From President Anne F. Harris | | |
Dear Families of Grinnell Students,
I hope that this message finds you and yours in good stead and in joyful pride of your student’s accomplishments this semester. We on campus are very proud of your student! This is a wonderful time of year to be at Grinnell College. As the semester ends with its customary culmination and intensity, we have several cherished traditions that students enjoy each year, as well as numerous study breaks and other opportunities to take a breath during projects and exam preparation.
On Friday, Nov. 21, downtown Grinnell hosts Jingle Bell Holiday for the evening. Features include hot chocolate, shopping with late hours for downtown businesses and a winter farmer's market, entertainment, carriage rides, and more.
If your student isn't traveling home for Thanksgiving, Dining Services hosts a full Traditional Thanksgiving Meal – the meal is splendid and prepared with loving care: all are welcome!
Each year, the amazing team in Development and Alumni Relations, in fellowship with students, hosts Arctic Lights. On Dec. 3, we'll gather on Mac Field to light Gates-Rawson Tower, enjoy a hot drink, and hear performances from student groups.
In what is one of the most anticipated nights of the year, the team in Dining Services hosts our renown Dessert Extravaganza on Dec. 15, where students can taste hundreds of desserts from the traditions and recipe books of our talented and sought-after chefs. It's a sweet way to kick off exam week!
Within the joy and activity of the end of a semester, no matter what year your student is in, we acknowledge that this period can feel overwhelming at times. Our campus is home to caring staff and dedicated resources to help with challenges of all kinds. Please encourage your student to check their email for resources, or refer to the families page of the Grinnell web site for academic support, accommodations, health and wellness, end-of-semester transportation, and more.
We are so grateful to have your students at Grinnell, experiencing and amplifying our traditions, being part of the community, and bringing the curiosity and purpose that makes Grinnell so special.
Warmly,
Anne
Anne F. Harris
President
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Grinnell parents Chris and Michele Delaney consider themselves lifelong fans of liberal arts education.
Graduates of liberal arts colleges themselves, the couple has a daughter studying at Vassar College and their son, Cole Delaney ’27, attends Grinnell. “It was not a hard sell,” Michelle recalls. “We’d talked about this experience all of our lives, and both kids wanted a smaller school environment.”
Michele grew up in southern Minnesota and still has family there, so although Cole was raised in Portland, Oregon, he was familiar with the Midwest. “He appreciated the farm country he experienced in Minnesota,” Chris says. “But coming from a city of one million to a town of 10,000 was more of an adjustment than he initially thought. He’s since embraced it, so it’s been a positive experience.”
A psychology major, Cole has thrown the javelin for Grinnell’s track and field team. “Because he had met some team members before coming to campus, he had built-in connections,” Michele recalls. “Knowing he’s connected with a team and a coach was comforting when we drove away and left our child.”
When Michele and Chris decided to donate to Grinnell through their family fund, they approached Coach Jeff Pedersen ’02 about supporting the track team. “He gave us ideas, and soon after, we learned about the Parents and Families Leadership Council, which we joined,” Chris says.
“It’s a wonderful resource for new families,” Michele explains. “I remember listening to other parents early on, and it was so reassuring. Now, we are glad to be able to give advice of our own.”
Currently the Council’s vice chairs, much of the Delaneys efforts revolve around phone and email campaigns. “My new insight I share with parents is to make sure their student gets involved with the Center for Careers, Life and Service (CLS) sooner rather than later,” Chris says. He garnered this advice from a recent CLS presentation to the Council, which included data indicating the importance of connecting to these resources by sophomore year.
Read more about the Delaneys
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Support Our Students!
As a member of the Grinnell community, you’ve witnessed how this remarkable place empowers students to think boldly, explore deeply, and grow into thoughtful changemakers. Through the individualized curriculum, close faculty mentorship, and hands-on research opportunities, Grinnellians discover their passions — and pursue them with purpose.
Every gift, no matter the size, helps sustain the Grinnell experience for today’s students — curious minds who will shape tomorrow’s world. By supporting them now, you’re investing in a future led by compassionate leaders, bold thinkers, and creative problem-solvers. Please make a 2025 tax-deductible gift to Grinnell:
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Give right now using our online giving form. To be tax-deductible for 2025, your online transaction must be completed by 11:59 p.m. CST on Dec. 31, 2025.
