GRAND VALLEY
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GV student population by the numbers, fall 2017 Total enrollment again surpasses 25,000 BY MEGAN WEBSTER MWEBSTER@LANTHORN.COM
W
ith a new freshman class navigating the hallways at Grand Valley State University comes an updated set of statistics on the study body enrollment. Released just this week, the numbers show GVSU has done it again: More than 25,000 students are enrolled at the university, and out of the 25,049 individuals who make up the student body, more than 4,000 of them are first-time students—a goal GVSU has hit in the past six years. Along with the 4,185 new freshmen, there are 1,625 transfer students, more than 400 international students, 4,344 minority students and 2,108 students from out of state. Philip Batty, director of institutional analysis at GVSU, said the numbers reveal that the university remains stable and healthy each passing year. “It’s more a story on continuity than change,” Batty said. “We continue to be a large and healthy public university. We have enrolled more than 25,000 students that continue to be very well-qualified to pursue
4,135 1,625 400+ 4,344 2,108
higher education.” Stephen Glass, acting vice provost for student affairs and dean of students, also commented on the health of the university, saying these growing numbers signal a healthy, adapting institution, rather than a stagnant one. “A university that is healthy and adapting is creating new programs, creating other opportunities, has a lot of students on campus, has student groups of all types,” he said. “That’s all sign of a healthy, growing university.” According to Glass, GVSU has the best of both worlds: a large campus feel yet intimate, hands-on classrooms. He thinks these numbers reflect the value of what the university offers to current and prospective students all across Michigan and the Midwest. “Students are wise,” Glass said. “Parents are wise. You don’t spend money needlessly. You put your money where you’re
FRESHMEN STUDENTS TRANSFER STUDENTS
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS MINORITY STUDENTS
OUT-OF-STATE STUDENTS
going to get value. I think what the numbers are showing is that we have value.” Glass said GVSU has programs that match the needs of students and that the university is adapting to what is
going to make those students successful. This ability to adapt to all the different students on campus makes GVSU a fierce competitor in college retention and graduation rates across the state of Michigan.
GVL | BECKY OPPMAN
“We’re graduating students at a better rate than most of the other universities in this state,” Glass said. “Our six-year graduSEE STUDENTS | A2
HOUSING
RENOVATIONS
Bulletin boards vandalized in Murray, VanSteeland living centers
GV construction continues with Student Services addition, plans for learning spaces
RAs send out community-wide email notification
BY THERESA MUELLER TMUELLER@LANTHORN.COM
Three weeks into the fall 2017 semester, Grand Valley State University students, faculty and staff are back in full swing for the academic year. As the masses of students occupy the campus grounds again, construction
crews consequently follow. Likewise, the facilities planning department at GVSU is always in full operation. Every school year, there are new opportunities to address improvements for the functioning of campus. The facilities planning department attempts to complete the bulk of its construction dur-
ing the summer months when fewer people are around. However, with the consistent need for improvement for GVSU facilities, working during fall and winter semesters is unavoidable. “University capital improvements is an ongoing process,” said James Moyer, associate vice president for facilities planning,
via email. “Each year, we undertake more (than) 70 projects of various sizes and costs. This level of effort is necessary to keep the university on pace with the technology growth; the demands of the student population; to avoid building (obsolescence); and to SEE PROJECT | A2
BY CELIA HARMELINK CHARMELINK@LANTHORN.COM
Incidents of vandalism have recently occurred in the Mark A. Murray and Ronald F. VanSteeland living centers on Grand Valley State University’s Allendale Campus. Schae Maynard, the assistant living center director for the Murray and VanSteeland Apartments, said this is the second time this semester this type of vandalism has occurred to the bulletin boards of the Murray Living Center. Two resident assistants, who were on duty at the time, were the first to notice this had happened. “During move-in week, or the week right after, was the first incident of vandalism to (the third floor RA’s) boards specifically,” Maynard said. “Then it kind of cooled down for a little bit, and then I think last week we noticed that it wasn’t just this building. Both Murray and VanSteeland noticed that the same pattern happened.” An email was sent out to South Campus residents informing them of this incident and asking them to contact the living center director if an act of vandalism were to be witnessed. The person(s) responsible have yet to be found. Joon Park, a resident of VanSteeland, received the email about the RA boards being vandalized. “The RAs put in a lot of time and effort to make this place feel like a home away from home and that by destroying its property, we’re essentially disrespecting our house,” Park said. “When it’s specifically something that someone created and not just something that they have, I think that’s like SEE VANDALS | A2
ADDITIONS: Construction begins on the Student Services building Tuesday, Sept. 12. The new expansion includes a 5,500-square-foot addition on the southwest side of the building, and features include a larger meeting room for prospective students and their families, which will now seat 112 occupants. GVL | HANNAH HILL