Welcome to Calvin
We’re excited to kick off this academic year. Please take a moment to review the important details below.
Important Checklist
Whether you are a new or returning student, make sure you take time to go through the student checklist.
2025 Move-In
Returning students who will be living on campus are scheduled for move-in between Friday, August 29 – Monday, September 1. Please use the maps on the Move-In page to see the traffic-flow plans for your residence hall or Knollcrest East apartment. If you need to move in before August 29 because you are working on campus, starting a leadership position, or are required to for an athletic team, please reach out to your supervisor or coach for approved early arrival dates. For general move-in questions, please email housing@calvin.edu.
For new students who will be living on campus, there are several move-in dates based on your orientation program.
- For students attending International Orientation, move-in is Sunday, August 24, 2025 (10 a.m. – 10 p.m.).
- For student athletes, move-in dates and times are dependent on your sport. Coaches will sent emails confirming scheduled move-in times.
- All remaining first-year and transfer students should plan to attend 'Welcome Week' orientation. Your move-in is Thursday, August 28, 2025 (8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.)
For questions regarding orientation, please contact orientation@calvin.edu.
For questions regarding housing and move-in, please contact housing@calvin.edu.
For questions regarding arrivals for Impact Orientation or International Orientation, please contact Esther Kwak at esther.kwak@calvin.edu.
Grow your faith this year
Chapel is held daily in the chapel sanctuary. Chapel will be held from 10:30–10:50 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and from 9:50–10:10 a.m. on Tuesday and Thursday. You can also watch live on our YouTube channel.
- Mondays we belong as one body of Christ through multicultural worship.
- Tuesdays we gather to be with each other in our work, learning, and worship.
- Wednesdays we hear the Word and believe the good news.
- Thursdays we stop to be still in the presence of God.
- Fridays we sing to be loud in praise to God.
See the full chapel schedule and find a Chapel Buddy to join you!
LOFT (Living Our Faith Together) will meet every other Wednesday night at 9 p.m. in the chapel. LOFT is a time of worship and response. Think of it as a “Friday Chapel Plus!” The first LOFT of this year is September 11. Here are the LOFT dates for 2024-2025:
- September 11, 25
- October 9*, 30
- November 13
- December 4*
- January 29
- February 12, 26*
- March 19
- April 9, 30*
*Indicates Lord’s Supper
The Church Info Fair will be held on Wednesday, September 4 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. on the Commons Lawn (Note: this is the day BEFORE Cokes 'N Clubs this year). While not everyone from our list of local churches will participate, many will be on campus to provide more information about their services and programs.
Small groups
Our Campus-wide Bible study for the fall 2024 semester will be a 7-week study on Daniel: Patterns of Discipleship with a free curriculum provided by Campus Ministries. More details about available groups led by faculty, staff, and students will be forthcoming here.
Every residence hall has a Barnabas Team that will provide Bible studies, prayer times, worship or other expressions of faith and discipleship. When you move in, look for more information on the unique opportunities available for discipleship across campus.
Pastoral care
Our staff love to meet with you 1:1 or in small groups for pastoral care. Stop by the Campus Ministries office suite (Hekman Library 321, just up the new stairs from Peet’s) or email Pastor Mary, Pastor Paul, Sarah Vermerris or campusministries@calvin.edu to set up a time to connect.
Our pastoral partners (local church pastors) also meet with students on campus. Our pastoral partners are: Pastor Moon Bae Kim from Korean Grace CRC, Pastor David Sung from Living Water CRC, Pastor Tarence Lauchie from Grace for the Nations Church, and Dr. Michelle Loyd-Paige. Each of them will have office hours for student appointments.
For the most updated information regarding Campus Ministries, follow us on Instagram @calvincampusministries.
Other Ways to Stay Well
Looking for a local health care provider? Do you need some support for your mental health? Or maybe academic support? Calvin’s outstanding wellness and support services have you covered. Calvin boasts one of the Top 20 Best Health Services and Best Counseling Services for colleges and universities in the country, according to the Princeton Review.
- Make Calvin Health Services your primary care facility while you’re a student–full services, great rates, working with virtually all health insurance providers.
- Stop by the Center for Counseling and Wellness or Student Success to see the ways they can help you thrive.
For these and other resources and supports for your wellness here, visit our wellness and safety website.
Campus Store
For students needing to purchase course textbooks, please visit the Campus Store or order on-line.
