academic classes, special events, maintenance projects, staff availability, attendance, and University breaks.
Affirmative Action Statement
Grand Valley State University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution. It encourages diversity and provides equal opportunity in education, employment, all of its programs, and the use of its facilities. It is committed to protecting the constitutional and statutory civil rights of persons connected with the university
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Recreation & Wellness use Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to understand and measure success towards achieving goals. These are intended to be easily understood and directly connected to strategic goals, and meant to measure both efficiency and effectiveness. Below is a list of current departmental KPIs:
Key Performance Indicators
- Number of Internships/Practicums
- 2021-2022: 18
- Customer Satisfaction
- 2021-2022: TBD
- % of students who identify as African American, Hispanic, Native
American, Asian, Pacific Islander
- 2021-2022: 18.5%
- % of Pell-eligible participants
- 2021-2022: 28.6%
- Total Student Employees
- 2021-2022: 105
- GPA of participants
- 2021-2022: 3.2
- Retention Rate of FTIAC Participants @ GVSU
- 2021-2022: TBD
- First Year Fall to Fall retention % of Participants
- 2021-2022: TBD
- Total Group Exercise Passes and Participations
- 2021-2022: TBD
- Total Training Services Appointments (UFit and Personal Training)
- 2021-2022: TBD
- % of FTIAC’s participating in programs/services
- 2021-2022: 6.5% (Fitness), 2.1% (Wellness)
- % of Pell Eligible Students Participating
- 2021-2022: 27.4% (Fitness), 29.3% (Wellness)
- # of Student Wellness Outreach events and participants
- 2021-2022: TBD
- % of students who identify as African American, Hispanic, Native
American, Asian, Pacific Islander
- 2021-2022: 16.8% (Fitness), 21.8% (Wellness)
- Total Outdoor Adventure program and Climbing Center participants
- 2021-2022: 1,250
- Total Gear Rentals
- 2021-2022: TBD
- % of FTIAC’s participating in programs/services
- 2021-2022: 8.8%
- % of Pell Eligible Students Participating
- 2021-2022: 25.1%
- % of students who identify as African American, Hispanic, Native
American, Asian, Pacific Islander
- 2021-2022: 15.5%
- Total Club Sport Participants
- 2021-2022: 1,220
- Total Esports Participants
- 2021-2022: 260
- Total Intramural Sports Participants
- 2021-2022: 2,568
- % of FTIAC’s participating in programs/services
- 2021: 10.1% (Club Sports), 2% (Esports), 16.8% (Intramural Sports)
- % of Pell Eligible Students Participating
- 2021-2022: 21.6% (Club Sports), 23.8% (Esports), 22.9% (Intramural Sports)
- % of students who identify as African American, Hispanic, Native
American, Asian, Pacific Islander
- 2021-2022: 13% (Club Sports), 22.7% (Esports), 13.7% (Intramural Sports)
The Value of Recreation
Powering Student Development
NIRSA states it best: "Recreation programs and services enhance the student experience in many different ways and evidence continues to demonstrate the degree to which various forms of recreation influence multiple, student-related outcomes".
Academic Success

Diversity & Inclusion

Engagement/Belonging

Mental Well-Being

Physical Health

Leadership Development

Recruitment/Retention

Promoting Student Wellness
"Collegiate recreation plays a key role in integrating health and wellbeing within the campus culture." Plus, there's "credible evidence to support the impact of collegiate recreation on student recruitment, retention, health, and wellbeing, as well as student learning outcomes and post-graduation employment success."
Our focus on student wellbeing continues to be an important part of Recreation & Wellness' mission. We're looking forward to connecting students with valuable resources, helping students navigate all aspects of wellbeing, and continuing to enhance the student experience at GVSU.
Learn more about Recreation & Wellness' impact on health & wellbeing through NIRSA.