Calvin University’s Life and Career Studies (LCS) program formed a subsidiary council under Student Senate early in the 2025-26 school year, giving LCS students a voice on Student Senate.
Calvin’s LCS program was formerly administered by Ready for Life (RFL), an academy that partnered with the university starting in 2017, according to previous Chimes reporting. However, the RFL program rebranded in 2023 to LCS, introducing a more inclusive education program, as previously reported by Chimes. LCS allows students to pursue a certificate in either Life and Career Studies or Comprehensive Postsecondary Education, according to the Calvin website.
LCS having a council under Student Senate is an important step in giving LCS students a more significant voice on campus, according to Senate president Alyssa Pokharel. Pokharel informed Chimes that there has been interest from LCS students in getting involved with Senate in the past, but Senate wanted to think through how to do that best. Pokharel said, “We really want to see more integration on this campus, and that looks like more collaboration between different student organizations.”
Pokharel proposed the idea of an LCS council at the first Senate meeting of the semester, nominating three LCS students and three non-LCS students to be a part of the council, with herself leading and guiding the council. Pokharel said that her vision for this council was “integration, but also leadership development for all people on the council … we actually want to allow campus to have a louder voice and empower students to be able to speak and represent themselves and be leaders.”
Members of the council are Jane Standal, John Ciesinski, Joseph Louisell, Kate Eisnor, Kaley Sheahan, Chloe Kottwitz, and Alyssa Pokharel.
Standal, a junior at Calvin and part of the LCS program, does advertising for the LCS council. Standal told Chimes that having support from Senate is important because “most people don’t really know about what this program is and it is something important for [someone] who might want to be a peer partner or … be more involved.” Standal hopes this program helps LCS and non-LCS students to become more connected.
Eisnor, a senior at Calvin studying eElementary Eeducation and Spanish, is a member of the council. Previously, Eisnor was an RA in Beets-Veenstra, where she worked closely with students in the LCS program, she told Chimes. Eisnor stated, “In the past, there’s been different attempts from different angles for integration of LCS on Student Senate. … I was really excited that they’re making an intentional integration.” According to Eisnor, the LCS council is “going to help make decisions on campus, and we can help direct student voices from LCS to Student Senate.”
Eisnor emphasized that the LCS council is an important way of allowing LCS students’ voices to be heard. She stated, “We talk a lot about inequality that looks like racism and sexism … there’s also a lot of ableism. … I think that having an increased perspective and representation from LCS really helps students, [and] all students can benefit from just listening and living in community.”
Ciesinski is a junior at Calvin, a part of the LCS program and a member of the LCS council. According to Cieskinski, the LCS council was “the biggest step that the school and the program could take.” Ciesinski noted that inclusivity is of high importance for any LCS student, that it means a lot for LCS students to take part in activities, join clubs and make friends with people outside of the LCS program, and that the LCS council was a big step towards that inclusivity. He stated that the LCS council under Senate “brings more opportunities and events to the table,” and that “we’re starting a new chapter of something that LCS students have a chance to partake in, that want to be leaders.” Ciesinski expressed that it’s important for non-LCS students to “get to know somebody out of their social circle,” because that’s where a lot of great opportunities are.
Sheahan, a freshman studying environmental studies and economics, is a Ssenator and a member of the LCS council. When joining the LCS council, Sheahan “really wanted to focus on advocacy for LCS,” as she feels that many students at Calvin may be uninformed about what LCS is. Sheahan stated that the goal of the council was “to bring that same inclusion and advocacy that was done before [in Senate] and kind of transform it into a sub-council where support can be given and initiative can be taken.”
According to Sheahan, giving LCS students a supportive voice in Senate is a good way to uplift a group that may feel marginalized, when in reality, LCS students can “make impactful decisions at Calvin and do impactful things.” Sheahan told Chimes that the council gives LCS students more opportunities to be involved and have a voice on campus.
“Get to Snow LCS” Christmas event
On Dec. 5 at 4 p.m. by Peet’s, the LCS Ccouncil will be holding an event for students to get to know the LCS program and cCouncil better. According to Standal, students should go to the event to “get to know the program and have a lot of fun.” The program will have crafts, hot chocolate and fruit.
According to Ciesinski, the Christmas event is to “make our mark” on the community outside of the LCS program, which includes informing non-LCS students what LCS is about and what it means to be part of it. Pokharel noted that the purpose of the event is to raise awareness about LCS, but also to intentionally allow “non-LCS students to do fun crafts and interact with LCS students.” She also feels that it’s important because there are a multitude of ways to connect with other people who have different stories.
The new LCS council marks an exciting step towards a more connected and inclusive campus community. With student leaders from both LCS and non-LCS backgrounds working together, Calvin is opening the door to stronger relationships and more shared opportunities for everyone.
