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INJURY-RIDDLED LAKERS SET FOR WALSH, MALONE SEE A7
ST U D E NT- R U N P U B L I C AT I O N S / / P R I N T . O N L I N E . M O B I L E / / L A N T H O R N . C O M
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THUR SDAY, JA NUA RY 8
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GV HOCKEY PLAYERS TO REPRESENT TEAM USA IN SPAIN
| KATIE ZIOLKOWSKI & ROSS TANNER
College of the year EMPLOYED OR IN GRAD. SCHOOL
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GVL
STILL WORK IN MICH. SUCCESS AFTER COLLEGE: GVSU received the award for ‘Educate to Career College of the Year 2014.’ Of recent graduates, 85 percent are
employed or are attending graduate school. Of those, 90 percent are working in Michigan, which were several of the criteria evaluated.
LAKER EARNS GRANT FOR SPECIAL ED CURRICULUM SEE A3
PUBLIC RELATIONS GROUP EARNS RECOGNITION SEE A3
ETC recognizes GV for providing exceptional value BY HANNAH LENTZ NEWS@LANTHORN.COM
rand Valley State University has been recognized as ‘Educate to Career (ETC) College of the Year 2014’ as of December 2014. This is the first time GVSU has been nominated for ETC College of the Year. The criteria for universities considered for the award include the need for exceptional value to students, low student loan default rates and graduates who secure jobs in their field of study after graduation. “We are pleased to recognize Grand Valley State University as the ETC College of the Year for 2014,” Michael Havis, President of Educate to Career, said in a recent press release. “Grand Valley State University, out of 1,224 colleges considered, has delivered exceptional educational value to its students. “...The outcomes of GVSU graduates are in sharp contrast with the typical outcomes of graduates, even from elite colleges where graduates are struggling to find career tracking jobs and meet
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their student loan obligations.” Currently, GVSU is one of the top 100 largest public universities in the nation with a student enrollment of over 25,000 students. Offering over 86 undergraduate and 33 graduate degree programs, GVSU is expanding exponentially to cater to the needs of the growing student population. “Without a doubt, we are honored to receive this recognition from ETC,” Lynn Blue, vice provost and dean of Academic Services and Information Technology said. “It is especially gratifying when an external research organization confirms that we, the university and our students, are among the best in the U.S.” The ETC Index analyzes the quality and participation of students when they enter a given college, the total costs related to attending the college, how cost conscious the university is and the outcomes of the students when they enter their perspective job market. The rankings results are then determined by which schools did the best job of improving the average earnings and the number of jobs students receive that relate to their major.
“We work hard to provide an exceptional education experience while keeping tuition low. At Grand Valley, the education experience includes learning activities within the classroom as well as other high impact experiences that occur outside the classroom,” Blue said. One element that improved GVSU’s rankings is the university’s commitment to providing internships in businesses and organizations that give students firsthand experience and exposure to potential job opportunities. This university emphasis adds to GVSU’s mission to provide a liberal education that will give graduating students the skills needed to excel in positions that employers are looking to fill from their experiences at GVSU. “Our stellar performance is what will continue to attract top students and faculty to Grand Valley,” Blue said. “Our applications are again up for the fall semester when compared to last year’s number. We continue to work to attract students and then keep them until they achieve their degree and move on with their educational or career plans.”
GV alumni appointed to Board of Trustees
NEW PERSPECTIVES Every Week To share your perspective with the Grand Valley Community #Lanthorn
rand Valley State University students will have the opportunity to participate in community-based learning through a pilot program funded by the Grand Rapids Community Foundation. Ruth Stegeman, director of community engagement at GVSU, worked on this engaged department initiative. Stegeman said that this grant will allow students in certain departments the advantage of participating in hands-on courses and putting skills into practice in the surrounding Grand Rapids community. “The advantage for students here is the additional opportunities they will have for experiential learning,” Stegeman said. “The more opportunities to work on real world problems, the better their education can be.” Students will be able to work with successful businesses and nonprofits, an opportunity, Stegeman said, that will set the bar high. “(Students) have the responsibility to deliver something that would be useful to an organization,” Stegeman said. “You can’t say, ‘It’s OK if I get a B grade,’ you have to ask, ‘What will I be able to deliver that will be a benefit to the organization I am working for?’” The date for department proposal submission is currently being determined; however, submissions will be reviewed in March, allowing the grant to be fully utilized. Stegeman said that, at this time, the grant will be used to fund three departments with up to $5,000. Stegeman said the goal of this grant is to help departments expand the community-based learning that
| MICHIGAN.GOV
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COURTESY
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BY GABRIELLA PATTI GPATTI@LANTHORN.COM
MEGAN SALL: Sall, a 2007 alumna, is the
youngest appointed board member in the history of Grand Valley State University.
