New Students
Preparing for Your Arrival
What's Next
May
- May 16: Webinar for incoming parents and families: How to Partner in Your Student's Education
- May 23: Webinar: Fall Courses: Making Your Choices
- May 24: Academic surveys made available
- Complete the incoming student questionnaire
- Complete the academic advising questionnaire
- Complete the health information form
- Incoming students able to log into their financial aid account via
- Self-Identification & Accommodation information made available
- Information for international students made available
June
- June 12: Housing survey made available
- June 20: Webinar: Student Employment
- June 21: Academic surveys due
- Families receive health insurance information and details on the waiver process
- Language placement exams emailed to students
- Student employment information available
- Instructions regarding the housing application come via F&M email
July
- Fall bills made available
- Student employment virtual job fair
- Pre-orientation trip details made available
- Move-in day information made available
- July 12: Housing survey due
- July 17: Virtual job fair for work-aided students
- July 18: Webinar: Living on Campus, Part 1: Housing, Dining, Transportation & Safety
August
- August 8: Webinar: Living on Campus, Part 2: College Houses, Move-In & Orientation Overview
- August 9, 2024: Fall payment due
- Student employment assignments emailed to students
- Registrar鈥檚 office notifies students about AP/IB credits that have been processed
- Fall course schedules made available to students
- Room assignment, roommate name and contact information, College House affiliation,
and House Dean information emailed to students
- Mid-August: If you need to ship any items to F&M ahead of your arrival, please and ship your belongings to them by mid-August. Learn more about Storage Scholars at F&M.
- August 20: International student arrival
- August 20: Pre-arrival programs arrival
- August 23: New student move-in
- August 23: Parent welcome at 1:30 p.m. in the the
Parent welcome will not be live-streamed or recorded. - August 23: Convocation at 3:30 p.m. at the
Convocation will be live-streamed for those who cannot attend. - August 23-27: New student orientation
What You Need to Know
四虎影院
Course Registration
The Registrar's Office will create your fall course schedule from the courses you select on the academic survey and from the answers you provide on the language, math and science surveys. These surveys will be accessible through your Canvas course. Note that some forms become available at different points during the summer. You can expect to receive your class schedule in early August. Explore our course catalog to see what sort of courses you may be registered for.
Placement Exams
Information regarding academic placement exams will be available in your Canvas Course and will be emailed to your F&M Gmail account.
Credit Transfers
- Advanced Placement (AP) & International Baccalaureate (IB)
Make sure you have your AP/IB scores and any college transcripts sent directly to the Registrar's Office at F&M by the end of July. As we create your fall schedule, we will adjust it to make sure you are not enrolled in any course for which you will receive AP credit or transfer credit. If we receive score reports or transcripts after the end of July, we may not be able to adjust your final schedule.
- Earning Credit During Deferral
For first-year and transfer students with approval to defer their admission, F&M will allow the study of up to two courses per semester at another institution. Should a first-year or transfer student deferring their admission pursue more than two courses, the student would be required to reapply through the transfer admission process.
Academic Support Resources
- Tutoring & Academic Support
A constellation of tutoring and academic support services are available to you at F&M, many of which are located in one central location on campus. We offer academic coaching, writing support, peer advising, subject-specific tutoring, and much more. You can partner with professionals and student peers to develop skills as a purpose-driven learner, build habits for success, and reflect on how your knowledge provides momentum to achieve your goals.
- Academic Advising
Students at F&M are paired with a faculty member who acts as an academic adviser, offering support and encouragement as they journey through their academic pursuits at F&M. Faculty advisers are given extensive support and training resources to learn how to provide students with access to the tools they need to thrive. - First-Year Advising Mentors
As a new student, you will be connected with a first-year advising mentor (FAM) to help you successfully launch your journey at F&M. Your FAM will assist you with onboarding and learning F&M鈥檚 academic culture, help you add or drop a class to choose that perfect schedule, introduce you to many resources available at F&M, talk about the deep questions of life, and provide tips on where to shop for your new College House room. Most importantly, FAMs will be an important resource throughout your entire F&M experience, listening to your story and helping you craft a distinctive academic path that suits your interests.
The Center for Career and Professional Development
Pre-Professional Advising
Several pre-professional advising programs are offered through the Career Center. These programs are offered as a supplement to your chosen major.
Athletics, Fitness & Recreation
Diplomat Athletic Sports Teams
Your coaches will be in touch with steps throughout the summer with specific instructions about move-in.
