Adopting a child just got a little easier at Calvin College.

Recently the school's Faculty Senate unanimously passed an adoption benefit plan, the first such plan in school history.

Calvin College employees who qualify under current criteria for full benefits at the school now will be able to take advantage of both the recently passed $5,000 government tax credit and a new $4,250 cash benefit from Calvin.

"We believe that this benefit is right for Calvin College," said director of human resources Connie Bellows. "Our medical insurance includes certain benefits for pregnancy. Now we will have comparable benefits for those who choose to have children via the adoption process."

Calvin set its benefit at $4,250 (or $6,375 for two children adopted at the same time) based on the average cost of childbirth.

"We wanted to be as equitable as possible," said Bellows.

Calvin College professor of religion Tom Thompson may be one of the first employees to take advantage of the benefit. He and his wife, Sharon, recently adopted for the third time and that adoption will be finalized this summer. Thompson plans to apply for the benefit which will be part of the 1998-99 fiscal year budget (beginning July 1, 1998).