FRESHMAN STUDENT
ENROLLMENT INFORMATION
Fall 2024
Congratulations on your recent acceptance
to Grand Valley State University. Please read
this brochure carefully for important information
regarding deadlines and other events that you need
to be aware of over the next several months.
If you have any questions about deadlines or wish to
schedule a visit, please contact the Admissions and
Recruitment Oce at (800) 748-0246 or (616) 331-2025 or
email us at admissions@gvsu.edu.
HOUSING DEADLINES
Now that you have been admitted to Grand Valley, we
recommend that you apply to live on campus as soon as
possible. Complete the Housing Application by logging into
your myBanner account at gvsu.edu/housing using your
GVSU credentials.
When living on campus, all living expenses are included in
the rate; you manage one consolidated bill. Students enjoy
living on campus because of the convenience to dining,
classrooms, study areas, and recreation spaces.
Important Information:
• First-year students are required to live on campus. We
oer many styles of housing to meet individual needs,
lifestyles and fit a variety of budgets — traditional-style,
suite-style, one-bedroom apartment-style, two-bedroom
apartment-style, and cluster-style. We also oer
apartment living for first-year students, available in shared
or private bedroom configurations. These styles allow
for meal plan flexibility. Traditional-style is the default
preference for all incoming freshmen.
• Please apply online at gvsu.edu/housing. To apply by mail,
visit gvsu.edu/housing/apply for a printable application,
or contact Housing and Residence Life to request a copy
be mailed to you.
• Students are encouraged to provide multiple housing-style
preferences on their application. These will be used during
the placement process. Preferences are not guaranteed.
• Incoming first-year students are eligible for a housing
assignment if they have a completed housing application
and an Orientation session reservation.
• After applying for housing, details will be provided
regarding My College Roomie, GVSU’s roommate matching
and Laker connection platform. Students must complete
their preference questionnaire via My College Roomie, as
the information is used to determine room and roommate
preferences during placements.
• Roommate requests must be mutual, be received by May 1
for consideration, and are not guaranteed.
• You will be notified of your housing and roommate
assignment via email during the summer prior to your
arrival on campus. Roommate and room-style requests are
not guaranteed.
• Visit gvsu.edu/housing/options to view housing photos,
room layouts, and furniture included.
• For information on requesting an exemption from the
housing requirement, visit gvsu.edu/housing.
FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION
Financial assistance is available to eligible students from
a variety of sources. Financial aid can include institutional
scholarships based on academic performance or other
exceptional abilities, as well as federal and institutional
grants, loans, and work study. To be considered for these
types of aid, students must file the Free Application for
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students interested in receiving
financial aid at Grand Valley should file the FAFSA by March 1
for maximum consideration for grant and scholarship aid.
Grand Valley has an outstanding merit-based scholarship
program. Students admitted by March 1 are considered
for GVSU merit scholarships. Initial scholarship eligibility
is reviewed and determined at the time of admission.
Additional consideration for scholarship and/or grant
assistance will be determined in mid-January and will be
sent out by the Oce of Financial Aid and Scholarships.
Final scholarship decisions are made by July 31. Visit
gvsu.edu/scholarships for specific details.
GVSU also oers a scholarship matching database,
myScholarships, to help admitted students match with GVSU
donor and department-specific scholarships. MyScholarships
also gives students access to more than 10,000 external
scholarship opportunities. These scholarships vary and
may be based on interests, academic performance, special
talents, major, and more. The majority of GVSU scholarship
deadlines fall between January and March 1, while external
scholarship deadlines vary year-round. Students may
search and apply for these scholarships each year through
gvsu.edu/myscholarships.
Please visit our website gvsu.edu/financialaid for more
information and feel free to contact us at (616) 331-3234 or
via email at finaid@gvsu.edu if you have any questions.
Depending on what time of year you’re admitted to
GVSU, these next steps may be available right away or
in a few months.
File FAFSA to be considered for financial aid by March 1
Submit housing application
Register for Orientation
YOUR NEXT STEPS
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costs $240 per semester for t
ORIENTATION
In mid-January, the
Admissions and Recruitment
Oce begins sending admitted
g New Student Orientation,
which includes advising and class registration. Your first
step is to sign up for Orientation and pay the Orientation
fee by May 1*. You can register for a session online at
gvsu.edu/orientation. After May 1, we cannot guarantee
space in the freshman class. If you cancel your admission to
Grand Valley prior to May 1, the Orientation fee is refundable.
