- Mailing Address
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1 Campus Dr
Allendale, Michigan 49401 - Phone
- (616) 331-5000
- Email address
- admissions@gvsu.edu
- Website
- https://www.gvsu.edu/
- School Information
- Grand Valley State University is a public university. The university enrolls over 23,300 students, employs over 1,760 faculty, and offers over 130 degrees. (Source: https://www.gvsu.edu/about.htm)
- General Information
- Grand Valley State University has initiated Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion trainings for full, adjunct, and graduate staff. The university has also provided resources such as a discussion series on "How to be an Antiracist" (Dr. Ibram X. Kendi) to students. No Critical Race Training sessions are yet required of students. See developments below:
Actions Taken
- Admissions Policies
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The university's "15-Point Charge for Racial Equity" initiative states that it "developed an even more aggressive program for the recruitment and retention of students of color through the strategic enrollment management plan that is undergirded by policies that remove barriers to access."
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GVSU's Strategic Enrollment Management Plan outlines its strategies to increase enrollment of many different social groups including: "African American or Black Learners," "Hispanic/Latinx Learners," and "Underrepresented in STEM Learners." Additionally, the plan implements "...enrollment planning and services that...offer services to support and promote equitable enrollment, retention, progression, graduation, and overall success for all learners."
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On June 29, 2023, GVSU's President issued a statement in response to the Supreme Court's ruling on affirmative action which reads, "Our university has long upheld a policy that does not consider race or gender in admissions decisions. In 2006, Michigan voters passed a constitutional amendment which precludes discrimination and preferential treatment on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender or national origin in public education, public employment or public contracting. In response, we made changes to the way we award identity-based scholarships and all student programs are open to students without regard to these characteristics."
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- Anti-Racism, Bias, and Diversity Training
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"All full, adjunct, and graduate staff participated in DEI training with Social Justice Education office."
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The university will be providing "universal training for all members of our university community on social justice, power, privilege, and anti-racism." In May 2022, a new version of the DEI-related training modules will be released.
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GVSU's Inclusion and Equity Institute for Lakers offers the "Diversity, Inclusion, & Belonging E-Learning" sessions for faculty and staff. The institute states, "Our hope is these tools equip us to work together in an equitable and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive."
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On June 17, 2024, GVSU hosted an online event for "white identifying" faculty and staff titled "Anti-Racism, White Consciousness (5-Part Series)" which is described as follows: "Systems of oppression and white privilege are often invisible to those that benefit from them. For this reason, it is especially important for those that identify as white to intentionally engage in anti-white supremacy work to better identify their own behaviors, to understand the systems at play, and to learn how to deepen personal and institutional anti-racism commitments."
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- Curriculum Changes and Requirements
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"All students must fulfill a general education U.S. Diversity requirement, which includes a specific learning goal relating to race" as of 2022.
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The university's "15-Point Charge for Racial Equity" initiative states that, as part of the "...US Diversity and Global Perspectives GE categories," GVSU created a "new Student Learning Objective specifically related to racism and systemic racism to ensure every graduate deepens understanding of systemic racism, social justice and racial equity."
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As part of its justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives, the Physician Assistant Studies Department states that it would "[i]mplement a curriculum that includes education on justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion."
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- Program and Research Funding
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The university's "15-Point Charge for Racial Equity" initiative states that it "Established the Social Justice and Equity Scholarship in honor of lives lost to racialized violence for students that demonstrate a commitment to social justice and racial equity."
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- Resources
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"Programs and policies will be inventoried for inclusivity. Each department will identify measurable actions to promote DEI."
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"Employee performance relative to DEI commitment will be included in annual performance evaluation."
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"How to Be an Anti-Racist book and discussion series completed."
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GVSU offers segregated graduation celebrations.
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The university hosted a conversation in April 2022 called "Engaging in Anti-Racism Work through White Consciousness Raising (For White Men Only)." The cost of attendance was the following: $500 (corporate rate) or $300 (non-profit rate)
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The GVSU library system has a web page dedicated to Black Lives Matter and various resources to support the organization.
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GVSU released a "15-Point Charge for Racial Equity," detailing their past and future antiracism initiatives.
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The university's "15-Point Charge for Racial Equity" initiative states that the university implemented the "appointment of inclusion and equity leads and liaisons in each college and division..."
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Between June 14-16 of 2023, GVSU hosted the "Black Boys and Men Symposium," which is "focused on creating a vision for equitable transformation throughout the educational pipeline, from K-12 to higher education and beyond." Additionally, the Symposium "seeks to bring together youth service providers, K-12 educators, higher education faculty and staff, and community leaders to understand and interrogate the 'systems' that impact the lives of Black boys & men in order to deconstruct and rebuild for their success."
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The Inclusion and Equity Institute provides a wide array of "Social Justice" resources, including the topics of "Power and Privilege" and "Racial Inequality and Injustice."
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GVSU's Spring 2023 Grand Forum program included "Critical Race Theory Part 1 [and 2] with Fred Johnson."
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The Division of Inclusion and Equity's Strategic Plan states, "All divisions and colleges identify and engage an I&E lead and establish advisory structures that include diverse students and employees."
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