The university requires students living off-campus to update their current and accurate local address in the university's student information system, Workday. As with all student records, the university will maintain local address records within all applicable FERPA regulations.
It is a best practice in higher education for institutions to know where their students live and how to reach them efficiently. When there are emergencies or safety concerns, it is critical that the university have the ability to contact students in various ways, sometimes in-person.
The policies for off-campus living for Calvin students can be found on our Off Campus Living policy page. Local ordinances about occupancy, parking, garbage, mowing, shoveling, and noise are all important. Students are subject to the authority of the City of Grand Rapids (or other localities, such as Kentwood, depending where they live) and could face follow up from the Calvin officials if local authorities or neighbors report concerns to the university.
Failure to submit a current and accurate local address by the published date will result in a $50 late fee. If after two additional weeks the matter is still unresolved, an additional $50 late fee (hence, $100 total) may be added to the student’s account.
Furthermore, students must verify via digital signature their acknowledgement of the applicable policies and implications outlined in the policy itself. If charged with a violation by local authorities, students face consequences as defined by those groups, including evictions and other civil penalties for non-compliance. Additional disciplinary action by the university could be enforced as well.
Calvin cares about its students and the city of Grand Rapids. We work in numerous ways already with city-wide organizations such as schools, neighborhoods, agencies, boards, churches, etc. As the largest private college in the city that does not provide on-campus housing for all its students, it is in Calvin’s best interest, and we believe in our students’ best interest, to foster close and cordial partnerships with our neighbors.
In the past, some of our students have lived in situations which have had the potential to create negative consequences for neighborhoods. Cars and noise are just two tangible problems associated with such situations. Hence, neighbors, city representatives and the police appreciate the college’s off-campus housing policies, as they help in protecting property values, providing guidelines for tenant behavior, and reducing some of the problems associated with college houses or overcrowding.
We also care about our students. Living outside the rules and ordinances can put students in conflict with local authorities and neighbors, and can prevent students from reporting their landlords for unsafe rental conditions, for fear they would be found in violation of other ordinances or zoning rules themselves. The safety of students, and ultimately the Christian witness of all of us at Calvin, is improved when we live within the boundaries provided for us.
Here is some simple advice on how to live in compliance:
Spend time researching your available and legal options.
For friendship groups of more than four, consider apartment complexes where you can live in the same building or find a duplex where you can rent both sides.
In Grand Rapids area neighborhoods, negotiate with your landlord on what you can afford to pay when you are living with four or fewer occupants. Living within the zoning rules is in their best interest as well!
Although quite complex, and therefore unlikely, suggest that your landlord investigate the possibility of securing a variance from the city for the rental property to be legally permitted to exceed four (4) unrelated people. Neither you nor the university can request this—it is the property owner’s responsibility.