1:
When can I arrive?
A:
All students may arrive on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 after 8 a.m. The Welcome Center is open from 8:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. in Woodstove Lounge in Proctor Hall; this should be your first stop on campus. Students traveling alone from great distances who wish to seek permission to arrive on campus on Tuesday should contact Associate Dean of the College Karen Guttentag at 802-443-2024 or by email at
kguttent@middlebury.edu. Students who have not obtained permission to arrive early from Dean Guttentag may not move into their rooms until Wednesday, February 6. Permission for arriving early may not be granted after Friday, January 18, 2008.
2:
I am a parent of an incoming student. What Orientation events are scheduled for parents, and how long should we plan to stay?
A:
The first official event of February orientation for families is a welcome dinner hosted by President Liebowitz on Wednesday evening, February 6, at 5:00 p.m. Following dinner, families are invited to accompany their new student to Convocation, the traditional welcoming event for new students. Families are also invited to attend a breakfast and panel discussion on Thursday morning, followed by "A Taste of the Classroom," a selection of sample classes to familiarize you with the Middlebury academic experience. More information on class options will be posted in early winter. All events are optional, and none require pre-registration.
3:
What is the best way to arrange my transportation to the College?
A:
4:
How do we get to the New Student Welcome Center in Proctor Hall?
A:
For students and families driving to campus from various locations, the following directions will bring you directly to the Welcome Center in Proctor Hall.
• From Burlington International Airport (approximately 1 hour): Left out of airport. Go straight across Rt. 2/Williston Rd. until you enter Rt. 189. At the end of 189, left onto Rt. 7S. Approximately 30 miles to Middlebury on Rt. 7S. As you enter Middlebury, you will see a white church on right. Right at church. Drive through town, following signs to Rt. 125 West. Bear right up Route 125, which is also College Street. At the top of the hill, you will take a left turn onto Hepburn Road; Proctor Hall will be on your right.
• From Montreal (approximately 2.5 hours): Canadian Rt. 133S to U.S. Interstate 89S to 189S (in Burlington) to Rt. 7S to the town of Middlebury. Refer to the directions from the Burlington International Airport for specific directions from Route 7S.
• From Boston (approximately 3.5 hours): 93N to 89N into Vermont. Take Exit 3 (Bethel) to Rt. 107W to 100N to 125W. Follow 125W past the Middlebury Snow Bowl and Bread Loaf campus until you come to a T with Rt. 7. Right on Rt. 7N; continue for several miles. In front of the Middlebury Inn, immediately get in center lane; this will take you into a right turn at the base of the Inn. Turn left off of Rt. 7 down hill onto Main St. At end of Main St., bear right up Route 125 West, which is also College Street. At the top of the hill, you will take a left turn onto Hepburn Road; Proctor Hall will be on your right.
• From New York City via Albany (approximately 5 hours; Albany is 2.5 hours away): Take 87N to Exit 24 (Albany); through tollbooth; continue to Exit 20 (Glens Falls) to 149E to 4E to Exit 3 (Rt. 30N) into Middlebury. You will pass through Cornwall, and as you come uphill toward the College you will pass the College golf course, and the athletic complex. After the athletic complex and the Center for the Arts, take a left on Old Chapel Road. Bearing right on Old Chapel, follow this road to the end. Take a left onto College Street /Route 125 West. At the top of the hill, take a left onto Hepburn Road; Proctor Hall will be on your right.
• From Route 7, from the south: After driving through Brandon, Salisbury, and East Middlebury (past Rt.125E – do not turn here), you will be approximately 4 miles from Middlebury. Continue on Rt. 7N; refer to "From Boston" for directions from Rt. 7N.
5:
Where should family members stay overnight on Wednesday?
A:
6:
Is there support for students arriving alone?
A:
Although we are always delighted to welcome new Middlebury families to campus, please be assured that students who arrive "solo" will be well cared for by their student residential staff, Feb Orientation leaders, Commons team, and the rest of our staff and faculty. While Middlebury does not provide a shuttle service, students who are traveling alone and are of limited financial means may contact Associate Dean of the College Karen Guttentag (
kguttent@middlebury.edu) for assistance with transportation from the Burlington airport or Middlebury bus station to campus. In addition, our Orientation staff will help students transport to their residence halls packages they have shipped to the College.
7:
What should family members bring to Orientation?
A:
Parents and family members attending Orientation need not bring any items other than warm, comfortable clothing and footwear. Bear in mind that February
weather in Vermontcan be quite chilly. Although we are hoping for a crisp and sunny Orientation program, snow and ice are realistic possibilities. The dress for all Orientation events is warm, informal and comfortable.
8:
Will there be assistance with moving in?
A:
When students arrive at the Welcome Center, they will connect with a Feb Orientation leader. When you have completed your Welcome Center activities, he or she will accompany you to your Commons office where you will meet your Commons dean and pick up your room key. Your Feb leader will also help you to unload and transport your belongings to your new room, and can accompany you to the Mail Room to retrieve packages. If you are traveling by car, once it is unpacked, you will be instructed to move it to a visitor parking lot.
