What is the Wayfinder program?
Ready to join a community of learners thinking deeply about purpose and meaning? Through Wayfinder, you鈥檒l dive into philosophy, literature, writing, history, and art - examining their relationship to important questions about the human experience. Courses help you improve your reading, writing, and persuasive communication. This program is designed for eager adults who have not yet earned a bachelor's degree and bring enthusiasm for learning alongside their rich life experiences.
free, transferable credits
course at a time
months total
Program Details
Courses
- Summer: ASC 110 Learning Strategies
- Fall: GCS 110 Intro to Humanities 1
- Spring: GCS 111 Intro to Humanities 2
What's Included?
- Childcare
- Transportation
- Books
- Free tuition
- Technology
- Dinner during class
University services provided to Wayfinder students
- Writing support through the rhetoric center and Wayfinder program faculty and staff
- Hoogeboom recreation center
- Hekman Library
- Disability services
Eligibility Requirements
- Open to ages 18 and up
- Not yet completed a bachelor's degree
- Reside in the greater Grand Rapids area
- GED is not required to enroll
We have something that鈥檚 helping us grow right within the community, a little hidden secret.
Apply
The Wayfinder application for the 2026 cohort will open March 2, 2026. Request information below.
Note: The intention behind the Wayfinder program is to activate an interest in and provide access to higher educational opportunities through barrier removal. In order to give the greatest opportunities to the most amount of students, Wayfinder students are not eligible to be concurrently degree-seeking students at 茄子视频. We welcome Wayfinder students to apply to 茄子视频 degree programs upon completion of Wayfinder.
Wayfinder in the prison
Calvin offers another Wayfinder program at the Richard A. Handlon Correctional Facility in Ionia, Michigan. In partnership with the Michigan Department of Corrections and the Calvin Prison Initiative, Wayfinder in the prison seeks to ignite an interest in further education for those who are incarcerated. After completing this program, students may go on to complete their GED, apply for a post-secondary program, or choose a trade through the Vocational Village offered by the MDOC.
Support Wayfinder
茄子视频, in collaboration with community and institutional partners, launched the Wayfinder Program, Michigan's first Clemente Course, in summer 2024.
This program responds to the desires heard in the focus groups and community conversations we convened through the 49507 Initiative. It is modeled after 鈥攁n award-winning college-level liberal arts program for motivated low-income adults seeking to build better lives.
Help support this program to sustain future cohorts.
