Spring 2013 E-Lert, Issue 2

Welcome New Knights!

We look forward to meeting you at January Orientation in a few short days!  During Orientation, you'll be sharing meals and participating in activities with other students, having discussions with Orientation Advisors, meeting faculty, registering for courses, getting your Geneseo ID card, and learning about various campus organizations and services.  It will be a great introduction to college life at Geneseo!

FANtastic friday knight tailgate

NEW! We're kicking off the weekend with our first annual FANtastic Friday Knight Tailgate on Friday, January 18 following dinner in Mary Jemison.  Bundle in blue and come out to support your Geneseo Ice Knights!  Game time is 7:00 pm; the tailgate will begin at 6:00 pm in Merritt Circle.  You won't want to miss this event.  Free food, music, & prizes!

Here's your personal invite from the Geneseo Knights! 

Sponsored by Athletics, CAS, College Union & Activities,  First-Year Programs, Residence Life, and Scheduling, Events & Conference Services.

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What to expect at January orientation

The following information may be helpful as you plan for your arrival to Geneseo.

Living on Campus?

The residence halls will open for new students at 10:00 am on Thursday, January 17, 2013.  You should plan to arrive between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm.  You should report directly to your assigned residence hall to complete the move-in process. 

Note: If you will be living in Monroe Hall, Erie Hall, or Writers House, you will want to obtain your SUNY Geneseo I.D. card prior to moving your belongings into your room.  In these residence halls, your I.D. card also serves as a key to your bedroom.  You can obtain your I.D. card at the CAS Business Office, located in Blake A 108, between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013. 

New students residing on campus will attend a hall meeting at 4:30 pm and eat dinner together in Mary Jemison (MJ) dining hall.  Following dinner there will be an event in the MacVittie College Union for all new students to attend from 7:00-8:30 pm. 

Orientation Check-In

Check-in will be between 7:30 - 8:15 am in the lobby of Wadsworth Auditorium.  The orientation program will start promptly at 8:30 am.  At check-in you will receive a folder of materials, including your meal tickets and advisement time.  If a parent or guest has signed up to attend with you they will receive their materials when you check-in. 

Parking

If you will be a residential student you should plan to park in one of the student parking lots.  Parking for January Orientation for students and family members or guests will be in Lots I or T.  A campus map can be found at http://orientation.geneseo.edu.  Look for our blue signs when you arrive. 

What to do before Orientation

Please be sure to affirm the Student Code of Conduct as you will not be able to register for classes until you have done so.

What to bring to Orientation

• A list of courses you have taken recently or will be taking this summer
• A list of courses you are interested in for the fall semester
• Comfortable shoes & warm clothing (you'll be doing a lot of walking)

Additional Information

More information about the January Orientation program can be found at http://orientation.geneseo.edu. If you have questions, please contact us at orientation@geneseo.edu or 585-245-5852.  Congratulations on selecting SUNY Geneseo to continue your college career.

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Get Geared: What to bring to campus

Living on campus in the spring? By now you've probably started to pack or make a list of what you'll need to make your residence hall room more like a home?  The following list might help:

"Must-have" items

• XL twin bedding
• pillows
• clothes hangers
• laundry detergent and dryer sheets
• hamper
• shower caddy
• towels and washcloths
• ethernet cord for computer, to plug into the wired Geneseo network
• surge protectors (extension cords are not allowed)

"Maybe" items which you might consider bringing

• desk lamp
• 3M adhesive hooks and mounting putty, for wall decorations
• mini-fridge (specifications: less than 2.0 amps at 120 volts AC/3.6 cubic feet)
• coffeemaker with automatic shut-off
• silverware, plates, bowls, and cups
• mattress pad
• television and cable cord
• alarm clock
• First Aid kit
• cleaning supplies (e.g., Clorox wipes, etc.)

