Orientation 2016
Welcome, Class of 2020! Congratulations and welcome to Dickinson! We are delighted that you have chosen to pursue your college education with us, and we are confident that your Dickinson experience will be exceptional.
FIRST-YEAR EXPERIENCE The Dickinson first-year experience is designed with you in mind. As you begin your time at Dickinson, we want to help you strive for academic excellence; find connections to this wonderful place through relationships with students, staff and faculty; develop personally; and above all become prepared for a life of engaged citizenship. The academic cornerstone of your first semester will be your First-Year Seminar. Taught by the professor who will be your academic advisor, this class is designed to help you develop habits of mind that are essential to liberal learning, including critical thinking, analytical writing and information literacy skills. Orientation activities, First-Year Interest Groups (FIGs) and your experiences in and out of the classroom will help you make connections with other new students, meet upper-level students who share your interests and connect with a staff mentor. You also may choose to participate in one of our Pre-Orientation Adventure programs that will actively engage you in exciting student-run outdoor activities, community service or a theater project, just to name a few. FIGs, run by your first-year mentor (an upper-level student) may range from Art & Design to Pop Culture to Politics & Law.
Dickinson is a four-year residential college, and much of your out-of-theclassroom experience takes place in the residence halls. Each floor has a Resident Advisor (RA), an upper-level student who cares about you and your residential experience. We encourage you to become an active, caring and involved member of your residential community in your first year and throughout your time at Dickinson. Another key figure in your first year (as well as your second, third and fourth!) is your college dean, a senior staff member dedicated to helping you make the most of your Dickinson experience, whether by finding your niche or expanding beyond it, addressing your concerns or celebrating your accomplishments. Your college dean coordinates with your academic advisor and other members of our campus community to foster your success in all areas of life at the college. Your first year will be exciting, challenging, fun and at times frustrating. In the coming year, you will personally grow in ways that you did not think possible, and we want you to know that we are here to help and provide support—through your academic advisor, first-year mentor, RA and many other staff and faculty members.
PREPARING FOR YOUR ARRIVAL Visit the Orientation website at orientation.dickinson.edu for information you and your family will need to arrive fully prepared to start your Dickinson experience. The site will be updated regularly during the summer, and we will be contacting you via regular mail and your Dickinson email with important information. Some of that information is outlined here.
Dickinson Gateway Access your Dickinson email as well as valuable information and services through the Dickinson Gateway at http://gateway. dickinson.edu. Your Gateway user name and password are available on your Application Status page. If you need assistance, contact helpdesk@dickinson. edu or 717-245-1000.
Forms and Surveys Before you arrive, a number of forms need to be completed. Review the “Important Dates and Deadlines” section for details. We expect that you will have completed the AlcoholEdu and Every Choice online programs by the time you check in. These programs are designed to help you make a healthy and safe transition to college.
Pre-Admission Health Policy All new students are required to complete the online health history form, submit a copy of a current physical exam (within the past 12 months), provide documentation of the required immunizations and submit the completed tuberculosis risk assessment/testing form signed by their healthcare provider. In order to access the forms, students must register for an account through the Wellness Center Patient Portal. The instructions for registering are available through the
Health Forms link in the Dickinson Gateway. Forms must be submitted to the Wellness Center no later than July 1 unless there are unusual circumstances. Students who have not completed the forms by move-in day will not be able to directly check in to their room upon arrival. Contact health@dickinson.edu or 717-245-1663 for assistance.
Move-In Days Pre-Orientation Adventure Participant Arrival: Sun., August 21, 8-11 a.m. First-Year and Transfer Arrival: Wed., August 24, 8-11 a.m. International Student Arrivals: August 21 International students participating in Pre-Orientation Adventures are permitted to arrive on Saturday, August 20, due to extensive international travel. Students will be contacted by International Student Services concerning individual travel plans. If your family will need overnight accommodations, we recommend you make reservations now. A list of area hotels can be found on the Orientation website. Note that you will only be able to move in on your designated day.
Academic Advising and Course Request You will begin your academic journey this summer by requesting your first semester’s courses. Calls will be made from the Advising Office July 11-15 to discuss your course requests. Please review the Orientation website and enclosed brochure for when to expect your call and how to prepare for the conversation.
