Orientation To-Do List

Communication

• Monitor your Mount Holyoke email account at least weekly. Important information about things like housing and registration will be sent to this email.
• Update your MHC email password from the temporary password sent in May (in October for spring entrants) and enter a Recovery Email so you can use self-service to change your password if needed.  Full instructions can be found on the MHC Password Reset Page.
• Once you've been able to log into your MHC email account, you'll need to enroll in Google 2-step verification. If you don’t enroll in Google 2-Step Verification shortly after your first log in, you will be locked out of your account and need assistance from the LITS Technology Desk to access it again. You can contact them at helpdesk@mtholyoke.edu.
• Log into your my.mtholyoke account  using your MHC credentials and explore the site. This is where you will access course registration and other resources.

Personal and Contact Information

• Submit your name recording, cell phone number and both emergency and missing-persons contacts via my.mtholyoke (see “Demographics & Contact Info” on the self-service menu for students) between May 16 and August 1 for students starting classes in the fall semester; between late-October and early-January for students starting classes in the spring semester.
• Submit a photo for your MHC OneCard, the ID that you’ll use on campus, by August 1 (January 3 for spring entrants).
• Students entering in the fall are invited to take the New Student Survey! This survey helps the College better understand the academic and social programmatic needs of our entering students, so please take the time to inform us about your hopes for your college experience. You will receive an email invitation August 1 to take the survey. Email Institutional Research with any questions.

Academics

• Review the Academic Calendar.  Please note that further additions and revisions to the academic calendar may be made if needed.
• Review the Academic Guide for New Students (requires login to my.mtholyoke) to prepare for advising and registration.
• Complete all applicable placement exams (requires login to my.mtholyoke).
• Complete your online advisor questionnaire from May 16-June 30 for students starting classes in the fall and between late-October and by December 1 for students starting classes in the spring. Spring admits should answer both the "New Student's Initial Info for Advisor" questionnaire and the "Summer Activities" questionnaire available in my.mtholyoke's Inform Your Advisor self-service function.
• Participate in (optional) advising video chats in the summer for students starting classes in the fall and email advising at the end of October for students starting classes in the spring. 
• If you are considering a career in a health profession (Medicine, Veterinary, Nursing, Physician Assistant, Public Health, Physical Therapy, Optometry, etc.), please review this web page and contact our pre-health office at pre-health@mtholyoke.edu to discuss which classes you should register for.
• Submit your First Year Seminar preferences! Students starting classes in the fall will receive more information via email on May 18; your preferences will be due May 26. Students starting classes in the spring will receive instructions in mid-October via email for submitting their preferences.
• Register for classes during the registration period for students starting classes in the fall and, for students starting classes in the spring admits, in November. New students should check "Approvals, Holds, and Registration Access times" in my.mtholyoke in mid-June (students starting classes in the fall) or early November (students starting classes in the spring) to get the exact date and time range during which you can register. 

Health and Wellness

• Starting on May 16, complete all health forms by July 1 for students starting classes in the fall and December 1 for students starting classes in the spring. You will not be allowed to pick up your keys or check into housing if Health Forms have not been received by College Health Services. Note: Varsity athletes must submit the sports clearance packet and meet all health requirements prior to July 1.
• Reminder that for the 2022-2023 academic year, we expect all members of the Mount Holyoke campus community to be fully vaccinated and and have received a booster for COVID-19 before coming to campus. Additional information is listed with the health forms.
• Make arrangements for all prescription medications to be transferred to the Community, A Walgreens Pharmacy for delivery to Mount Holyoke's Pattie Groves Health Center for ease of pick up.
• Enroll in the student health insurance plan or submit a health insurance waiver request by July 31 for students starting classes in the fall or January 5 for students starting classes in the spring if you have family health insurance that will meet the Massachusetts minimum coverage criteria (Domestic students only). Enrollment for spring/summer coverage opens in December.
• Complete the required Alcohol & Drug Awareness On-Line Training, a program designed to help students make healthier decisions related to alcohol and other drugs. You will receive a personalized link in July to complete this training. If you have not received this link to your MHC email by July 31, please reach out to orientation@mtholyoke.edu.

Mental Health and Counseling Service 

• The Counseling Service provides brief, problem-focused counseling, urgent care appointments, therapy/support groups, a 24/7 Care and Support Line, and prescribing services at no additional cost for enrolled students during the academic year. Students who would benefit from longer-term counseling, specialized or intensive treatment, or psychological testing will be referred to appropriate campus or community resources.
• Students who are interested in regular, weekly meetings with a counselor should consider arranging for off- campus care before arriving on campus, as off-campus providers tend to fill their schedules quickly. Contact your insurance for a list of local providers or contact the Counseling Service for a referral.
• In the event that care is needed off campus - all incoming students are encouraged to review their health insurance coverage for mental health treatment in the state of Massachusetts, and to consider purchasing the student health insurance plan if making copays, meeting deductibles, or using out-of-state plans will interfere with obtaining adequate support.