"Leave it at home" -- prohibited items

• halogen or multi-headed lamps (i.e., medusa lamps)
• pop-up toasters
• microwaves and toaster ovens
• pets (only fish are allowed)
• candles and incense
• air conditioners
• extension cords and multi-plug adaptors
• stringed holiday lights
• George Foreman-type grills
• metal-tipped darts/dart board

For a complete list visit the Residence Life website.

Spring 2013 Welcome Weekend Events

Here's a sneak peak of what to look forward to during your first few days on campus.  We have lots of fun planned for you.  You'll even have a chance to WIN a netbook or a $250 gift card to the Geneseo Bookstore! Events are sponsored by First-Year Programs, College Union & Activities, & Residence Life.

Thinking about the Future (of your academics)...the syllabi week Myth

So I bet you're thinking that you'll walk into class and the first week you'll have nothing to do, right? Wrong. That's what I thought too walking into my first week of classes. I thought it would be a breeze and that I would have nothing to do. Last semester I walked out of my first week of classes with a linguistics assignment, half of a book to read, a speech to write, and a Public Relations research project. And that was just the first week. More often than not, professors will use that first week of classes to figure out where the class is as a whole and what they need to emphasize throughout the semester.

It may seem like there isn't much work to do because you think you have so much "free" time to do your work, but the more you put it off, the less time you have to do it. You don't want to find yourself on a Sunday night with 300 pages of reading left and a paper due the next morning. If there's one thing I learned about "syllabus week" is that it's important to take the week to try and get ahead, because with the excitement of college and extra-curriculars it can be easy to fall behind.

Submitted by Silvia Roma, Senior

FOCUS on the First semester

NEW for Spring 2013! First-Year Programs is excited to launch this NEW initiative that provides you with a chance to tell your story through photography and document your first semester!  Consider submitting for each theme or just select a few that speak to you.  We want to know your story!

What is the FOCUS Project?

The First-Year Photo Project enables first-year students to intentionally document their transition to Geneseo through guided photography, internal reflection, and communication with others; allowing for discovery of what it means to be a Geneseo first-year student and a part of the greater community. 

How do I participate?

Share your story of your first semester through photography.  Each week you'll have an opportunity to submit a photo that is reflective of the theme.  Fill out the following form and upload your photo by the due date.  Each week the photos will be uploaded to Facebook and the photo with the most "likes" will be awarded a prize from the Office of First-Year Programs.

For each photo submitted you'll need to include the following on the submission form: your contact information, select theme, photo title, and a short description.

View the submission themes.  Snap away!

Eating on Campus & other CAS services

CAS provides several nonacademic services for the SUNY Geneseo campus community. While most people know CAS as the "food" people on campus, providing dining and catering services, we also assist the campus with cable, laundry, vending, ID and a host of other solutions. No matter the area, CAS is committed to leading from the front and providing best in class services.  In fall 2012 the Chowhound was introduced to the Geneseo community--our very own food truck!  Learn more about their services here.

Hours of Operation for Opening Weekend schedule

Important Spring 2013 Dates

By clicking here you'll find important dates for the semester.

Too early to begin thinking about final exams?  Once you make your course schedule at orientation you can put your final exam times in your planners.

YouBelong Program Series

Many of you have already signed up for the New Student Dinner on Wednesday, January 23, 2013.  This event is the kick off to the YouBelong program series.  YouBelong is a series designed specifically for transfer students and focuses on social and academic transitions students may encounter during their first semester at Geneseo.  The program series runs during the fall and spring semesters. To learn more about this series designed just for you, click here.

Be sure to attend the YouBelong events for your chance to get a YouBelong t-shirt.

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Geneseo Lingo

Getting ready to come to Orientation? Learn some Geneseo catchphrases that you might hear during your time on-campus!

Thanks for reading 

If you have any questions about Orientation & First-Year Programs, please contact us at orientation@geneseo.edu or by calling 585-245-5852.  Didn't read the first issue of the E-Newsletter Series?  No worries, click below to catch up.  Two more editions will be published following January Orientation.

E-Newsletter Volume 2, Issue 1

This e-lert is a collaborative effort between the Office of Orientation & First-Year Programs and the Office of the Dean of the College.