Calvin-Parents E-Newsletter: July 19, 2011

PASSPORT reminders

Student orientation, PASSPORT III, will next be held on July 25 and 26. Check the PASSPORT pages if you are attending any PASSPORT sessions this summer for a schedule, registration information, a list of what to do before you arrive, academic testing/music auditions information, etc.

If you have general questions, contact orientation@calvin.edu (616-526-8507).

Housing: dorm assignments and roommates

First-year and transfer students who applied before the May 1 priority housing deadline have already received roommate information and have been encouraged to contact each other so they can get acquainted, share information about what they are bringing, etc. All other students will receive their roommate information, as well as residence hall assignment, in early August via e-mail. Students will not know their specific room assignment until they move in at the end of August. All housing correspondence will be sent to the student's Calvin-sponsored e-mail address.

Visit housing»

Campus safety: parking permits

All vehicles on Calvin’s campus must have a permit. Students can register for a parking permit on Portal by going under the “Services” tab, scrolling to the “Campus Resources” section, and selecting “Register/Renew my Car.” Vehicles registered between August 1and September 6 will receive a discounted rate. After registering, please remember to pick up your vehicle sticker from the campus safety office and fully affix it to your windshield. Until your sticker is fully affixed, your vehicle is considered unregistered. See this site for more parking regulations.

Visit campus safety»

Academic resources

A new publication recently sent out from admissions and financial aid is Planning Your Academic Life at Calvin (.pdf). Here is more information about academic life at Calvin:

One helpful tool is the Academic Evaluation Report which is a real-time document that lists the courses required for graduation. It applies each student's course work to the various requirements of the core, majors, minors and cognates to show what requirements are completed, those that are in progress and those that have yet to be started.

Read some other frequently asked questions about academics, advising, transcripts, academic help, disability services, etc.

Textbook reservations

Getting textbooks can be an overwhelming part of your student's "back to school" experience. Let us make this process easy and convenient for everyone with our online Textbook Reservation system where you'll find a variety of textbook options aimed at saving you money. Options can include used textbooks, rentals and e-books. This is a great way for your student to get the right books for fall semester picked and packed just for them.

If your student wants to do this, he or she will get an e-mail notice in early August when our system is open, they may log in and access their book list, and place a reservation. Book orders will be delivered directly to dorms before classes start, or held at the store for off-campus students.

Remember, an online textbook reservation saves time and money! In the meanwhile, consult the Incoming Student Information and Gifts page to prepare for the start of school.

Health services: KnightCare

Have you noticed a $1216 charge on your son or daughter's miscellaneous account? This is the premium for KnightCare, Calvin's student health insurance plan. Students who enrolled in KnightCare or failed to submit an insurance waiver in the spring are charged the premium during the summer, and payment is due in full by September 1st. Information about the plan can be found here.

There is still time to opt out of KnightCare. Students or parents can download and print a waiver form and submit it to health services. You can find the waiver form online.

If you have any questions or concerns, contact Kelly Moore in health services (616-526-6660).

Got questions?

Can't find what you need? Not sure which department to ask? Confused by the Calvin lingo? Ask the parent relations team — we check the parent relations e-mail account regularly during business hours and will respond within one business day if possible. A list of frequently asked questions is found there, such as, "How can I see a copy of my student's tuition statement?" and "What are the core classes my student needs to take?"

Parents are now "friends"

When we invite people to events for "alumni and friends," we mean you! Parents and families are always welcome at any alumni chapter event anywhere. We will remind you of events in this newsletter, but you can always keep track of alumni happenings here. If you are an alumni-parent, please consider inviting parents/families that might not know about these events. Currently, there's a summer event planned for Alaska on August 1, and a couple on/around campus this fall (42nd Annual Golf Tournament: September 10, 2011; Homecoming and Family Weekend: October 21 & 22, 2011).

StreetFest International is an invitation for all alumni to continue the Calvin tradition of "learning to serve and serving to learn." Through this project, alumni will work together, in conjunction with their local alumni chapter, to serve our Lord and learn about His creation. Choose a day--or several--during September 3-11, 2011, to make a difference in your own community! Incidentally, this week coincides with StreetFest 2011 when incoming students participate in service-learning projects throughout the local community.

Travel opportunities

Have you heard about Calvin Alumni Travel for alumni, friends and families? Trips planned for 2011 that are still open for more guests include: America's National Parks (Sept. 8-18), and China: Past and Present (Oct. 24-Nov. 7). But don't delay. If you are interested at all, contact the alumni office today (616-526-6142; alumni@calvin.edu) to find out what the last day is to sign up for these fantastic learning and traveling opportunities.

Information about Calvin-Parents

Calvin-Parents, an e-mail newsletter, is published to inform Calvin parents of campus news, programs, events and other helpful information and is published weekly when classes are in session, and 1 to 2 times per month during the summer. If you wish to add additional e-mail addresses (work, grandparents, etc.), change delivery to a different address, or unsubscribe, go to Calvin-Parents or send those instructions to parents@calvin.edu. Additional parent resources (to order student treats, to participate, to plan visits) are available for you on the parent website.

If your student has graduated and/or you no longer wish to receive Calvin-Parents, we will be happy to unsubscribe you. You may email us at parents@calvin.edu.

Thank you for participating in this important communication link between the college and Calvin families. If you have any suggestions for us, please send them to parents@calvin.edu (or call 616-526-6142). Have a blessed summer!