Grand Valley State University (GVSU) has announced a new delivery model for adults to advance their economic mobility and career opportunities. This new model merges the best of online and in-person support for adult learners.
Omni: A commitment to adult educational advancement
Omni from GVSU combines an expertly taught curriculum with the agility of flexible education delivered across GVSU’s expanding regional campus network and online. This allows adult learners anywhere to advance their education on a schedule that works with their life and work commitments.
GVSU offers online and in-person education opportunities (Courtesy photo)
GVSU’s Omni is designed to help Michigan residents advance in their careers through an educational experience that is flexible, fast and trustworthy.
“Omni represents a new commitment to adult learners in Michigan, many of whom have previous college credits or work experiences that can be recognized to create a custom path toward a GVSU certificate or degree,” said Philomena V. Mantella, President of GVSU.
Flexible learning opportunities
By blending regional campuses across Michigan with flexible online learning, Omni makes a GVSU education accessible to more adult learners than ever before.
“The needs of Michigan’s workforce demand bold solutions,” said La June Montgomery Tabron, President and CEO of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. “Opportunities like these are crucial to move our communities toward becoming more equitable places of opportunity, and also help parents better support their children so they can thrive.”
The Foundation is providing support for GVSU’s expansion in Battle Creek.
Guiding steps for advancement
Flexible education options help adults gain further education (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
GVSU Omni is led by Chief Executive Kara Van Dam, previously GVSU’s vice provost for graduate and lifetime learning. Van Dam brings more than two decades of experience in adult post-secondary education.
Van Dam joined GVSU’s leadership team in 2021 to lead a university effort to develop new ways to help the 2.5 million Michigan adults without a post-secondary credential improve their career path and earning potential by completing, or continuing, their education.
“Michigan faces a daunting challenge,” said Van Dam. “Nearly 50 percent of its adult population lack a postsecondary credential despite unambiguous evidence that continued educational achievement is the surest path out of poverty toward sustained economic security.
“Our regional network of campuses across the state and online educational offerings mean that, no matter where people are in their careers and education, GVSU Omni meets students where they are and guides their next step for advancement.”
Learn more about Omni
Enrollment in GVSU Omni’s initial programs will begin in the spring of 2024. Additional programs will be offered in the fall.
For more information about Omni, visit gvsu.edu/omni.
These days, students have multiple ways to get credit for college courses – and save college tuition – while still in high school. We asked a few from East Kentwood and Rockford high schools which options they chose, and why.
Advancing with Advanced Placement
Kyle Dent, East Kentwood senior
Kyle is tallying up Advanced Placement courses, hoping to start college next year with a semester’s worth of credits completed through AP calculus, AP biology and AP economics.
He loved AP statistics as a junior. “The way they teach the curriculum is amazing,” Kyle said. “I can communicate and relate with (the teachers).”
While he’s not sure where he wants to go to college, Kyle said he’s prepared because of the challenging courses he’s taken. “It allows you to get college credits if you are willing and able. … It pushes kids to another level.”
Kyle said he would have enrolled in EK Middle College had it started his sophomore year. The program started last semester.
“If I had had the opportunity to do it, I would have, without a doubt,” he said. “I don’t see a con to taking middle college and AP.”
Rockford junior Elsa Dondit said she enjoys the challenge of AP classes
Elsa Dondit, Rockford junior
Elsa is taking an AP language and composition class this year, which also earns her credit at Ferris State University. She took AP U.S. history as a sophomore, and plans to take AP psychology, calculus and literature as a senior. Besides the lure of earning college credits without racking up tuition costs, she says the courses help her learn college skills such as time management and preparing for a major exam.
Plus, she enjoys the classes. Although a lot rides on getting a good score on the AP test, she figures that helps her gear up for the demands of higher education. She’s considering Hope College or the University of North Carolina.
“I like the challenge of it,” said Elsa, who aims to study psychology or a medical field in college. “I like the push for this big test at the end. It’s a good environment to be in to get yourself ready: learning how to learn and learning how to take tests.”
