GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY FAMILY GUIDE TO LAKER RESOURCES 2019–2020 LAKER FAMILY WELCOME I am honored that your student is part of the incoming class for my first academic year as president of Grand Valley State University. I am confident your student will quickly find, as I did, a welcoming campus culture that is dedicated to ensuring our nearly 25,000 students are educated to shape their lives, their professions, and the communities in which they live. That’s the Laker Effect. This guide details the resources and services available to students at Grand Valley. More importantly, Lakers are eager to help Lakers, so I hope you will encourage your student to reach out to those around them with questions or concerns. We all look forward to helping your student join the more than 120,000 alumni who proudly call themselves Lakers for a Lifetime. Sincerely, Philomena Mantella President To make the most of this guide: • Read the information and discuss it with your student • Bookmark the Laker Family Network website: gvsu.edu/family Grand Valley has published this guide in order to help inform you of the resources available to your student. We hope this will be helpful in maintaining a supportive connection with your student during their college years. TABLE OF CONTENTS LAKER FAMILY ............................................ 1 LAKER FINANCES .................................... 24 About Grand Valley .............................................................2 Financial Aid ......................................................................... 24 Liberal Education ..................................................................3 Student Employment....................................................... 24 FERPA 101 .................................................................................3 Scholarships ......................................................................... 24 LAKER FAMILY MoneySmart Lakers ......................................................... 24 LAKER LEARNING AND SUCCESS ...........4 Banking and ATMs ............................................................ 24 University Libraries ..............................................................6 Student Accounts .............................................................. 25 Library Spaces .......................................................................7 Library Collections and Resources ..............................7 LAKER LIVING .......................................... 26 Tools for Academic Success ...........................................8 Housing and Residence Life ......................................... 26 Academic Advising ............................................................10 Dining On Campus ............................................................ 28 Advising Centers ...................................................................11 Transportation ..................................................................... 29 Blueprint for Student Success ......................................12 Living Off Campus ............................................................. 31 Study Abroad ....................................................................... 16 Research and Scholarship ...............................................17 LAKER LIFE ................................................32 Fellowships..............................................................................17 Student Life .......................................................................... 32 Student Organizations .................................................... 32 LAKER SUPPORT ...................................... 18 Civic Engagement ............................................................. 33 Career Center ....................................................................... 18 Leadership Development .............................................. 33 University Counseling Center ......................................20 Staying Active .....................................................................34 Information Technology Support ................................21 Department of Music, Theatre, Division Of Inclusion And Equity ............................... 22 and Dance Opportunities .............................................. 35 Campus Interfaith Resources ...................................... 22 Disability Support Resources ...................................... 22 LAKER RESOURCES ................................ 36 Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center .................... 22 Campus Maps ......................................................................40 Office of Multicultural Affairs ...................................... 23 Laker Glossary of Terms ................................................ 42 Title IX And Gender Equity ........................................... 23 Important Contacts ..........................................................43 Gayle R. Davis Center for Women Notes ........................................................................................44 and Gender Equity ............................................................ 23 The Family Guide is produced by the Promotions Office, a part of the Office of Student Life. It is a creative team of students and full-time staff who promote campus events and more through graphic design, printing, posting on campus bulletin boards, social media, photography, and film/video services. Learn more at gvsu.edu/promotions. The cover photo, featuring the Mary Idema Pew Learning and Information Commons, was taken by Amanda Pitts (University Communications). LAKER FAMILY NETWORK LAKER FAMILY Welcome to Grand Valley! The Laker Family Network is the parent and supporter resource for supporting student success in partnership with the university. Parents and supporters have an opportunity to build relationships with the university by attending events, volunteering, or signing up for our newsletter. Supporting a college student is a transitional role for parents and supporters. Roles shift from daily monitoring to weekly mentoring. Here are some recommendations to help with this transition. AGREE HOW YOU WILL COMMUNICATE: Will you EMPOWER: Whether this is your first student text, Skype, email, or call? How often? Find what attending college or your third, the experience works best for you and your student and be clear varies from student to student. The college about expectations. If you are connected with your experience is intended to further student growth student on social media, consider a discussion and development, and it may take some time to about ground rules to avoid over-communicating. determine some essential skills that will benefit your student. Growing into a mentoring relationship with TALK ABOUT ACADEMICS, FINANCES, your student may not always be easy, but learning BELONGING, WELLNESS, AND SAFETY: Be a to respect and value each other in new ways can partner in your student’s college experience by strengthen your bond even more. discussing these five topics and using resources shared today, in this guide or online (gvsu.edu/ You have helped shape the foundation of your family) to help your student connect with the student’s life. For that, we are grateful to you; we appropriate campus resources. look forward to getting to know you and your student, and being a part of what’s next! Go Lakers! Make sure your student attends the required fall orientation program, Transitions: New Student Orientation (gvsu.edu/transitions). Other beneficial Recommended Resources There are many great books that can help you events for new students are Laker Welcome Events and your family in the transition from high school and Campus Life Night. These programs are to college. Fellow Grand Valley parents suggest: designed to provide intentional opportunities to build community and to share valuable information • The Happiest Kid on Campus by Harlan Cohen with students as they acclimate to life as Lakers. (for parents) or The Naked Roommate, also by Harlan Cohen (for students) PLAN TO LISTEN: While college can be a • Letting Go by Karen Levin Coburn and wonderful experience for students, it can also Madge Lawrence Treeger be a very challenging: a time of new freedoms, • You’re On Your Own (But I’m Here If You new opportunities, new responsibilities, and Need Me) by Marjorie Savage new friendships. Because you have always been there, know that you will likely remain the “go- • 1001 Things Every Teen Should Know Before to” person when your student experiences joy They Leave Home or 1001 Things Every or disappointment. When things go wrong, College Student Should Know, both by Harry calmly listen to their frustration and give them an H. Harrison, Jr. opportunity to create a solution. Ask, “What do you • The iConnected Parent by Barbara K. Hofer think your next step should be?” or, “Which campus • How to Raise an Adult by Julie Lythcott-Haims resource do you think is the best for this situation?” Learn More Visit gvsu.edu/family for more information or to sign up for newsletters. 1 ABOUT GRAND VALLEY Mission Grand Valley State University educates students Learn More to shape their lives, their professions, and their Visit gvsu.edu/strategicplanning for societies. The university contributes to the more information. LAKER FAMILY enrichment of society through excellent teaching, active scholarship, and public service. Grand Valley is proud to have eight colleges Vision offering more than 100 undergraduate, graduate, Grand Valley State University