Resources for Parents & Families

Yes! We are very excited to welcome your student (and up to 2 guests) to New Paltz for our Orientation program.

Session dates for Winter - 1 day program

• January 10, 2023
• January 12, 2023
• January 18, 2023 (virtual)

Once your student has paid their pre-enrollment deposit, they will begin receiving communications from us.

EOP students will attend both a summer orientation and an EOP Summer Bridge Program.

Yes, ALL students will need complete the orientation program. Our orientation program has essential information to your student’s success, no matter where they live during the semester.

Yes. Our optional Parent and Family Program is back. We offer a parallel experience for Parents and Family members to get to know New Paltz and what to expect. There is an additional fee for parent and family members who choose to attend. The fee will cover meals, staffing and housing accommodations (when necessary). 

A detailed schedule will be available soon for both Transfer and First-Year Student Orientations. When your student registers for Orientation, they will be prompted to register for Parent and Family Orientation. Registration information will also be sent to your email in the Orientation confirmation. 

What to expect: Winter Parent and Family Program

During the one-day session, you will have the opportunity to learn about Students' Rights and Responsibilities, On- Campus and Off-Campus living, and Academics. You will have an opportunity to speak with representatives from Athletics and Wellness, the Career Resource Center, Disability Resource Center, Financial Aid, Health Services, The Honors Program, Meal Plans, Student Accounts, Study Abroad, University Police, Spiritual Services and Sojourner Truth Library. 

Students will pay the orientation fee with the Pre-Enrollment Deposit and their Advance Room Deposit (if applicable). No additional fee will be collected for students at time of Orientation Registration. 

There is a Parent and Family Orientation Fee. 

• Winter Orientation - Parent and Family -  $40 

Note: EOP students will have their pre-enrollment deposit and orientation fee waived as it is covered through the opportunity programs office.

Yes! Beyond learning about the campus, the goal of our orientation programs is to engage and develop a sense of community. As such, we have designed opportunities for students to connect and meet each other.

Additionally, first-year students will be assigned an Orientation Leader/Peer Mentor and transfer students will have access to a Transfer Liaison. Throughout the spring, OL’s & TL’s will be hosting meet-ups for their students. Your new student will also be invited to programming hosted by the Center for Student Engagement throughout the semester.

Your student will be receiving information directly from the EOP program.

Please consult with the Center for Student Engagement. Students entering the university with transfer credit from another college will automatically be invited to transfer orientation. However, students entering with fewer than 15 credits should highly consider opting into the first-year program.

First-Year Students

After your student registers for orientation, they will be contacted by academic advising or the school of business to begin the advising process. Make sure to check your New Paltz email for academic advising updates. 

Transfer Students

Transfer students will meet with advisors from their major department at their in-person Orientation to register for classes. Transfer Business students will be contacted prior to their in-person orientation session to schedule an advising session. 

First Year EOP Students will be advised and registered for fall classes during the Summer Bridge Program.

Registration Timeline and Deadlines

Yes, all students (excluding Business majors) will be assigned to an advisor in the Office of Academic Advising, at the point of entry, who will support their transition into the university and all the way through to graduation. Students will also have the opportunity to work with expert faculty advisors in their majors. The timeline for when faculty advisement begins varies depending on your student's major and status.

Every EOP Student has an assigned advisor in the EOP office.

https://www.newpaltz.edu/admissions/enroll.html

Here are some things your student can do to make sure they graduate on time:

• Learn to read their progress report and check it regularly to make sure it reflects everything they have done.
• Meet with their advisor(s) frequently to discuss course planning.
• Utilize campus resources, such as the Center for Student Success, to develop academic skills and increase opportunities for success in the classroom.

