WELCOME TO THE YWAM CAMPUS OF WEST MICHIGAN
Acceptance Packet
Acceptance Packet
Welcome to the West Michigan Campus of the University of the Nations! We are honored and consider it a blessing that you would come to join our family for this next season of your life. We believe you will be forever changed by all that God does in your life! You probably have many questions about our campus, and we want to give you a taste of what to expect. This packet is designed to give you the information you need to prepare for your time here. By reading through this, you will have an overview of our campus, and you will receive separate information from your school leader regarding the specifics of the program you are enrolled in.
Final Steps
Pay your Deposit
You will also need to pay your deposit ($250) in order to hold your place in the school. For information on how to do this, see the Finances section below.
Complete Vaccine
Record Form
If you haven’t yet completed your vaccine form, please do so. Please email your completed form to admissions@info.ywamwestmi.org. This form will need to be completed before DTS starts.
Read: ‘Is That Really You, God?’
By Loren Cunningham
Please finish reading ‘Is That Really You, God?’ before coming to DTS. It is the story of how YWAM got started and will help you to understand our mission. You can usually find a used copy for five bucks.
Finances
Paying Your Tuition
All fees are payable in U.S. currency only. The deposit and tuition may only be paid in cash, check, or you can do a wire transfer through your bank. We are not able to accept any form of credit card or online payment. If you would like more information on how to do wire transfers, please email admissions@info.ywamwestmi.org for more information. If you do not have enough money to cover your tuition, you must contact your school leader at least two weeks before the first day of your program to discuss a plan of payment.
Make your check payable to “Youth With A Mission of West Michigan” and mail it to:
YWAM West Michigan
3333 E Beltline Ave NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49525
USA
Occasionally in our training programs, a student will decide for various reasons not to stay until the end of the school. In rare cases, a student will be asked by the school leadership to leave the school and return home. Our intentions for writing this policy are two-fold: one, to give students a clear understanding of the many financial areas that tuition covers; and two, so that there is a pre-designated refund amount. In order to keep our YWAM training schools running, there are various expenditures that must be made, several of which are incurred prior to the students’ arrival. Student tuition fees cover school supplies, lodging, meals, transportation costs, guest speaker travel and honorariums, utility bills and other related expenses. The amount listed below would be the sum refunded if the student terminated involvement within the designated time periods. Students are personally responsible for all travel expenses in the event that he/she leaves the Lecture Phase or Outreach early, whether for personal or disciplinary reasons.
Up to the end of 1st week . . . . . . . . . . . 64%
Up to the end of 2nd week . . . . . . . . . . . 54%
Up to the end of 3rd week . . . . . . . . . . . 45%
Up to the end of 4th week . . . . . . . . . . . 38%
Up to the end of 5th week . . . . . . . . . . . 32%
Up to the end of 6th week . . . . . . . . . . . 26%
Up to the end of 7th week . . . . . . . . . . . 19%
Up to the end of 8th week . . . . . . . . . . . 13%
Up to the end of 9th week . . . . . . . . . . . 6%
Up to the end of 10th week . . . . . . . . . . 0%
Guidelines for Contributions
The following information will help you and YWAM to follow IRS guidelines and restrictions:According to IRS regulations, YWAM is unauthorized to issue tax-deductible receipts for students. We are not allowed as a 501(c)(3) Religious Non-Profit to give tax write-offs for the tuition of our schools/programs. We are not accredited so we are not qualified for the Federal financial aid program under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, and we are not certified by the Department of Education. Therefore we are not allowed to send 1098-T forms.
Any Financial Questions?
If you have any questions regarding your finances, please contact Elise at 616-210-9369 or email admissions at admissions@info.ywamwestmi.org.
Base Info
MISSION STATEMENT
Youth With a Mission is a global movement of Christians from many cultures, dedicated to serving Jesus throughout the nations. We unite in a common purpose to know God and make him known.
THE AREA
Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids is a medium-sized city with about 200,000 people, but it still maintains a bit of a small town feel. We are located in the NE corner of the city, about 12 minutes from downtown and 4 minutes from a major shopping district with a large movie theater, great restaurants, a supermarket, coffee shops, and much much more.
Versluis Lake
We’re about 4 miles from a beautiful public-access lake with a beach and picnic area.
