1:
What should new students bring to campus?
A:
2:
When will students learn about their housing assignments and roommates?
A:
Commons, housing, campus mailbox, and roommate assignments will all be accessible electronically through your BannerWeb account in late July/early August. All new students will receive a message in your Middlebury email account, which you will set up in June, when this information is available; instructions on accessing your BannerWeb information will be included. You may learn more about housing at Middlebury on the Web pages of each of the five
Commons (see links to each Commons at the left). Look for the "Housng and Facilities" or "Floorplans" link in the channel to the right.
3:
How can I find out more about the optional pre-Orientation trips?
A:
Please click on the MiddView link from the Orientation homepage.
4:
When should new students arrive on campus?
A:
International Students
International students have been invited to participate in Middlebury's International Student Orientation Program. Participants will arrive on Wednesday, August 27; detailed information has been sent to these students in a separate mailing.
Preseason Athletes
Students who have been invited to participate in preseason practices for a fall sport should contact their coach directly to learn about arrival details. For coach contact information, visit our Web site at http://www.middlebury.edu/athletics, or call the Athletics Office at 802-443-5250. Pre-season athletes may pick up their Orientation packets in their Commons Office.
MiddView Participants
We invite all new students to participate in MiddView, Middlebury's optional pre-orientation trips program. Trip application materials are included in our May mailing to new students and can be found on the Web (http://www.middlebury.edu/campuslife/activities/orientation/). In early July, we will confirm students' registration for MiddView trips.
MiddView participants will arrive in Middlebury on Sunday, August 31. We suggest that MiddView participants arrive on the 31st without family members. To make this as easy for families as possible, we will be providing free shuttles from the Burlington airport. Family members may reunite with their students on campus on Wednesday, September 3, when the Orientation program officially begins. Specific information about transportation to Middlebury on August 31 for MiddView participants and instructions for reuniting with family members at Middlebury College on September 3 will be mailed in July.
All Other New Students
All students who do not plan to participate in any of the programs noted above may arrive on campus on the first official day of Orientation: Wednesday, September 3. Commons Welcome Centers will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Students and their families may arrive any time between these hours and should plan to make their Commons their first stop on campus.
5:
When should family members arrive on campus?
A:
Parents and family members of incoming students are enthusiastically invited to arrive on campus for Middlebury's Orientation program on Wednesday, September 3. We hope you will be able to participate in the many Orientation events for family members offered through the morning of Thursday, September 4. Although we understand that families of students participating in pre-orientation programs may wish to accompany their student on the first trip to campus, please note that there will be no special parent programs or services offered until Wednesday, September 3.
6:
How should students travel to campus?
A:
Students participating in MiddView and in International Student Orientation will receive more detailed information about their travel and pick-up options. All students may choose to travel by plane, bus, or car to the Middlebury campus. For airport, bus, and taxi contact information, please see Middlebury's
Transportation Information link.
7:
How and when should we mail packages to campus?
A:
Students mailing packages for arrival between August 20 and September 15: The arrival of many first-year students at the beginning of the fall necessitates that packages mailed at this time must be sent to the Service Building Warehouse, where a higher volume of large items can be processed efficiently. New and returning students who are shipping large items to the College between August 20 and September 15 should use the following address:
Student Full Name (no nicknames, please)
C/O (Box number if available)
Middlebury College
Service Building Warehouse
84 South Service Road
Middlebury, VT 05753
Students who have not received their mailbox number by the time they must mail their belongings should indicate on the package that they are a first-year, transfer, or exchange student. The warehouse will be open throughout September Orientation. It is helpful to bring the package-tracking number and the name of the shipping company to expedite package retrieval. Students who arrive on campus early in order to attend special orientation programs may be able to pick up their belongings during that time period.
Students mailing packages for arrival between September 16 and August 21 of the following year: During the academic year and summer, students who need to ship larger items (i.e., trunks, luggage, special-ordered equipment) to campus should send their items, prepaid, to the campus Mail Center.
