While identity is deeply rooted within the structures of society, when choosing a university students often consider an inclusive environment supportive of diverse identities and individual needs.

To advance inclusion and equity within Grand Valley State University’s campus climate, administrative changes were announced Sept. 30 by Gayle Davis, provost and executive vice president for Academic and Student Affairs.

The transition includes the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Women’s Center and Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center changing from the student services division to the Division of Inclusion and Equity. Assisting the transition is Bart Merkle, vice provost for student affairs and dean of students, who provided leadership and support in the development of the three centers.

“I think we’re in the process of continuing to try and create a climate on campus that meets the students, faculty and staff’s needs,” Merkle said. “The goal is to serve our students in a broader way at the university.”

Additionally, a memorandum of understanding currently being developed will ensure collaboration between the units. It includes a joint appointment that reports to the vice provost of student affairs and Jesse Bernal, the vice president for Inclusion and Equity.

In addition, Marlene Kowalski-Braun, current assistant vice provost for student affairs, will become the associate vice provost for student affairs and inclusion. Kowalski-Braun said the divisions will continue a close relationship with student services while defining and broadening the influence on the three centers’ development.

Bernal said the Division of Inclusion and Equity at GVSU, one of the “first of its kind” in higher education, is continuing to continually evolve in necessary ways to respond to the needs of the growing and diverse community.

“The move of the three identity-based student centers to the division is a continuation of this evolution,” Bernal said. “This has the potential to enhance both the work of the centers, by engaging more intentionally with faculty and staff, as well as the work in Inclusion and Equity to become more student-centered.”

The transition aims to support broader division goals advancing an intersectional identity and social justice approach to work, Bernal said. The shift will allow GVSU to connect the work of identity communities directly while aligning to support racially and ethnically diverse communities, the LGBT community and gender equity along with previous work in the division.

“This requires thoughtfulness about the complexity of identities that build our community and how identities intersect, LGBT women of color for example,” Bernal said. “Those identities shape experiences on campus.

“I am grateful for the leadership and vision of Dean Bart Merkle and Provost Gayle Davis who have provided exceptional leadership in developing these well recognized and student-centered units.”

Returning to a faculty member, Nancy Giardina, vice provost for student success, will conclude her role in the provost’s office at the end of the fall semester.

Other changes being made include the Student Academic Success Center, led by Giardina, which is now housed in the student services division, while enrollment development moved from academic and student affairs to its own division led by Lynn Blue, vice president for enrollment development.

“We are confident the change will add value to the entire university to advance equity and inclusion broadly,” Bernal said, “and we are committed to maintaining deep collaborations and connections with student services.”