2020s
2020
January 7
President Philomena V. Mantella and other university
leaders celebrate the opening of the Battle
Creek Regional Outreach Center, a collaborative effort with
partners Battle Creek Public Schools and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
February 12
During a news conference with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer,
President Philomena V. Mantella announces an accelerated
program that will help adults complete their bachelor’s degrees
and enhance the state’s productivity.
February 29
Grand Valley suspends its study
abroad programs in Italy and asks students there to return to
the U.S. due to raised travel advisories from the Centers for Disease
Control. Earlier in the month, programs in China and South Korea were canceled.
March 12
All classes are canceled March 12-15, allowing faculty
members to convert classes to remote
teaching. On-campus students begin moving to their permanent
residences, as instructed by the university’s Incident Management
Team, which has monitored the COVID-19 virus since January.
March 26
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer tours the Cook-DeVos
Center for Health Sciences, which is converted to an alternative
care site for Spectrum Health if needed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
April 6
President Philomena V. Mantella leads the first in a
series of virtual
town halls to connect with the campus community and provide
updates about the university’s response to COVID-19. Other members of
the Senior Leadership Team join the meeting.
April 16
Grand Valley announces it will be “test optional” for
students applying for the fall 2021 class, meaning SAT
and ACT standardized tests are not required for admission.
University receives $9 million in federal funds for students
experiencing financial hardship as a result of COVID-19.
April 24
University names B.
Donta Truss as vice president for Enrollment Development. Lynn
“Chick” Blue held the position previously among her roles during her
52-year career at Grand Valley.
More than 3,000 students celebrate commencement virtually, with recorded messages from college deans, President Philomena V. Mantella and Provost Maria Cimitile.
May 28
The university’s Network
of Support teams continue to provide assistance to Michigan
residents during the pandemic through tutoring, assisting small
businesses, supporting vulnerable populations and more activities.
President Philomena V. Mantella asked the university in late March to
harness their talents and the result was an army of 300 volunteers.
June 3
Grand Valley leaders announced a record conclusion to
the Laker
Effect campaign, which raised $130 million for students, the
most successful campaign in the university’s history.
June 10
Miloš
Topic is hired as vice president and the university’s first
chief digital officer, with oversight of the university’s information
technology portfolio.
July 7
To assist student veterans, Jill Wolfe is selected to
serve as Grand Valley's first Military
and Veteran Resource manager.
August 12
The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
announces a suspension
of fall sports due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
August 24
The campus community celebrates the opening of the Laker
Line, the enhanced bus service that services the Allendale, Pew
and Health campuses.
September 4
About 90 percent of the university's fall
semester classes are being offered online or via hybrid, a key
factor to decreasing campus density.
September 23
President Philomena V. Mantella leads efforts to create
a youth summit for young learners aimed at pioneering new
strategies for higher education.
October 9
Wearing face coverings and shouting “Black
lives matter,” members of the Grand Valley community marched
through the Allendale Campus in solidarity for racial equality.
October 26
GVSU turns 60
this year and the campus community will celebrate throughout the
academic year by learning about the university’s history from leaders
and unsung heroes.
November 11
President Philomena V. Mantella announces a major
initiative to support
Michigan veterans, the first of its kind in the nation.
December 17
Grand Valley's Meijer Campus in Holland serves as the
site where frontline workers receive the Pfizer
COVID-19 vaccine, through a partnership between the university
and Ottawa County Department of Public Health.
2021
January 31
University announces The
Peter Secchia Military and Veterans Program: active-duty
military and veterans will receive enhanced support to pursue their
educational goals at Grand Valley.
February 8
Grand Valley announces a tuition-free
program for students from low-income backgrounds who live in six
Michigan counties: Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon, Grand Traverse, Calhoun and Wayne.
February 24
Grand Valley's four
living presidents join a historian in a virtual roundtable to
discuss the peaceful transition of power under the Constitution, in
the wake of the January 6 insurrection in the U.S. Capitol.
April 8
GVSU
and Fort Valley State University leaders sign an agreement in
which students from the HBCU in Georgia can earn Grand Valley master's
degrees in engineering/computing.
May 1
More than 2,200 students participated in the Laker
Graduation Celebration, which allowed new graduates to gather in
the Fieldhouse with their supporters and pose for photos with
President Philomena V. Mantella.
May 13
A
national alliance of six colleges and universities formed to
address equity and access in higher education is launched, setting in
motion a movement that was seeded at Grand Valley, the convener and
organizer of REP4: Rapid Education Prototyping for Change, Learners,
Community, Equity.
June 1
The Laker men's
outdoor track and field team earns its first NCAA Division II
National Championship at Lubbers Stadium.
June 25
Grand Valley's Board of Trustees approves a $5.4
million increase in financial aid, an 8 percent increase over
last year. At the same meeting, Provost
Maria Cimitile announces her intention to step down from her position.
September 11
The campus community commemorates the 20th
anniversary of September 11 through several events, including a
home football game during which students write letters of support to veterans.
November 3
More than 400 people attend the dedication ceremony
for the Daniel
and Pamella DeVos Center for Interprofessional Health, the third
and flagship building on the university's Health Campus.
December 11
Grand Valley's soccer team wins the NCAA
Division II National Championship, the team's seventh national
title, with a 3-2 win (two overtimes) over Saint Rose (N.Y.).
December 11
Students, their families and friends and campus
leaders gathered in the Fieldhouse Arena to celebrate their
achievements during Commencement
ceremonies. Nearly 1,400 students walked in the first in-person
Commencement since the start of the pandemic.




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