SPNA RECOMMENDATION REPORT
DR. RICHARD JELIER
PROMOTION TO PROFESSOR
On February 9, 2009, the faculty of the School of Public & Nonprofit Administration voted to support Dr. Richard
Jelier’s promotion to full professor. The following presents a summary of the rationale for supporting this
recommendation based on Dr. Jelier’s teaching excellence, scholarly activities, and record of service.
Teaching. Over the past eight years, Dr. Jelier has been an outstanding instructor in both graduate and
undergraduate courses. Surveys of his students, examination of his course material, and visits to his classroom
reveal instruction to be content-rich, well organized, and academically rigorous. He sets high standards and
effectively guides students in achieving these standards. As an advisor, Dr. Jelier establishes a relaxed but
professional rapport with his students. The faculty also appreciates Dr. Jelier’s leadership in facilitating exceptional
study-abroad opportunities.
Scholarship. Dr. Jelier’s record of scholarship over the past eight years includes a book, book chapters (3), research
reports (5) conference papers (9), successful grant applications (7), a book review and conference presentations
(5). Dr. Jelier has generated over $100,000 from funded grant projects as part of much larger grant funded
research. The majority of the faculty believes that Dr. Jelier’s record of scholarship represents a good model for
our junior faculty. His research agenda is rooted in his community service and informs his teaching. Thus the
beneficiaries of his research are his students and community contacts, as well as his academic peers. He has
maintained a full teaching load while pursuing his research. While his peer-reviewed journal articles came early in
his academic career, his recent research has also been peer reviewed and positively received by outsider
organizations. In addition, his soon-to-be published edited book provides a forum for scholarship of others as well
as his own, and should make a significant contribution toward better metropolitan in Michigan.
Unit & University Service. Over the past eight years, Dr. Jelier has served the unit and university in a variety of
ways. Currently, Professor Jelier serves as the steward of the MPA’s urban and regional policy and planning
concentration and its international program activities. He currently represents SPNA on the CCPS Personnel
Committee. He is confounder of Michigan Higher Education Land Policy (MIHELP) a university consortium with
Michigan State and Wayne State to promote positive land use in Michigan. The Metropolitan Strategic Initiative
facilitates and publicizes GVSU faculty and student work regarding land use issues in Michigan. He served on the
International Advisory Committee, created a new summer faculty led study abroad program, Public Affairs and
Planning in Australia and established a full university to university partnership between GVSU and Macquarie
University. He was a convener for the provost’s liberal education initiative and a regular contributor to general
education with his work on the Cities Theme. He exceeds unit and university service requirements.
Community Service. Dr. Jelier has been involved with a number of community organizations involved with urban
planning, strategic land use, regional cooperation, sustainable development practices, and historic preservation.
This activity has inspired his research agenda, and his research findings have benefited the community.