Nearly all students experience homesickness as they navigate the transition to college. This is a significant life-changing event for your student, and it will take time to develop a sense of comfort and belonging with the college.  The Division of Student Affairs has several support offices that could be a good resource.  The staff in the office of Residence Life and the Psychological Counseling Center are available should your student want to talk to somebody.  The Center for Student Engagement, Wellness and Recreation, Student Association, and Residence Life are great places to start in terms of identifying opportunities for involvement, campus programs, etc.

https://www.newpaltz.edu/counseling/mission.html

Your student should reach out to their advisor in the Office of Academic Advising for support with Resource Referrals. Their advisor can coach them on how to best advocate for themselves, so they get what they need to be successful. *Please note that Business and EOP students do not have an advisor in the OAA.

Listen, empower and be supportive.  Often students are just looking for someone they trust to listen.  Re-enforce that they made the right decision to go away to college and that they have the ability to form new relationships.  Empower them create a study group with a classmate, invite a neighbor out to dinner, or go to a campus event or club meeting.  These are all low-risk, low commitment activities that can often jumpstart your student’s confidence and community building.

PCC services are provided for SUNY New Paltz students in person, by phone, or video tele-counseling. (https://www.newpaltz.edu/counseling/)

In addition to the array of PCC services available to students and the campus community, the SUNY system has provided the links below for additional mental health support.

• Check ReachOut SUNY and https://newpaltz.thrivingcampus.com/ for easy-to-access mental health resources and support.
• Utilize the New York State/Office of Mental Health Crisis Text Line.  Text GOT5 to 741741 for assistance.

At times, students in distress initially feel more comfortable talking to a trained student rather than a mental health professional. OASIS and HAVEN are the two peer support services on campus, supervised by the Psychological Counseling Center (PCC). https://www.newpaltz.edu/counseling/oasishaven.html

Visit the Honor’s Department website for information about the program and instructions on how to apply.

https://www.newpaltz.edu/honors/

SMP is a multicultural program, founded by the Black Studies Department, which addresses the educational disparities of the historically underrepresented students of SUNY New Paltz. SMP develops a community of scholars and leaders who celebrate academic achievement, whilst becoming culturally competent, to develop an inclusive campus. (https://www.newpaltz.edu/smp/)

The Office of Veteran and Military Services is located in Student Union (SUB 100 South) with a VA School Certifying Official.

The Veteran and Military Services office provides assistance to all U.S. Service members, veterans, and dependents from application to graduation which includes, but are not limited to: assisting with all benefits covered under the various GI Bill® programs; military tuition assistance (TA); veteran scholarships; general questions regarding Department of Veteran Affairs’ issues; and free parking permits for military and veteran students. All current and prospective student veterans, service members, and their dependents are encouraged to take advantage of our services.

(https://www.newpaltz.edu/veterans/services.html)

Many answers to financial aid and financial aid related questions can be found by visiting: https://www.newpaltz.edu/financialaid/

On that webpage you will find helpful information about applications, checklists, FAQs and more.

The Office of Student Financial Services can be reached by sending an email to fao@newpaltz.edu. The office is located on the first floor of Wooster Hall, the telephone number is (845) 257-3250, the fax number is (845) 257-3568 and the mailing address is 200 Hawk Drive, New Paltz NY 12561

Once your student has registered for their course schedule, a bill will be generated to their my.newpaltz.edu account. More information can be found on the Student Accounts webpage.

As with other personal records, students 18 and over control who receives financial information related to college expenses. This confuses many parents at first. After all, if we’re paying those bills, how come we don’t receive them automatically? Thankfully, it’s easy for your student to grant you access to our my.newpaltz.edu billing system. Follow these instructions to grant a parent or guardian access.

Student involvement is a priority in the New Paltz community. Visit the Center for Student Engagement for a listing of these clubs, organizations and events. Additionally, New Paltz hosts hundreds of arts, theatre, music, speaker and sporting events each year. These events are listed throughout the www.newpaltz.edu website. 

Many of our academic departments have student clubs and/or honor societies that work closely with the faculty. Please encourage your student to check ENGAGE or reach out directly to the academic department office or website.

