GV COVID-19 campus data update

Since GVSU began conducting random testing on campus Aug. 27, the cumulative total COVID-19 cases since August 1^st is 1,004. The university’s update of data used for this brief was from Friday, Oct. 16.

Through testing results this past week, GVSU’s Virus Action team have so far reported 42 current active cases including 2 faculty member cases, 7 staff members, 2 on-campus students, 18 “off-campus Ottawa” students, and 10 “off-campus Kent” students, 3 “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 16,577 tests overall since August 21, for a positivity rate of 0.15% from the latest update as of the last week.

“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.

GV professor honored with Professor of the Year Award

Stephen Mattox, professor of geology, received the Michigan Association of State Universities’ Michigan Distinguished Professor of the Year Award, which recognizes the dedication of faculty members to undergraduate students. The other two recipients of this year’s award are Saginaw Valley State University Professor Joseph Ofori-Dankwa and University of Michigan Professor H. Scott Fogler.

 Each university was invited to nominate a faculty member who has had a significant impact on undergraduate student learning through various activities, particularly classroom instruction, applied research, experiential learning, innovation and mentoring.

“I am honored to receive this recognition for the Geology Department, the Integrated Science program and GVSU,” Mattox said. “GVSU students inspire me to generate projects that take them into the field, to professional meetings and to the pages of science education journals. To see the students grow as geologists and science teachers is a tremendous reward.”

Mattox has taken students around the globe to advance experiential learning. His accomplishments include becoming director of a newly founded study abroad course in collaboration with Grand Rapids Community College and the University of Iceland.  

He has obtained four National Science Foundation grants and developed a statewide program for high school students to earn college credit in geology. He has earned statewide and national teaching awards and was also awarded Grand Valley’s highest faculty honor, the Glenn A. Niemeyer Award.