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.

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.

January 18
Grand Valley leaders expand the Grand Valley Pledge, a tuition-free program, which opens the doors to any qualified Michigan student who wants to enroll at the university.

February 15
President Philomena V. Mantella announces the appointment of Fatma Mili as the next provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs of the university. Mili is the dean of Computing and Informatics at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. 

February 18
Grand Valley is reaching higher as it sets strategies for the complex and challenging future. The university’s Board of Trustees votes to approve the Reach Higher 2025 strategic plan that President Philomena V. Mantella presents at the board meeting.

March 8
After 18 seasons as head coach of the men’s basketball team, Ric Wesley steps down from his head coaching duties; assistant coach Taylor Johnson will assume the interim head coaching position.

March 21
Grand Valley receives $1 million in federal appropriations to expand its applied Medical Device Institute (aMDI)  to provide new technologies that will better serve the medical innovation industry while expanding West Michigan's economic footprint.

April 7
President Philomena V. Mantella announces that Vice President for University Relations and Secretary to the Board of Trustees Matthew E. McLogan will retire in June. McLogan was hired as vice president by then-President Arend D. Lubbers in 1987, a tenure that makes him the longest continuously serving executive officer in Grand Valley’s history. Stacie Behler, long-time Meijer Inc. executive, is named the university’s new vice president and chief public affairs and communications officer and secretary to the Board of Trustees.

April 12
Two of Michigan’s largest institutions create what they hope will be a model for the nation in addressing the severe talent shortage in nursing. Leaders from BHSH System and Grand Valley announce an innovative partnership with the creation of the BHSH Spectrum Health West Michigan Nurse Scholar program.

May 5
For the first time since 2019, more than 110 Grand Valley students are preparing to live and learn overseas during study abroad experiences.

June 13
Grand Valley receives a five-year, $1.4 million federal grant to establish a TRIO program in Detroit designed to create a successful college-going culture for high school students who would be the first in their families to attend college.

July 22
The Midwest Learner Design Summit, part of REP4, draws more than 250 students, one of five regional events taking place with alliance partners. REP4 is a program founded by Grand Valley that taps students to create and prototype new ways to provide more equitable access to higher education.

August 9
Grand Valley celebrates Shape Corp.'s lead gift and its longstanding commitment to engineering students by naming its Innovation Design Center for the tier-one automotive supplier.

August 30
Leaders from Grand Valley and Savannah State University sign an agreement August 30 that provides SSU students with expedited pathways to master's degrees in, eventually, five areas. This marks the fourth agreement Grand Valley has signed with a Historically Black College or University (HBCU), bolstering its HBCU/Hispanic Serving Institution Consortium

September 20
Grand Valley reports across-the-board increases in students new to the university. Nearly 4,000 first-year students enrolled, a 3 percent increase over last year.

October 26
Henry Luttikhuizen, an art historian with deep ties to West Michigan, is the inaugural Scholar-in-Residence for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

November 4
Grand Valley's Board of Trustees approve a new degree program designed for students who completed an associate of applied science (AAS) degree and want to strengthen their academic skills to take the next step in their careers.

November 8
The addition of a satellite clerk's office in Kirkhof Center allows students and Allendale Township residents to vote in the midterm elections.

November 11
President Philomena V. Mantella announces the creation of the Veterans Advance: Progressive Work-Based Learning program to ensure students who are veterans are recognized for the experience they bring.

December 8
The NCAA announces the Grand Valley Athletics Department is the 2023 recipient of the NCAA and Minority Opportunities Athletic Association Award for Diversity and Inclusion. 

January 21
Scott Wooster takes over as the eighth head coach of the Laker football team.

February 24
GVSU's Board of Trustees approves a campus master plan designed to embrace technology and create an environment for diverse learners and advance equity. 

March 16
GVSU alumni Kyra Harris Bolden, the first Black woman to hold a Michigan Supreme Court seat, visits campus as a keynote speaker during a Women's History Month event.

June 14
Two couples, John and Nancy Kennedy and Andy and Christina Keller, were recognized June 13 by the Grand Valley University Foundation for their commitment to philanthropy, service and the university.

July 18
Grand Valley receives a four-year, $2.6 million federal grant to continue working with two health systems to prepare more nurse practitioners who have interest in primary care, working in rural or underserved areas or in mental health.

August 23
The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency recognizes Grand Valley with its highest honor for Veteran-Friendly Schools (VFS) for the ninth consecutive year.

September 12
Overall enrollment is up 3% from last fall, with 22,269 students. Both the incoming class and overall enrollment have the highest-ever percentages of students of diverse backgrounds.