PRE-ORIENTATION ADVENTURES
Dickinson’s Pre-Orientation Adventure Program is an optional two-and-a half-day, small-group, theme-intensive experience open to incoming first-year students. Roughly half of our incoming class chooses to participate in Pre-Orientation. Students will participate in one of our 20 programs designed for 10-20 students each. Combining experiential education,
team building, early involvement and leadership adventures, each program introduces students to Dickinson through interaction with new and current students, faculty and staff. (Students who participate in Pre-Orientation will be placed into a FIG associated with their program.) Pre-Orientation Adventures occur Aug. 21-23, before the start of Orientation. Students participating in Pre-Orientation will move in to campus early, on Aug. 21 from 8 to 11 a.m. Family Orientation and welcome sessions will take place in the afternoon on Aug. 21 before the program begins in the evening. The programs are fee-based and cost $225. The fee includes food, accommodations, activities, supplies and transportation to and from campus during the program. Scholarships are available. Registration for the 2016 Pre-Orientation Adventure Program begins May 15 and closes July 1 at orientation.dickinson.edu.
2016 Pre-Orientation Adventure Programs More detailed information on each program can be found on the Orientation website. •
A Creative Writing Experience
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A Sustainable Adventure: Place Matters
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Behind the Scenes: Theatre at Dickinson
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Change the World: A Service Leadership Training Experience
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College Cuisine, Carlisle and Climbing (C4)
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Dance at Dickinson
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Food for Thought at the Dickinson College Farm
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Kick Start Dickinson with the Idea Fund
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New and Improv-ed
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Music Uncaged
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Pawsitively Perfect: The Dickinson College Dog House
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Social Justice at Dickinson: Discovering Your Social Justice Story
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Wilderness Introduction to Life at Dickinson I-X (WILD)
ABOUT ORIENTATION Dickinson’s Orientation program is designed to facilitate a successful integration into a new and unfamiliar academic and residential setting. Specifically, Orientation will: •
i ntroduce you to college-level academic work through your First-Year Seminar
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connect you with your faculty advisor
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introduce you to your first-year mentor and students in your FirstYear Interest Group (FIG)
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familiarize you with the rights and responsibilities associated with being a student at Dickinson as well as the academic and social behaviors appropriate for success in an academic community
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elp you get familiar with the campus h and the people, programs and services available
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i ntroduce you to fellow students in ways that will help you establish supportive social networks
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c reate meaningful opportunities for you to learn from the academic and social experiences of upper-level students
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demonstrate the college’s connection to downtown Carlisle and the cultural and recreational offerings that will enhance your Dickinson experience
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integrate you into Dickinson’s history and tradition
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allow you the time and opportunity to explore and settle into your new environment
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a nd allow you to meet your college dean.
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IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES With so much to do before you arrive at Dickinson, you might need a little help keeping track of everything. We have included a list of important dates and deadlines below. Complete by June 1 • • • • • • •
isability Services Disclosure/ D Accommodation Request Area of Academic Interest Survey First-Year Seminar Selection First-Year Interest Group Request Media Relations Form Emergency Contact Information Religious Preference Form (optional)
Complete by July 1 • • • • • • • • • • • •
Health Forms Housing Survey/Selection Form Language Placement Testing Math Placement Testing Chemistry Placement Testing Music Placement Testing Music Background Information Language Background Information Financial Aid Recipients Information Form Summer Advising Prep Form Pre-Orientation Adventure Registration (optional) Host Family Request Form (optional)
Contact Us If you have any questions, please call the New Student Programs office at 717-245-1555 or email orientation@dickinson.edu. We are here to help make your preparations for and arrival at Dickinson as smooth as possible. We look forward to welcoming you to our distinctive community. Follow us on Twitter: @DsonOrientation
Complete between July 11 and 15 •
Academic Advising
July 18 to 25 •
Course Request Period
August 10 to 26 •
Course Schedule Adjustment
August 15 •
Employment Forms
Complete part I by August 22 and part II by October 15 •
AlcoholEdu online program (available Aug. 1)
Complete by August 22 •
EveryChoice online program (available Aug. 1)
Complete by September 12 •
Academic Integrity online course (available Aug. 1)
Additional information outlining First-Year Seminar selection and academic advising, plus links to the Gateway, where the forms are accessed, can be found on the Orientation website at orientation.dickinson.edu.
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