2000s
2000
Enrollment 18,579.
August 24
Richard M. DeVos Center, Steelcase Library, Beckering Family
Carillon Tower dedicated as part of expansion of Grand Rapids campus,
named in honor of Robert C. Pew, former chairman of Steelcase, Inc.
President Arend D. Lubbers announces his retirement. President of GVSU since 1968, he was the longest serving president of a public university in the nation.
Fred M. Keller Engineering Laboratories building dedicated on Pew campus.
New Alumni House and Visitor Center on Allendale campus is dedicated.
Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies founded.
2001
April 19
Hail to the Chief, a tribute to retiring President Don Lubbers
organized by Grand Valley students.
May 24
Dedication ceremony to rename Recycling Forest the VanSteeland
Arboretum, honoring Ronald F. VanSteeland, vice president emeritus,
for his commitment to campus beautification.
June 21
Lake Michigan Center in Muskegon opens, new home of the
Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute.
July 1
Mark A. Murray appointed third president of Grand Valley.
Enrollment 19,762.
First issue of new Grand Valley Magazine published.
Seidman School of Business (now College of Business) named new Michigan Small Business Development State Headquarters by federal Small Business Administration.
September 11
Evening classes cancelled, memorial services held for victims of
the terrorist attacks.
October 17
First DeVos Art Lecture features architect Vern Ohlman and GV
Vice President Ron VanSteeland discussing academic architecture.
November 9
Inauguration of Mark A. Murray.
2002
Dr. Gayle R. Davis appointed Grand Valley Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs.
Enrollment 20,407.
October 10
Grand opening of Mackinac Hall addition.
December 14
Grand Valley Lakers beat Valdosta State 31-24 in NCAA Division II
Football National Championship final, bringing home the school's
first-ever national championship in a varsity sport.
2004
April 22
Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center dedicated in
Muskegon, Grand Valley's first LEED Gold certified building.
Enrollment 22,063.
GV academic program reorganized, establishing College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, College of Interdisciplinary Studies, College of Community and Public Service, College of Education, College of Health Professions, Kirkhof College of Nursing, Seidman College of Business, and Seymour and Esther Padnos College of Engineering and Computing.
First paid permits for Allendale campus parking required.
Grand Valley offers first doctoral program, in Physical Therapy.
2005
Enrollment 22,565.
September 26
Fifth building in original academic complex, the Great Lakes
Group, is dedicated. Lake Ontario Hall earns LEED Silver rating, the
first LEED-certified building on the Allendale campus.
Grand Valley's first fully endowed chair created in Art and Design Department with a gift from Stuart and Barbara Padnos Foundation.
December 3
Grand Valley Lakers beat Nebraska-Kearney to win first NCAA
Division II Volleyball National Championship, the first for a women’s
sport at Grand Valley.
Grand Valley Library’s Special Collections acquires papers of internationally acclaimed writer and Michigan native Jim Harrison
2006
Mark A. Murray announces he will leave Grand Valley presidency to become President of Meijer Inc. Provost Gayle Davis named interim president in June.
Mark A. Murray Living Center on south campus in Allendale named to honor third president of GVSU.
July 10
Board of Trustees appoint Thomas J. Haas as GVSU's fourth president.
Enrollment 23,295.
October 27
Investiture ceremonies for new President Thomas J. Haas.
School of Engineering, Westown Jubilee Housing, and Heartland Builders collaborate to build 'Green House on Watson,' a pilot project in the US Green Building Council's LEED for Homes rating system. In 2009 the project wins the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Partnership Award for Campus-Community Collaboration.
Frey Foundation Chair in Family Foundations and Philanthropy endowed in Johnson Center for Philanthropy.
2007
Enrollment 23,464.
First Accountability Report published, a public review of GV's academic and economic performance.
New Music Ensemble releases Steve Reich's "Music for 18 Musicians" CD, reaches #1 on iTunes and Amazon classical charts, named best of the year on many national lists, named a top classical release of the decade.
John C. Kennedy Hall of Engineering dedicated.
2008
Shaping Our Future campaign launched to fund multiple capital and endowment priorities, including new Learning and Information Commons to be named for Mary Idema Pew.
Enrollment 23,892.
Laker Indoor Turf Building opens, providing increased recreational opportunities for students. LEED Gold certification awarded in 2009.
Honors College re-dedicated in celebration of move into Glenn A. Niemeyer Learning and Living Center. In October Honors College named for Frederik Meijer. Center is awarded LEED Silver rating in July 2009.
November 12
Expansion of George and Barbara Gordon Gallery in Richard M.
DeVos Center, housing selections from Grand Valley’s collection of
paintings by West Michigan painter Mathias J. Alten, is dedicated.
Seidman College of Business is ranked one of top business schools in country by Princeton Review.
Grand Valley receives U.S. Green Building Council Recognition Award and Sustainable Endowments Institute National Sustainability Innovator Award.
2009
The Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership begins publication of the first and only peer-reviewed journal of philanthropy, The Foundation Review.
GVSU is only Michigan school cited in Kaplan College Guide "cutting-edge green" colleges. Also ranked top "up and coming" institution in Midwest by U.S. News & World Report.
Enrollment 24,408.
September 11
Memorial service for founder L. William Seidman held in Louis
Armstrong Theater. Seidman died on May 13, 2009 at the age of 88.
New Music Ensemble releases "In C Remixed," CD of iconic work by Terry Riley, featured in Newsweek, named by many critics to best of 2009 lists.




Photos are courtesy of the Grand Valley University Archives and Special Collections