Athlete Pre-Participation Paperwork
In July, you will receive pre-participation paperwork from our Sports Medicine Office. In August, you will receive additional emails related to paperwork that all athletes must file in order to compete at F&M (and required by the NCAA).
Club Sports & Intramurals
Club sports begin publicizing their seasons during orientation and during the first
week or two of classes. They provide information at campus fairs, by email and through
printed posters and fliers. Information about registering for intramural programs
is typically announced by the F&M Department of Athletics and Recreation in September.
Learn more
Billing, Financial Aid & Student Employment
Tuition, Fees, and Billing
Each student is charged fees that cover tuition, housing, food, and some charges for activities and labs. All charges and fees for each semester are billed in advance and must be paid in full by the specified term due date. Learn more about tuition, fees, and billing at F&M, including payment options and due dates.
Financial Aid
We鈥檙e dedicated to making an F&M education affordable for all. By offering need-based and merit-based financial aid, we鈥檙e able to welcome talented students from all backgrounds. Need-based and merit-based financial aid is not mutually exclusive; you can qualify and receive both. If you鈥檙e admitted to F&M, we will meet 100% of your institutionally determined financial need for all four years on campus.
If you have any questions about financial aid at F&M or your specific package, please feel free to reach out to your financial aid contact. Your contact is based on the first letter of your last name:
- A-G: Eric E Kopp, Interim Director of Financial Aid
- H-O: Jasper Choi, Assistant Director of Financial Aid
- P-Z: Autumn Nauman, Financial Aid Counselor
LEARN MORE ABOUT FINANCIAL AID
Student Employment
If you鈥檙e enrolled in at least three credits per semester (a full-time course load), you are eligible for on-campus employment. If you are awarded Federal Work Study or College Work Option in your financial aid package, you are given priority status as an aided student and are eligible to apply for any position on campus. If you鈥檙e not work-aided, you are still eligible to work on campus, but will have a limited number of positions available to you.
F&M鈥檚 Student Employment Office (SEO) will guide you through the position search and hiring process, and match you with positions where you will learn valuable, transferable skills that will benefit you both at F&M and beyond. If you are work-aided, SEO will send you an invitation to a virtual job fair via your F&M Gmail account.
If you are seeking campus employment, you must bring original, unexpired identification documents with you to campus during move-in. Copies, scans and faxes are not accepted (per federal government requirements). These identification documents are required before you can start any position on campus.
Dining
First-Year Meal Plans
As a first-year, you鈥檙e required to purchase a meal plan unless you are commuting (though you can of course purchase a meal plan if you are!). If you鈥檙e a commuter and want to purchase a meal plan, please contact housing@fandm.edu. Otherwise, your meal plan pricing is automatically enrolled into your tuition details.
How to Access Your Meal Plan
Your meal plan is conveniently attached directly to your F&M student ID card. All you have to do is swipe your card in the dining hall and our retail locations to use a meal or your flex dollars.
Coming Early for a Sport?
If you鈥檙e an athlete coming early to campus for pre-season training, you won鈥檛 be able to use your meal plan quite yet. Instead, you鈥檒l be fed in the dining hall. Please talk to your athletic advisors if you have any questions.
Dietary Restrictions
The chefs on campus work closely with those who have specific dietary needs due to allergen restrictions, religious affiliation, lifestyle choices or other dietary restrictions.
Dietary Need Due to Allergies
If you require a specific dietary need due to allergies, Simple Servings is a gluten-free station on campus that serves a variety of delicious meals that don鈥檛 include any of the top allergens, with the exclusion of fin-fish. This station is also gluten-free. The entire dining hall is a nut-free facility, and gluten-free options are available in our retail locations.
If you have other dietary restrictions, our chefs and our dietitian work closely with the Office of Student Accessibility Services to assist you with those restrictions to ensure you have nutritious and delicious meals while at F&M.
KIVO: Kosher, International, Vegan, and Organic
If you keep Kosher or Halal, we have an area in the dining hall called , which stands for Kosher, International, Vegan, and Organic. This space is a Star K certified kosher dining facility, and also houses Trellis, our entirely plant-based dining option.