Please also watch your mail for your Orientation brochure
and respond promptly. Contact the Admissions Oce if you
have any questions about Orientation.
*This fee is refundable until May 1.
student information regardin
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
GVSU oers transportation services ranging from carpooling
to transit services. GVSU provides daily bus service between
the Allendale Campus, Robert C. Pew Grand Rapids Campus,
Health Campus, and the surrounding area. All GVSU and The
Rapid transit routes are free to current students, faculty, and
sta with a valid Grand Valley ID card.
For more information on bus schedules, routes, and
transportation programs, visit gvsu.edu/bus. Please note
that frequency of service is reduced during spring/summer
semesters and university breaks. Questions or concerns?
Contact GVSU Transportation Services at (616) 331-6700 or
at bus@gvsu.edu.
ELECTRONIC BILLING
Students will be notified by email when new charges
have been added to their account or when a monthly
payment becomes due. If the student provided a parent
email address, they will also receive notification. The
student’s Network ID and password are required to view any
financial information. If the student set up proxy access for
a third party, they will be able to review the bill and make
payment with their email and PIN.
COMPUTER AND INTERNET INFORMATION
If you are considering a computer purchase, please visit
our website at gvsu.edu/it/softwarehardwareapps-69.htm
where you will find information on computer vendors who
oer student discounts.
As a GVSU student, you have free access to the Internet on
campus either through the wired ports or wireless access.
You can find instructions to set up your computer to the
wireless network on our website, go to gvsu.edu/it and
select Gaming and Mobile Resources.
COMPLETED COLLEGE LEVEL COURSEWORK
If you have completed college level coursework through dual
enrollment or early/middle college, you must have an ocial
college transcript sent to GVSU prior to your Orientation
session. Contact the college attended to request that an
ocial transcript be sent to the Admissions and Recruitment
Oce at Grand Valley State University.
If you have taken an Advanced Placement (AP), College-Level
Examination Program (CLEP), or International Baccalaureate
(IB) exam, please send an ocial copy of your score results to
the Admissions and Recruitment Oce for credit evaluation.
Ocial transcripts and test scores can be mailed to:
Admissions and Recruitment Oce
Grand Valley State University
1 Campus Drive
Allendale MI 49401
Email: adm-transcripts@gvsu.edu
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PARKING PERMITS
Parking your vehicle
on campus requires a
parking permit or using
pay-to-park locations.
Visit gvsu.edu/parking.
arking your vehicle on the
llendale Campus, Pew
rand Rapids Campus, or
ealth Campus requires a
arking permit. Permits are
vailable to purchase at
vsu.edu/parking. The permit
hose commuting to campus
and enrolled in seven or more credit hours. For commuting
students with fewer than seven credit hours, the permit cost
is $150 per semester. For students living on campus in GVSU
housing, parking permits are $210 per semester. The cost of
the permit will be billed to your student account.
Students with classes at the GVSU Health Campus now have
a parking option in the 335 Michigan shared parking ramp
located northeast of the Daniel and Pamella DeVos Center
for Interprofessional Health. A commuter or resident permit
is required.
In addition, temporary day permits are available for purchase
online at a cost of $10 per day and will be billed to your
student account.
Pay-to-park short-term options are available on each campus
and can be found on the Parking Services website.
Parents and guests may obtain a visitor parking permit free
of charge by visiting Grand Valley Parking Services, which
has two locations: the north end of the Allendale Campus
in the Service Building or on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus
located at 102 Eberhard Center.
Please direct parking questions to Grand Valley Parking
Services by phone at (616) 331-PARK (7275) or by visiting the
website at gvsu.edu/parking.
GVSU STUDENT EMAIL ACCOUNT
Grand Valley has contracted with Google to provide a GVSU
Gmail account along with Google Apps for Education and
Calendar for all GVSU students. This GVSU Gmail account is
free and required for all students. Your GVSU Gmail account
will be the ocial method of communication used by the
university while you are enrolled at GVSU. Please visit
gvsu.edu/it for additional information. Instructions to
locate your GVSU Gmail address will be emailed to you.