Finances

• Mark your calendars regarding billing deadlines. Tuition bills are sent via email to students’ Mount Holyoke email account. Students will have the ability to designate Authorized Users for their billing accounts at a later date. Authorized Users would also receive billing notices via email, have access to their student’s billing information, have the ability to make payments online, create payment plans, and more.
• Notify Student Financial Services of any outside scholarships you may be receiving.
• Check Financial Aid Online and submit all missing financial aid documents if you haven't done so already (Financial Aid Online will be available to incoming students May 15). 
  • Domestic students can complete federal loan counseling and loan promissory notes online at studentaid.gov. 
  • International students will be emailed to complete loan documents before arriving on campus.  Check your Mount Holyoke email address regularly once you are able.
• Consider protecting your investment by reviewing Tuition Insurance information by GradGuard.  Should the student withdraw during a term of enrollment, tuition insurance would increase your tuition refund.  Enrollment deadlines are the first day of classes each term.
• Review health insurance waiver information as noted in the Health Section above.

Billing Deadlines for tuition and fees that are billed by term

• Fall Term (issued in early July)
  Deadline: July 31, 2022
• Spring Term (issued in early December)
  Deadline: January 5, 2023

Housing

• Review the new student information provided by Residential Life. 
• Complete your housing form in Residence. The application will be available May 16 and due June 24 for students starting classes in the fall and open November 1 and due December 1 for students starting classes in the spring.
• Incoming students will not be allowed to select their own roommates. The Office of Residential Life assigns roommate(s) based on their responses to their roommate profiles. Review the recommended packing list.

Disability-related accommodations

For Orientation

If you would like to request disability-related accommodations in order to participate in Orientation activities, please email the Orientation team. In order to ensure your access and accommodation needs are met for Orientation, please submit your request by August 2; January 3 for spring entrants.

During the semester

• If you anticipate needing academic, dining, housing, and/or student employment accommodations due to a disability, you’ll need to apply for accommodations through Disability Services. 
• Please see this handout explaining the accommodation process for Mount Holyoke College: How Do I Get Accommodations at MHC? The application involves three steps: filling out an application form with your basic information, having a provider submit documentation, and meeting with an accommodation coordinator for an intake.
• Beginning this process early is highly encouraged, and you can also apply for accommodations at any point during your time at the College. You can also request updates for your accommodations at any time. 

Contact Disability Services when/if you have any questions about the accommodations process - we’re happy to help!

Student employment

• Review the email message sent from the Student Employment Office in late July and make a note of the meetings that you’ll need to attend if you plan to work while you are here. Contact the Career Development Center with any questions.
• Bring your completed federal tax, state tax, direct deposit and I9-Employment Eligibility forms in order to work on campus. You will need to choose an original form of identification from the list located on the back of the I9 form to present to Payroll representatives, only required for students who do not need a visa to enter the U.S.; all international students should attend the work clearance session during International Student Pre-Orientation which will provide information on any documents required for working on campus.

In addition to the items required on the 'Before Orientation: All Students list,' international students should also complete the following.

• Review International Incoming Students site, and the Handbook for International Students.
• Complete Visa Document Request by May 31 for students starting classes in the fall and September 30 for students starting classes in the spring.
• Complete your Certificate of Finance Form.
• The arrival form for airport pick up will be emailed to new international students. If you have not received it, please email global@mtholyoke.edu.

• Varsity student-athletes in the sports of cross country, field hockey, rowing, soccer, or volleyball must complete the “Intent to Return Early” form (sent by the Department of Physical Education and Athletics in the summer).
• All varsity student-athletes must submit the sports clearance packet and meet all medical and compliance requirements. 
• Recruited varsity student-athletes in the sports of cross country, field hockey, rowing, soccer, or volleyball are expected to attend preseason practices and must submit pre-participatory requirements, sent to their MHC email by the shared deadlines, in order to be permitted to return early. Contact the head coach to confirm your move-in date and pre-move in requirements before making travel plans.

We are offering opportunities for you to connect to with other new students and to upper-class Orientation Leaders as well as staff and faculty before your arrival on-campus in August. You can:

• Follow MHCStudentLife on Instagram
• Use our hashtags #WelcomeMoHome #MyMoHome #MountHolyoke2027

We will also hold 1-3 pre-arrival webinars that cover important aspects of your transition to Mount Holyoke! Below are some of the topics that were discussed in past sessions. Please note, these will be hosted in Zoom, which is a video conferencing platform, and the application will need to be downloaded ahead of time. Webinar dates will be announced once they are confirmed.

• Residential Life: Roommates and Living-Learning Community
• Academic Life at Mount Holyoke
• Social Life and Navigating the Pioneer Valley
• Being Involved at Mount Holyoke
• Move-In and Your First Weeks at #MoHome

• Attend all scheduled sessions and regularly check the Orientation schedule for updates.
• Meet with your academic advisor.
• Sign the Honor Code.
• Expand your comfort zone by talking to the other brand new people sitting next to you, joining others sitting alone in the dining commons, and inviting people to walk to events with you!
• Meet at least one new staff member who can be a resource.
• Ask questions, have fun!

• Complete Orientation evaluation, which will be sent to you electronically.
• Learn how to get involved on campus at the Involvement Fair, date to be announced.
• Come to more events, such as Convocation and Nightfest!
• Get involved with #WelcomeMohome