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Call 866-850-1846 toll-free weekdays through Dec. 23 (8 a.m.-5 p.m. CST), Dec. 26-29 (10 a.m.-2 p.m. CST).
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Mail a check to Grinnell College’s Office of Development and Alumni Relations, 733 Broad St., Grinnell, IA 50112, dated and postmarked by Dec. 31, 2025.
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Contribute appreciated securities to Grinnell and support the College while gaining valuable tax advantages. To make a gift by transferring stock or other appreciated securities, please refer to our Stock Transfer Instructions. Stock transfers need to be completed by Dec. 9, 2025, for 2025 tax purposes.
| | | News from the Division of Student Affairs | | |
Get Involved!
Student Involvement offers students various opportunities to join clubs, participate in registered student organizations, and make connections. A list of our student-created and student-run organizations can be found at Student Organizations | Grinnell College.
Off-Campus Housing Policy: Grinnell College is a residential college where all full-time students are required to live in student residences and board with College Dining Services all four years. The number of students granted off-campus permission is determined by projected total enrollment for the upcoming term. Only current and rising seniors may apply for off-campus housing. Students are not approved to live off-campus until an offer is received from Residence Life. A resource for students Living Off-Campus is available at Off Campus Housing Guidelines - Learn What You Need to Know. This is a helpful resource for students approved for off-campus housing.
Student Support and Advocacy within the Division of Student Affairs provides assistance to students experiencing significant difficulties or crisis situations to ensure that each student has the opportunity to achieve their academic and co-curricular goals at Grinnell College. Contact us at 641-269-3700, email Student Support and Advocacy, or complete the Refer a Student of Concern form.
Student Health and Wellness (SHAW) offers a variety of in-person services to support students' holistic, well-being including health visits, physicals, reproductive health, individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, telepsychiatry, 24/7 "Need to Talk" support line, nutritional therapy appointments (on a limited basis), and numerous virtual resources.
Incorporating movement into routine can help manage or reduce stress! For this semester, SHAW is partnering with Emily Rose Yoga & Co for a virtual Yoga & Mindfulness Mini-Series every Monday from 4:15pm-5:15pm. This series invites all members of the Grinnell campus community to pause, reset, and reconnect. SHAW and the Department of Physical Education, Athletics, and Recreation, in partnership with UnityPoint, continue to offer High-Intensity Interval Training, which focuses on boosting energy, building muscle, and finding joy in movement!
The Center for Religion, Spirituality, and Social Justice (CRSSJ) is a place on campus to ask big questions, receive emotional and spiritual support, connect with community, and ensure that your student's religious and spiritual needs are met during their time at Grinnell. The CRSSJ is for all students, whether they identify as religious, spiritual, secular, or anything else! The center promotes creating spaces for belonging, connection, and growth. We are here to support your student in their time here at Grinnell. Please visit the High Holy Days Calendar 2025–26 for more information.
Our Campus Safety team provides 24-hour support for our campus community. As we start the academic year, we wanted to highlight some of the important information and resources. Some quick items to review:
| | Local Roots, Global Vision | | |
Work with a Grinnell food initiative inspired Tristan Davis ’25 to explore environmental change on a global scale.
When Tristan Davis ’25 first visited Grinnell College, it was the small classes and close faculty relationships that drew him in. But what he found in his four years as a student extended well beyond the classroom: a deep connection to the community, an opportunity to engage in meaningful local work, and, ultimately, the inspiration to pursue a graduate degree abroad in the growing field of environmental humanities.
Originally from San Bruno, California, Davis, a sociology major, found a second home in Grinnell, one rooted in shared labor, local food systems, and mutual care.
Davis' journey into community-engaged work began the summer after his second year, when he decided to stay in town and work at Grinnell Farm to Table, a local food initiative that connects producers with consumers through an online market and supports low-income households with donated produce.
That summer internship became a turning point. It soon developed into a service leadership work-study position supported by the Center for Careers, Life, and Service, allowing him to continue contributing to the organization in a more sustained and intentional way.
Read More about Tristan's Experience
| | Semester Study-Away Applications Are Open! | | |
The Institute for Global Engagement (IGE) is encouraging applications from students interested in studying away in the U.S. and abroad in fall 2026 and spring 2027. The early deadline for guaranteed semester preference is December 5, and the final deadline for both fall and spring is February 1.