9:
What if a member of our party has special needs?
A:
We hope to make your visit to campus as successful as possible. If you or a member of your party has special needs regarding mobility, or visual or hearing impairments, please contact Associate Dean of the College Karen Guttentag at 802-443-2024 or
kguttent@middlebury.edu.
10:
Will there be support available for setting up student computers?
A:
Members of our Library and Information Services staff will be on hand at the New Student Welcome Center to provide written set-up instructions specific to the students' computer hardware and software. In addition, the
Computer Help Desk (ext. 2200; located in the main library) will be staffed throughout the day to answer set-up questions.
Computer purchasing and system informationis also available on line.
11:
How do I send U.S. mail and packages to the campus, and where and when can I pick them up?
A:
Please use a 3-line address:
1) your name
2) your box #, Middlebury College
3) Middlebury, VT 05753 USA
All U.P.S. and Express packages should include an additional line beneath your box #: 14 Old Chapel Road.
You will be able to retrieve your packages in the Student Mail Center in McCullough Student Center, which is open weekdays from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
12:
What other information should we expect to receive before we arrive?
A:
You and your student should expect several additional mailings this winter. Copies of many of these mailings will be available on this Web site.
October: New Febs will receive a welcome letter from the two senior co-chairs of the Feb Orientation Program, as well as infromation on how to activate your Middlebury email account.
Early December: New students will receive a Feb 2008 Orientation Guide with extensive information about arriving at Middlebury, what to bring, the Orientation program, and residential life. Included will be first-year seminar registration instructions, placement exam information, and other useful planning materials. Family members will receive the Parent Guide, which contains comprehensive information about the College and its resources for students and parents. They will also receive the Family Orientation Guide, which has detailed information about the Feb Orientation Program for family members. New Febs will also receive applications to participate in February Outdoor Orientation, a first-come, first-served opportunity.
January: FOO trip applicants receive trip confirmations. Those accepted will receive detailed instructions on preparing for FOO.
Mid-January: First-year students will receive notification of their first-year seminar, and their housing assignment, as well as greetings from their Feb Orientation Group leaders.
13:
When will I find out who my roommate is?
A:
You will learn more about your housing situation in mid-January. This is because many students return from or depart for semesters abroad, and housing arrangements for the spring for new and returning students are influenced by these activities. Please be patient! We understand your eagerness to learn about housing and work as quickly as we can to finalize your arrangements.
14:
Where can I learn more about housing at Middlebury?
A:
15:
What kind of academic orientation will students receive?
A:
One of the primary goals of Orientation is to ensure that new students receive effective academic advising as they choose their first semester of classes and plan for future class sequences. All first-year students enroll in
first-year seminars, which draw upon the breadth of our curriculum. There are approximately 15 students in each class. The seminar instructor also serves as the academic adviser for these students throughout their first year at Middlebury.
This model of advising has proven to be highly effective and makes possible frequent and meaningful contact between new students and their faculty advisers. Students meet with their advisers individually and as a class during the Orientation program to discuss course selection, College academic requirements, and class registration. Although students are able to register for classes online in subsequent semesters, they register for their first semester in person, with faculty from every department on hand to assist them.
After attending their first-year seminar class, students take placement exams in those departments that require exams. This helps ensure that students enroll in classes appropriate to their skill level.
Middlebury's Center for Teaching, Learning and Research offers several optional sessions during Orientation that past participants have found incredibly useful. These include a session to help students consider course selection before they meet with their advisers (two sessions offered Thursday afternoon), and a session on time management (one session offered Friday morning).
Finally, we offer an informal drop-in academic session in which Feb leaders and staff members will share their advice on academic issues and answer new students' questions.
16:
Do I need to take a placement exam before I enroll in any Middlebury classes?
A:
17:
How do I transfer credits from my fall semester?
A:
Click herefor information about the credit transfer process.
18:
I want an on-campus job. What documents do I need in order to work?
A:
All students who choose to work on campus must complete a W-4 and an I-9 form in the Student Employment Office. The I-9 is a Federal form that helps establish employment eligibility. You must bring either a Social Security card or a birth certificate and picture ID. Passports are accepted as picture ID (International Students). Also accepted are a driver's license with the Social Security number on it (U.S. citizens) or a notarized copy of any of the above. International students will have an opportunity to apply for a Social Security number/card. Feel free to visit the
Student Employment Office's Web site.
19:
Where can we shop in the area for room items?
A:
20:
Whom should I contact with additional questions?
A:
Febs and family members with additional Orientation questions may contact Associate Dean of the College Karen Guttentag at 802-443-2024 or
kguttent@middlebury.edu. To contact other College offices, please explore this Web site for the appropriate contact.