ISSUE FOUR
ARCH AUGUST 2015 NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Download the mobile app (available on iOS and Android devices) or view the guide in any web browser.
Your Peer Adviser (a current Northwestern student who will be going through this next year with you) has most likely already been in contact with you (students with majors in Weinberg, you’ll hear from them next week). They’ll be a fantastic resource for you, but with just over a month to go until Wildcat Welcome begins, they have some thoughts to share about Wildcat Welcome and your first year.
2015
PEER ADVISERS
Have you downloaded the First Year Guide mobile app yet? Right now it serves as a complement to Purple Prep and March to the Arch, but it will soon be updated with Move-In Day information, the full Wildcat Welcome schedule, and will serve as your access point to info and resources specific to you throughout your first year. Also, we encourage you to allow for push notifications…we’ll be releasing surprise pop-up event information (#giveaways) throughout the year through the app!
“My favorite memory was the feeling that I was finally at the right school after transferring. I can’t point to the exact moment, but I know it was sometime during Wildcat Welcome because after that experience, Northwestern really felt like home. People were genuinely interesting, friendly, and kind, and those were the things that I had found lacking at my old school and was looking for here.” –Clara Clymer | NU2016 | Transfer student
“I want to give new students an introduction to Northwestern that makes them feel like they can write their own stories here, and that they can feel part of our community. Wildcat Welcome forges bonds, between students new and old, and campus really lights up in the fall -- everyone’s so excited and I can’t wait to be a part of that again.” –Morgan Walker | NU2018 “I was lucky to have a Peer Adviser who was a three-year veteran with Wildcat Welcome. With her lifetime of knowledge she was able to give me every piece of advice I could have possibly been equipped with to get through my first year. From the route to the secret Einstein’s in Tech to choosing classes and finding on-campus opportunities, she had our back. This year, I can’t wait to be that same resource for new students as a third-time Peer Adviser!” –Iheoma Nkemere | NU2016
“Wildcat Welcome is a truly amazing experience that is often critical in setting the tone for the first-year experience. Being able to make this transition into college and to feel as supported as possible is very important to me, and I couldn’t be more excited to help facilitate it. Selfishly, this group of new students also just seems awesome, and I can’t wait to meet all of them!” –Matthew Xu | NU2018
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Hi new students! Alright, so this countdown to your Northwestern move is quickly shrinking (we’re already at 38 days); how does it feel knowing you’ll be surrounded by 2,150 of your new besties next month? Before that can happen, there are some things we want you to know so you’re ready to go when you arrive (you can’t say we never told ya!). Many of you are asking about Move-In Day, your new residence, what to pack, etc. We’ve got the answers to your most frequently asked questions regarding housing on page 7, so take a gander. Otherwise, jump right over to the Residential Services website and you should find the answer to your question. You received The Inconvenient Indian, the One Book One Northwestern selection for 2015-2016. I can honestly say this is a great read; it is quick, thought-provoking, and will help set the stage for discussions you’ll be having during Wildcat Welcome and your first year on campus. You can read more about this selection on the One Book website. We’ve got so many great things in store for you once you arrive for Move-In Day and Wildcat Welcome on September 11; you can see an overview of the Wildcat Welcome schedule on page 6. Keep in mind, you should plan to be on campus for the complete duration of the program (a note on this regarding Rosh Hashanah is on page 6). Oh, and go ahead and start practicing your roller coaster arm flailing for the night we shut down Six Flags (theme park) just for you. #nolinesmorerides
CONTENTS
4
UPCOMING DEADLINES
5
ESSENTIAL NUs
6
WILDCAT WELCOME SCHEDULE
7
HOUSING AND MOVE-IN DAY
8
LETTER FROM ASSOCIATED STUDENT GOVERNMENT
If you are confused about what to expect during your first year at Northwestern, or not sure what all you should be paying attention to once you get to campus, you’ll be introduced to True Northwestern during Wildcat Welcome. This is a suggested road map for first years that will help to ensure you are experiencing as much as you can throughout the year. You’ll also have Wildcat Weekends, programming during the first six weeks of the fall quarter, to give you opportunities to meet even more students and learn about Northwestern. All to say, we've got your back now and during the year. We cannot wait to see you in 38 days; the excitement is too real! New Student and Family Programs orientation@northwestern.edu 847-467-3988
JOIN THE CONVERSATION...
