News

Director's innovative vision helping reform prisons
Heidi Washington, director of the Michigan Department of Corrections, has championed the motto: "Make prison time productive time." Her visionary leadership, which includes a partnership with Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary, is helping shift the tide inside Michigan's prisons. June 13,2023

Calvin students equipped to compete on the world's stage
In June, students from Calvin University head to Grenoble, France to compete in a Model UN competition. This past year, the team finished within the top ten of two national competitions featuring Ivy League schools and large state universities. June 8,2023

Calvin University 2023 grads reflect on earning bachelor's degree behind bars
Graduates from the Class of 2023 reflect on their experience earning a bachelor's degree from Calvin University behind bars. They talk about how the program shaped them and what they hope to do with their degree. May 10,2023

On a Mission to Inspire Students to Dream Bigger
For two decades, Matt Heun, a professor of engineering at Calvin University, has inspired students to go beyond their own expectations of themselves. This spring, he's the recipient of Calvin’s 2023 Presidential Award for Exemplary Teaching—the highest honor the university awards for teaching. April 21,2023

Going Beyond the confines to discover community
Ken and James came into prison at the same time and shared a cell in county jail. Over the past decade, their journeys inside prison took very different paths, but God brought them back together through the Calvin Prison Initiative program. Now, they're creating a community unheard of inside prison walls. April 6,2023

Calvin University Receives STARS Silver Rating for Sustainability Achievements
Calvin University has earned a STARS Silver rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. This year's overall score is the highest in the institution's history. March 29,2023

Discovering a deeper and more integrated faith
When Noro Dung was looking at colleges and universities, she wanted a place grounded and rooted in God, a place where she was not forced, but rather free, to pursue her faith. At Calvin, she's indeed found that freedom, but also discovered a deeper and more integrated faith. March 10,2023

From Hostility to Hospitality: How Calvin is Renewing Civics Education
The Civic Hospitality Project, a partnership between the Kuyers Institute and the Henry Institute, gives K-12 educators many curricular tools and exercises they can draw from in putting together their civics lesson plans. The goal? For civics education to aspire to more than simply tolerance. February 20,2023

Calvin students team up to save energy during January
During January, hundreds of Calvin students participated in Kill-A-Watt, a competition between residence halls to see who can conserve the most energy. Collectively, the residents saved 53,000-watt hours of electricity per day in the dorms. February 3,2023

Calvin University student awarded prestigious Hatfield Prize
Calvin senior Emily Steen is one of three students in the country to be awarded The Hatfield Prize by the Center for Public Justice. January 19,2023

Calvin in 2022: A Year in Review
From a presidential transition to the first-ever graduation ceremony behind bars to adding new sports, spaces, and academic programming, there was no shortage of exciting happenings at Calvin in 2022. December 31,2022

Transforming a campus into an arboretum
In 2022, Calvin University’s campus was designated as an arboretum. Certified arborist Bob Speelman, for whom the arboretum is now named, walks around the campus to pick out 12 of his favorite trees. December 21,2022

Calvin adds two new cohort programs for fall 2023
The Sustainability Fellows Cohort and Common Good Coalition are two new exciting options for students entering Calvin in fall 2023 to consider. The application deadline is December 15, 2022. December 12,2022

Engineering students shifting carbon into neutral at Calvin University
In a semester-long engineering class project, students developed their communication, math, and problem-solving skills as they discovered a path for Calvin to eliminate its natural-gas related net CO2 emissions from its heating. December 7,2022

Engineer's watershed moment having ripple effects
When Julie Wildschut '00 was a middle school student she had her watershed moment. Now three decades later, that moment is having a ripple effect on students, communities, and a watershed. October 21,2022

Calvin University to inaugurate Wiebe Boer as 12th president
The formal inauguration ceremony for Dr. Wiebe K. Boer will take place at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, in Calvin’s Van Noord Arena. October 5,2022

12 Discoveries President Boer Made in First 100 Days
Upon arriving at Calvin University in late June 2022, President Boer has been learning about the campus and the community. Here are 12 discoveries he's made as he's become reacquainted with his alma mater. October 3,2022

I'll take World-Renowned Speakers for 15 days
Calvin University's 2023 January Series features a NASA scientist, New York Times best-selling authors, a former speechwriter for three U.S. presidents, and the holder of the longest winning streak on Jeopardy! September 28,2022

Calvin Prison Initiative seen as national model for prison education
In late August, leaders of the U.S. Department of Education visited the Calvin Prison Initiative. Four hours later, they left inspired not just by stories of transformation, but by the strategic, thoughtful collaboration that is making CPI a national model to follow for prison education. September 1,2022

Calvin University Builds Momentum
Since Calvin changed its last name from "college" to "university" in 2019, the institution has established two new schools, added six graduate programs, set fundraising records, and become the first university in MIchigan to award bachelor's degrees behind bars. July 22,2022