All book orders placed online take 24–48 hours at minimum to be ready for delivery or pick up. Students will get an email when their order is ready. If you need textbooks more quickly than the 24–48 hour window, just come into the store and purchase them off the shelf. DO NOT wait until the day before or the first day of class to order your books. We suggest that books get ordered as soon as you get your class schedule. You may order books online for pick up or delivery.
Tuition Insurance
Protect your investment in higher education. At Calvin University, we believe it is important to offer an easy, affordable way to protect the investment you and your family have made in higher education. That is why Calvin University has partnered with GradGuard to provide our students and their families with tuition insurance featuring special plans and rates not available to the general public.
This insurance offered by GradGuard supplements our tuition refund policy by reimbursing students for tuition, room, board and other fees for covered illness/injury or mental health condition withdrawals at any time during the semester.
To get a quote or learn more about selecting this optional tuition insurance from GradGuard go to calvin.edu/go/tuitioninsurance or call 877-794-6603.
Dining Services
Dining Services is thrilled to be part of connecting food and community with you! Some important highlights for this year:
- To see our meal plans, available to residential and commuter students, visit our website.
- Changes to your meal plan can be requested through the meal plan change request form.
- Have you downloaded Eatable yet? With the Eatable app, you can order ahead and check your meal plan balance.
- Dining hours may be viewed at any time on the dining services website.
- Knollcrest Dining Hall will be open for lunch Monday–Friday (in addition to Commons and Uppercrust).
- Peet's Coffee is excited to return to the Commons Union/Hekman Library
- Johnny’s Café will be open for business from 10am-9pm
- The Knight Fuel Markets are located on the main floor of Spoelhof University Center, Spoelhof Fieldhouse, and in lobby of the DeVos Communications Building. Knight Fuel Market is open to the public and accepts Knight Bucks, credit, and debit payments.
- Green2Go is back: In-person meals continue for the dining halls, but for those on the go, the Green2Go program will continue for easy carryout.We cannot wait to see you, Knights! Stay tuned to our Facebook and Instagram pages for the latest on-campus dining options and new offerings coming soon!
Family/Guest Accommodations
Have supporters or parents coming for a visit? Prince Conference Center is the perfect place to stay and is located here on Calvin’s campus! Use code 'PRNT' when reserving a room online to receive the parent/supporter discount.
Calvin’s Inaugural Football Season
Planning to cheer on the Calvin Knights Football team this fall?
Get your free Student Section ticket the Thursday before each game at the welcome desk in the Spoelhof Fieldhouse Complex lobby. These tickets are very limited and will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis. You’ll need a student ID to claim your free pass.
If you want a guaranteed spot, you can purchase a ticket for $5 through the Box Office website.
Plans are in the works to facilitate student transportation from campus to the game, as well as parking details. Keep an eye out for more helpful information in the coming weeks.
In addition to football, be sure to cheer on Calvin’s fall athletic teams, including Men’s and Women’s Soccer, Women’s Volleyball, Men’s and Women’s Cross Country, Men’s and Women’s Golf, Men’s and Women’s Tennis, and Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving. Link to news, schedule, rosters and more at CalvinKnights.com!
Upcoming events
• Monday, September 1—Movie: TBD, 3-5pm
• Monday, September 1—Labor Day Root Beer Kegger Concert and BBQ, 5:30-8:30pm
• Thursday, September 4—Cokes 'N Clubs, 5:30-7:00pm
• Friday, September 5—CHAOS NIGHT
• Wednesday, September 10—Jessica Pratt w/ Claire Cirroco Concert (CFAC Auditorium)
• Friday, September 12—Movie: Sinners (CFAC Auditorium)
• Saturday, September 13—Hanna Cohen Concert (CFAC Recital Hall)
• Friday, September 19—Over the Rhine Concert (CFAC Auditorium)
• Friday, September 19-Saturday, September 20—DORM RETREATS
• Friday, September 26—Bed Races, Cornhole Tournament
• Friday, September 26—Worldy Amusement Band Concert
• Friday, October 3—Movie: TBD
• Saturday, October 11—Movie: TBD
• Thursday, October 25—Movie: TBD
• Friday, October 31—Movie: TBD
• Saturday, November 8—Common Hymnal Concert (CFAC Auditorium)
• Saturday, December 6—Chris Renzema Concert (Chapel)
• Tuesday, December 16—Late-Knight Breakfast