Dear Families of Grinnell Students, 

I am delighted to welcome you to this special issue of The Middle of Everywhere, focused on the families of incoming students. You will receive four more issues of this connections newsletter this year, and we appreciate your readership! Our aim is to provide you with news from Grinnell, provide a glimpse of what your student may be experiencing, and share resources that your student may find useful.

This first issue is particularly focused on families of incoming students, but there will also be news you can use that applies throughout your student's Grinnell College experience.

This is an exciting time of year, as we wrap up summer work, internships, research (and vacations!) and all of the knowledge and discovery that they fostered -- and simultaneously look forward to welcoming students and families to campus, for pre-orientation programs, athletics, and new student orientation. Then the fall semester will be upon us with all of the activity, joy, and vibrant campus life that comes with each new academic year!

I look forward to seeing you and your treasured Grinnellians soon.

Anne F. Harris

President

Welcome from the Parents and Families Leadership Council Co-Chairs Susan Anderson and Doug Shulman P’26

As parents of a senior, we are thrilled to welcome you to Grinnell! Our son’s first three years have been both enriching and rewarding, and as parents we have marveled at the education, fellowship, and growth he has found at Grinnell. Our hope is that your student will also enjoy the deep academic, community, and extracurricular experiences that Grinnell offers. It truly is a special place. We wish you and your student the best as they transition to college life.

We’re thrilled to welcome your student to the Grinnell College community! As they begin this exciting new chapter, our New Student Orientation (NSO)program, held Aug. 22-27, 2025, is designed to help them transition successfully into college life—academically, socially, and personally. During orientation, students will connect with peers, meet faculty and staff, explore campus resources, and begin building the foundation for a successful college experience. These sessions are essential for helping them feel confident and supported as they begin their journey. View the Full Schedule

While orientation is primarily for students, we understand that this is a big transition for families too. We offer a Parent and Family Online Orientation to help you learn more about the student experience, campus services, and ways to support your student’s growth and independence. You can view the full program at the link above.

We are honored to partner with you in supporting your students’ success and can’t wait to welcome them—and you—into our community!

We are excited to invite you and your students to the Grinnell College Welcome Ceremony, taking place on the first day of NSO, a special event designed to celebrate the beginning of their academic journey with us. This meaningful tradition marks the official start of the college experience and introduces students to the values, community, and spirit of our institution.

Event Details:

Aug. 22, 2025

3:30 p.m. CST (please be seated by 3 p.m.)

Charles Benson Bear '39 Athletic Center, Darby Gym

During the ceremony, students will be welcomed by college leadership, faculty, staff, and students, and participate in a symbolic procession with their fellow classmates. It’s a moment of pride, inspiration, and encouragement as they take their first steps into college life.

We encourage parents and families to attend and share this milestone occasion. For those unable to join us in person, the ceremony will also be livestreamed so you can watch it from anywhere. We hope you’ll join us, whether on campus or online, as we celebrate the beginning of this exciting new chapter together.

Welcome Weeks

As your student begin their journey at Grinnell College, we are excited to share details about Welcome Weeks—a series of events and activities held Aug. 28-Sept. 18, 2025, that are designed to help new students feel connected, supported, and confident as they settle into campus life.

Throughout Welcome Weeks, students will have opportunities to make new friends, explore student organizations, attend social events, connect with campus resources, and build a strong foundation for a successful first year. These activities are a fun and important part of helping your student transition to college. We encourage you to talk with your student about the events they’re attending and how they’re adjusting to their new environment. Your encouragement and support play a vital role in their success. Thank you for being part of this exciting new chapter. We’re proud to welcome your family to our community!

Tips for Helping Your Student Transition to College

The new student transition can be exciting, scary, challenging, and important to understand. Having conversations with your student as they prepare for their journey is important. One of those conversations can be about "The W-Curve Model" which helps to reframe support during the next six weeks. You can learn more at W-Curve Model and college students - Mayo Clinic Health System.

Stay connected. Whether it’s a long call or a quick text message, regular communication with friends and family at home is important for maintaining a support system. These connections remind your student that they have people cheering them on.

Encourage them to ask for help. There are so many incredible FREE resources at Grinnell, and one of the secrets of success here is knowing how to take advantage of them. There is zero shame in seeking help in this community, so urge your student to ask questions, visit their faculty during office hours, and explore new opportunities on campus.

