Datatel, Inc. has recognized Calvin as one of two Datatel Partners in Excellence award recipients for 2006.

Datatel presents the award each year to one two-year institution and one four-year institution. Recipients receive a $4,000 unrestricted gift and a plaque.

Datatel president and CEO H. Russell Griffith recognized Calvin at the opening general session of the 2006 Datatel Users' Group Conference and Expo in Washington, DC.

The Datatel Partners in Excellence Award is presented annually to client institutions that work closely with Datatel and demonstrate a strong commitment to excellence in higher education.

Calvin has been a Datatel client since 1989 and has often participated as a beta test site for various Datatel technology initiatives.

Says Virginia van Andel, database administrator for Calvin: "We have a true partnership with Datatel - one that has enabled us to maintain a reliable operations environment through ongoing software upgrades, integrations, and additions."

Calvin vice president Henry De Vries notes that Datatel provides the college with two major software packages, Colleague and Benefactor, that serve as the college's complete administrative information system. 

Colleague, he says, is the major system and has everything from payroll to transcripts to financial aid to admissions to paying bills to sending out student statements.  Benefactor serves the specialized needs of the Advancement division (development and alumni functions).

Of the award DeVries says simply: "More than anything, this award recongizes the talents of Calvin employees, both in Calvin Information Technology and in administrative departments.  These employees have mastered the Datatel software to serve the Calvin community and they have also shared their knowledge to the benefit of the over 600 colleges and universities that also use Datatel."