Health, Wellness & Safety
Health Forms
New students need to fill out a health history form indicating personal and family
health history, demographic information, tuberculosis assessment, and immunization
records, including meningitis vaccine requirements. Completion of this form is mandatory
for all new and all transfer students. Please note: Pennsylvania State Law requires that all college students residing in
a dormitory must either receive the meningitis vaccine (quadrivalent vaccine is the
CDC and F&M recommended vaccine), or sign a waiver declining the vaccine for 鈥渞eligious
or other reasons.鈥 You will not be able to receive your room key on move-in day without
submitting proof of the vaccine or the signed waiver.
This form is available in your . You must log into Canvas using your F&M Gmail. Please follow the instructions on completion and submission of the required forms.
You can direct all questions related to health form requirements to studentwellness@fandm.edu.
Once the Student Wellness Center (SWC) has received and processed your forms, they will mark them as complete in your . If the SWC needs additional information, they will let you know. If this is the
case, you only need to send what they鈥檝e requested, not the full set of forms again.
If you submit your forms and don鈥檛 receive a response, it just means the SWC hasn鈥檛
yet reviewed your forms; there鈥檚 no need to resubmit.
Health Insurance
Health insurance coverage is required for all full-time students. You must enroll in F&M鈥檚 student health insurance program if you don鈥檛 have insurance or if your insurance does not provide comparable coverage 鈥 including mental health 鈥 to the school sponsored plan.
Health, Wellness & Safety at F&M
We offer a comprehensive array of health and wellness resources that not only care for you when you鈥檙e feeling unwell, but teach you how to be proactive in your self-care and learn lifelong skills related to healthy living, stress management and more.
There are also trained, licensed professionals available and ready to support you when needed. Our Department of Public Safety (DPS) is an accredited law-enforcement agency on campus. Our Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is a Basic Life Support (BLS) unit licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Student Accessibility Services
The Office of Student Accessibility Services (SAS) works with students who have disabilities to determine reasonable accommodations and ensure that they have equal access to all aspects of their education. Accommodations may include academic, dining, and housing needs.
Housing
Housing Application & Room Assignment
You will receive an email to your F&M Gmail in June with instructions on how to complete your housing application online. We will match you with roommates based upon your answers to those questions. Our College House Deans then review assignments and make adjustments to components that our automated process might have overlooked. Your room assignment (including your roommate鈥檚 name and contact information) will be announced in August.
College Houses
These are not your average dorm! F&M鈥檚 College Houses are lively hubs of intellectual, extracurricular, and social engagement that not only give you a place to hang out, sleep, and study, but also your own special place to belong.
Room Details
When you receive your room assignment in August, feel free to explore the specs of our residential facilities so you can get a better idea of what your room will be like.
What to Bring to Campus
One of the most exciting parts of the summer before college is getting everything you鈥檒l want and need for your room. We know you can鈥檛 wait to get started, so check out this list of what we think new students might need. Be sure to also review what items you should not bring to campus!
Renter鈥檚 Insurance
Franklin & 四虎影院 does not cover the cost of your personal belongings if they are stolen or damaged. Students are expected 鈥 and in some cases required 鈥 to obtain renters insurance before moving in to protect their personal items.
Learn more about renter's insurance
Shipping & Storing Your Items
F&M has a partnership with , a service that lightens the burden of moving and storage. Storage Scholars will ship boxes to your house for packing. Once the team receives your belongings, Storage Scholars will store them and later deliver them to campus so they鈥檙e ready and waiting in your room.
International Students
We are eager to welcome you to campus! As an international student, there are some additional steps you will need to take as you prepare for your arrival on campus. You can get started with these materials:
International Handbook
Explore our International Handbook for an overview of everything you need to know before you arrive at F&M.
Logging Into Your International Student Services (ISS) Portal
International Student Services (ISS) at F&M offers professional immigration support, advocating for your academic success at F&M by ensuring you are compliant with U.S. immigration laws and processes. Learn how to log into the ISS Portal, a tool you will use during your time at F&M.
Learn How to Prepare to Apply for Your I-20
Your first step as an F-1 student will be to apply for your Form I-20, 鈥淐ertificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status.鈥 Learn more about how to prepare for your I-20.
Please note this link is only accessible if you're logged into your F&M Gmail account.
Apply for Your F-1 Visa and Prepare for Your Interview
After you have applied for and received your Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for F-1 Student Status), the next step is to apply for your F-1 Student visa. Learn more about how to apply for your F-1 visa and prepare for your interview.
Please note this link is only accessible if you're logged into your F&M Gmail account.
