- Available wireless networks
- Supported devices and operating systems
- Wireless locations (complete list)
- Troubleshooting
- Report a problem
Available Wireless Networks
Calvin provides different ways to connect to Calvin's wireless network depending on your relationship to Calvin.
The CalvinStudents wireless network is available for all currently enrolled Calvin students, dual-enrolled students, and admitted students who have paid their deposit. The CalvinWireless network is available for all current faculty and staff as well as teaching emeriti. These networks require a Calvin account and passphrase and are not available for guest/visitor use. Any current Calvin student, faculty, or staff should use these networks (not Guest).
The Guest network is available for all visitors and guests. This network is available campus wide in all locations that CalvinStudents/CalvinWireless is currently available and requires authentication every 24 hours.
Role |
Wireless Access |
Authenticated/Open |
| Full-time faculty | CalvinWireless | authenticated |
| Part-time faculty | CalvinWireless | authenticated |
| Visiting faculty | CalvinWireless | authenticated |
| Visiting scholars | CalvinWireless | authenticated |
| Teaching emeriti | CalvinWireless | authenticated |
| Active emeriti | CalvinWireless | authenticated |
| Inactive emeriti | Guest | open |
| Full-time staff | CalvinWireless | authenticated |
| Part-time staff | CalvinWireless | authenticated |
| Temporary staff | CalvinWireless | authenticated |
| Contract employee | CalvinWireless | authenticated |
| Retiree | Guest | open |
| Student | CalvinStudents | authenticated |
| Admitted applicant | Guest | open |
| Deposited admitted applicant | CalvinStudents | authenticated |
| Students on Hiatus | CalvinStudents | authenticated |
| Graduates | CalvinStudents | authenticated |
| Ex-students | CalvinStudents | authenticated |
| Dual-enrolled students | CalvinStudents | authenticated |
| Board of trustees | CalvinWireless | authenticated |
| Guest/parent/visitor | Guest | open |
Note for students: At peak times, the wireless networks may experience slowness or disrupted connections. If you experience slowness or disruption, CIT recommends using ResNet. Each dorm room or apartment is equipped with at least one ResNet (wired Ethernet) jack per resident. You can request an ethernet cable at any time. If you are using a stationary device - such as a game system, DVR, desktop computer - please connect the device using Ethernet rather than wireless. This will give the stationary device a better connection and help accommodate mobile devices on wireless connections.
Supported Devices and Operating Systems
The CIT HelpDesk provides support for wireless connectivity for Microsoft Windows (XP SP3, Vista SP2, 7 SP1) and Apple Macintosh (OS 10.4.11+ or OS 10.6.7+) computers only at this time.
We are unable to provide support for the following devices but have complied online instructions for connecting:
- Android or iOS mobile devices
- Internet-ready devices such as Game consoles (Wii, Xbox, Playstation), Nook, Internet TVs, DVRs.
- GNU/Linux computers (provided by the Computer Science Abstraction club)
We are not able to support connecting personal desktop printers to the wireless networks. Many wireless printers do not have the configuration options for our network security. Students can print from their personal computers to public printers using WebPrint. Most personal desktop printers can be connected directly to the computer with a USB "A to B" type cable.
Wireless Locations
Wireless is available at all locations listed in the table below. Please note that coverage is not campus-wide and connectivity is only guaranteed at the specific locations listed below.