November 22
A $1.2 million grant from the Frey Foundation combined with a $1 million matching gift from a generous donor will create Grand Valley State University’s first fully endowed chair at the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy .

December 18
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday signs a $616 million supplemental funding bill during a ceremony at Grand Valley, providing a $30 million boost to the university’s Blue Dot initiative.

February 27
Omni from GVSU is announced, combining an expertly taught curriculum with the agility of flexible education delivered across the university's expanding regional campus network and online, allowing adult learners anywhere to advance their education on a schedule that works with their life and work commitments. 

March 22
The GVSU Laker Store opens in downtown Grand Rapids.

April 12
More than 400 Grand Valley students, faculty and staff present their innovative and impactful projects during the Reach Higher Showcase on April 12 at the DeVos Center on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus. 

May 6
Provost Fatma Mili announces the appointment of Marouane Kessentini as the new dean of the College of Computing, effective July 6. 

July 10
Grand Valley is named to the 2024 list of "Best Colleges in America" by Money. GVSU joins a list of 745 ranked public and private schools nationwide that were selected after an analysis of institutions providing applicants the best value for their money.

September 24
A $241,000 National Science Fund grant allows the purchase of an advanced measuring instrument that will transform research capabilities for a group of interdisciplinary GVSU environmental scholars and their students, enabling beneficial high-tech training for undergraduate researchers.

October 18
The university celebrates the Thompsons and their foundation for their philanthropy on October 18 with the dedication of the Bob and Ellen Thompson Student Success Center, in the Kirkhof Center on the Allendale Campus. 

November 16
Women's wrestling hosts their inaugural home meet, beating Northern Michigan, 42-6.

December 19
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appointes two Michigan business leaders to Grand Valley’s Board of Trustees. Brandon Hofmeister, senior vice president at Consumers Energy, and GVSU alumnus Jason Trice, co-owner of Flint-based Bedrock Apparel, will join the board for eight-year terms beginning in 2025.

February 21
Grand Valley plans to offer bachelor's and master's degrees in Artificial Intelligence as part of an expansion of College of Computing programs to meet the increasing demands of industry partners for graduates versed in the rapidly advancing fields. 

March 28
For the second time in program history, the GVSU women's basketball team is Division II National Champions. The Lakers finish as the top team after a dominant season.

April 11
President Philomena V. Mantella announces the appointment of Jennifer Drake as provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs.

May 27
The Grand Valley women's track and field team claims its fifth NCAA Division II National Title this past weekend at the NCAA Outdoor Championship competition in Pueblo, Colorado. 

May 27
Leaders from Grand Valley travel to Poland to celebrate the university's oldest international partnership with the Krakow University of Economics. The two institutions celebrated 50 years of collaboration and exchanges.

June 10
Grand Valley welcomes a new carillonneur who will ensure the bells in the two iconic towers GVSU boasts regularly ring out with music for Lakers' "daily commute" across the campuses.

Jon Lehrer will assume the primary role of performing on the Cook Carillon Tower on the Valley Campus in Allendale and the Beckering Family Carillon Tower on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus, part of the City Campus.

July 11
With a focus on increasing the university’s impact for students, faculty, staff and the communities Grand Valley State University serves, the Board of Trustees on July 11 approves a budget that includes a record $81.4 million in financial aid.

August 23
The inaugural Laker Kickoff creates a buzz on the Valley Campus as students gather to celebrate the new school year and what it means to be at Grand Valley.

September 15
Grand Valley continued its growth trajectory, welcoming 4,400 first-year students this fall, the second largest first-year class in its history — a 4% increase over last year. Overall enrollment of 22,035 represents a 1% increase over the fall of 2024 as the university welcomed 6,465 new undergraduate and graduate students.

September 23
Grand Valley students who are enrolled in degree programs in Traverse City are now in a new location that offers a more vibrant campus experience, close access to resources and connections. Five universities that offer classes in partnership with Northwestern Michigan College celebrated their new location in the Beckett Building on NMC's Front Street Campus.

October 2
A report underscores the significant role Grand Valley plays in Michigan’s economy, finding GVSU generates more than $3 billion in annual economic impact.

October 9
Leaders from Southwest Michigan and Grand Valley celebrate the completion of renovations at the Battle Creek Innovation Hub and their longstanding partnerships during a ribbon-cutting ceremony. 

October 21
Grand Valley announces it was joining Detroit's historic Michigan Central as a new key partner in its innovation ecosystem.

November 23
The women’s cross country team claimed its second straight national title, winning the 2025 NCAA Championship in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It’s the eighth title overall for the program.

December 6
Retired sports broadcaster John Keating, ’79, addresses graduates at Van Andel Arena.