Students generally study away during the third year or fall of the fourth year, although Grinnell-in-London is open to students during the second semester of their secondyear. After obtaining Grinnell approval for a specific program, students apply directly for admission by the program’s deadline.
Information about featured programs, the application process, and helpful resources can be found in IGE’s portal at travel.global.grinnell.edu.
| | Philosophy Professor Joe Neisser Receives Grant for Memory Research | | |
Joe Neisser, professor of philosophy and adjunct to the neuroscience concentration, received a $99,865 subaward from a National Science Foundation grant “Investigations of Spatial Recognition Memory to Improve Cognitive Outcomes in Epilepsy Surgery (1R01NS144894-01).” The research supported by this grant has the potential to aid in the testing for and treatment of epilepsy.
Many people with epilepsy continue to experience symptoms because the disorder, especially as it relates to episodic memory, is not completely understood. The NIH grant creates an opportunity to study memory processes for episodic memory and develop neuropsychologic tests that provide information about how the brain works during these processes. Eventually, the results will inform treatments for memory issues related to epilepsy.
Neisser says, “We’re hoping, primarily, to contribute to the general knowledge of memory disorders and improved outcomes for treatment. We also believe that this research can contribute to the science of consciousness. Personal memories can be among the most powerful and valued experiences in life. And some forms of memory, such as recognition and familiarity, are active moment-by-moment in everyday life, informing experience with layers of depth and meaning.”
| | 5 Questions with John Thabiti Willis | | |
Grinnell’s new Department of African Diaspora Studies (ADS) is all about bringing the stories, creativity, and experiences of people of African descent to the center of campus life. Rooted in Black, Pan-Africanist, Africana, and Black feminist traditions, the department encourages students to explore how African and diasporic communities have shaped, and continue to shape, the world through art, culture, resilience, and imagination.
Leading the way is John Thabiti Willis, the Kesho Scott Chair of African Diaspora Studies and associate professor of history. Thabiti’s work dives into the history of Africa and its global connections from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean and how performance, labor, and heritage help tell those stories. We caught up with him to talk about what this new department means for Grinnell, what excites him most about the work ahead, and what inspires him beyond the classroom. Learn More About Professor Willis.
| | CLS Career Communities Trek with Students to Minnesota and Missouri | | |
Ben Brewer ’11 with students Sophia Mason '26, Alina Ihnatesku '26, Medhashree Adhikari '26, Noah Biniam '26, Warren Bingcang '27, Betel Aga '27, Brisa Zielina '27, Zoe Zappas '27, Renzo Iurino '27, Lorelei Balmer '28, and Violet McCloskey ’28
In October, two Center for Careers, Life, and Service (CLS) Career Communities embarked on treks to Minnesota and Missouri. Students from the Health Professions Career Community, led by Director Mary Jane Shroyer, traveled to the Heartland Premedical Conference at A.T. Still University to explore the requirements for preparing for medical school. Hosted by a consortium of Midwestern osteopathic medical schools, this annual conference brings together aspiring physicians from across the region, allowing them to learn from admission experts and current medical students. For more details, please visit the related blog post. The Arts, Media, and Communications Career Community students and Associate Director Destini Ross traveled to the Twin Cities in Minnesota to visit with Grinnell College alumni in landscape architecture, visual and performing arts, and nonprofits, as well as non-alumni professionals in the publishing industry.
CLS industry-specific treks like these provide clarity about career goals, connect students with mentors, and create space to explore what a future career might look like. Students can learn more about upcoming treks, including the Education Professions and Career Community trek to Chicago, Illinois, in November and the Government, Law, and Policy Career Community trek to Washington, D.C., over spring break, in partnership with the Rosenfield Program. Registration for the Washington, D.C., trek opens November 10, 2025, learn more on the Rosenfield Program website.
| | Ombuds Office Provides Confidential Support | | |
Greetings from the Ombuds Office,
It is my pleasure to serve the Grinnell College community, in particular, aiding those who may be navigating unfamiliar situations, might benefit from consulting with a confidential thought-partner, or would like assistance generating options to resolve a conflict or concern. Some look to the office as a quiet, judgement-free space to reflect on their experiences, to be heard, or to identify potential resources. All comers, for all reasons, are welcome.
