New Student Checklist
Welcome to the Middlebury Institute! Please be in touch with your enrollment advisor for further guidance and assistance, if needed.
We recommend accessing MIcommunity daily as a new admit.
Summer 2025 New Student Checklist
| Action Item | Timeline | Contact for Questions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Activate your Middlebury Network Account; access Middlebury Email | 24-36 hours after your deposit or deposit waiver is received | Information Technology Services (ITS) | Refer to the email sent to your non-Middlebury email address from ITS for instructions; you cannot activate your account until you receive this email, and there is no way to speed up this automated process. If you have not received this message in 3 business days after your deposit was submitted, email helpdesk@middlebury.edu for assistance. |
| Login to Banner 9 | After your network account is activated | Information Technology Services (ITS) | Must activate your network account first; see above. Once in Banner, update your personal information, including your current mailing address and emergency contact information. Banner 9 is where in-person students will register for classes. |
| Login to Canvas | After your network account is activated | Information Technology Services (ITS) | Learn more about Canvas. |
| Apply for Federal Financial Aid or accept your Financial Aid offer | As soon as possible after admission | Student Financial Services | If you need federal loans to pay tuition or living expenses, submit that FAFSA (log in with your FSA ID) and MIIS Financial Aid Application (log in to your Middlebury Financial Aid Portal with your Middlebury credentials or the email used to apply for admission to MIIS). If you have received a financial aid offer, you can accept or decline your aid and review all disbursement requirements in your Middlebury Financial Aid Portal. |
| Enroll in Getting Started at MIIS | Start date TBD | Student Services | The course opening date will be added soon for summer start programs. Learn more about GSAM. |
| Familiarize yourself with Handshake | No action required until you receive a notification (beginning in May) | Center for Advising and Career Services (CACS) | Handshake is Middlebury’s career management platform where you can access career resources and schedule appointments with your CACS advisor. We will preload some of your account information to help you get started, but please log in to complete your profile after you receive a notification that your account has been created. |
| Sign up for Nelnet and direct deposit | After you have received your tuition invoice | Student Financial Services | Nelnet is required for all students to pay tuition. The direct deposit step is only applicable to those receiving federal financial aid. |
| Pay tuition | After you have received your tuition invoice | Student Financial Services | Must first activate your Nelnet account. |
Fall 2025 New Student Checklist
| Action Item | Timeline | Contact for Questions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Activate your Middlebury Network Account; access Middlebury Email | 24-36 hours after your deposit or deposit waiver is received | Information Technology Services (ITS) | Refer to the email sent to your non-Middlebury email address from ITS for instructions; you cannot activate your account until you receive this email, and there is no way to speed up this automated process. If you have not received this message in 3 business days after your deposit was submitted, email helpdesk@middlebury.edu for assistance. |
| Login to Banner 9 | After your network account is activated | Information Technology Services (ITS) | Must activate your network account first; see above. Once in Banner, update your personal information, including your current mailing address and emergency contact information. Banner 9 is where in-person students will register for classes. |
| Login to Canvas | After your network account is activated | Information Technology Services (ITS) | Learn more about Canvas. |
| Apply for Federal Financial Aid or accept your Financial Aid offer | As soon as possible after admission | Student Financial Services | If you need federal loans to pay tuition or living expenses, submit the FAFSA (log in with your FSA ID) and the MIIS Financial Aid Application (log in to your Middlebury Financial Aid Portal with your Middlebury credentials or the email used to apply for admission to MIIS). If you have received a financial aid offer, you can accept or decline your aid and review all disbursement requirements in your Middlebury Financial Aid Portal. |
| Start Visa Process (in-person international students) | After receiving an email from ISSS | International Scholar Student Services | Start the process after receiving your email from ISSS (arrives after you’re admitted and deposited, 3-4 months before your program start date). |
| Explore Housing Resources (in-person students) | Student Services | go.miis.edu/housing Housing Group in MiCommunity |
|
| Apply to live in Munras Student Housing | Application opens March 27, 2025. | munrashousing@middlebury.edu | Housing is awarded through an application process and is not guaranteed. You may highlight your preferred room setup (single, double, and/or triple) in your application. Placement in future semesters is not guaranteed. For more information visit our Munras Housing page. |