8:
Where do we go first on Wednesday, September 3?
A:
Students and family members should stop first at the Commons Welcome Centers, which will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Students will pick up their Orientation packet, their room key, and attend to other important details. Family members will pick up their Family Orientation materials with updated schedules and event locations, and other useful information. Residential life staff will be available to assist with the move-in process.
9:
How should family members arriving on Wednesday connect with students who have arrived on campus earlier for a pre-Orientation program?
A:
Family members arriving on Wednesday who plan to meet their students participating in pre-season athletics or MOO should make their own arrangements as to where and when they would like to meet. Regardless of early arrivals, all students must go to the Welcome Center on Wednesday to retrieve their Orientation packets, and all visiting family members must check in to get their Orientation materials, so meeting in the Kenyon Arena lobby may be a good idea. There will also be message boards at the Welcome Center, which students and families may use.
10:
How do we get to the New Student Welcome Center?
A:
.
- 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 Middlebury College/Route 125, when you reach the middle of town turn right onto College Street/Route 125 (Otter Creek Bakery will be on your right) proceed up College Street and look for signs that will direct you to your Commons Welcome Center.
- 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 Street. In the middle of town, bear right onto College Street/Route 125 (Otter Creek Bakery will be on your right) proceed up College Street and look for signs that will direct you to your Commons Welcome Center.
- 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. As you near the campus, look for signs directing you to your Commons Welcome Center.
- 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.
11:
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, their 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 Penny Deacon, Assistant to the Associate Dean of the College (
pdellven@middlebury.edu), for assistance with transportation from the Burlington airport or Middlebury bus station to campus. In addition, our warehouse staff will help students transport to their residence halls packages they have shipped to the College.
12:
Where should family members stay overnight on Wednesday?
A:
The following Web sites include abundant information about local lodging options:
In addition, a limited number of rooms are available for the evening of Wednesday, September 3, at Middlebury's Bread Loaf campus in Ripton, Vermont. Bread Loaf is a 25-minute drive from campus and offers simple double and single rooms, all with single beds. Each floor has a community bathroom, and towels, sheets, pillows, blankets, and soap are provided in each room. Guests are responsible for their own transportation to and from Bread Loaf. The cost is $35 per person. Bread Loaf rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis and can be reserved through this Web site: https://www.middlebury.edu/forms/campuslife/events/orientation/breadloaf_form.php. We will confirm your reservation as soon as possible and will refund your money if we are not able to accommodate you. Because these rooms are traditionally in high demand, all families are encouraged to make alternative reservations that may be cancelled once you receive confirmation of your lodging at Bread Loaf.
13:
What should family members bring to Orientation?
A:
Parents and family members attending Orientation need not bring any items other than comfortable clothing and footwear. Bear in mind that September
weather in Vermont can be quite erratic. Although we are hoping for a cool and sunny Orientation program, rain, wind, and heat are realistic possibilities. The dress for all Orientation events is informal and comfortable.
14:
When may students move into the residence hall?
A:
Students arriving early for preseason athletics, International Student Orientation, and MiddView will receive specific information about when they may drop off their belongings or move into their rooms. All other students may move into their rooms on Wednesday, September 3, after obtaining their room key at the their Commons Welcome Centers. No other early arrivals are permitted.
15:
Will there be assistance with moving in?
A:
On Wednesday, September 3, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., each first-year residence hall will provide a move-in team of student staff so enthusiastic and energetic that they will take your breath (and your luggage) away. Once you have unpacked your car, you will be instructed to move it to a visitor parking lot, while your student's items are transported to his or her room. Families without cars who have shipped their student's belongings to campus may go to the Service Building to retrieve them. There, members of the warehouse staff are available to help transport packages to the residence hall.
16:
Where can we shop in the area for room items?
