First-Year Experience FAQs
Move-in Day
Please arrive during the move-in window for your program:
Thursday, Sept. 3 — Pre-Orientation
- Off-campus programs: 8:30–10 a.m.
- On-campus programs: 9:30–11 a.m.
- Please arrive during your assigned window, not before.
Sunday, Sept. 6 — New Student Orientation
- Remaining new first-year students: 8:30–11:30 a.m.
Please do not arrive before 8:30 a.m.
London students, international students, and student-athletes should follow the arrival information provided by their program coordinators.
No. We cannot accommodate arrivals before your scheduled move-in day. If you need local lodging, please contact us for hotel recommendations.
Enter through 鶹ƽ’s main entrance at 815 North Broadway.
Please do not use the Clinton Street entrance, even if your navigation app directs you there. Entering from North Broadway is important to the move-in traffic flow and helps ensure other essential campus operations can continue.
Please do not arrive before 8:30 a.m. If you arrive before your move-in window, you will need to wait until the move-in process begins.
If you arrive after your scheduled window, enter campus through the main entrance at 815 North Broadway and follow move-in signs and staff directions. Volunteers can help direct you to the appropriate next stop.
Your first stop is Arthur Zankel Music Center for a quick check-in and materials hand-off. There is no move-in parking at Zankel.
Students should be prepared to:
- Show an accepted government-issued ID and receive their 鶹ƽ ID Card.
- Complete “Express Check-In” in the Residential Life Housing Portal through Okta.
- Follow the prompts to activate their ID Card as their residence hall and room key.
Students who did not submit an ID Card photo in advance will need to visit the Card Office in Starbuck Center before moving into their residence hall.
Students who did not submit Health Forms will be directed to Health Services in the Zankel atrium.
Staff will be available to help if students experience problems with their card or check-in.
After check-in, follow signs and staff directions to your residence hall.
Move-in traffic will travel clockwise around campus. South Quad residence halls will come first, followed by North Quad residence halls.
South Quad includes: Wieking, McClellan, Penfield, Kimball, Wilmarth
North Quad includes: Jonsson Tower, Wait Hall, Howe-Rounds Hall
At your residence hall, volunteers will direct you to an unloading area.
Please move your cars to West Lot or Palamountain Lot after unloading. Volunteers will be able to guide you.
Yes! Look for student volunteers in Skids' Squad T-shirts. They will be stationed around campus and at the residence halls to help with directions and move-in.
Move-in happens rain or shine. Some activities or locations may shift indoors, but the overall move-in process will continue as planned.
Comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are recommended.
Skids' Squad will have a limited number of hand trucks and other moving equipment at residence halls.
Because equipment is limited and cannot be guaranteed for every family, you may want to bring your own cart or hand truck if you have one.
During move-in, the student's guests may enter the residence hall and room.
Guests may not remain in the residence hall without their student.
Yes. You'll have time to unload, set up the basics, and help your student get settled.
You do not need to completely finish the room. Students will have time to continue organizing and decorating after move-in.
Keep your student's program start time in mind when deciding how much room setup to do.
We recommend saying goodbye to your student after lunch and before their student programming begins.
Students participating in off-campus Pre-Orientation programs on Thursday must report to Porter Plaza by 12:30 p.m. Students in on-campus Pre-Orientation programs must report to The Spa by 1 p.m. Both meeting spots are at Case Center.
On Sunday, first-year students begin Orientation at 1:30 p.m. on Case Green.
Families who would like to remain on campus after saying goodbye to their student are welcome to attend the optional Family Orientation and Family Reception. You cannot re-enter the residence halls.
Yes. Optional family programming is offered on both move-in days. The programming is the same on both days. If your students moves in on Thursday, you do not need to return on Sunday.
- 1:30–2:45 p.m.: Family Orientation, Arthur Zankel Music Center
- 3–4 p.m.: Family Reception with President Conner, Scribner House
After family programming concludes, guests are expected to depart campus.
Yes. The campus post office will be open on Thursday for Pre-O move-in day, but will not be open on Saturday or Sunday for those moving in that day. The post office will be open on Monday during New Student Orientation. If arriving on Sunday, please bring items you will need for that first day/evening.
Address packages to:
Student Name and class year
Mailbox #
鶹ƽ College
815 North Broadway
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866-1632
All students and guests are invited to a complimentary lunch in Murray-Aikins Dining Hall beginning at 11 a.m.
We also recommend bringing a reusable water bottle and using water-filling stations around campus.
Our Dining Hall provides options exlusive of nine major allergens and accomododates vegeterian and vegan diets at every meal.
Guests with additional dietary needs should contact Dining Services.
We recommend avoiding off-campus errands during move-in because the schedule is busy.
If you need something urgently, consider curbside pickup. The 鶹ƽ Shop will also be open from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. on both move-in days.