Sign up for Orientation.
FINAL HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT
All incoming freshmen must submit a final high school
transcript that includes the date of graduation before
attending GVSU. According to federal and state regulations,
Grand Valley State University must verify your high school
graduation with a final transcript on file.
You may request the transcript through the electronic
delivery service Parchment or submit it by mail to:
Admissions and Recruitment Oce
Grand Valley State University
1 Campus Drive
Allendale MI 49401
Contact your high school if you have any questions about
submitting a final high school transcript.
STUDENT EMPLOYMENT
Student Employment Oce aids students in obtaining
employment that will help finance their education and
develop work skills for their future careers. We work with all
university departments and the community to create part-
time and summer employment opportunities for students.
As part of the Oce of Financial Aid and Scholarships, we
administer the Federal Work-Study Program university-wide.
Once you have registered for your Orientation session,
please visit our website at gvsu.edu/studentjobs and
look for the New Student Login tab under the Handshake
section to create an account and begin searching for current
jobs. Both on-campus and o-campus part-time jobs are
posted daily. For more information, please contact Student
Employment at (616) 331-3238 or visit us in person at 104A
Arend and Nancy Lubbers Student Services Center.
DISABILITY SUPPORT RESOURCES
Disability Support Resources (DSR) in the Division of
Inclusion and Equity strives to educate the campus
community on disability issues to cultivate a more inclusive
and equitable campus. DSR provides support services and
accommodations that enhance the learning environment
for students with documented disabilities. DSR promotes a
broad definition of diversity that appreciates disability as an
integral part of the academic experience.
DSR collaborates with students, faculty, and sta to
promote equal access to the campus community that
meets the needs of students with disabilities, fosters
student independence, and recognizes students based on
their abilities rather than their limitations. These practices
help to identify innovative approaches and resources that
support a diverse range of abilities and opportunities while
maintaining compliance with the Americans with Disabilities
Act of 1990. DSR encourages the university community to
empower students, enhance equity, and provide a platform
for innovation and inclusion.
Students should register with DSR as soon as possible after
admission to the university to ensure the timely provision
of accommodations. Advisors can also assist students
with disabilities with questions regarding course selection,
scheduling, and exploration of their areas of career interest.
If a student requires more comprehensive services in these
areas, advisors can refer students to other on-campus
resources. Some available services include alternative
format textbooks (if alternative books are unavailable),
alternative testing, assistive technology, learning skills
assistance, and transportation on the Allendale Campus.
DSR also strives to educate the campus community on
disability issues to cultivate a more inclusive and equitable
campus for the benefit of all.
If you can benefit from these resources, please call us at
(616) 331-2490, email at dsrgvsu@gvsu.edu, or visit our
oce at 215 The Blue Connection.
STUDENT HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
As a new Laker, using the eight dimensions of wellness to
guide your personal well-being, and engaging with resources
on campus can support your physical and mental health.
Learn more about prioritizing your health and well-being at
gvsu.edu/studentwellness.
Campus Health Services
• The Campus Health Center in Allendale, operated by
Trinity Health Medical Group, provides convenient and
qu
ality care for GVSU students, faculty, and sta. Visit
gvsu.edu/campushealth for more information.
•
The Injury Care Clinic (ICC) is operated by Trinity Health
Muskegon, in collaboration with GVSU. ICC is conveniently
l
ocated on the Allendale campus and even includes physical
therapy services. Visit gvsu.edu/icc for more information.
•
The GVSU Family Health Center, operated by the Kirkhof
College of Nursing, is near GVSU’s Grand Rapids campuses.
V
isit gvsu.edu/c for more information.
Recreation and Wellness
Recreation and Wellness has many ways for you to get
involved, be active, and live healthy! RecWell has both
formal and informal opportunities and many of the options
are free or low cost. Students can be active at our recreation
facilities, meet with a fitness specialist, join friends in a
group fitness class, participate in outdoor adventures,
game with others at the Esports Center, engage with our
wellness team and compete in a variety of intramural or club
sports. Visit us at gvsu.edu/rec or follow us on Instagram or
Facebook @gvsurecwell for more information.