Taking the Middle College Path
East Kentwood sophomore Olivia Lewis said learning to navigate college courses is a benefit to EK Middle College
Olivia Lewis, East Kentwood sophomore
In August, Olivia started taking the Grand Rapids Community College courses, “Introduction to College” and “Environmental Geology” as one of 25 students in the first cohort of EK Middle College. She and her peers will take two college courses each semester through their senior years taught by GRCC instructors at East Kentwood.
They will then complete a fifth year, technically still as East Kentwood students — but with classes on GRCC’s campus full-time — to earn a tuition-free, 60-credit associate of arts degree.
“At first I just wanted to try something different,” said Oliva, who is considering transferring to Michigan State University after GRCC to become a special education teacher. “I could have taken AP, but now I’m actually getting college credits and I don’t have to take an exam,” she added, referring to AP’s requirement to earn college credit.
“The program will show me how college works, what the teachers are like, and it will expose me to different expectations.”
Potential savings are huge. The cost of full in-state tuition plus room and board at MSU is $24,844 per year. Starting with two years completed could save Olivia nearly $50,000.
Olivia said her parents were pleased she signed on to the opportunity. “They were excited for me and glad I was going to get my associate degree early. They both didn’t finish college.”
East Kentwood sophomore Jad Ramadan said saving money is a major plus of EK Middle College
Jad Ramadan, East Kentwood sophomore
Jad joined EK Middle College because he saw it as a can’t-lose option. He explained: “In the beginning I wanted to challenge myself. I needed a challenge.
“I felt like it would save a lot of time and money that my parents didn’t have, so I could grow up and do what I wanted to do.”
He wants to be a defense lawyer and plans to transfer from GRCC to MSU or Ferris State University.
Olivia and Jad said they will try to squeeze AP classes into their busy schedules to build their stack of college credits even higher.
Covering All the Bases
Rockford senior Jacob Simkins takes both AP and early college courses to get a hard start on a university program
Jacob Simkins, Rockford senior
Jacob is taking classes in AP calculus, physics and biology. But he’s also taking college courses, in health care and medical terminology, from Grand Valley State University as part of Rockford’s dual-enrollment agreement with GVSU’s health science program.
Along with two AP courses he took last year, and a Ferris State senior composition class earlier this year, Jacob figures on piling up about 15 college credits by the time he graduates. That should give him a great jump on work toward a degree in the biomedical field, either at MSU or Central Michigan University.
Jacob said he’s happy to take advantage of both AP and early college courses, to save money and get college basics out of the way.
“I figure if they have the classes offered and I can take them, why not? I don’t have to waste credits on fulfilling prerequisites.”
He hopes to be doing graduate-level math by the time he’s a college freshman or sophomore, putting him further ahead toward a career in medical research. He said he relishes the challenge of college-level work.
“It’s the best. It teaches you how to learn, and how to buckle down.”
Rockford senior Jake Engelkes said AP courses are run like college classes
He is counting on both classes to help him get started at Indiana Wesleyan, where he has a baseball and academic scholarship. He says the courses help with his GPA and get him an early start on his business major. Because of the scholarship, he has to play ball for four years, but the college credits will still help, he says.
“It’ll just get me moving quicker to my major, and knocks out these classes that I would have to take,” Jake said, noting the FSU credits will transfer to Indiana Wesleyan.
“I think the AP classes prepare you so well for college,” he added. “The teachers do such a great job. They run it like a college class.
Rockford senior Riley Belcher says the AP tests make her a little nervous, but knows it will help her in college
Riley Belcher, Rockford senior
Riley also took FSU senior comp, which doubles as an AP class, and is taking AP psychology. The latter class causes her some anxiety, knowing she must pass the test to get credit for it.
“I’m not a great tester,” she admitted. “That scares me a little bit, but I know it’s going to help me in college in the major I want to go into.”
Riley plans to major in special education and get a master’s in school counseling. She’s looking at Taylor University — which carries at $35,000 tuition tag – and needs to score at least a 3 on the 5-point AP test in order to get college credit. Either way, she would still earn high school credit and gain background in her field.
She preferred the FSU course and excelled in it. The teacher was tough, she said, but in a good way.
“I like the freedom that we had. It was cool to see what I could work on, because he definitely pushed you harder to do better.”
