We prepare students to become active, global citizens who are committed to a life of community engagement and democratic participation.
The CSLC is now accepting applications for the Laker Active Citizen Award and the Community Impact Award!
Click here to start your application
(Organizations)
These awards are for individuals and student organizations who have been examples of active citizens and are committed to a life of community engagement and impactful partnership and will be presented during the Student Life Awards Ceremony on April 12th. The Laker Active Citizen Award is for individuals and the Community Impact Award is for groups or organizations. Along with your application, please submit a letter of support from a community partner.
If you would like to nominate someone for this award, please email the CSLC at service@gvsu.edu and tell us why you think they should receive this award.
Applications close March 31, 2019
Click here to start your application
(Individuals)
Listen to our new student-led podcast: "Be the Change"
Every student at Grand Valley deserves to have their voice heard! This new student-led podcast will explore civic engagement and how students are using their voices to make change at GVSU and beyond.
Do you have a topic that you're passionate about and want discussed on our podcast? Submit your idea on Laker Link here.
If you have any questions, please contact Jane Johnston at johnstj3@mail.gvsu.edu.
Left: Jane Johnston, a student at GVSU. Right: Renee Montaigne, of NPR.
- EPISODE ONE: "What do Community and Democratic Engagement Mean?!"
- Guests: Melissa Baker-Boosamra (Associate Director of Student Life, Civic Engagement & Assessment) and Liz Collver (Assistant Director for Student Life, Civic Engagement)
- EPISODE TWO: "The Role Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Play in Education"
- Guests: Dr. Brandy Lovelady Mitchell (Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Kent ISD); Eric-John Szczepeniak (GVSU Student Senator and Kenowa Hills School Board member); and Jessica Jennrich (Director of the Center for Women and Gender Equity)
- EPISODE THREE: "In Conversation with Renee Montagne"
- Guests: Renee Montagne (NPR Host)
2nd Annual Michigan Student Voting Summit
Campus Vote Project, in collaboration with Grand Valley State University and the University of Michigan Ginsberg Center, are excited to host our 2nd Annual Michigan Student Voting Summit on May 10, 2019!
This year, Grand Valley State University will host this dynamic, statewide summit, providing an opportunity to reflect on campus democratic engagement efforts of 2018, gain practical knowledge on how to institutionalize voter engagement efforts and strengthen the network of students, faculty and staff across Michigan campuses—as we work toward an amplified student voice in the electorate!
Join us and RSVP here: http://bit.ly/MIsummit2019
Submit a proposal to give a presentation here: https://docs.google.com/forms
- Suggested topics include:
- Voter engagement/education/turnout efforts
- Building coalitions
- Advocacy
- Student government
- Bridging the partisan gap on campuses
- Student activism/organizing
Date: May 10, 2019
Time: 9:00am-4:00pm EST
Location: Grand Valley State University
L.V. Eberhard Center, 301 West Fulton, Grand Rapids, MI, 49504
Upcoming Events
Michigan Blood Drive
March 26, 2019 11:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Grand Valley State University has developed a partnership with Michigan Blood to host blood drives at GVSU campus locations! Michigan Blood Drives will be from 11:30am-6pm, ...
Michigan Blood Drive
March 27, 2019 11:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Grand Valley State University has developed a partnership with Michigan Blood to host blood drives at GVSU campus locations! Michigan Blood Drives will be from 11:30am-6pm, the...
Democracy 101: An Interactive Presidential Experience
March 27, 2019 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Come out for a game night with your friends! Eat some pizza and challenge yourself to see how "civically savvy" you are. You will compete with others as the "President" for...
Voter Registration at GVSU
March 28, 2019 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Join us by the Clock Tower on March 28 to register to vote, apply for an absentee ballot, or take care of any other Secretary of State business!
Community Outreach Day of Service
March 30, 2019 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Are you looking for ways to get more involved? Do you need more service hours or Lib 100/201 hours? Community Outreach Day of Service is a LIB 100/201 approved campus wide day of service sponsored...
Michigan Blood Drive
April 9, 2019 11:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Grand Valley State University has developed a partnership with Michigan Blood to host blood drives at GVSU campus locations! Michigan Blood Indoor Drives will be from 11:30 am- 5:30...
GVSU is a Voter Friendly Campus!
Grand Valley State University has been selected as one of 83 universities in the country to receive a Voter Friendly Campus designation.
The Voter Friendly Campus designation program was started through the partnership of Campus Vote Project and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) in 2016. The goal of the program is to help institutions develop plans to coordinate administrators, faculty, and student organizations in civic and electoral engagement. The Voter Friendly Campus designation helps administrators develop a strategy to engage students and set clear goals so a path can be created in advance of upcoming elections. These activities can be institutionalized for years to come, keeping students engaged as they enter, and move through their time at school.
Grand Valley State University is one of only 3 institutions in Michigan to receive the designation.
To learn more about the current Voter Friendly Campus program, visit www.voterfriendlycampus.org.
The Community Service Learning Center is a part of the Office of Student Life, which is a department of the Division of Student Services of Grand Valley State University.