Orientation
No. Once Pre-Orientation begins, students continue with their program and then transition into New Student Orientation.
Families do not need to return Sunday. The optional family programs offered Sunday are also offered on Thursday.
No. Pre-Orientation schedules are full, and students' free time is intended for building connections with other students and becoming comfortable on campus.
Pre-Orientation students transition into New Student Orientation on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 1:30 p.m.
Students should follow program and on-site instructions for where to meet their Scribner Seminar and Peer Mentor.
Signing up for a Pre-Orientation program is optional. Once a student enrolls in a program, however, participation in all required parts of that program is expected.
Yes. New Student Orientation is required for all incoming first-year students, including students who participated in Pre-Orientation, International Student Orientation, summer programs, or other early-arrival programs.
Fall student-athletes join the rest of the first-year class for the start of New Student Orientation at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 6.
Student and family schedules separate once student programming begins.
Families may attend the optional Family Orientation and Family Reception on their student's move-in day. After family programming concludes, guests are expected to depart campus.
Students then continue Orientation independently.
New Student Convocation takes place Tuesday, Sept. 8 and is attended in person by students, faculty, and staff.
Families and friends are invited to watch the livestream on the 鶹ƽ website beginning around 10 a.m.
General
Your 鶹ƽ student ID is a personalized multi-digit number. It was emailed to you by the Admissions team to the email address you used when applying to 鶹ƽ. In that email were instructions to create your 鶹ƽ Account, including your email.
Your 鶹ƽ Account is a personalized username and password set up by you. You received instructions to set up this account in the same email referenced above that Admissions sent to the email you used when applying to 鶹ƽ. It is a combination of a name-based user name (e.g. JJonas or TaylorSwift) and a password you set up. This creates a "single sign on" universal username and password that you'll use across multiple systems (including email).
This is our two-factor authentication tool to keep all 鶹ƽ usernames and passwords secure. Instructions for setting this up are in the account activation steps.
/ and use your 鶹ƽ Account to log in information.
Check the Dates and Deadlines list. Don't panic if you've missed something, just reach out ASAP to let us know.
It's important that all students complete items on deadline. We know that may not be possible for everyone and things happen! Please email fye@skidmore.edu for questions and concerns.
Your email was created when you set up your 鶹ƽ Account. It follows this format: username@skidmore.edu and the password you created. It is hosted by Microsoft Outlook.
It's the same login information but different systems. Your 鶹ƽ Account is your universal username and password, which you use to log into email. The username you created in setting up your account is also the front half of your email address (e.g. jjonas of jjonas@skidmore.edu or taylorswift of taylorswift@skidmore.edu).
- Option 1: and use your 鶹ƽ Account to log in. Then go to the Outlook App.
- Option 2: and use your 鶹ƽ Account to log in. If you're on a new device, this will likely prompt an Okta verification. The code will be in the Okta app.
For more email questions, You will need your 鶹ƽ Account information to log in.
Please visit the Financial Aid webpage for additional information and important deadlines.
Enrolled and admitted families are encouraged to meet one-on-one with a financial aid counselor. They are prepared to provide a comprehensive financial aid overview and answer questions or concerns about affordability. To make an appointment, please email finaid@skidmore.edu.
If the account creation process was successful, you should be able to log in
- Try a different web browser other than the one you were using.
- Some campus systems require the use of your full 鶹ƽ email address for login (username@skidmore.edu) while others just require your username. Make sure to try both.
- Restart your computer or phone.
- If all else fails, take note of any error message(s) you get, and contact the IT Help Desk. Their hours of operation are M-F 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., with the exception of lunch, Noon–1 p.m.
- Be sure to have your birth date and 鶹ƽ ID number (starts with 00) available when calling or emailing.
- After creating your account you can access your email at (you should not try to access it via G-mail/Google).
Scribner Seminar information can be found on the FYE webpage.
Room and roommate assignments are based on the preferences you submit in your housing questionnaire.
Need a housing accommodation?
Please review this information. The priority deadline is June 16. Late requests may be placed on a waitlist depending on availability.
Fall semester payments must be submitted by August 15.
View full academic calendars for 2026–29 at skidmore.edu/registrar.
All first-year students living in residence halls are automatically enrolled in the Unlimited Meal Plan. This includes unlimited meals at the dining hall, three guest meal passes per semester, and $50 in dining bucks for concessions.
Allergies or dietary restrictions? Contact Dining Services at 518-580-5850 to meet with the Executive Chef and develop a plan.
Your mailbox number will be released at the same time as your housing assignment. It will be listed in the Residential Life Housing app in Okta.
Yes, you can ship packages but please wait until you receive your mailbox number.
Mailing format:
Your name and class year
Mailbox #
鶹ƽ College
815 North Broadway
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866-1632