CLAS launches 'signature' effort to strengthen student success

Members of CLAS and the overall university community were instrumental to successfully launching the Voyage, leaders said. Here are some reflections of a few of the people who were part of the effort:

Louis Cousino, a current applied statistics graduate student who helped gather data for the Voyage as a sociology undergraduate:

"I was able to analyze student survey data for the CLAS Center for Experiential Learning when I was a student in Quantitative Methods in Sociology. Working with a community partner was a great experience, and I'm glad the Voyage enables students to have similar opportunities."

John Gabrosek, professor of statistics, was a team member in the Summer Institute in both 2024 and 2025 and served on the Voyage Implementation Team.

"I wanted to be involved in the CLAS Voyage because I see this as an opportunity to positively shape the student experience in the major. Having every student in the Statistics major engage in at least two experiential learning components and reflect on those experiences as part of a Reflective Portfolio will help students show prospective employers what they can do.

"Placing college-level importance on this initiative allows faculty to spend time creatively envisioning the Statistics Voyage!"

Kristen Hedges, associate professor of anthropology, was a facilitator in CLAS visioning discussions, where the strengths of high-impact practices emerged. Hedges later served as a faculty fellow to help expand those opportunities for students.

"Working with GVSU students is one of my greatest joys. Not only are they deeply committed to their education, but many also pay for it themselves. While GVSU has a strong tradition of offering internships, study abroad programs, undergraduate research and field schools, not all students can participate.

"The CLAS Voyage solves this challenge by weaving high-impact practices directly into every unit's curriculum. This ensures that all students, not just those who can afford extra opportunities or time to seek them out, have access to these transformative experiences."

David Zwart, associate professor of history, served as a faculty fellow for the Voyage.

"I wanted to be involved because I have seen the impact of experiential learning, when it is done well. I wanted to help make it barrier free for all students because the impact on their development can be profound. I have taken students on a short study-away experience to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore for the past decade, and I have seen how the experience has helped students connect the classroom learning to the specific place as future social studies teachers.

"The Voyage provides the infrastructure to enhance and highlight, recognize and support equitably the amazing learning opportunities professors in programs provide for students."