At the beginning of each semester, the Center for Student Engagement hosts a Club and Involvement Fair. This is a great opportunity to meet the many student clubs and explore other leadership opportunities on campus.  Also, student can explore ENGAGE to learn about our current clubs and reach out to club leaders directly.

https://newpaltz.campuslabs.com/engage/

The Student Association is the primary body that recognizes most clubs and organizations. Their current by-laws state that they will review and consider new clubs each spring.  Fraternities, sororities and honor societies should contact the Center for Student Engagement.  (https://www.newpaltz.edu/studentengagement/student-involvement/clubrecognition.html)

Even if your student does not want to join a club, they are encouraged to attend club events. The college also hosts campus events, and the Center for Student Engagement e-mails a weekly “Keeping You Posted” announcement.  There are also several leadership programs like emerging leaders or volunteer opportunities available. 

The Student Union is the heart of our campus. It is a facility designed to meet the needs of our students and provide a variety of services.  We believe that the Student Union is the PLACEto be! Our motto is that the Student Union is your PLACE to play, lead, ask, convene, and eat!

The Union is a common space for everyone enrolled in, employed by, or visiting SUNY New Paltz to engage, reflect, and be part of the action.  Most current hours can be found online at https://www.newpaltz.edu/studentengagement/subhours.html

If a fraternity or sorority is not recognized, it means they do not meet college standards and, in many cases, have previously violated college standards if they were previously recognized. A current list of unrecognized chapters is available online at

https://www.newpaltz.edu/studentengagement/student-involvement/fraternity-and-sorority-life/greeklife_recognized.html#d.en.114944

From Intramural sports, group exercise classes, or outdoor pursuits, there are plenty of ways for your students to keep active. https://nphawks.com/sports/wellness-recreation

This is the link and page to return to for more information. We will also send out notices electronically to those parents we have contact information for.

Sign up for our Parent & Family Email list here: https://app.e2ma.net/app2/audience/signup/1977942/1919352/

Parents and families are not automatically notified regarding a student’s academic, counseling, or disciplinary record. This is a federally protected right made available to your student. Please discuss with your student expectations regarding updates or checking in.  In some cases, your student may sign a consent form for different offices to speak with you directly on a student matter. 

Yes, we have many computer and printing labs on campus. Visit Academic Computing for a list of locations or what equipment you will need if you are bringing your own.

Yes, visit the campus bookstore website for information on buying and renting books. They also have an online store to buy your New Paltz gear so you can show your NP spirit off before you get to campus.

Yes! The Center for Student Success provides peer-to-peer resources to support your students’ individualized success. The CSS offers tutoring and supplemental instruction opportunities in historically challenging courses at New Paltz, as well as a Writers' Studio to help develop strong writing skills and Peer Advisors who provide support with Academic Skills that are essential to all college courses. To learn more, check out the CSS website. https://www.newpaltz.edu/studentsuccess/our-services/bullbrd.html

https://library.newpaltz.edu/libcalendar.html

Please visit the Campus Dining Services website for information on the wide variety of food options and what dining plans are available to your student.

Our Dining Services colleagues are attuned to medical and religious dietary restrictions. They can accommodate nearly any requirement your own student might have, at no extra cost, as part of our standard meal plan. After you’ve had a chance to familiarize yourself with our services, please encourage your student to reach out to Dining Services, whose experts work most effectively when they work directly with students themselves.

Unused dining dollars from the Fall Semester will roll over to the Spring Semester provided there is a meal plan purchased for the Spring Semester. Any unspent dining dollars at the end of the Spring semester will be forfeited.

