Official Retiree Perks
As an official retiree of Grand Valley State University, you remain an important part of the Laker community. Your years of service helped shape GVSU into what it is today, and we are proud to continue supporting you in retirement.
Community Engagement
Even in retirement, there are many ways to stay connected, engaged, and involved with the Grand Valley State University community.
Explore opportunities and events including:
Tuition
As an official GVSU retiree, you are eligible to take classes at no cost.
Step 1: Apply for Admissions to GVSU
Step 2: Register for classes through the Record's office.
Step 3: Complete the tuition form and email that to [email protected].
Note: When choosing the correct tuition form, please select "Tuition Waiver for Faculty and Staff" and ignore the Supervisor signature.
You do not need to get prior approval from a supervisor as an official retiree.
Parking Permits Available for Official Retirees
Faculty/Staff who have officially retired from GVSU are eligible for a GVRP parking permit. This permit is valid for four years. It is the responsibility of the retiree to renew their permit with Parking Services.
Obtaining a Retiree Permit
Retirees may request a GVRP permit through the Parking Portal. Permits are valid for four years and must be renewed once they expire.
Parking Updates
These permits are virtual and linked to a vehicle's license plate rather than a physical sticker. Existing stickers will continue to work in Allendale during the transition period, but retirees visiting Grand Rapids campuses will need to have their license plate registered with Parking Services to access applicable parking areas. Due to these updates, retirees can park in any Faculty/Staff and student commuter lot except DeVos Lot.
ID Cards - Official Retirees & Emeritus Faculty
Get your Grand Valley Retiree ID Card
Official Retirees and Emeritus faculty can receive an ID card through the Registrar's Office located in the Student Services building on the Allendale Campus or 115C DeVos on the Pew Campus. This can be obtained 2-4 weeks prior to your official retirement date. Contact the Registrar's Office at (616) 331-3327 to schedule a time to get your photo taken. If you have an ID card and have misplaced it, you may also contact the Registrar's Office to receive another one.
Using your official Retiree ID card, you can:
- Check out books and utilize Library Services.
- Receive free access to Campus Bus Transportation.
- Receive free access to the Recreation & Wellness Center.
If you have any questions about these services, please contact the appropriate department directly, such as the Library, Recreation & Wellness Center, or Campus Transportation Services.
contact the Registrar's office to schedule an appointment
Athletic and Recreation Facilities Access
Retirees are entitled to a free membership to GVSU Athletic and Recreation facilities. HR will verify your eligibility before processing the membership. Your spouse can be added to the membership for $25/year. Retirees must be listed on GVSU's official retiree roster managed by Human Resources.
Library Access
With your official GVSU Retiree ID, you are eligible to check out any items from any physical GVSU library location. In order to continue accessing online library resources, please contact Information Technology for a username & password, as well as Multi-Factor authentication access.
IT Services
As a GVSU retiree, you are able to access the IT Helpdesk for all of your technology-related questions.
For more information regarding Retiree Account Changes, please visit Information Technology's Knowledge Base article.
Call the Helpdesk: (616) 331-2101
Visit the Information Technology website.
Microsoft Outlook Adjustment
Going forward, retirees can access their Outlook email by going directly to outlook.com.
We understand that some retirees have previously used the desktop application for Outlook, and that this change may be an adjustment. If any retirees need help accessing or using the web-based applications, they can reach out to IT Services at 616-331-2101 or email [email protected] for assistance.
Encompass
Encompass, GVSU's assistance program, is available to Official Retirees to help you with the transition to retirement.
Encompass offers up to 7 free counseling sessions, and financial and legal services that are free and confidential. You can also order a free copy of the book “How to Retire Happy” by contacting Encompass at 1-800-788-8630.
Contact Encompass at 1-800-788-8630 to schedule an appointment.
Athletics Discounts
As an official GVSU Retiree, you retain the same athletic discounts available to you as a Faculty/Staff Member. Please sign into the Ticket System using single-sign on with your GVSU email. The discounts will be marked as Faculty & Staff.