By this point, you should have received your copy of Purple Prep in your mailbox. This book is your go-to guide for everything you need to know over the summer including a list of action items that must be completed. An online, e-reader version of Purple Prep can be found on the New Student and Family Programs website.
NOTE REGARDING ISSUU.COM March to the Arch and Purple Prep are hosted on Issuu, a third-party vendor. If you wish to print these publications from Issuu, you are asked to create an Issuu account. However, PDF versions of each March to the Arch issue will be available on the New Student and Family Programs website for printing/downloading purposes. We suggest using Issuu for reviewing and on-the-go reading.
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UPCOMING DEADLINES DEADLINE DATE
ACTION ITEM
WEBSITE
AUGUST 8
Add parent/guardian access to student account (Optional)
Student Financial Services
AUGUST 8
Verify billing preferences and address in CAESAR
Caesar
AUGUST 11
SESP: RSVP for the August 12 Webchat
SESP
AUGUST 15
School of Comm: Complete the SOC survey for new students (Click “Complete Your Survey” on the sidebar and sign in)
SoC
AUGUST 31
If receiving aid, complete loan applications and start following aid-related To Do list in CAESAR
AUGUST 31
International Students: Register for International Student Orientation
International Students
SEPTEMBER 1
Pay fall tuition and fees (available beginning August 11)
Student Financial Services
SEPTEMBER 1
Complete For the Record, beginning August 17 (Essential NU requirement)
SEPTEMBER 1
Complete AlcoholEdu, beginning August 17 (Essential NU requirement)
OCTOBER 1
Complete health insurance coverage selection form (domestic students only)
Caesar
For the Record
AlcoholEdu
Health Insurance
The complete master checklist can be seen on the Class of 2019 website. You can even subscribe to our online calendar; link it to your @u.northwestern email account (powered by Google) and then to your iCal or your mobile device for a seamless experience!
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ESSENTIAL NUs Summer Requirements
As an incoming Wildcat, you noticed on page 43 of Purple Prep the discussion of Essential NUs (we call them ENUs) and what you need to complete during the summer months. You’ve already completed one summer ENU (Agent of Change); the final two are due this month and are detailed below.
AlcoholEdu
As members of the Northwestern community we share a responsibility for promoting healthy behaviors that minimize harm to our self and others and supporting every community members’ health and well-being. Alcohol misuse can get in the way of this responsibility. Northwestern University is mindful in making sure that drinking –your own or somebody else’s –does not interfere with anyone’s health, safety, academic success, and ability to thrive. We require all first-year and transfer students – whether you choose to consume alcohol or not -to complete an online alcohol education course, AlcoholEdu© for College. This experience will provide you with harm reduction strategies and help you make a plan for how – or if – alcohol will play a role during your time at NU. Access to AlcoholEdu© for College opens on August 17 and is available until September 1. Follow the registration instructions on the New Student and Family Programs website. If you choose not to complete AlcoholEdu, you will be assigned to an on-campus Alcohol Education workshop held in the first two weeks of the fall quarter, though it is far easier to complete now before you get into the hustle of the academic year.
For the Record
Just like any place you go, you should always have an understanding of the community. For the Record provides some insight into what it means to be a Wildcat and expectations from the University; it will discuss the student handbook, code of conduct, etc. Hey, there are even portions of it that are narrated by the Wildcat Welcome Board of Directors and Peer Advisers! For the Record must be completed by September 1; it does not become available for you until August 17. The assessment is 20-questions long, based on the videos and text provided; you must correctly answer 80% of the questions to complete For the Record. Visit our For the Record page for more information.
RELIGIOUS SERVICES SURVEY More than 20 diverse religious groups and religious centers at Northwestern offer a wide array of opportunities for engagement through fellowship, study, worship, reflection and interfaith dialogue. These groups and centers offer a place of belonging where students can grow and flourish. To get started, students may register their religious affiliation and interest in particular groups by completing the Religious Affiliation Survey.
NEW STUDENT RECEPTIONS New Student Receptions are alumni-run events held in different regions all over the world. They give newly enrolled students and their parents the opportunity to meet one another as well as returning students and alumni from their area. This provides a foundation for incoming freshmen to start their Northwestern network before they move to campus. A majority of the receptions across the globe occur in August; visit the New Student Receptions website to learn about a reception in your area!
