Engagement, Community & Opportunity

Grand View University aspires to serve a varying, multi-faceted community of learners - students, faculty, and staff - in a welcoming environment so that each learner can achieve their fullest potential. Our objective is to foster and sustain a campus environment free from imbalance and/or bias, while also preparing students “called and empowered to serve the neighbor so that all may flourish.1” At Grand View University, we adhere to the Lutheran tradition of being “rooted and open;” we value differing beliefs, backgrounds and perspectives and welcome and affirm the thoughts and experiences each distinct member brings to our community.

Guiding Values and Principles

  1. We affirm the value and worth of all people; no one’s dignity or humanity is subject to debate.
  2. The Grand View community recognizes that all are at different stages of awareness and appreciation of our multi-faceted community and encourages, educates, and challenges all to grow.
  3. Strategic planning and implementation must include representation of the varied perspectives of our community and be made accessible to all stakeholders.
  4. Our work begins with the commitment to improve the campus environment. All are welcomed to contribute to the problem-solving process and expected to handle differences of opinion or perspective with respect.
  5. Planning should be rooted in data, stories, and the historical experience and the lives of our community, as much as possible.
  6. We are committed to continuous institutional assessment and improvement, and all members of our community are encouraged to do the same. 

Purpose of guiding values and principles:

  • To be the bridge from the statement on Engagement, Community, & Opportunity to the specific work/goals identified for the institution to undertake.
  • To help shape the discourse on this topic on the campus with the expectation that conversations will, at times, be difficult and uncomfortable.

Engagement, Community & Opportunity Advisory Team

The Engagement, Community & Growth Team (Team ECO) is a consultative body of students, staff, and faculty that guides the campus forward so that the aspirations of Grand View’s Statement on Engagement, Community, & Opportunity become our institutional standard. This ongoing work includes:

  • Intentional promotion and collaboration with campus partners offering Engagement, Community, & Opportunity programs.
  • Identifying policies and procedures that encourage student community engagement and growth.
  • Gathering regularly to evaluate, educate, and recommend any appropriate policy changes as well as reviewing campus climate information.

1 Rooted and Open: The Common Calling of the Network of ELCA Colleges and Universities, page 8