The Academic and Student Affairs Division consists of ten academic units
(College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Seidman College of Business,
College of Community & Public Service, College of Education, Padnos
College of Engineering & Computing, College of Health Professions,
Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies, Kirkhof College of Nursing,
Graduate School, University Libraries), and Academic & Student
Support functions (including Student Services, Office of the Vice
Provost for Health, Pew Faculty Teaching & Learning Center, Center
for Scholarly & Creative Excellence, Art Gallery & Collections).
Led by the Provost and supporting staff, the Division prides itself on
having disciplinary programs built upon the foundations of a liberal
education tradition, and is widely recognized for its ability to develop
necessary talent and leadership for the next generation and prepare all
students to contribute productively to their professions and societies.
The Division demonstrates its success in developing and supporting
inclusivity and diversity, productivity, efficiency, and sustainability.
The Office of the Provost is committed to strategic planning, high
impact learning experiences, innovative scholarship, and purposeful
academic service to the community. Our work encompasses faculty and
staff personnel concerns, budgeting, resource development, and faculty
governance. Our role is to support teaching, scholarship, and public
service through increasingly high quality, relevant curricula in a
challenging, intellectual environment at both the undergraduate and
graduate levels. Our goal is to encourage and sustain an environment of
creativity, rigor, support, and openness that aids faculty, students,
and the wider community in our search for knowledge.
This Strategic Plan represents the direction and focus of the Division,
through the lens of the Office of the Provost. The role of the Office of
the Provost is to provide the structure, support and resources needed to
accomplish the outcomes and strategic priorities of the Division. This
plan provides the focus and framework for the Division's work
through 2021.
Mission
The Division of Academic and Student Affairs fosters a vibrant
intellectual community to create and deliver exceptional academic and
co-curricular programs and services. The work of the Division
encourages and supports students, faculty and staff toward achievement
of their educational and professional goals, through robust planning,
assessment and improvement processes.
Vision
Embracing liberal education traditions as foundational to all academic
programs, the Division of Academic and Student Affairs will be
increasingly recognized for its ability to develop the essential talent
and leadership for the next generation and prepare all students to
contribute meaningfully to their professions and societies.
Value Statement
We value excellence in teaching and learning in all undergraduate and
graduate programs.
We believe the principles and practices of a liberal education provide a
sound foundation for the institutions academic programs.
We are committed to a student-centered, rigorous learning environment
that integrates disciplinary, interdisciplinary, and co-curricular programs.
We value the use of high impact educational practices that demonstrate
the relevance of liberal education and prepare students with essential
skills for their lives after graduation.
We believe ethically-grounded scholarship in all of its forms
contributes to the development and application of knowledge, creates a
dynamic environment for learning, and enriches the world and the lives
of its citizens.
We believe that innovation in teaching, learning and scholarship
produces meaningful educational experiences and is critical to the
growth and development of the University.
We value internal and external service that enriches the intellectual
culture of the University and its communities.
We value and invest in economic, social, environmental and cultural
initiatives and collaborations that have the potential to benefit our
institution, our region and state, our nation, and the world.
We believe that a diverse faculty, staff and student body; inclusive
programming and curricula; and a welcoming, respectful, and accessible
environment are fundamental components of a quality educational
experience and vibrant campus community.
We believe collaborative leadership through shared governance is central
to the success of the University.
We believe in responsive leadership, with clarity and transparency in
processes and communication.
We believe that strategic planning and purposeful assessment and
evaluation of programs and processes are essential to the
University's viability.
Strategic Priorities, outcomes, and key objectives
Strategic Priority Area 1: Actively engage learners at all levels.
Outcome A: Grand Valley's learning environment is personal, challenging, and transformational, supporting excellent academic programs and co-curricular opportunities.
Outcome B: Grand Valley is diverse and inclusive.
Outcome C: Grand Valley has mutually beneficial relationships, partnerships, collaborations, and connections with local, state, national, and world communities.
Outcome D: Grand Valley supports innovative teaching, learning, integrative scholarly and creative activity, and the use of new technologies.
Strategic Priority Area 2: Further develop exceptional personnel.
Outcome A: Grand Valley's learning environment is personal, challenging, and transformational, supporting excellent academic programs and co-curricular opportunities.
Outcome D: Grand Valley supports innovative teaching, learning, integrative scholarly and creative activity, and the use of new technologies.
Outcome E: Grand Valley strategically allocates its fiscal, human, and other institutional resources.
Strategic Priority Area 3: Ensure the alignment of institutional structures and functions.
Outcome B: Grand Valley is diverse and inclusive.
Outcome C: Grand Valley has mutually beneficial relationships, partnerships, collaborations, and connections with local, state, national, and world communities.
Outcome D: Grand Valley supports innovative teaching, learning, integrative scholarly and creative activity, and the use of new technologies.
Outcome E: Grand Valley strategically allocates its fiscal, human, and other institutional resources.
Strategic Priority Area 4: Enhance the institution's image and reputation.
Outcome A: Grand Valley's learning environment is personal, challenging, and transformational, supporting excellent academic programs and co-curricular opportunities.
Outcome C: Grand Valley has mutually beneficial relationships, partnerships, collaborations, and connections with local, state, national, and world communities.
Outcome E: Grand Valley strategically allocates its fiscal, human, and other institutional resources.