For Parents

Dordt has a communication portal where we share campus news, events, and helpful information for parents when you want it and catered to the year your student is in college and your interests.

If you'd like to make a payment online or enroll in the payment plan through Dordt's third party servicing agent, ACI, you can choose one of the previous links, or read more about our payment options.

The Defender Parent Handbook outlines the ways we strive to welcome you and your student into the Dordt family and share more about our campus and services. Parents receive their handbook during Week of Welcome.

Download a digital copy

Interested in sending your student a care package for a study break or birthday or to cheer up someone who isn't feeling well? You can purchase your choice of three care package options through Dordt Dining, or a balloon bouquet through the Dordt Campus Store:

• Celebration Package ($35) - Commemorate a special day with one hand-decorated cake or one dozen cupcakes. Plates, forks, and napkins are included. The cake includes a message (40 letters or fewer) and any decorating preferences. Cake flavors available: chocolate or vanilla.
• Study Break Snack Pack ($25) - Perfect for students on the go. The snack pack consists of six pieces of fresh seasonal fruit, four granola bars, two jumbo muffins, bottled water, and six chocolate chip cookies.
• Get Well Soon Package ($25) - This care package contains soup, Gatorade, water, and orange juice. The Get Well Soon pack is sure to help your student feel better in no time. Crackers, two oranges, a can of soup (chicken noodle or tomato), a customizable Get Well Soon card, spoons, and napkins are included.

Call (712) 722-6440 to order food care packages. Checks or money orders payable to Dordt University c/o Dordt Dining Services 700 7th St NE, Sioux Center, IA 51250. Please note that care packages must be ordered at least three days in advance.

• Contact the Dordt Campus Store to send your student a balloon bouquet. A balloon bouquet costs $16 and comes with two latex and a mylar balloon (thinking of you, Valentine's Day, birthdays, or graduation). Customization is available upon request, such as upgrading to include a stuffed animal, candy, or apparel.

To order call 712-722-6420 or email bookstore@dordt.edu.

Students do need to have immunizations completed prior to the beginning of classes. The requirements and instructions to submit health information can be found on the Student Health and Counseling Center page. We encourage students to complete health and immunization requirements by July 1.

Students must submit immunization records and complete the Health Information Form found on u.dordt.edu. Questions about health records or immunizations can be directed to Beth Baas at 712-722-6990.

Please reach out to the Business Office at 712-722-6013 if you have questions or need to make a payment. Bills are sent to the student’s home address in mid-July. Included in that mailing will be payment information. Payment information is also available to your student on u.dordt.edu.

Your student has access on u.dordt.edu to see if these items are completed. If you have questions regarding Financial Aid, please contact Harlan Harmelink at 712-722-6082.

This letter shows how much your student owes for classes. This is due when classes start or you may contact the Business Office for a payment plan. This financial aid letter is also available to your student on u.dordt.edu.

Students need to complete the emergency contact form found on u.dordt.edu. Please review our student privacy policy.

NEEDS

• Sets of sheets (Twin XL)
• Pillow
• Comforter
• Towel
• Portable shower caddy
• Hangers
• Backpack
• Laptop
• Laundry detergent and dryer sheets *
• Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc. *

DO NOT BRING

• Printers (students print documents in the Hulst Library and computer labs)
• Trash/recycling bins (already provided)
• Microwaves
• Air fryers
• Extension cords
• Multi-plug outlets
• AC window units

OPTIONAL

Items for individuals to consider:

• Second set of sheets - makes washing them easier *
• Bedside caddy - nice to hold phone, tissues, water bottle, etc., especially if you are in a top bunk
  
• Mattress topper - can be nice to have but really depends on student preference*
  
• Fan or box fan - great for white noise and highly recommended for the guys' dorms *
  
• Waterproof flip flops or slides - for in the shower *
  
• Clip-on lamp for bed - the desks have built in lamps, but a clip-on one is nice for reading, journaling, or doing devotions at night if roommates are sleeping
  
• Desk and school supplies such as pens, pencils, scissors, stapler, tape, etc. *
  
• Desk organizer - this might be something to purchase here, after you figure out your desk space and exactly how you like it. *
  
• Medicine box - this can be nice to have when you're feeling under the weather. Stock it with some simple things like pain reliever, cold medicine, band-aids, etc. We also have a campus nurse who can provide these things if a student chooses to see her when they are not feeling well. *
• School supplies - it's helpful to wait until classes start so you know what you need. Purchasing a few pens ad pencils is a good idea, but we would recommend waiting to purchase the rest of your school supplies. *
  
• Dorm snacks/groceries (coffee, granola bars, etc.) *
  

Items to consider after discussion with future roommate(s):

• Plates, bowls, and basic utensils - freshman will have more than enough food provided throughout campus, but sometimes it's nice to have a plate or bowl on hand for a quick snack or leftover meal. The kitchens in the dorms also have a few things on hand, but having a few coffee cups, mugs, plates, silverware, popcorn bowl, etc. can be helpful. *
• Water pitcher with filter - the dorms do have water bottle fillers, but some students like to have a water pitcher with a filter in their room as well. *
  
• Command hooks for hanging things and decorating - these can be hard to buy ahead of time because you probably won't know what you need till you arrive. *
  
• Storage cubes and bins - again, it might be easier to get these here after you have your room layout figured out and know how much space you have between you and your roommate *
  
• Shoe organizer - depending on your room layout, shoe organization can vary. We recommend purchasing this after you know the set up and how much space you have. *
  
• Rugs - all of the dorms do have carpet, but rugs are allowed if students would like to use it to personalize the space.
  