Yes, this is available through the Campus Auxiliary Services website at https://newpaltzcas.com/mealplans2.php

Campus Auxiliary Services and Sodexo has a nutritionist on staff that can meet with your student.  More information can be found here: https://newpaltzdining.sodexomyway.com/explore/nutrition

First-year and transfer students attending in the fall will submit a roommate matching survey during the summer. The survey will ask questions about your living habits, such as what time the student typically goes to bed, cleanliness, amount of preferred social time versus study time they wish to have in the room, frequency of guests, etc.

First-year students will submit the survey during their in-person Summer Orientation session.

Transfer students who pay the $100 Advance Room Deposit by July 3rd will receive an email that day which will provide instructions on how to submit a roommate matching survey, which they must submit by August 1^st. Students who pay the room deposit after July 3^rd must contact the Office of Residence Life at reslife@newpaltz.edu to request housing information and roommate matching survey instructions.

Students who already know each other, or who meet during summer orientation, on social media, or by other means, can request each other as roommates on their survey. Students will be guaranteed the roommate of their choice, provided that both (and all three if it is a group of three), each request the other person(s) when submitting their individual surveys.

If a student does know a specific person(s) they wish to live with, we will use their answers to the survey questions to match them with people that have similar living habits.

First-years and transfers will receive an email with their room and roommate assignments on August 9^th.

Students will receive an email with Packing List and a Prohibited Items list the first week in August. The lists will also be posted on the Residence Life webpage at that time.

The college provides one micro fridge (a refrigerator and microwave connected to each other) per room in corridor style buildings and within Lenape Hall. Each suite within Ashokan, Awosting, Minnewaska, Mohonk and Shawangunk has one refrigerator in each bedroom, and one microwave in the suite/common area to be shared by the four – nine students living in the suite. Students are not permitted to bring their own microfridges, nor standalone microwaves. Should they feel they need one for dietary reasons, students are permitted to bring a refrigerator that is no larger than 3.1 cubic feet.

Living-Learning Communities (LLCs) are specialized living environments that connect students inside and outside-the-classroom experiences. Each LLC is centered on a distinctive theme or academic interest area. Students who participate in an LLC take a class based on the theme/interested area of the community and live on the same floor within a specific building. LLCs are an ideal way for students to meet and interact with peers who have similar interests. For information about each LLC, please visit the pages below:

• First-year LLCs - www.newpaltz.edu/reslife/living-learning-communities/first-year-students/
• Transfer LLC - www.newpaltz.edu/reslife/living-learning-communities/transfer-students/
• LLCs open to all students - www.newpaltz.edu/reslife/living-learning-communities/all-students/
• Honors Program (Lenape Hall) open to first year students in the Honors Program https://www.newpaltz.edu/honors/benefits.html

Students are permitted to have visitors/guests if they have the consent of their roommate and/or suitemates. It is the responsibility of the student/host to inform the guest about the college's expectations, rules and regulations of the residence areas and the University, and to make sure the guest adheres to them.

Daytime Guests - Guests are permitted to visit the residence halls during the hours of 8am – 11pm, provided they follow campus expectations and procedures.

Overnight guests and multi-day stays – Students can have guests stay in their room overnight provided they get prior approval from the building staff and the consent of their roommate and/or suitemates.  Guest stays, be they students or non-students, cannot exceed 48 hours.

Should a student want to host non-affiliated family, friends, college students from other institutions, partners, etc., overnight in the residence halls, must email their building’s Resident Director no less than 72 hours prior to the guest's arrival. The Director will respond with instructions outlining the procedure and a link to the Overnight Guest application.

Non-affiliated guests can stay overnight provided they are fully vaccinated, are 16 years old or older, and follow campus expectations.

Children 15 years old or younger can visit during the hours of 8am - 11pm but cannot stay in any residence hall past 11pm under any circumstances.

The decision to make all room rent the same rate for any double across the campus, regardless of amenities and conditions, was out of a concern for social equity. When the campus introduced air-conditioned facilities over the last 20 years, we found that students from lower socio-economic backgrounds were unable to afford and access the premium priced housing options.  As a result, we lowered the rent for those newer air-conditioned housing facilities to match the standard double rate in older, un-air-conditioned facilities.  