CAESAR: HOW-TO GUIDE Confused on how to use CAESAR for the things you need to complete over the summer? Peruse all of the CAESAR How-To Guides from Student Financial Services. You won’t need to worry too much about navigating CAESAR for course purposes until Wildcat Welcome!
Those who do not complete the above online ENUs by September 1 will have access denied to register for winter quarter classes until the process has been properly completed.
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WILDCAT WELCOME:
The Schedule
We know you are itching to get your hands on the Wildcat Welcome schedule. Stay calm, you’ll receive your very own personalized schedule book when you check into a Wildcat Welcome Center on September 11, but we have included a very brief overview of the BEST WEEK EVER. Learn the purpose and goals of Wildcat Welcome on our website. NOTE: Students should not plan to travel off-campus during orientation week; for students observing Rosh Hashanah, please view holiday information on our website to see available services and how to notify us.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 You will move into your residence hall on Friday from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. You will receive move-in information from Residential Services mid-August, including a link to register for your move-in timeslot (if you will be unloading items from a car). Students living in Residential Colleges have a Residential College Masters’ Welcome at 4 p.m. Students living off-campus have a mandatory orientation from 1:30-4:30 p.m.; details will be emailed to you. All on-campus students will have required residence-based meetings (including dinner) from 5 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. while families are at another event.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 What better way to begin Wildcat Welcome than with your first home football game after you meet your Peer Adviser and your PA group for the first time? You’ll participate in the New Student Tailgate and the longstanding Wildcat Dash tradition in which the class runs across the field before the game begins. Oh, and we just so happened to shut down this little place called the Chicago Field Museum, one of the largest natural history museums in the world, just for you. We’ll hold our first ever Night at the Museum event down on Chicago's Museum Campus, with surprises in store.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 You will participate in one of the greatest Wildcat Welcome traditions of all time, March Through the Arch, on Sunday afternoon. After marching through the Weber Arch with your class, you’ll participate in a class photo (#instaworthy) and then Kiss’n’Bye from 2:30-3 p.m.; this is the time to say goodbye to your family on Deering Meadow. Students will then head to buses with their PA for the illustrious “Purple Pride!” event at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Students will be back to the main part of campus by dinner time (students celebrating Rosh Hashanah are able to head to services at this time). Evening events will occur in your residence hall.
for you in conjunction with Mayfest (the Dillo Day people) and the Residence Hall Association: LakeFest. This new event will showcase various bands while you eat and play field games on the picturesque Lakefill. The evening will be host to your first round of Essential NUs (ENUs), mandatory sessions (after sundown), followed by Night at Target, in which we shut down Target for a huge party just for you.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 Wednesday is all about preparing for academics. Students will attend school-specific convocations and advising sessions throughout the day. The evening will include your second round of ENUs and night one of A Cappella Fest, Rhythm Nation (dance), and Comedy Bonanza (improv).
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 Students will go through individual advising, with some good quality time with your PA and faculty/academic adviser so you are more than ready for course registration. The evening will include the third round of ENUs followed by night two of A Cappella Fest, Rhythm Nation, and Comedy Bonanza.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 Friday is the day: Fall Quarter course registration. In addition, students attend the New Student Resource Fair, a tour of the library, and various meetings. The evening includes the final ENU and Norris at Night (giveaways are #INCREDIBLE).
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 Northwestern plays Duke in football over in North Carolina, so we’ll be hosting a viewing party outside near the lake. The day also includes the Involvement Expo—a time when you’ll start learning about involvement at Northwestern—and one of the biggest Wildcat Welcome traditions of all: NU Takes Six Flags. The park is shut down just for Wildcat Welcome. #nolinesmorerides
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
Once you receive your personalized schedule at check-in, you’ll see that Monday is packed with PA group events, various meetings, social programs, and a new event called RecFest (this is where you show off those Zumba skills). Rosh Hashanah services occur.
We want this to be a relaxing day for you—a day to rest and prepare for the start of classes. The only required event on this day is the President’s Convocation.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 Tuesday is the jam. You’ll hear all about True Northwestern from your Peer Adviser, you’ll have the opportunity to attend various social events and informational sessions, and a new event we created just
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 First day of Fall Quarter classes!