Lake Michigan
We’re about 35 minutes from Lake Michigan which has some of the best beaches in the country.
Provin Trails
Right behind the campus, there is a 46-acre forested park with interconnected trails for hiking and cross-country skiing.
Robinette’s Apple Haus
Adjacent to the campus is an apple orchard replete with cider and donuts.
Local Churches
There are hundreds. From megachurches to micro-churches and everything in between, we are happy to connect you with the churches we know and trust.
Campus Life
Kuyper College
We have a partnership with Kuyper College and operate on their campus. Kuyper College is a non-denominational, reformed Bible and liberal arts college. They have been very gracious to us and we expect that our partnership with them will continue to be fruitful in raising up missionaries and Christian leaders of the next generation.
Sports Facilities
There is a full-sized basketball court, soccer field, weight room, volleyball nets, and more. Kuyper College has sports teams that use these facilities, but our students are welcome to use them when available.
Student Center
The Student Center is a great place to hang out with friends and meet new people.
Zondervan Library
You will have access to a two-story theological library with everything you will need to further your studies. You will also have access to the Interlibrary Loan System where you can get virtually any book you want.
Vos Chapel
Weekly chapel services will be hosted by Kuyper, some of which our students will attend. The chapel is a great place to get away and pray, play the piano, or worship.
College Credit
Kuyper offers substantial academic credit for completing a YWAM DTS. We can put you in touch with an academic advisor at Kuyper if you are interested in continuing your studies post-DTS.
Policies & Guidelines
Music & Entertainment
When listening to music in the dorm, please be sensitive to others with volume and the type of music you are listening to. If you would like to listen to music loudly, please use headphones. When playing music in public areas, please make sure to not play anything inappropriate.
If you have instruments or music equipment of your own, you are welcome to bring it. There are instruments available on campus, you will simply need to ask first before using them.
TV & Movies
If you are planning on watching TV or a movie on your own device or a public TV, we ask that you be mindful of the subject matter and language in the programs you are watching.
Firearms
Students are not permitted to have firearms on the base.
Cigarettes/E-Cigs/Drugs
Nicotine use is not allowed at any time during your program. Though it may be legal, smoking or having marijuana (or any other cannabinoid such as CBD) is prohibited during your time here in Michigan (this includes your outreach and debriefing week). Illegal drugs are also prohibited.
Alcohol
Alcohol consumption is not permitted on our campus.
Pets
Students are not allowed to have any pets in the dorm.
Cars
If you are driving here and wish to have your own car while you are here, we allow you to do so. We have parking available, and a designated place for you to park your car on campus while you are away on outreach.
Kitchen Guidelines
We serve 3 meals a day. There will be coffee and/or tea available throughout the day and usually a snack during lectures. If you have a special dietary need, please contact admissions@info.ywamwestmi.org. We want to meet any special dietary needs as best as possible.
Clothing
The following are temperatures you can expect during each season, so pack accordingly:
Fall and Spring are cool: 40 to 70°F (10 to 20°C)
Winter is very cold: 0 to 40°F (-20 to 5°C)
Summer is hot: 70 to 95°F (20 to 40°C)
If you are attending a school in the winter, YWAM West Michigan is 12 minutes from a ski resort, so you may bring skis/snowboard gear if that interests you. Our campus is home to people from different cultures around the globe. Out of respect for everyone, we want to make sure we dress appropriately cross-culturally while here in Michigan and on outreach. Please be mindful when packing and refrain from bringing low cut tops, shirts revealing your midsection, tight fitting clothing and short skirts. Dress in Michigan is casual and the modern churches have informal dress codes. Our campus has a weight room and gym, so we encourage you to bring work-out clothing.
Bedding
We ask that you bring your own twin-sized bedding and a pillow. If you forget, there is a large store down the road where you can buy those items and anything else you may want.
Contact Information
You will have your own mailbox here.
During your stay here in Michigan, your mailing address will be:
Your Name (school you are in, ex: DTS)
3333 E Beltline Ave NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49525
All shipping companies deliver to this address (i.e. U.S. Postal Service, UPS, FedEx)
Internet
There is a free wireless internet connection available all over the campus, so if you bring your laptop or tablet you will be able to connect if you have wireless capability.