A:
The campus and town of Middlebury offer several options for general supplies within a five-minute drive, including the following stores:
Aubuchon Hardware: Middlebury Village Court on Rt. 7 South (388-1400)
Ben Franklin Variety Store: 73 Main Street (388-2101)
Rite-Aid: Across from Middlebury Plaza on Rt. 7 South (388-9573)
Hannaford's Supermarket: Middlebury Plaza on Rte. 7 South (388-1017)
Kinney Drugs: Middlebury Village Court on Route 7 South (388-0973)
Middlebury College Store: Lower Proctor Hall (x5334)
Middlebury Co-Op: Washington Street (388-7276)
Countryside Carpet and Paint: Route 7 South (388-4050)
Shaw's Supermarket: 8 Washington Street (388-0930)
T.J. Maxx: Middlebury Plaza on Rte. 7 South (388-3021)
Searching for more serious furnishings may require a trip to the Burlington/ Williston area, approximately an hour's drive, where shoppers can take advantage of the following resources among many others.
Bed Bath & Beyond: 115 Trader Lane, Williston (802-878-9991)
Home Depot: 759 Harvest Lane, Williston (802-872-0039)
Linens 'n' Things: 100 Maple Tree Place, Williston (802-879-9900)
Homeport: 52 Church Street, Burlington (802-863-4644)
Wal-Mart: 863 Harvest Lane, Williston (802-878-5233)
17:
Will there be support available for setting up student computers?
A:
Members of our Library and Information Services staff will be on hand in the main library 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 library) will be staffed throughout the day to answer set-up questions by phone.
18:
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 Penny Deacon, Assistant to the Associate Dean of the College, at 802.443.5771 or
pdellven@middlebury.edu.
19:
What other information should we expect to receive before we arrive?
A:
This Checklist of Pre-Arrival Information, whcih you can find in the May Mailing posting on our
Orientation home page, includes an overview of what additional communication you should expect. Please review this information closely, as many of these communications will require time-sensitive responses.
20:
What kind of academic orientation will students receive?
A:
Student's introduction to Middlebury's intellectual community begins during the summer. In July, after all new students have been assigned to their Commons they will be mailed a reading, selected by the Commons Head(s), to complete before they arrive on campus. During Orientation the new students of each Commons explore the reading with the guidance of their Commons Head(s) and other members of the Middlebury community. These early discussions introduce students to the type of intellectual atmosphere and discourse the College strives to create.
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. Between June 19 and June 27, all first-year students enroll on-line in their first-year seminars for the fall, which draw upon the breadth of our curriculum. There are approximately 15 students in each class, and the first class meeting takes place on the second day of Orientation. Students’ first-year seminar instructors also serve as their academic advisers 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. Transfer students will have advisers assigned to them based on their tentative field of interest.
After attending their first-year seminar class, students take placement exams in those departments that require them. This helps ensure that students enroll in classes appropriate to their preparation level. The Orientation materials mailed to all new students in June includes a Placement Exam information chart that provides details about each department that requires a placement exam, what kind of exam they offer, who should take the exam, and a departmental contact. Placement exams in Spanish, French, and Chemistry should be taken on-line prior to arrival after August 1. Results of all placement exams are provided to students on Thursday afternoon of Orientation. That afternoon students will also attend the Academic Forum, where faculty representatives from each of Middlebury’s academic programs are available to talk with new students about courses and opportunities in their departments. On Thursday and Friday, students meet with their advisers individually to discuss their fall course selection, Middlebury’s academic requirements, and class registration.
Finally, on Saturday morning all new students register for their remaining fall classes. Although in subsequent semesters, students are able to register for classes online, they register for their first semester of courses in person, with faculty from every department on hand to assist them.
21:
What documents do I need in order to work on or off campus?
A:
All students who choose to work on or off 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 during International Student Orientation.
22:
Whom should I contact with additional questions?
A:
Family members with additional Orientation questions may contact Penny Deacon, Assistant to the Associate Dean of the College, at 802.443.5771 or
pdellven@middlebury.edu. To contact other College offices, please explore this Web site for the appropriate contact.