GV COVID-19 campus data update

The GVSU community has had a cumulative total of 3,933 cases since Aug. 1, 2020. The university’s update for this brief was from Friday, Oct. 22.

Through testing results this past week, GVSU’s Virus Action team have so far reported 65 current active cases including four faculty members, seven staff members, 12 on-campus students, 21 “off-campus Ottawa” students, 19 “off-campus Kent” students and two “off-campus other” students with active COVID-19 cases.

“Current active cases” is the count of positive cases reported to the Virus Action Team over the past ten days.  This is an estimate of those currently in isolation, assuming a ten-day symptomatic period following the reporting of a positive test result. Actual periods of isolation are specific to the individual and determined by the county health department.

Testing and Incidence: GVSU’s own testing program has performed 102,429 tests overall since August 1, 2020, for a cumulative positivity rate of 1.39% from the latest update as of last week. A total of 1,501 tests were performed over the last seven days.

“GV Surveillance” includes the GV/Spectrum administered programs of randomized testing, regular testing of high-risk groups, and invited testing of individuals connected to potential clusters. A calendar is available. “GV Total” includes surveillance testing plus all symptomatic/exposure tests administered by Spectrum.

Vaccination: GVSU encourages all students, faculty and staff to receive the COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible. All students, faculty and staff are required to be fully vaccinated by Sept.30, barring a medical or religious exemption or postponement. According to the COVID-19 data dashboard, 80% vaccination rate in the GVSU community is required to reach herd immunity and minimal virus transmission.

Currently, approximately 80% of students report being fully vaccinated, while approximately 83% of faculty and staff reports being fully vaccinated.

GV receives $2M from anonymous donor for scholarships

An anonymous donor has donated $2 million to create full-ride scholarships for first-generation college students. The T4 scholarship is connected with the Rapid Education Prototyping for Change, Learners, Community and Equity (REP4) initiative, which Grand Valley State University founded.

The first 10 T4 Scholars were selected from 130 high school seniors who participated in the Midwest Learner Design Summit at GVSU this summer. After the summit, students attended the national convening of REP4, where they pitched their ideas for improving equity in higher education.

Former GV president Hass to be inducted into Michigan Military and Veterans Hall of Honor

President Emeritus Thomas J. Haas will be inducted into the Michigan Military and Veterans Hall of Honor Nov. 19 in Lansing.

Haas is being recognized for his service in the Coast Guard, as well as his leadership at Grand Valley State University. Haas graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 1973, serving two years in Port Huron and 23 as a member of the permanent commissioned teaching staff at the academy. Haas served as president of Grand Valley State University from 2006 to 2019.