In a typical year, we are able to de-triple students who wish to do so by the beginning of the spring semester.

Students will receive an email during the second week of classes outlining the Room Change Request procedure. The email will let students know the exact date when they can begin submitting Room Change Requests, which is typically at the end of the third week of school.  Students who submit room change requests will be reassigned to a double room within their preferred building should space be available.  If there is no space available, student will be placed on a waitlist for the fall semester until a room opens in their desired building.

If a space does not open at any point during the fall semester, we typically have several students who graduate at the end of the fall semester or leave campus for other reasons, such as student teaching, study abroad, etc. This allows students retuning in the spring to participate in the Mid-Year Room Change Process, where students can apply in advance for rooms that will open at the end of the fall semester.  Instructions for participating in the Mid-Year Room Change Process will be sent to all residents the third week in November.

All public bathrooms in the residence halls are equipped with soap dispensers. Bathrooms within suites and Lenape hall rooms do not include soap dispensers as they are private bathrooms that can only be accessed by the students living within the individual suites.

The college does not provide paper towels within any residence hall bathroom.

For non-emergencies, students can submit a work order by logging into my.newpaltz.edu, clicking Residence Life, and clicking Work Request Form.

Emergencies, such as leaks, room or building door malfunctions, should be reported to the building staff immediately, or to the Office of Residence Life.

Every residence hall has a hall government that does building wide programming and the Residence Hall Student Association conducts campus wide programming efforts. Students may also join their hall government or RHSA as a leadership opportunity.  Each Resident Advisor also completes a variety of programs for their floor and building, as well. At the start of each fall semester, our residence life team hosts the 40 days, 40 nights of programming.

The cost of using laundry machines is included in the room rent. As such, students can use the facilities without needing to insert money into the machines.

Students must provide their own detergent, fabric softener, etc.

For Fall 2023, Move-in day is Thursday, August 24^th for new students and Sunday, August 27^th for continuing students.

Students who reside on campus for the duration of the fall semester and are retuning in the spring are automatically assigned to the same room assignment in the spring semester without needing to submit any paperwork or doing anything else. PLEASE NOTE:  Students are automatically placed in the same room only for the spring semester.  Every student living on campus that wishes to return to campus the next fall/academic year, must re-contract by participating in the Fall Room Selection Process, which takes place in April, even if they wish to remain in the same room.

If a student does not want to be automatically assigned to the same room for the spring semester, and instead wishes to move to a different room or building, they can apply for a room change during the Mid-Year Room Change Process, which takes place at the end of the fall semester. Students will receive the Mid-Year Room Change Process instructions on the third week of November.

Students who are returning to the same room for the spring semester can keep their belongings in their rooms during winter break.

Students who participate in in the Mid-Year Room Change Process and are able to secure a different room for the spring semester cannot keep their belongings in their fall semester room during winter break. They must take all their belongings home or rent a storage unit to move their belongings to prior to the start of winter break in December and can move into their new room at the start of the spring.

Students cannot keep their belongings in their room during the summer, as all buildings are used for summer programs and/or have scheduled maintenance and repairs that take place during the summer.

All students who reside on campus during the spring semester will receive an email on the first week in April, which will provide information and instructions for participating in the Fall Room Selection process. The email will provide details on how to select a room online, and how to request a roommate and/or suitemates should they wish to live on campus again during the next academic year.

The accommodations do not automatically carry over, but your student can submit their documentation to apply for accommodations. Documentation requirements can be found on the DRC web page at https://www.newpaltz.edu/

You can contact the Disability Resource Center at (845) 257-3020 or visit their website for more information on accommodations.

Not always. In some situations, the college has more technology to offer than the high school was able to provide. Some students may have received modifications that are not available in college. Each request is reviewed individually, and your student will be asked to attend an intake interview to review accommodations that can be offered.