| Take the language placement test, if required (in-person students taking language studies) | Ongoing | Angie Quesenberry | Some degree programs require a language placement test. If you would like to take coursework in language studies this semester, you will need to take the language test. You will receive a personalized email with instructions to take the test. Learn more about the Language Placement test. |
| Enroll in Getting Started at MIIS | Start date July 28th | Student Services | Learn more about GSAM. |
| Enroll in International Student Pre-Orientation (if applicable) | Start date July 28th | Student Services | Learn more about ISPO. |
| Familiarize yourself with Handshake | No action required until you receive a notification (beginning in August) | Center for Advising and Career Services (CACS) | Handshake is Middlebury’s career management platform where you can access career resources and schedule appointments with your CACS advisor. We will preload some of your account information to help you get started, but please log in to complete your profile after you receive a notification that your account has been created. |
| Register for Courses (in-person students) | Wednesday, August 20 for policy programs Students taking translation and/or interpretation wait for meeting with program head. |
Your Academic Advisor | Instructions to register for courses are in the Getting Started at MIIS course (see below). Policy students enroll in the course and complete your advising assignment to be able to register beginning on Wednesday, August 20. Students taking translation and/or interpretation courses must wait to meet with their Program Head during Welcome Week before registering for classes. |
| Attend Welcome Week sessions (in-person students) | August 25–29 | Student Services, your Career Advisor or your Academic Advisor | Learn more about Welcome Week. Welcome Week is mandatory for all new students. However, if you miss parts of Welcome Week, make sure to connect with your career advisor or your academic advisor on content missed and complete GSAM. |
| Sign up for Nelnet and direct deposit | After you have received your tuition invoice | Student Financial Services | Nelnet is required for all students to pay tuition. The direct deposit step is only applicable to those receiving federal financial aid. |
| Pay tuition | After you have received your tuition invoice | Student Financial Services | Must first activate your Nelnet account. |
Other ongoing to-do items for new students:
- Check MIcommunity regularly for new student updates and news
- Explore housing resources and begin your housing search
Student IDs
Follow these steps below to obtain your MIIS ID card:
- Upload a headshot photo to the MIIS directory. Be sure to log in with your Middlebury.edu email address and then click “Upload Photo” at the top of the web page. NOTE: Make sure that you follow the format, size, and picture resolution guidelines on this page to successfully upload your photo for approval. You may upload your photo as early as 30 days before arrival on campus, to assure that your ID card is ready when you arrive.
- E-mail miissecurity@middlebury.edu your name, Institute ID number, and best email address, requesting we print your id card. (note the photo can take up to 24 hours to be uploaded and approved before we can print)
- Security will make your ID card and notify you when it’s ready for pick up in person. The Security Hut is located behind the Library between Van Buren and Pierce Streets.
Late Arrival Policy
In Person
The Institute expects students enrolled in in-person programs to be present and attending classes from the first day of the semester. Students who must arrive later than the first day of the semester should notify the Enrollment department (miis@middlebury.edu) and the Associate Dean of Academic Operations (tmthomas@middlebury.edu). In exceptional circumstances, late arrivals may be considered. In general, the last day to arrive for in-person classes is the first day of the second week of the semester.
Visit the Academic Calendar for specific term dates and information.
Online
Middlebury Institute Online requires students to demonstrate course participation in the first week (Monday to Sunday) of an online course. After the first week of the course, Student Financial Services initiates the enrollment verification process to disburse financial aid. If a student does not participate before enrollment verification is initiated, the student will be administratively removed from their course(s) and their financial aid adjusted accordingly.
Academic participation includes any point-earning activity in a class, including but not limited to posting to a discussion board, submitting an assignment, student-initiated contact with a faculty member to ask a question about a course topic, or submitting an exam or quiz. Activities that do not constitute academic participation include logging in to the Learning Management System, emailing the professor about grades, submitting a video introduction, discussing academic progress in the course or program, and communicating via email with an advisor, student financial services, or other administrative staff. See the full policy.