This year, Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary mark 150 years of shared mission and ministry. For a century and a half, God has been faithful—calling, shaping, and sending graduates into churches, classrooms, clinics, businesses, and communities around the world. That legacy is not only something to celebrate; it is something to steward.
“The landscape of higher education is changing rapidly,” said Greg Elzinga, president of Calvin University. Declining enrollment nationwide, rising costs, and new questions about the value of college—especially in an age shaped by artificial intelligence—create real challenges for Christian institutions. Yet these headwinds do not signal retreat. They invite discernment, courage, and renewed trust in God’s calling.
“At Calvin, we believe this moment calls for both rootedness and innovation: Rootedness in Christ and in the Reformed conviction that all of life belongs to God. Innovation in how we prepare students to serve faithfully in a complex, fast-changing world,” Elzinga said.
Calvin’s liberal arts foundation, sometimes questioned in utilitarian times, continues to prove its value. Calvin alumni data tells a compelling story. Pre-health graduates are accepted into medical and professional programs at almost twice the national average. Calvin’s accounting programs rank second among almost 300 mid-sized universities nationwide for CPA exam pass rates. These outcomes reflect more than technical preparation; they reveal the power of an education that integrates faith, intellect, and vocation.
Each year, more than 1,000 new students from over 60 countries join the Calvin community. They come to study nursing, ministry, engineering, education, business, and more—but they also come to be formed. “Formation remains at the heart of our shared ministry. Faculty mentor students not only academically, but spiritually and professionally, helping them discern how their gifts meet the world’s needs,” said Elzinga
That formation is being strengthened through intentional renewal. Calvin is reaffirming its historic mission while responding boldly to today’s realities. Faculty are encouraged to innovate through interdisciplinary and experiential learning. Professional development in areas like digital pedagogy and ethical engagement with AI ensures educators remain thoughtful leaders in their fields. Across disciplines, students are learning civil discourse, intercultural understanding, and faithful engagement with difference, skills essential for Christian witness today.
Calvin University is also preparing students for meaningful work and lifelong calling. “Employers consistently seek the strengths Calvin cultivates, like critical thinking, collaboration, communication, ethical judgment, and adaptability. Structured alumni mentorship, internships, and community-based projects help students connect learning to real-world service,” Elzinga said.
Looking ahead, Calvin is expanding pathways, launching new programs, and integrating AI and digital literacy across the curriculum, including the development of an AI-focused major grounded in Christian ethics. These efforts are not departures from the school’s mission, but expressions of it.
The world does not need Christian graduates defined only by what they know. It needs women and men shaped by who they are in Christ, agents of renewal who think deeply, act justly, and live wholeheartedly for God’s glory. That has been Calvin’s shared ministry for 150 years. By God’s grace, it will continue for generations to come.
Photo: Calvin University provides students with rootedness in Christ and in the Reformed conviction that all of life belongs to God, as well as innovation in how to serve faithfully in a complex, fast-changing world.