Getting to Lancaster From Various Airports
F&M's location in Lancaster offers easy access to several major airports. There is also an Amtrak train station just two miles from campus. Learn more about how you can get to campus after your flight lands.
International Student Orientation
August 20, 2024
On August 20, 2024, international students will be welcomed to campus for an early
move-in. During International Student Orientation, students will learn about the requirements
of their F-1 status, discover how to succeed in F&M's liberal arts community, and
meet other international and domestic students from across the globe. International
orientation is mandatory for all international students. There is no additional fee
for this program.
Travel Checklist
Coming soon!
Technology
Your Net ID and F&M Google Account
After you sent in your enrollment fee, you received an email from us with your NetID and the information you need to access your F&M Google account. Your NetID is unique to you and you will use it to access a variety of computer resources at F&M. Both the NetID and Google account use the same F&M password.
To start using your NetID and F&M Gmail, you will need to claim your account. Please locate that email and follow the instructions to set up your F&M Gmail if you haven't already.
If you're having trouble, please contact our Information Technology Services (ITS) team by calling 717-358-6789 or emailing helpdesk@fandm.edu.
Set Up Google 2-Step Verification
Google 2-Step Verification is a requirement for all F&M accounts. You must complete this process within 90 days after your account is created. If you miss the 90-day mark, you will need to reach out to ITS for assistance.
You can find instructions in this . (Your F&M login is required to view document).
Install the Gmail App on Your Phone
If you haven鈥檛 installed the Gmail app on your phone yet, please do so! Our TechDoc provides the instructions on how to get that done, whether you have an Apple
or Android phone.
Accessing Your Student ID Number
1. Log into using your F&M Net ID and password
If you haven't set up your F&M Net ID, learn how to do so by reviewing "Your Net ID and F&M Google Account" above.
2.If you're on a desktop computer, select "Navigation" in the blue bar at the top of the screen, then select "My Info.
3. If you're on the MyDiplomat app on a mobile device, select "Menu" in the bottom right-hand corner, then select "My Info."
4. Select the 鈥淢anage Personal Information鈥 icon.
5. You will find your ID number on the left-hand side of the screen beneath your name.
Computers
We often get questions about what type of computer new students should bring to campus. The answer is: it鈥檚 up to you! We recommend bringing a laptop computer that you are comfortable using. If you want to use Windows or Mac, it鈥檚 your choice; we are not an exclusively Apple or PC campus.
Keep an Eye Out for Savings
Some vendors, such as , , , and offer students a discount on their products. We include links directly to these discounts
on our website. You may also want to consider purchasing an extended warranty or an
accidental damage warranty if it is offered to you.
Software & Applications
- We recommend as your web browser.
- F&M uses including apps such as Gmail, Google Meet, Google Docs, Google Slides, and more. Google Workspace also offers unlimited storage space for any type of file you may wish to store in the cloud, including Microsoft files that you can edit without moving them to your hard drive.
- In addition to Google Workspace, F&M provides you with access to Microsoft Office
365 products, such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. If you want to use any of these
Microsoft products, you can sign in to with your F&M email and password.
Printers
You do not need to bring a printer to campus. F&M's Information Technology Services
(ITS) provides multi-function devices for copying, printing, scanning, and sometimes faxing.
Policies
We have over a dozen technology policies that apply to our computer systems depending on your role at the College. One of the most important ones to be aware of is our Acceptable Use Policy. Please review this policy, as it contains information about using our email system, the internet, and other computer resources accessible to you as a student. It also explains how your data is handled.
Have a Backup Plan
You never know when your hard drive will crash. Having a spare copy of your files is important. We recommend that you subscribe to a third-party data backup service to keep your files safe. Explore to see what鈥檚 currently available.
If you prefer not to subscribe to a service, buying an external hard drive is an option, but make sure you perform frequent backups. Google Drive is an alternative backup plan, but be careful 鈥 although Google Drive provides F&M students with unlimited storage, it only keeps only one copy of a file for you. If you delete it, you may be unable to restore it.
Any Questions?
Any additional technology-related questions can be directed to the Help Desk in our Information Technology Services unit. Visit or email helpdesk@fandm.edu.
Transportation
Cars on Campus
F&M does not allow first-year students to bring vehicles to campus unless a is approved.