Academic/Administrative Buildings |
Location |
| Calvin Crossing (OP) | All |
| Chapel (CP) | All, including outdoor plaza |
| Commons Annex (CA) | Basement level - Commons Lecture Hall (CA014) |
| 1st floor -lobby area | |
| 2nd floor - meeting rooms | |
| Commons (CM) | Johnny's Cafe |
| Dinning hall eating area | |
| Covenant Fine Arts Center (CF) | Auditoriums |
| Atriums | |
| Center Art Gallery | |
| Recital Hall (CF107) | |
| 2nd floor classrooms | |
| DeVos Communications Center (DC) | 1st floor (200 level) |
| 2nd floor (300 level) | |
| DeVries Hall (DH) | Atrium |
| 1st floor - north end | |
| 3rd floor - DH306 lab | |
| Basement level - WMRL | |
| Ecosystem Preserve Interpretive Center (EI) | All |
| Engineering Building (EB) | All |
| Hekman Library (HL) | 1st floor - ITC |
| 2nd floor - all | |
| 3rd floor - library area and Library Lobby (fireplace) | |
| Meeter Center Lecture Hall (HL320) | |
| 4th floor - library area only (not Meeter Center) | |
| Hoogenboom Center (HC) | Heath Services |
| Hoogenboom gym | |
| Knollcrest Dining Hall (KD) | Dining area only |
| Mail and Print Services (MP) | All |
| North Hall (NH) | All classrooms |
| Physical Plant (SR) | Office areas |
| Prince Conference Center (PC) | All |
| Raybrook Building (RB) | Parts of 1st and 2nd floor |
| Science Building (SB) | All classrooms and labs |
| Seminary (SM) | Common areas |
| Spoelhof Center (SC) | Basement level - lab theater and Gezon Auditorium |
| 1st floor - atrium, coffee shop, classrooms | |
| 3rd floor - Broene Center, Student Life, President's Office area, Academic Services, classrooms | |
| Spoelhof Fieldhouse (SF) | Lobby |
| Pool | |
| Surge Building (LN) | All |
| Van Noord (VN) | Van Noord Arena (arena and hospitality suite only) |
| VN227 | |
| VN235 | |
| Venema Aquatic Center (VA) | Pool area |
| Youngsma Center (YC) | All |
On-Campus Residence |
Location |
| All residence halls/dorms | All |
| Courtyard apartments Alpha, Beta, Delta, Gamma, Kappa |
All |
| Other apartments PhiChi, ThetaEps, RhoTao, ZetaLam |
All |
Troubleshooting
If you are experiencing problems connecting to wireless, you may stop by the HelpDesk with your computer during business hours (8AM - 5PM Mon-Fri).
For your convenience, the following troubleshooting steps may resolve the issue:
- Is your wireless card turned on?
Many laptops have a physical wireless switch on either side or the front. These switches can be easily bumped into the "off" position. Other laptops have a wireless "hot button" on or above the keyboard, or allow wireless to be switched on/off by holding down the Fn key (usually in the bottom left area of the keyboard) and pressing the corresponding function key along the top. - Are you in an area that has wireless coverage?
We cannot guarantee connection outside of the areas listed above. Occasionally, an unreliable connection will be possible outside of these areas due to what is known as wireless bleed. - If you are attempting to connect to CalvinStudents or CalvinWireless, have you successfully configured the network on your computer?
For security reasons, connecting to these networks is not as simple as selecting the network and clicking Connect. There is a bit of setup involved that can be done manually or by connecting to the wireles_setup_instructions network, loading an Internet browser, and following the instructions. The XpressConnect application will automatically configure the wireless network on your computer. - If you are a student attempting to connect to CalvinStudents, have you successfully registered your computer on the network this semester?
Each semester (fall, interim/spring, summer) we reset the system that manages the student wireless network; you will need to connect to CalvinStudents, open an Internet browser, and follow the instructions for setup and registration. In order for your computer to be registered, it must pass our system requirements. - If you are connected to CalvinStudents but have a 10.3.x.x IP address,
you have connected to the network but the computer has not completed registration. If you believe you have successfully completed the registration, please reboot your computer. This will release and renew the IP address and place your computer on the correct network. If you have not completed registration, please load an Internet browser and follow the instructions. - If you are unable to connect and have received a notice regarding an Acceptable Use Policy or DMCA violation, please contact Student Life.
Report a Problem
Please complete and submit the following form if you would like to report a wireless connectivity problem to the HelpDesk. The submitted form will be entered into a work order. You will be contacted and/or updated on the status via your Calvin e-mail.