• Mini fridge
  
• Power strips
• Couch, chairs, ottomans, etc.
• TV
• Dorm room decorations
• Bed risers - we recommend waiting to purchase these until you have your room layout finalized, as they usually aren't needed.

* Indicates items that can easily be bought at Walmart. We would recommend seeing the space and figuring out your room layout before purchasing some of the items listed. This will help save room while packing and prevent overbuying things that you don't need. Our local Walmart is very nice and does a wonderful job at stocking extra college and school supplies. You can either run there and pick things up or use their mobile app or website to order ahead of time. Dordt's Mailing Center is also more than willing to hold packages for students if they wish to start ordering items now and pick them up when they arrive.

QUESTIONS?

Housing policies can be found in the Student Handbook.

Remember: BBQ grills, air soft guns, candles, incense, sexually suggestive posters, and firearms are not allowed in residence halls or apartments.

• Your student will pick up room keys on campus during move-in at their dorm building.
• Students will pick up their ID card in the Campus Center during Freshmen Orientation. Their ID gives them access to buildings, meals, the library, and sporting events.
• Bike registration - student completes on u.dordt.edu.
• Car Registration - student completes on u.dordt.edu.

Health Insurance:

Consider contacting your health insurance carrier to inform them that your student will be away at college and to discuss how the student should access care while outside of your network area. Some regional HMO plans can create challenges.

• For information on health insurance options available locally, contact the Dordt University Business Office at 712-722-6010. We can provide the names of local brokers.

Property Insurance:

Dordt University does not insure the contents of rooms in our residence halls and apartments. Your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance normally covers the contents of a student’s room. You may wish to check, particularly if your student will be bringing many valuable possessions such as a large television to college.

• What size are the mattresses on campus? The mattresses on campus are twin, extra long. You will want extra-long sheets.
• Are students allowed to stay in their rooms during school breaks? Students are not allowed to stay on campus during Christmas or Spring breaks. Some students may live on campus during the summer and should contact Student Services to apply.
• What kind of furniture is provided in dorms? West Hall, North Hall, and East Hall have built-in loft beds and closets. Desks are also provided for each student. Covenant Hall has stackable furniture for beds and desks. All apartment buildings provide stackable bedroom furniture and desk. They also provide a kitchen table and chairs.
• Can a student bring a window fan to use in their room? Window fans are acceptable, but portable air conditioning units of any kind are not permitted.
• Can students bring a refrigerator to campus? Refrigerators are allowed in residence hall rooms but they can be no larger than 6 cubic feet.

• If students have their own computer, is there somewhere they can print or do they also need their own printer? If students do not have their own computer, is there a computer lab where they can type and print their own papers? Dordt has six main computer labs available for student use, as well as six computer stations in various residence halls. Located in the library, computer center, and engineering department, the main labs provide several applications for course work. Computers are also located in Southview, Covenant Hall, West Hall, North Hall, and East Hall. These residence hall labs are open 24 hours a day. Students may print in the library.
• What software should our student install if bringing their own computer? Dordt uses Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) 2010. While we don’t require this software, many students find it useful.
• Are there internet lock-out programs on campus? Yes, we use content filtering software that limits access to pornographic material. We do not allow access to instant messaging programs (MSN, AOL) from Dordt owned computers. We expect students to follow the responsible use of technology guidelines found in the student handbook.
• Can our student bring a television with them for their room? Yes, they can bring a television, but no toasters, microwaves, or appliances with open heating coils are allowed. Small refrigerators of 6.0 cubic feet or less are allowed.
• Is there a cable hook–up for television in the individual residence hall rooms? Yes, every room has a hook-up for cable for televisions.

• Are there laundry facilities available on campus? Each dorm building has facilities for laundry available in the basement. Students must bring their own laundry detergent and quarters to pay for services.
• Do we need to bring a waste paper basket for our student’s room? Waste paper and recycling baskets are provided for each student’s room. Students are responsible for taking out their own trash.
• Do our students need to bring their own cleaning supplies to clean their bathrooms? Is there a vacuum available to them? Every dorm and apartment building has vacuums available for students to use. Students living in apartment buildings should bring their own cleaning supplies for their apartment and bathroom. The community bathrooms in the dorm buildings are cleaned by Maintenance staff on a daily basis.

• What immunizations should my student have? Students do need to have immunizations completed prior to the beginning of classes. The requirements and instructions to submit health information can be found on the Student Health and Counseling Center page.
• Does my student need a physical before attending? A physical exam is not required for enrollment. The Athletic and Nursing Departments each require a physical exam before students can participate in athletics or nursing classes. Please contact those departments directly for more information.
• What types of medical and counseling services are offered on campus? It is the mission of The Student Health and Counseling Center to support students by promoting and maintaining optimal physical and emotional health as they pursue their academic and life goals. Students can make appointments with The Student Health and Counseling Center through u.dordt.edu. View a complete listing of services offered on campus. Dordt also offers counseling services to support students who are facing emotional and relational distress. Students can make appointments with a counselor by emailing counseling@dordt.edu. View more information on counseling services.
• How can I obtain access to my student's health and medical information? In compliance with professional standards of practice as well as state and federal laws of privacy and disclosure of information, The Student Health and Counseling Center protects the health information of each student and does not release or discuss health information with parents without the student’s signed consent. The Student Health and Counseling Center also adheres to a policy of strict confidentiality and does not discuss a student’s care without signed consent. Should your student’s medical or psychological health reach a threshold where they are unsafe or become a threat to themselves or others, parents/ guardians will be contacted by The Student Health and Counseling Center, a counselor, or the Dean of Students.
• What happens if my student is in an accident or is hospitalized while a student at Dordt? Please read this documentation for more information.
• For more information on students' health information please read the Student Privacy policy.