The Division of Student Affairs

When students experience a sense of belonging, are supported in overcoming challenges, and receive holistic support, they are better positioned to learn, develop, and persist during their college experience. For some students, it begins with attending campus traditions and joining a student organization, and for others, it begins by meeting others who share their identities, experiences, or interests. During the 2025-2026 academic year, the GVSU Division of Student Affairs provided a variety of meaningful opportunities and engaged with thousands of students in exploring identity, finding community, and developing a stronger sense of belonging at GVSU.  

The Office of Student Life’s (OSL) Campus Activities Board (CAB) alone hosted 110 events and engaged more than 14,900 students through their programs, and Housing and Residence Life (HRL) provided a residential experience to 5,935 students, engaging them through 600 programs and daily community-building, contributing to a 91.6% fall to winter retention rate. 

OSL also created opportunities for students to connect, belong, engage, and lead through student organizations, fraternity and sorority life, civic engagement, and leadership experiences. 375 Registered Student Organizations were active in 2025-26, engaging 8,917 unique students. Fraternity and sorority members achieved an 88.6% retention rate, highlighting the positive role that meaningful community and involvement play in supporting student persistence and success. Student engagement was supported through the coordination of nearly 9,000 Kirkhof Center room reservations including 4,300 student organization reservations, providing the infrastructure that made campus involvement possible. Students also became connected with the local community through 37,986 hours of community engagement, generating an estimated $1.37 million in economic value while strengthening partnerships with nonprofit organizations and addressing community needs. 

Collaboration was essential to the success of Student Affairs programming. Under the leadership of Student Affairs Marketing and Office of Student Life, 13 departments across campus collaborated to bring the reimagined inaugural Laker Kickoff to life. Driven by student feedback, evidence-based practice, and a reevaluation of use of funds, a shift from a traditional Convocation ceremony to an even more engaging, celebratory, and student-centered experience was executed in the fall of 2025. By incorporating interactive elements and prioritizing meaningful engagement, the new approach ensured that students felt welcomed, supported, and prepared for their university journey in a way that resonated with their needs and expectations. The event received positive feedback from both students and staff. Attendance, as compared to Convocation in prior years, was at an all-time high with ~4,000+ students attending the welcome program in the stadium. Anecdotal feedback from leadership, staff, and students described it as the most vibrant fall campus kickoff in years.  

By forging new partnerships with academic departments, domestic violence agencies, community health organizations, and women of color-owned businesses, the Center for Women and Gender Equity (CWGE) programming engaged with over 1,500 Lakers and promoted intersectional understanding, gender equity, and self-advocacy. 90% of students who participated in CWGE programs reported an increased understanding of issues that impact women and other marginalized communities. A variety of impactful cultural celebrations and identity-based programming engaged with nearly 14,000 students throughout the year and strengthened community and cultural pride. The Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) hosted 10,382 attendees during 104 campus-wide programs throughout the year. One of OMA's most impactful programs, the Family Reunion, served as the kick-off for the Black Excellence program. Hosted in collaboration with the Black Faculty and Staff Association, the event provided students the opportunity to meet Black faculty and staff members at the university, making meaningful cultural connections. Later in the year, OMA's Spring Pow Wow saw a record-breaking 700 attendees!

Education and awareness remained one of the Rainbow Resource Center’s (RRC) strongest areas of impact, as the center welcomed 233 new student visitors during the academic year. The RRC expanded opportunities for learning and dialogue through Local Pride outreach, which engaged nearly 2,000 unique people. 23 LGBTQIA+ Foundations trainings and Open Door Discussions were hosted and offered expanded dialogue-based curriculum. The RRC maintained a 98% positive peer feedback from LGBTQIA+ Foundations participants, and throughout the 105 Open Door Discussion evaluations, 96.66% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that they increased awareness of perspectives different from their own. Together, these efforts helped students, faculty, staff, and community members build shared language, deepen their understanding of LGBTQIA+ histories and identities, and connect learning to action.

Students learned of these opportunities, through 35 issues of the Laker Weekly student newsletter, informing students about the variety of events and campus resources available to them throughout the year. Additionally, these efforts were supported by and communicated through various channels provided by the division’s student-powered marketing and creative services teams including: graphic design, photo, video, and campus posting. Not only did these services positively impact student engagement, but they also provided nearly 40 student employees hands-on and highly specialized real-world experience, preparing them for their future careers. 

These collective efforts impacted each student’s experience of campus life. From programming in the living centers, to student organizations, to identity-based communities and cultural programs, Student Affairs helped students make connections and develop a sense of belonging that supports success and persistence.