As the fall semester progresses, students will find themselves deep into papers, projects, and preparations. This is of course, in addition to routine studies and co-curricular participation on a lively campus, at a time when many are also considering pathways to bolster career or continued education readiness. Simply put, this requires more of students who may already be feeling at capacity.
Supporting your student through all seasons – celebratory and stressful alike – is a community-wide responsibility and privilege. You are welcome to contact me directly or suggest to your student that they connect with me independently. I invite you to learn more about what to expect when visiting the Ombuds Office and close with wishes for your student’s every success.
Deborah Dodge, Ombuds
641-269-9399 or ombuds@grinnellcollege.edu
| Scholars' Seminar Boosts Students' Learning Development | |
As you talk with your student about their fall semester and look forward to spring, consider encouraging them to enroll in ASC 101: Scholars’ Seminar, a 2-credit short course about the art and science of learning.
Did you know that good learning is not intuitive? Cognitive science and other fields within psychology provide evidence for approaches to learning that are efficient and effective.
The course offers a survey of psychological theories of learning, a focus on the potential barriers to learning and how to hurdle them, an exploration of metacognition and emotional development, and how to apply these evidence-based strategies to students’ learning at Grinnell. This course is open to all Grinnell students who have completed at least one semester of college.
In addition to this course, students are always welcome to visit any of the academic resource centers. Unsure who to connect with? Start by making an appointment with one of the academic coaches in the Academic Success Center. Appointments may be scheduled online!
| Grinnell College Museum of Art Presents Primary Sources, Programs | |
Primary Sources: Recent Acquisitions to the Museum’s Art Collection
Through December 14, 2025
The Grinnell College Museum of Art’s collection grows significantly every year with purchases from endowed funds as well as gifts from alumni and friends of the College. These objects are regularly the focus of classroom study, original research, and exhibitions by students, staff, and faculty across the curriculum, while at the same time enriching the cultural life of the community. Primary Sources features art acquisitions from the past three years, most exhibited here for the first time, including a generous number of paintings, prints, drawings, and sculpture given in 2023 by Kathleen Narber and the late Gregg R. Narber ’68.
Primary Sources installation view. Photo by Daniel Strong.
Yoga in the Museum
Tuesdays at 12:15 p.m., October 7 – December 9
Enjoy a free 30-minute yoga practice with Joy Jones. Open to all levels, mats provided. Co-sponsored by Live Well Grinnell.
Gallery Talk: Collaborating with Alumni Collectors Gregg and Kathie Narber
Wednesday, November 12, 4 p.m.
The creation of the Grinnell College Museum of Art gave alumni collectors the chance to forge new relationships with the College. For Gregg ’68 and Kathie Narber, their involvement meant advising on the creation of an exhibition of contemporary Brazilian art, and subsequent gifts to the museum from their personal collection. These gifts in turn have been used for teaching, exhibitions, and community outreach, as the Narbers intended. Former Director Lesley Wright will discuss her long association with the Narbers and the ways their friendship has benefited the museum and campus.
Trans Yoga Day
Tuesday, November 18, 12:15 p.m.
A special session of Yoga in the Museum that creates a space for Trans people and allies to do yoga together, moving and breathing in honor of Trans Day of Remembrance. Co-sponsored by Stonewall Resource Center.
Black Art in Iowa: A Story Map
Wednesday, November 19, 4 p.m.
Students Princess Alexander '26, Yessenia Alvarz Zamora '27, Alexander Caballero Reyes '28, Ashtynn Geans '27, and Amy Kan '27, worked with Art History Professor Fredo Rivera '06 to create a story map of Black art in Iowa as part of the classwork during spring semester 2025. This presentation will walk viewers through their work, which included the Dindga McCannon piece currently on display in the Grinnell College Museum of Art.
Art History Senior Thesis Presentations
Friday, November 21, 4 p.m.
Please join us for a lightning round of talks showcasing this year's art history senior thesis projects. Presenters include Princess Alexander, Kelly Boor '26, Kiele Calhoun '27, Aubrie Connell '26, Vivian Finch '26, Dorothea Qin '26, and Jesica Rodriguez Beyer '26. Our seven presentations range in geographical and chronological scope, ensuring there will be something interesting for everyone!
Graphic Medicine Exhibition Opening Reception
Wednesday, December 10, 11 a.m.