There is an application for Disability-Related Housing Accommodations available on the Residence Life webpage. The application is completed by the student and their doctor treating the disability that requires accommodation.

Generally, a Mental Health Diagnosis is a disability. There may or may not be a need for accommodations. Each case is reviewed individually by the DRC staff.

Students should be able to answer the questions for themselves and your presence is not required. If there is a reason your student cannot speak for themself, then they can request you to be present at the meeting.

No, the college does not provide campus transportation for any students.

No, if your student needs personal assistance in the classroom and/or in the residence hall, you will be responsible for providing such assistance and hiring an aide. Students must be able to function independently in their classes and in the residence halls or be able to do so with the assistance of a personal aide hired by the family. You must also inform the DRC and Residence Life about the aide and how they will be assisting your student. There will be additional paperwork to complete regarding the aide.

No, there is not an office on campus that can give temporary ADA parking passes. Your student’s doctor must give them the proper documentation to take to the Town Clerk I your hometown to request such a pass. If your student has a pass hanging in their car on the rearview window, they will be able to park in the ADA spaces on campus.

Work-study is part of a students’ financial aid package. Please refer to your financial aid award letter.  See https://www.newpaltz.edu/financialaid/workstudy.html for more details. Eligible students will receive a link to the application portal in mid-August.

Yes! Student employment opportunities exist in several areas.  The payroll office maintains a list of possible student assistant employers here: https://www.newpaltz.edu/payroll/tempservice.html.  Additional opportunities exist in food services and the bookstore.  Many campus offices may also have limited funds to hire student assistants beyond work-study students, as well.

There are several public lounges in the Student Union and many academic buildings have good places for students commuting to campus to meet up with others and socialize.

https://www.newpaltz.edu/studentengagement/commuter--local-resources/commuters.html

All opportunities and services are available to commuter students as they are residential students, including clubs, events, wellness facilities and activities.

https://www.newpaltz.edu/healthcenter/ near bottom of page.

As of the 2022-23 academic year domestic (non-international) students are no longer required to provide proof of health insurance. Health insurance will not be provided through the university for domestic students. The health fee provides on campus health services for triage visits and regular medical services.  For more information, go to: https://www.newpaltz.edu/healthcenter/student_ins.html.

Whether your student has an illness, injury, mental health or other emergency, the campus has immediate resources and services available to your student. Should your student need care beyond the service level that the college can provide, transportation to a local medical care facility may be required.  Additional information can be found online at: https://www.newpaltz.edu/studentaffairs/responseplan.html

See this card for transit support back to campus after a hospital visit. https://www.newpaltz.edu/media/student-affairs/HOSPITAL-CARD.pdf

Students can share that information with the college by uploading it to their Covid-19 Profile on my.newpaltz.edu

Yes, please visit the Student Health Center website for information about the immunization form that is required and for a description of their hours and services.

Student safety is a strong priority in the New Paltz community. Learn more about our 24 hour University Police department and their services here.

Yes, students can sign up for NP Alert which is used to communicate emergencies as well school cancellations and closings via text message. Your student can sign up multiple phone numbers to receive these messages.

The campus is an approved ticket seller for NY Trailways. See the Center for Student Engagement to get tickets. Student may also take the Ulster-Poughkeepsie Link shuttle to the Poughkeepsie train station to access Amtrak or Metro North trains.

https://www.newpaltz.edu/studentengagement/transportation.html

New Paltz is part of Ulster County which is served by Ulster County Area Transit (UCAT). The Student Association covers the costs of the bus fare for students to ride the local New Paltz loop and the Ulster-Poughkeepsie Link to the train station routes for FREE.

https://www.newpaltz.edu/newpaltzloop/

UCAT also offers students discounted fares for the entire county network of routes. A full listing of county routes is available at https://ucat.ulstercountyny.gov/routes/