The 31-member Calvin College Board of Trustees concluded its winter meetings today on the school's campus in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The winter meeting is one of three annual sessions for the Calvin Board. The Board also meets annually in October and May. 
One of the annual highlights for the Calvin Board is its interviews with Calvin faculty members. This meeting was no exception. The Board conducted interviews with 22 faculty members, including reappointment and tenure interviews. 
Earning tenure at Calvin as a result of the Board's approval were: Debra Bakker, professor of physical education; Beryl Hugen, professor of sociology and social work; Hyesook Kim, professor of music; Henry Luttikhuizen, professor of art; Helen Sterk, professor of communication arts and sciences; Thomas Thompson, professor of religion and theology; and Steven VanderLeest, associate professor of engineering. 
The Board also approved 15 faculty sabbaticals for all or part of the 2000-2001 school year for a variety of projects, including such things as a study of mathematical modeling of voting theory and arms control, an exploration of care-giving in families of young adults with mental illness and an examination of trade policies with developing countries, using Indonesia as a case study. 
The Board approved Calvin Research Fellowships for 17 faculty members, including nine who were designated as Diekema Fellows as part of a program begun by former Calvin president Dr. Anthony Diekema. Those 17 Calvin Research Fellowships are on such topics as the expansion of the universe, a study of the March on Washington, an analysis of mainline Protestant attitudes toward family and a look at religious reactions to the film industry. 
Another significant topic of discussion was the financial side of the college, including the setting of tuition and room and board rates for next year, the approval of an overall budget and an increase in Christian school tuition assistance for faculty and staff. 
Calvin's overall budget for 2000-2001 will be almost $64 million. That budget will see Calvin increase tuition assistance for children of faculty and staff. It also will see tuition and room and board rise 4.6 percent. Tuition will be $14,040 (up from $13,420) and room and board will be $4,890 (up from $4,680) for a total cost of $18,930. 
Calvin vice president Tom McWhertor notes that Calvin will award over $32 million in financial aid in 2000-2001 and that over 90 percent of the student body will receive some form of financial aid, making the actual cost to attend Calvin far less, in most cases, than the $18,930 figure. In fact, the average need-based award at Calvin in recent years has been over $10,000. 
"We have been named a Best Value by U.S. News & World Report for several years running," says McWhertor, "and that's for a couple of reasons. One is that our tuition and room and board charges are well below the national average for four-year private colleges, especially when you look at schools that are comparable to Calvin academically. Second, we have a very generous financial aid program." 
As part of an ongoing Board initiative, members of Calvin's Anti-Racism Team, including McWhertor and provost Joel Carpenter, led a discussion on racism and multiculturalism. 
The Board also attended a special Faculty/Board dinner where Calvin's Presidential Award for Exemplary Teaching was given to professor of communication arts and sciences Quentin Schultze. Schultze is the eighth winner -- dating back to the award's inception in 1993 by then-president Anthony Diekema. The award includes a one-of-a-kind medallion and provides the winner with a significant financial stipend thanks to the George B. and Margaret K. Tinholt Endowment fund, set up at Calvin by an anonymous donor in honor of George Tinholt, a former member of the Calvin Board of Trustees.