Send some snail mail. Finding a care package, postcard, or letter in the mail might just be the surprise pick-me-up your student needs on that day.

Celebrate the achievements, no matter the size. Whether it’s an A on a tough assignment or hitting a PR in the athletic center gym, words of encouragement are positive reinforcements that inspire students to continue learning and growing.

Be patient with the adjustment. Even for our high-achieving students who excelled throughout high school, Grinnell can feel overwhelming, especially in the first year. The good news is that everyone here at Grinnell is committed to helping your student succeed. So, the progress might not always look linear, but we’ll be there with you and your student along the journey.

News You Can Use

Reminders from Student Financial Services

• The deadline to waive the Student Health Insurance plan is August 14, 2025. The student will need to login to the Gallagher Student Health website to submit a waiver or enroll in the coverage. *These must be re-submitted every year.

• The fall 2025 due date has now passed, and the balance should be paid-in-full (this includes enrollment in a payment plan). If you have not yet paid your balance, please remit payment today.

• Please plan ahead for charges that may post after the semester starts. This may include parking permits, shuttle charges, carpool fees, etc. Notifications for these types of charges are only sent to the students, so we recommend that your student monitors their online account throughout the semester/year and prepares for items they know they will need. 

• Make sure your student also has a plan to pay for other expenses that do not appear on the bill. Expenses that may arise right away include transportation to campus and items to make the residence hall feel like home. These expenses are generally the student’s responsibility to cover. You can find estimates of what your student might spend on the Cost of Attendance website. Remember that essential books and course materials are included in the cost of tuition.

• If your student has student employment included in their financial aid offer and plans to carry a balance for this amount and pay it off with work-study earnings, they must complete a Student Intent to Work form. They are responsible for making regular payments throughout the semester and ensuring that their balance is paid in full by the last day of the semester.

• Outside scholarships and employer tuition benefits that will be paid to Grinnell (not the student) and are not received by September 12 will be removed as a credit on your student’s bill on September 12. If those funds are received later, they will be re-added as a credit on the student’s fall semester bill at that time. Please account for this if you are enrolled in a monthly payment plan and your student has outside scholarship/tuition benefit funds that will not be disbursed by September 12.

Global Learning Program International Opportunities for First-Year Students

The Institute for Global Engagement (IGE) is pleased to announce the Spring 2026 Global Learning Program (GLP) courses. Made possible through a generous gift from Susan Holden McCurry ’71 and the Holden Family Foundation, GLP courses are semester-long courses co-taught by two Grinnell faculty members on campus that explore critical global issues. As part of the course, participants travel together on two trips over spring break in March and right after the semester ends in May for site-based, experiential learning activities that deepen students’ understanding of the course theme. 

Course applications will open for students in the IGE application portal on Sept. 10 and are due on Oct. 9, 2025. There is a course fee associated with a scholarship to offset the course fee for students on institutional need-based financial aid. Questions? Contact Ashley Laux, lauxashl@grinnell.edu.

Consider applying for Grinnell-in-London!

Grinnell-in-London (GIL) is a spring semester opportunity to study in London as a cohort of Grinnell students led by two Grinnell faculty. GIL connects the rigorous academic experience at Grinnell to the historical, cultural, political context of the United Kingdom through the semester living in and exploring London and the surrounding region. Students take at least two Grinnell-taught courses and may choose from a variety of electives taught by local London faculty. Participation is open to second-year students as well as third-year students as well as seniors. The faculty leaders and their courses are listed below for GIL Spring 2027 and GIL Spring 2028.

If you have questions about GIL, please contact Susie Duke, dukesus@grinnell.edu.

GrinnBooks Offers Immediate Access to Course Materials 

As we move closer to the beginning of the academic year, we are writing to provide you with more information about GrinnBooks. This college-wide program provides students enrolled at Grinnell with immediate access to their required textbooks at the start of each term. Beginning this year, the cost of textbooks will be included in the comprehensive fee.

Participating in GrinnBooks is simple! All students are automatically enrolled in Grinnbooks. No further action is required to participate.

Physical textbooks will be available at the Pioneer Bookshop for pickup beginning Aug. 24. Students will receive an email from the Pioneer Bookshop when physical books are ready. They should bring their Pioneer One-Card to retrieve them from the bookshop.

A complimentary shuttle will run between the JRC and the bookshop on the half hour during Pioneer Bookshop business hours Aug. 24-Sept.6.

A full shuttle schedule will be posted on the GrinnBooks website.