Grand Valley Forum, Volume 043, Number 02, September 10, 2018

Grand Valley State University ScholarWorks@GVSU 2018-2019, Volume 43 Grand Valley Forum, 1976-Present 9-10-2018 Grand Valley Forum, volume 043, number 02, September 10, 2018 Grand Valley State University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/forum43 Part of the Archival Science Commons, Education Commons, and the History Commons Recommended Citation Grand Valley State University, "Grand Valley Forum, volume 043, number 02, September 10, 2018" (2018). 2018-2019, Volume 43. 2. https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/forum43/2 This News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Grand Valley Forum, 1976-Present at ScholarWorks@GVSU. It has been accepted for inclusion in 2018-2019, Volume 43 by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@GVSU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2018 A NEWSLETTERFORUM FOR THE GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY Published by University Communications | For news updates, visit gvsu.edu/gvnow Grand Valley mourns death of Rich DeVos The Grand Valley community joins people 1970s, providing Club at Grand Valley. This small and informal around the world in mourning the death of critical leadership group of philanthropists played an instrumental Richard M. DeVos, one of the university’s and personal role securing land and funding for the Grand greatest leaders. DeVos died September 6 at resources. He Design 2000 Campaign, which expanded age 92. joined the Grand Grand Valley’s downtown campus. He served DeVos, along with his late wife, Helen, forever Valley University as an honorary chair of the campaign, and the changed West Michigan and Grand Valley Foundation university recognized his service with the through their generous philanthropy and Board in 1982 and naming of the Richard M. DeVos Center. vision. DeVos’ support for the university was became its third In 2000, DeVos’ leadership and encouragement unwavering from its founding in the 1960s, president. DeVos helped to raise the initial match needed to when Rich visited classrooms and shared his served as president launch construction of the Cook-DeVos Center experiences with students, to the end of his life for an astounding for Health Sciences, assuring that education when his support for GVSU remained strong. 24 years, becoming would join health care research and delivery as chairman emeritus a cornerstone of the emerging health enterprise “There are no words to describe how much in 2016. Rich DeVos will be missed by Marcia and me Rich DeVos in Grand Rapids. personally, our university, and the entire West “Early on, Rich Both Rich and Helen served as honorary co- Michigan community,” said President Thomas understood the chairs of the Shaping Our Future campaign, J. Haas. “The university would not be what it is strategic importance of West Michigan having which expanded scholarships for students, today without his and Helen’s leadership and a local university for talent development,” said improved and expanded facilities, strengthened generosity. His legacy lives on in the lives of the Jim Brooks, GVU Foundation general chair. key programs, and provided support to faculty. thousands of students he has touched.” “With all the things he had on his plate, he still The DeVoses also made the lead gift to help found time and energy to provide leadership for build the L. William Seidman Center to house DeVos’ dedication to Grand Valley grew over the GVU Foundation.” the decades. He served on what was then called the Seidman College of Business and expand the Board of Control for Grand Valley in the In the 1990s, DeVos created the Land Barons the Pew Grand Rapids Campus. ACROSS CAMPUS Police services expand at Khatir, assistant director of Public Safety for Grand Rapids campuses, and officer JP West. Grand Rapids campuses DeHaan said another officer will join the Grand Grand Valley has added sworn law enforcement Rapids staff in December. officials to its Grand Rapids campuses to serve with security staff already in place. Students help refugees Police Chief Brandon DeHaan said as the footprint of the university has grown in Grand learn English Rapids so has the need for additional staff West Michigan has a long history of resettling “We are working with students to ensure they members. refugees from around the world, and students in have the skills to be successful ESL instructors, two Grand Valley courses are helping to teach and we’re looking at the implications of “The addition of sworn officers downtown will them how to speak English. second-language learning by people who have help us to continue to provide a safe and secure limited first-language literacy,” Brice said. environment at our Grand Rapids campuses The classes are led by associate professors “We discovered this unique subset of people and for the Grand Valley community,” DeHaan Laura Vander Broek and Colleen Brice. The goal when we discovered that the materials we said. is to give students a real-world experience in had available for students was almost entirely teaching people English as a Second Language Officials from Grand Valley and the City of geared toward adults who could already read to learn practical skills and ESL pedagogy. Grand Rapids signed an agreement August 28 and write in their own language.” that allows the university to utilize the Grand A unique part of the program is that many of The program and partnerships have been Rapids Police Department Communication the refugees who aren’t literate in their first in place since 2012, and recently expanded Center during an emergency. language, which makes instruction of English to include graduate study in addition to literacy even more difficult. GRPD will have the ability to dispatch GVPD undergraduate classes. officers. The agreement is similar to the one The refugees are paired with students through “The experiences these students have Grand Valley has with Ottawa County Dispatch partnerships with Samaritas and Word while working with these refugees are for emergencies in Allendale. ESL, which is run by the Dominican Sisters. transformational,” Vander Broek said. “Our Both programs are United Way-funded Grand Rapids officers include Capt. Kourosh organizations. continues on page 2 2 FORUM | SEPTEMBER 10, 2018 ACROSS CAMPUS continued from page 1 school year,” Lovell said. “This program will students in the practicum classes are working help families keep their students in comfortable one-on-one with refugees who have just been clothing while recycling their old uniforms.” settled, or who are looking for additional The 19-month accelerated leadership program English instruction. The experience and is supported by the Center for Adult and learning they take away from that are absolutely Continuing Studies. The program offers adult life-changing.” students opportunities to complete a liberal In addition to working with the United Way- studies degree in an accelerated cohort model funded organizations to teach English to the while learning the leadership skills employers recently arrived refugees, students are getting require. a broad look at other cultures and helping refugees get settled in their new home. Students are pictured at the Laker Effect Challenge in April with (second from right) Travus Burton, director University earns U.S. News “We’ve had students who helped pregnant for Civic Learning and Community Engagement. The ranking women navigate the health care system, and students held a uniform swap at Harrison Park schools in we’ve had students working with entire large August. Grand Valley has once again been named a top families share meals at the family table,” university in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Vander Broek said. “It’s a wonderful cultural students at Harrison Park elementary and Report. middle schools. and learning experience.” In the “2019 Best Colleges rankings” Grand Organizations like Samaritas and Word ESL are Steven Scholten, who is majoring in liberal Valley ranked third for “Top Public Regional funded, in part, by support from Heart of West studies, said about 50 pieces of clothing were Universities in the Midwest” and 29th for “Best Michigan United Way. Grand Valley organizes swapped at the event. Connections with 30 Regional Universities in the Midwest.” additional parents were made and the swap one of West Michigan’s largest annual United Grand Valley is also ranked among Midwest program has been active since. Way campaigns. This year’s campaign runs universities for “Best Value” (14th) and “Most from October 1-October 12. Scholten and students Tami Chase, Anthony Innovative” (ninth). Hanline and Bridgett Shafter earned $1,000 “The funding that our partner organizations Grand Valley rose to 45th (from 57th) for “Best at the Laker Effect Challenge in April to get from the United Way is absolutely critical,” in Undergraduate Engineering” programs and implement their idea. Scholten said the group Brice said. “There’s often a waiting list for the the Seidman College of Business is ranked purchased clothing, made connections with services these organizations provide, so any among the “Best Undergraduate Business” school administrators and parents, conducted funding they can get changes people’s lives.” programs. outreach to local community organizations and For more information on Grand Valley’s United businesses, and created a marketing campaign Grand Valley is also listed among universities Way Campaign, visit gvsu.edu/UnitedWay. to spread awareness about the first uniform with low student debt load at

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