Life at Aquinas College

How will my student's roommate be assigned?
Once your student is accepted at Aquinas College, a Housing Application is completed online. Once completed, our Residence Life staff hand matches your student with a roommate based upon the answers provided on the application.
 
What will my student need for his/her room?
Residence Life mails home information during the first two weeks of July each year that contains information about getting started in August. "What Do I Bring?" (pdf)
 
Can my student bring a car to campus? Does he/she need one?
Students are allowed to bring cars to campus. Every student must obtain a permit to park on College property obtainable from the Campus Safety Office. There are many amenities within walking distance of the campus, including restaurants, banks, grocery and boutique stores, parks, video and drug stores. The Rapid, Grand Rapids' public transportation system, offers rides to AQ students for $0.25 with an AQ ID.
 
Who oversees my student in the residence hall?
Each residence floor has at least one Residence Assistant. Each living area has an Area Coordinator, who is a full-time staff in the Student Affairs Division, that supervises the Resident Assistants and the programming and services offered in their living community. Your student can go to these individuals with questions or concerns.
 
What safety measures are taken for students while on campus?
Escorts are provided by the Campus Safety Office upon request from dusk to dawn. Escorts for off-campus are available within a one-mile radius. Red Emergency phones and Code Blue stations are located throughout campus.
 
Is my student's residence hall secure?
Each is equipped with 24-hour card-access-only admission to the building. In addition, both Regina and St. Joseph's Hall have front desks, which are staffed 24 hours a day.
 
Is there a place for my student to receive medical attention?
The Health & Wellness Center on campus is open five days a week during the school year and provides a full time certified nurse practitioner. A doctor is on site twice a week. For emergencies, students are transported to the Emergency Room at Spectrum Health - Blodgett Campus, which is located one block south of campus.
 
Does my student need to have health insurance while attending Aquinas?
Yes. All students are expected to maintain health insurance while attending Aquinas College. A health plan is available to students who do not have other coverage. >More Information
 
What resources are available for my student who may need tutoring or accommodations for their academic performance?
There are many resources and services that are available to you on our campus, from improving grades, to writing a college paper, listening to you if you’re having trouble studying, and providing academic accommodations. Contact Academic and Learning Services for more information and/or support at any point in the term.
 
What do Aquinas students do when not in class? 
Aquinas has a multitude of clubs and organizations. Students can attend sporting events on campus or participate in intramural sports. Parks, coffee shops and the Eastown business district are all within walking distance of campus. Both student organizations and academic departments offer various volunteer opportunities. The Moose Cafe is where students can have coffee, hang out or see comedians or music groups who play on campus. To help your student get started with involvement options on campus, please encourage them to visit the staff members in the Campus Life Office.
 
Does my student need a computer?
There is a computer lab located on the third floor of the Academic Building and in the Grace Hauenstein Library. Additionally, many residence halls are equipped with smaller labs. Wireless Internet is available in all residence hall rooms for students who choose to bring their own computers. Information regarding resources for equipment and network access is available on the ITS AQnet web page. The ITS Technology Help Desk is located in AB 350 (third floor of the Academic Building) and is available for all students. Computer clinics to assist with connecting to the network are offered during Welcome Week each year to assist your student in being academically successful.
 
Is wireless available?
Wireless access is available throughout campus including all residence halls. Students should not plan on setting up their own wireless network as it disrupts the AQ wireless network. Personal printers are not able to be set up on the AQ wireless network.
 
Where should I open a bank account for my student?
Aquinas has a Lake Michigan Credit Union ATM machine in Grace Hauenstein Library that is compatible with most ATM cards. Other local banks with branch locations close to campus include: Bank of America, Chase, and 5/3 Bank.
 
How can I find someone's e-mail address?
AQ faculty e-mail addresses can be found on their department web pages. Members of the Aquinas Community can lookup AQ e-mail address via the online directory available at the Moose.
 
How can my student drop or add a class?
Information regarding adding/dropping classes is available through the Registrar's website.
 
What is the process for paying my bill and learning about payment plans?
Aquinas College has partnered with Official Payments for online payment needs. Options are available for a one time payment or payment plan. Students can also pay online directly through MyAQ. More Information is available on the Student Accounts website.
 
What are the food service hours?
There are many dining options both in our cafeteria and throughout campus. Campus Dining offers grill, buffet, and made-to-order opportunities at our three dining locations. For hours, menus, and meal plans for both residential and commuter students, please visit the Campus Dining website.
 
Is there a grocery store close by?
Family Fare (1415 Fulton Street) is a full-service grocery store and is located within three blocks of campus.
 
Is work-study available for my student?
Students can check available on and off campus jobs by visiting the online job postings. Available jobs are also posted at Career and Counseling Service office, which is located in the lower level of Donnelly Center. Work-study eligibility can be determined through the Office of Financial Aid.
 
What about sports?
Aquinas offers varsity, junior varsity, and intramural team sports. For more information, please contact the Aquinas College Athletics Department.
 
Where does my student register to vote?
Most students choose to stay registered in his or her home district for at least the first couple years of college. If a student chooses to do this, he or she can fill out an absentee ballot. Once the student had established permanent or semi-permanent residency in Grand Rapids, the student can register at local Secretary of State offices or via the State of Michigan's online form (pdf).
 
How do I send mail and packages to my student?
Students love receiving mail and packages from home. To be sure your student receives mail from you as fast as possible, please follow the instructions on the Mail Room's website.