Move In Begins this Week at Calvin

August 28, 2006 == MEDIA ADVISORY

Move-in day at Calvin College is Wednesday, August 30, a day the college
expects some 1,036 first-year students to move onto campus, an increase of
about 30 students from last year and up about 130 from the year before.

That large first-year class, coupled with more sophomores, juniors and seniors
who want to live on campus, has meant a pleasant problem for Calvin's residence
life staff: the dorms are full.

But, in resourceful residence life fashion, the college has addressed the
issue. It has converted most of the coffee kitchens (rooms on each floor
intended as community gathering spots) in the men's residence halls into rooms
for resident assistants.

Calvin dean of residence life John Witte jokes that the overcrowding in the
halls has been a summer stressor for him and his staff. But, he says, more
students living on campus is exactly what the student life division at Calvin
is looking for.

"There is research indicating that students who live on campus perform better
academically," he says.

All told 17 coffee kitchens have been converted into dorm rooms, including
being wired for telephone, computer and cable TV. All of the rooms will be
inhabited by resident assistants.

"I knew that they would be accommodating, and indeed they have been," says
Witte. "I think all the first-year students are going to have a pretty normal
residence hall experience. No one's happy that we're losing the coffee
kitchens because they're great community spaces, but it is hopefully a
temporary displacement."

As a more permanent solution to the problem the student life division is
looking at expanding the residential options on campus.

Shirley Hoogstra, Calvin's vice president for student life, says the demand to
live on campus seems to increase every year.

"There are a number of reasons for that," she says. "Parents expect that
colleges will provide housing options all four years. Also, with student
schedules getting busier and busier, living on campus allows students to be
close to the library, co- curricular meetings and classrooms, and that saves
time. The community aspect of college is valued."

Hoogstra says her staff is eager to welcome students back to campus living and
to do it well.

"We want the places where students live to say, 'We care about you and all
aspects of your lives.' Having places to play, eat, work and plan together
benefits everybody."

Calvin will begin classes on Tuesday, Sepember 5.

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Received on Mon Aug 28 10:35:43 2006