Shuttles & Buses
We offer free on-campus shuttle services to both libraries, several of the residence halls, and various off-campus housing locations. Our shuttles also provide a link to Lancaster, offering free transportation to nearby grocery stores and pharmacies, as well as downtown Lancaster, Target, Walmart, and the mall. We also offer transportation to Baltimore-Washington International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport at the end of each semester for a fee. Local buses of the also serve the F&M campus, and runs buses from Lancaster to New York City on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
A Bicycle Friendly Campus
F&M was designated 鈥楤icycle Friendly鈥 by the National Bicyclist Group. Our bike loan program provides free bicycles for students to use during the semester. Students are also more than welcome to bring their own bikes to campus. There are plenty of outdoor bike racks to store and lock bikes, two bike repair stations on campus with pumps, and two bike shops within a mile of campus, including Common Wheel, a nonprofit bike center led by an F&M alumna.
Move-In Information
Move-In Dates
Move-in day is Friday, August 23!
Some additional move-in dates for athletics and pre-orientation program include:
August 15: Volleyball, Field Hockey, Women鈥檚 Soccer, Men鈥檚 Soccer
August 17: Cross Country
August 19: Pre-Arrival Program: FOOT
August 20: Pre-Arrival Program: Music, PIT, CURB, MIND, International Student Orientation
Sign Up for Move-In Time
After check-in, move-in starts at 8:30 a.m. You will NOT be able to get into your room before that time. Move-in concludes by 12:45 p.m. If your family plans to arrive after 1 p.m., you will need to contact housing@fandm.edu to arrange for a time to pick up your key.
Traveling to F&M
Check-In
Keys and F&M Student IDs
If you have incomplete health forms or financial aid documents, you will not receive your ID and key until you resolve those issues with student health services or the financial aid office.
College Departments Available at Check-In
- Financial Aid
- Student Accounts
- Student Employment Office
- Card Services
- Student Wellness Center
Student Employment Paperwork
Residence Hall Move-In
If you have any questions about the arrival process, you can contact movein@fandm.edu.
Student Orientation and Parent Welcome
Students can find their orientation schedule in the Ampersand app.
Our parent welcome program will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the . You鈥檒l learn about the purpose of new student orientation, the student code of conduct, how you can collaborate with F&M staff, how you can become involved with F&M, and your role as a parent of a new college student in charge of their future and academics.
Parent welcome will not be live-streamed or recorded.
2024 Convocation
Convocation will be live-streamed for those who cannot attend.
Is Your Family Planning to Stay in Lancaster?
They can stay at hotels near campus and grab a bite from one of Lancaster鈥檚 more than 100 restaurants, cafes and eateries, featuring food from around the world! Explore our recommendations, including our and partners that offer a special rate for F&M visitors.Learn more 禄
Webinars
We hosted webinars throughout the summer for new students and their families to introduce what you need to know about living, learning, and belonging at F&M. You can find recordings of these webinars here.
How to Partner in Your Student's Education
Held On May 16
This webinar is for new parents and families.
College transitions are exciting and challenging. Our first webinar covered FERPA (The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) and provided opportunities to learn more about how to support students as they transition to college life.
Fall Courses: Making Your Choices
Held On May 23
We used this time to discuss beginning your academic journey at F&M, including the academic surveys you are required to complete, how First-Year Advising Mentors (FAMs) can support you, and more.
Pre-Professional Advising
Held On May 30
F&M's Center for Career and Professional Development offers several pre-professional advising programs for students interested in pursuing a career in healthcare, law, or science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM). This webinar covered how you'll receive personalized guidance on recommended courses to take and specialized programming, resources, and more to help you develop the skills and experiences you鈥檒l need to be a competitive applicant to professional school.
Student Employment
Held On June 20
During this webinar, we discussed what you need to know about student employment at F&M, including:
- How and when you can access postings for vacant jobs
- How work-aided students can prepare for the Virtual Student Employment Fair (to be held on Wednesday, July 17)
- The support you can expect to receive from the Offices of Student Employment (SEO) and the Center for Career and Professional Development during your job search
Living on Campus, Part 1: Housing, Dining, Transportation & Safety
HELD ON July 18
During this webinar, we discussed housing, dining, public safety and more.
Living on Campus, Part 2: College Houses, Move-In & Orientation Overview
HELD ON August 8
During this webinar, we discussed the College House life at F&M and what to expect on move-in day and during orientation.
Discover Your New Home: Lancaster
F&M鈥檚 extraordinary home city of Lancaster is a rich hub of arts and culture filled with experiences for every taste and preference 鈥 all within safe walking distance of campus.
Explore the city 禄