Bucksbaum Rotunda
Join us for an exhibition of student comics generated as an assignment for Maria Tapias' class, Graphic Medicine: Reading Medical Comics Anthropologically, in partnership with the Grinnell College Museum of Art's (GCMoA) Curator of Academic and Community Outreach Tilly Woodward. The course explored the burgeoning field of graphic medicine, works from the museum’s collection, and the ways comics can give voice to the patient experience and increase empathy among health care practitioners. Students conducted ethnographic interviews that became the basis for their comics; the students will be available for conversation about their preparatory work and final projects during the reception. Refreshments will be served. Co-sponsored by GCMoA and Humanities in Action. The exhibition will continue through January 31, 2026.
Study Break @ the GCMoA
Friday, December 12, 4 – 5:30 p.m.
Explore the Primary Sources exhibition and learn more about Mexican photographer Graciela Iturbide. Enjoy some chips and salsas (made by the GCMoA team in the Global Kitchen) and enjoy a little down time after the last day of classes for fall 2025.
| We are excited to continue an event series featuring distinguished alumni and College representation. These events are designed to foster meaningful connections, provide insight into the Grinnell experience, and uplift inspiring stories from some of our talented alumni. As we finalize details, we encourage you to stay informed by reviewing event information as it becomes available on the In Conversation event series webpage. Details will be posted approximately 4-6 weeks before event dates. Your participation helps strengthen our community, and we hope we can welcome you near your hometown soon! | |
News You Can Use
Reapplying for Need-Based Financial Aid for 2026-2027
The deadline for domestic (U.S. citizen and eligible noncitizen) students who would like to apply for need-based financial aid for the 2026-2027 academic year is April 1, 2026. Further instructions are posted on the Grinnell College website. Winter break is a great time to complete financial aid requirements for next year.
International students who receive financial aid and domestic students who receive only merit scholarships do not need to reapply for the 2026-2027 academic year.
Office of Student Accounts Important Dates
Nov. 21: Spring 2026 tuition will be billed, and spring payment plans will open for enrollment. If you are planning to use a payment plan, please enroll as soon as possible.
Dec. 12: Payment due for Winter Break fees.
Dec. 19: Payment due for spring 2026.
Jan. 01, 2026: Sign up by this date to receive your 1098-T, tuition tax form, electronically. It is strongly recommended that you opt-in for the electronic access.
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Visit ECSI Electronic Consent Application. Register for a new profile or sign In to existing one.
- Follow the step-by-step instructions on the web form.
- Check the box and click Submit & Accept.
Jan. 31, 2026: The College will be mailing paper copies of the 1098-T, Tuition Statement on or before this date. Questions regarding eligibility for education credits should be directed to a tax professional.
If Grinnell does not have your student’s SSN or taxpayer ID number, please contact the Office of the Registrar with this information to ensure accurate reporting of your tuition statement. Please do not submit this information via email.
Academic Year Housing Dates
Important considerations:
- Residential spaces do not close for fall break, Thanksgiving recess, or spring break.
- Students can pay an additional fee to stay in their residential space during winter recess; that information and the application process are shared each year in the middle of the fall semester.
- Returning students can apply and pay for housing over the summer; that process is released and communicated to students in the middle of the spring semester.
- Residence life partners with a storage company in Grinnell that can help students store their belongings during the summer, off-campus study, etc. Storage fees are the financial responsibility of the individual student.
Winter break housing is intended for:
- international students,
- students with an international address,
- and students with a significant need approved through Residence Life.
Should a student need break housing during any portion of the break, the student must submit the winter break application on the housing portal by the deadline.
Refer to the Five-Year Academic Calendar for details on residence hall opening and closing dates. Please remind your student to make travel arrangements accordingly.
Dining Services Important Winter Dates
Dec. 3–8: Sign Up for Winter Break Grocery Sacks
Dining Services will close after lunch on Dec. 22 and reopen Dec. 27. We will be preparing grocery sacks with essential food items for students who will remain on campus during this time.
Dec. 16: Ice Cream Social
Dec. 19: Dining Hall Closure and Meal Pickup
Dec. 20 to Jan. 18: Winter Break Hours
View all dates, hours, and other details on the Dining Services website.
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Upcoming Public Events
From concerts to convocations, games to gatherings, you can find upcoming public events on the Campus Events Calendar.
Planning ahead? Check out Writers@Grinnell for upcoming events with writers of all kinds.
| | The Parting Shot: A Glimpse of Life at Grinnell | | | | |