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HOUSING AND MOVE-IN DAY …a few things that may be on your mind
SHIPPING TO CAMPUS For those interested in shipping your items to campus, Residential Services partners with University and Student Services (USS) to provide Ship-To-Your-Room package service; this is only meant to be used during the move-in process. View instructions on the USS website; you’ll simply receive shipping labels from USS and will begin shipping items to them. The items you ship will be placed in your res hall room and waiting for you before you arrive on September 11. Note that the charge of $44 per box does not include the shipping cost; USS must receive your boxes by September 4 (USS recommends shipping items to them the final week of August).
MOVE-IN DAY Let me tell ya, Move-In Day is one of the most exciting times of the year. But we know there is a good bit of work on your end from packing, to traveling, to unpacking, to getting it all setup. We want to be sure all of your questions and concerns are answered; be sure to contact Residential Services with any questions at freshmanhousing@northwestern.edu or by calling 847-467-4663. This month, you will receive an email to sign up for a move-in time; this will be a 45-minute block of time in which you will park near your residence hall and unload your vehicle. Visit the Residential Services website to view more information about Move-In Day.
PURCHASING ITEMS FOR YOUR RES HALL ROOM On Move-In Day you may have a bit of time to run to area businesses (Target, Office Max, Best Buy) to pick up some last-minute items, but remember that students have mandatory programming beginning at 5 p.m. (Note: Target is shut down just for us on the Tuesday of Wildcat Welcome for students to pick up any particular items). Ensure you review the list of items to bring, and prohibited items, for your room. Visit the Residential Services website to read up on everything you need to know about moving-in and living at Northwestern. If you are thinking of purchasing or renting a Residential Services-approved fridge for your room, consider student-run Rez Essentials. If you order through Rez Essentials, they’ll ensure your fridge is sitting in your room once you arrive on September 11 (#whoa).
PACKING: THINK GREEN SMART STRIPS & POWER STRIPS:
Easily switch off electronics and chargers when they aren’t in use and save energy.
LAPTOPS & OTHER ELECTRONICS:
Look for Energy Star products or the EPEAT certification. No need to buy a printer, print when necessary at the library.
SHARE APPLIANCES:
Share mini-fridges, TV’s, and DVD players with roommates.
BOTTLED WATER:
Why waste $1.50? Evanston has great tap water and you get a reusable bottle during Wildcat Welcome. Don’t forget your reusable shopping bags and tea/coffee mug!
LIGHTING:
Using a desk light is more efficient than overhead lighting; make sure it’s a LED or CFL bulb. Visit the sustainNU website for more information on how you can live green while you’re at Northwestern.”
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From the Desk of the Associated Student Government
WHAT’S GOOD CLASS OF 2019 AND TRANSFERS! As the dog days of summer set in, we know that many of you are anxiously waiting to begin your Northwestern journey! We too are excited for the fall to begin and to greet a whole new class of Northwestern Wildcats. Before you all come to campus in September, we wanted to take a minute to introduce ourselves as your student government leaders! Noah Star: Hey everyone. I’m Noah, your student body president. I am a political science and history double major hailing from Lexington, MA. I love baseball, hiking, and listening to Radiohead or Bon Iver. At Northwestern, you might see me at a home football game or reading in the library, which is by the way one of Northwestern’s most underrated scenes. My favorite memory from my first year was hanging out with my peer advising group at the first football tailgate. Christina Kim: Hi all! I’m Christina and I’m the executive vice president. I’m a computer science major, originally hailing from Fairfax, VA. When I’m not browsing through Hype Machine for new music, you can find me in Delta Lab or taking a nap on the lakefill. My favorite memory from my first year was weekly Sunday dinners featuring hot cookie bar. But we are not the only people in student government (thankfully)! Associated Student Government (ASG) puts student firsts in all aspects of campus life—whether it is trying to make our campus more sustainable or fighting for better academic requirements. The rest of our Executive Board features students of all walks of Northwestern life and you’ll get to know them a lot more over the course of Wildcat Welcome. There are plenty of ways to get involved with ASG and many other student organizations, which you’ll hear about during Wildcat Welcome. For this next month, we should all relish the fleeting days of summer. Head to the beach a few more times or binge watch your last seasons on Netflix. Especially do not forget the upcoming March to the Arch deadlines, those are important too. Northwestern is just around the corner and we speak for the student body (it’s our job) when we say welcome home! Stay chill, Noah Star, President Christina Kim, Executive Vice President
P.S. Check out our Facebook page (facebook.com/nuasg) or Twitter (@NorthwesternASG) for a gift from us to help finish out the summer. MARCH TO THE ARCH
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