University Counseling Center
The University Counseling Center oers a broad spectrum
of services to support student mental health, including
counseling, referral, and self-help resources, in addition
to community outreach and consultation. Services are
free to currently enrolled Grand Valley students.
Visit gvsu.edu/counsel for more information.
Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Services
The AOD oce provides prevention, education, and recovery
services to students on the Grand Valley campus. Our
philosophy focuses on education and building awareness
about making healthy and safe choices regarding alcohol and
other drugs. The needs of Grand Valley’s campus community
vary greatly, our oce focuses on providing a variety of
services, which include individual and group substance use
counseling, outreach events, educational presentations,
recovery meetings, and self-help resources.
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GRAND VALLEY CALENDAR 2024-2025
Fall Semester 2024
Convocation ............................................................... August 23, 2024
Classes Begin
.............................................................August 26, 2024
Labor Day Recess
................................................. September 1 – 2, 2024
Fall Break
........................................................... October 20 – 22, 2024
Thanksgiving Day Recess
............................November 27 – December 1, 2024
Classes End
.............................................................December 7, 2024
Commencement
........................................................December 7, 2024
Examinations
...................................................... December 7 – 14, 2024
Semester Ends
........................................................ December 14, 2024
Winter Semester 2025
Classes Begin .............................................................January 6, 2025
Martin Luther King Jr. Recess
......................................... January 20, 2025
Spring Break............................................................. March 2 – 9, 2025
Classes End
..................................................................April 19, 2025
Examinations
........................................................... April 19 – 26, 2025
Semester Ends
.............................................................. April 26, 2025
Commencement
....................................................April 25 and 26, 2025
Spring/Summer Session 2025
Classes Begin first 6 and 12 weeks ...........................................May 5, 2025
Memorial Day Recess
....................................................... May 26, 2025
Classes End first 6 weeks
...................................................June 16, 2025
Examinations first 6 weeks
............................................June 17 – 18, 2025
Classes Begin second 6 weeks
............................................ June 23, 2025
Independence Day Recess
................................................... July 4, 2025
Classes End second 6 and 12 weeks
......................................August 1, 2025
Examinations second 6 and 12 weeks
............................... August 4 – 5, 2025
Session Ends
............................................................... August 5, 2025
Calendars are subject to change. Visit gvsu.edu/registrar for most current academic calendar.
Admissions &
Recruitment Oce
1 Campus Drive
Allendale, MI 49401
Phone: (616) 331-2025
or (800) 748-0246
Fax: (616) 331-2000
admissions@gvsu.edu
gvsu.edu
#GVSUbound
TRAVEL INFORMATION
Gerald R. Ford International Airport
grr.org
This is the primary air transportation facility serving
Grand Rapids and West Michigan. Located within Michigan’s
second largest metropolitan area, the airport provides a
full range of air transportation services. The airport is
located on 44th Street near Patterson Avenue SE.
Amtrak
amtrak.com
Amtrak’s Pere Marquette oers regular rail service between
Grand Rapids and Chicago, providing fast and convenient
rail connections to many destinations.
Greyhound Lines, Inc.
greyhound.com
Intercity bus transportation arrives and departs from the
Greyhound Bus Terminal located in downtown Grand Rapids
on Grandville Avenue near Wealthy Street. (616) 456-1700 or
(800) 231-2222
The Rapid
ridetherapid.org
Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, and
surrounding areas are served by The Rapid transit system.
The Rapid buses run seven days a week and include
evening hours. (616) 776-1100
TITLE IX
Grand Valley State University is an armative action,
equal opportunity institution. It encourages diversity and
provides equal opportunity in education, employment,
all of its programs, and the use of its facilities. It is
committed to protecting the constitutional and statutory
civil rights of persons connected with the university.
Grand Valley is required by Title IX of the Education
Amendments of 1972 to ensure that none of its education
programs and activities discriminate on the basis of
sex/gender. Inquiries regarding the application of
Title IX may be referred to the Title IX coordinator,
4015 Zumberge Hall, titleix@gvsu.edu, (616) 331-9530.
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