| MICHIGAN.GOV
ichigan Gov. Rick Snyder appointed Grand Valley State University alumni Victor Cardenas and Megan Sall to the GVSU Board of Trustees. Sall, 32, is the youngest appointed board member in the university’s history. Cardenas, assistant city manager of Novi, and Sall, business development manager for The Right Place in Grand Rapids, replaced Michael Thomas and Shelley Padnos, whose terms ended last year. “To be able to give back in any kind of way, especially at this level, is outstanding,” Cardenas said. “As is learning that I’ll be continuing to serve the university for the next eight years.” Appointed on Dec. 14, Cardenas and Sall started their terms on Jan. 1 and will serve on the board until Dec. 31, 2022. “I’m really excited to serve GVSU in this capacity,” Sall said. “I love the school and I love what they’re doing. We have some of the best students in the nation, and I want to do what I can to continue to make it a successful place for our students and our community.” Cardenas also expressed his eagerness to take on the new role. “I like how the governor has chosen youth for his two appointments this year to give that kind of perspective of younger graduates serving on the board at this time,” Cardenas said. “My love for Grand Valley is pretty deep. I am very grateful for the time I spent there and I attribute a lot of my success to Grand Valley.” Cardenas graduated in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and went on to earn a master’s degree in public affairs from Indiana University. His activities while at GVSU ranged from serving as Student Senate president from 1998 to 1999 to being a member of Delta Sigma Phi fraternity and being involved in the Resident’s Housing Association. Cardenas is currently a member of the Michigan Local Government Management Association and serves on committees within that organization. Cardenas is also a member of the International City/County Manager Association and is a vice president of the GVSU Alumni Association Board of Directors. “I’m hoping to build on the successes the
people that came before me have established,” Cardenas said. “Grand Valley has a very rich and successful history and I’m hoping that I can be a part of that future to continue to build on being a premiere institution in the Midwest.” Sall earned a bachelor’s degree in international relations in 2007 and a master’s degree in public administration in 2009 from GVSU. She was a Cook Leadership Fellow for three years during her time at the university and also worked in the Padnos International Center. Since then, she has spoken to several classes, some in the masters of Public Administration program and in the Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies, and is now a mentor in the Cook Leadership Academy. “Having a base of knowledge about some of the processes and procedures, and also knowing some of the people (at GVSU), will offer some great insight to get started,” Sall said. “At the same time, I know I have a lot to learn.” After graduating, Sall interned for the City of Wyoming, Mich. From there, she became the assistant to the city manager and the Downtown Development Authority Director and Community Services Coordinator. Sall was a program manager for the International City/County Management Association in Washington, D.C., where she managed a USAID project in Afghanistan that helped improve local governance in the area by setting up systems and sharing valuable information for residents. “I want to be able to help speak into the university’s decisions about how we’re preparing students to enter the workforce and how we’re playing a role in the West Michigan community,” Sall said. Cardenas and Sall said they look forward to making an impact on the GVSU and Grand Rapids communities in the upcoming years. “I hope that after the eight years,” Cardenas said. “Grand Valley will be even more of a predominant place for kids in Michigan and across the country to attend.” The GVSU Board of Trustees is comprised of eight members who work with GVSU President Thomas Haas and his staff to make major decisions concerning budgets and other important matters. Each board member is appointed by Michigan’s governor and is then confirmed by the Michigan Senate before the member can begin an eight-year term on the university board.
COURTESY
BY ALLISON RIBICK ARIBICK@LANTHORN.COM
Students participate in hands-on learning
VICTOR CARDENAS: Cardenas graduated
from GVSU 15 years ago and served as the Student Senate president from 1998-1999.
SEE LEARNING ON A2