Preparing for Fall 2021 Arrival: Tips for Incoming Families

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Everyone at Colgate is excited to welcome our incoming students to campus for the Fall 2021 semester. Students have received instructions for coming to campus by email; this article shares some particularly important information and tips as you help your student prepare.

Arrival Day, August 22, 2021

As Colgate looks forward to a fall 2021 semester that more closely resembles previous academic years, the arrival process will include practices and guidelines designed to protect the health and safety of all.

  • 10:30 a.m.–noon    Family Brunch/Lunch 
  • 11 a.m.–noon    Student-Athlete Welcome
  • 2–2:30 p.m.    Official Welcome to Colgate Session
  • 2:30 p.m.    Cookiewiches and Family Farewells
  • 2:45 p.m.    Student Call to Assemble (orientation begins)
  • 3–4 p.m.    Parent & Family Orientation*


*Family members are warmly welcomed but not required to attend the Parent & Family Orientation. For families who are dropping their students off earlier in the week for pre-orientations, we are offering the Parent & Family Orientation session on those days:

  • Tuesday, August 17, 2:00–3:00 p.m. (Wilderness Adventure)
  • Thursday, August 19, 4:30–5:30 p.m.  (all other pre-orientations)

We will also distribute a recording of the session for any families who will not be coming to campus.

Students arriving early to participate in a pre-orientation experience or a fall-semester sports team should have already received information about specific arrival procedures, including the drop-off day’s schedule, from their program’s staff. 

Preparing for Move-in

Packing

The Housing page has helpful information for incoming students, including guidance on What to Bring (and NOT Bring).

Live Far Away? Mailing Packages

In preparing to move in, your student is welcome to send packages — or catalog or online orders — to campus. Mail Services is extremely busy at the beginning of the semester; therefore, we recommend all essential items (ex. medicine, bedding, towels, toiletries) be brought with your student.
 
Packages can start arriving anytime after the first of August. The Mail Services team will deliver as many packages as possible to Colgate student residences between August 9 and 18, depending on volume received and available staffing. Take note:

  • Students can find their CU box number in the student portal.
  • Make sure you have the correct information on all packages including first and last name, CU box number, and the residence hall/building.
  • Large items (chairs, futons, couches, shelving units, refrigerators) may not be able to be delivered and would have to be picked up.
  • If you must ship medications, use Fedex Express or U.S. Postal Service Express. 
  • Students will receive an email at their @colgate.edu address notifying them when a package is ready for pickup.
  • All packages received by Mail Services after August 18, 2021, will be held at mail services for student pick-up and not delivered. 

Package Pickup

Special hours for the start of the semester 
  • Monday–Friday     8–5 p.m.
  • Saturday, August 21    9 a.m.–1 p.m. 
  • Sunday, August 22    8 a.m.–3 p.m.

Moving In

 As part of our COVID-19 protections, we are asking, to the greatest extent possible, that families limit the number of people traveling to help with move-in. Students received an Arrival Day Survey on July 23 requesting that they indicate their planned time of arrival.

Campus Jobs/Employment

Many students end up working on campus at one time or another, even if they don’t initially plan to look for a job. In order to work on campus, students are required by federal law to complete a Federal Employment Eligibility Verification (I-9) Form. Family members can help to ensure that their students are able to pursue campus employment in a timely fashion by reminding them to bring with them to campus the necessary documentation to establish identity and employment authorization

Beware of Phishing Emails About Student Employment

We have recently seen an increase in phishing attacks regarding student employment. Students should be mindful of unsolicited employment offers that ask for personal information, and should verify the identity of the sender prior to sending any information or before clicking on any links. 

Students can help protect their data from being compromised by using multi-factor authentication. For more information, they can visit Colgate’s pages on phishing attacks and multi-factor authentication

Please remind your student to stay alert, never divulge personal information, and never click on email links or open attachments from strange or unknown email addresses.

Tune In to the Virtual Town Hall

Keep an eye out early in the week of August 9 for an email invitation to a virtual town hall to be held prior to student arrival, where Colgate leaders will discuss the fall return to campus.