Academic Advising

College is a time of growth and maturation for students as they start a career path. That path, however, is not always certain. The professionally trained staff members in Grand Valley's Academic Advising department have plenty of tools to help your son or daughter through their Laker journey. These resources are available, in part, because of generous donors to the Grand Valley Fund. They are available for any student to use.

Recently, a new and powerful tool has been developed to guide students and parents alike. The GVSU Blueprint for Student Success is a road map showing year-by-year what landmarks a successful student should be meeting. "This blueprint is a one-of-a-kind tool in the world of education, and is in the process of becoming copyrighted. We are proud to offer such a resource and hope it will help parents and students plan their academic journey together," said Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs, Nancy Giardina.

As a parent or guardian, you can help your student engage in their education by asking them about their advisors. Each college within Grand Valley has its own advising center to guide students through program course requirements, graduation requirements, and major or minor changes. All students with a declared major have a faculty advisor assigned to them. Students can view this information in MyBanner.

If a student has not declared a major, the Student Academic Success Center in the Student Services building can provide the direction they need in getting started at Grand Valley, and a professional advisor will be assigned to them.

What would be the most important step for a student to take? "From freshmen orientation through graduation, encourage your son or daughter to make an appointment each semester with their advisor," said Giardina. "Ask them if they've gone to the advising center, visited their academic advisor, or are on track for graduation. Encourage your student to engage as they progress through Grand Valley."

For more information on academic advising and student resources, visit their website.

Career Services & the Parents' Role

Part of an education at Grand Valley is preparing students to enter the workforce and pursue their careers armed with confidence. At Career Services, located in the Student Services building in Allendale and the Richard M. DeVos Center on the Robert C. Pew Grand Rapids Campus, students can:

• Meet with a career advisor to discuss
  job search techniques and preparation
• Find out about career-readiness
  events on campus such as mock
  interviews, résumé workshops,
  employer panels, and career fairs
• Receive professional career
  counseling and direction
• Discuss networking, internships, 
  mentorships, and co-ops

These services are free to any student and can give your son or daughter a competitive edge in a job or internship search. Over 6,800 Grand Valley students participated in an internship last year, allowing them to explore their potential careers. “The internship has become the foundation for a future career,” said Director of Career Services, Troy Farley. “While we have many internship postings on Laker Jobs, encouraging a student to start his or her own networking can also lead to an internship or job opportunity.”

Planning ahead is important for students when looking for an internship, as it can affect class schedules and living situations. "It's never too early to start looking," said Farley. "In fact, I suggest students and parents start feeling out internship opportunities two semesters from when they would like to have one."

For more information on career services and job search tools, check out the Career Services website or call them at 616.331.3311.

Family Weekend 2011 Preview

You do not want to miss Family Weekend at Grand Valley State University. “Family Weekend is such a great tradition,” said Assistant Director for Special Events and Promotions, LeaAnn Tibbe. “We’ve worked very hard to make this year’s weekend a perfect event for all students and families."

This year's weekend will include some great new events:

• Dueling Pianos Lounge
  Friday, September 30 from 8 pm until 10 pm
  Grand River Room - Kirkhof Center
• Renaissance Faire
  Saturday, October 1 from 10 am until dusk
  Outside Performing Arts Center
• Intro to Geocaching
  Saturday, October 1 at 11 am
  Kirkhof Center

The weekend will also feature favorite staples such as:

• Family Weekend 5k Run / Walk
  Saturday, October 1
  On-site registration at 8:30 am, race begins at 9:30 am
  Lobby - Kirkhof Center
• Pancakes with Presidents Breakfast
  Saturday, October 1 from 9:30 am until 11 am
  River Landing - Kirkhof Center
• Taste of Grand Valley
  Saturday, October 1 from 4 pm until 6 pm
  Requires advance registration and tickets
  Fieldhouse Arena
• Family Weekend Brunch
  Sunday, October 2 from 9:30 am until 12 pm
  Multiple locations - Kleiner Commons, Fresh Food Company
  and River Landing

Tips for parents:

• Book your hotel now, and if staying in Grand Rapids, know that
  ArtPrize runs Sept. 21 - Oct. 9 in the city.
• Mention GVSU Family Weekend when booking your hotel -
  many area accommodations offer a special rate and blocks
  of rooms have been reserved.
• Wear comfy shoes and pack for Michigan weather.
• Visit the Family Weekend website for a full list of events as well
  as information on registration, tickets, times and locations.