2021-2022 GOLD BOOK Your Guide to the First Year 315 Coffman Memorial Union 612-624-1979 or 800-234-1979 [email protected] ote.umn.edu If you need anything during your transition, we are here to help. Partners in transitioning to college life: Orientation & Transition Experiences and you The mission of Orientation & Transition Experiences is to provide high quality, dynamic experiences that cultivate community while empowering students to champion their development and leverage campus resources. Our goals are to help students understand their transition and how to thrive during it, communicate academic expectations and pathways, share information on how to navigate resources, foster community, and convey the importance of student engagement. Orientation & Transition Experiences will be a constant in your first two years at the University of Minnesota—long after you have completed Orientation and experienced Welcome Week. This publication will answer your questions and help you navigate the vast resources on campus. Use Gold Book into your first semester to ensure a successful first year at the University. Welcome to the University of Minnesota and Orientation Here it is—your first college book! It has many authors: People from more than 50 departments across campus contributed to it with the hope that any information you learn now about the University of Minnesota Twin Cities will help make your transition to college life a smooth one. This book is designed in sections to support At the end of most sections you will find a your transition—Life at the U of M, Learning list of reminders—things that you should at the U of M, and Your Next Steps. It will know or do before you arrive for Welcome introduce you to some of the University’s Week. Here’s your first list: departments and services—and the people, • Make sure you share this publication places, and things that will be a part of with your parents and family. your daily life. In order for you to thrive, you need to understand how to navigate the • Bring this book with you when you campus and its many resources. This guide come back to campus and use it as will introduce you to the resources that will a reference at the beginning of the help you understand academic expectations. semester. You will learn where to go for help with • Seek new friends! Orientation is the everything from studying to writing papers. ideal time to start making connections. You also will discover ways to get involved So, read this guide carefully—and then read on campus and in the community. it again. You will use this as a workbook Orientation & The goal of this publication—and of during Orientation, Welcome Week, and Transition Experiences everyone on campus—is to help you thrive into the beginning of the semester. Knowing 612-624-1979 in this great living and learning environment how to access resources from the very 1-800-234-1979 so you feel like you belong here. beginning of your college career can lead to ote.umn.edu excellent outcomes. You will have access to endless resources, [email protected] starting with the U of M’s huge website umn.edu. Every section in this book includes links to guide you to more information. A PDF of this publication— with active links—will be available at z.umn.edu/goldbook. This publication is for all new first-year students—including freshmen and transfer students. Most of the information in this book applies to everyone, but on occasion there is information specific to transfer or international students. That information will be marked with these icons: Transfer Students International Students WELCOME // // 1 Table of Contents Expectations for your Being Healthy ................................................47 President’s Emerging Scholars ..........82 experience ..................................... 3-5 Health Insurance ..................................48 International Student and Scholar Services Life at the U of M ....................... 6-67 Taking Care of U ..................................48 ...................................................82 U Card Academic Success Centers ............................................................... 7 Mental Health Services ..................... 50 ........................83 Where You Live SMART Learning Commons ..............................................9 Wellness .................................................53 ..............83 Living On Campus Writing Support ...............................10 Getting Involved ...........................................56 ....................................83 Living Off Campus University Libraries .............................. 14 Student Groups ...................................58 ..............................85 Eating on Campus Study Space .........................................16 Places to Gather ..................................62 ...........................................85 Meal Plans Resolving Conflicts ...............................................18 Community Service ............................63 ...............................85 FlexDine Major Exploration and Career Planning ...................................................19 ROTC ......................................................63 ...86 Food Courts on Campus Center for Academic Planning and .................. 20 Governance ...........................................63 Exploration Sustainability .............................................86 ........................................22 School Pride ..........................................64 Career Centers Getting Around Campus .............................24 .....................................86 Learning at the U of M ...........68-91 The Office of Undergraduate Buses ......................................................25 University Expectations ..............................69 Research .................................................88 U Pass .....................................................25 Understanding the Curriculum ..................70 Learn Abroad .........................................88 Parking ....................................................26 Requirements ......................................70 Leadership Minor .................................88 Biking ......................................................26 Courses/Credits ...................................71 Courses Just for New Students .................89 Walking ...................................................27 Grades .....................................................71 Courses for Ongoing Academic Success ... 90 Your Safety .....................................................28 Tracking and Planning Degree Progress .....72 Academic Success Courses .............. 90 University Police ..................................29 Academic Progress Audit Report ....72 Rothenberger Institute....................... 90 Aurora Center .......................................31 Transfer Credit Report .......................72 Center for Spirituality and Healing .....91 Secure U .................................................31 Graduation Planner .............................72 English Language Program ..................91 Safety in Residence Halls ...................32 Degree Progress ...................................73 YOUR NEXT STEPS .......................92-97 Safety on the Go ..................................32 Registration Tools ......................................... 74 Transition Checklist ......................................93 Student Legal Service ........................33 Student Record & Registration Holds .. 74 Welcome Week ..............................................94 Financing Your Education ...........................34 Dates & Deadlines ............................... 74 Student Transition Experiences .................95 Financial Aid .........................................35 Schedule Builder ..................................75 Staying Informed ...........................................97 Paying for School .................................36 Classroom Expectations .............................76 Parents and Families ............ 98-102 Financial Wellness ...............................38 Buying Books & Course Materials ...76 Health and Wellness .....................................99 Buying Books ........................................38 Syllabus ..................................................77 Finance and Money Management .......... 100 Finding a Job ........................................39 Online Learning Management Community Support and Safety ............ 100 Technology .....................................................42 Systems ..................................................78 Academic Support .......................................101 MyU .........................................................43 Time Management ...............................79 Career Preparation ....................................102 Technology Help ................................. 44 Disability Resource Center ................79 Orientation Staff ....................... 103 University Email ...................................45 Academic Support Team ............................80 Student Services Map ................ 106 Printing with your U Card ..................45 Academic Advisors ..............................80 Academic Calendar .................... 108 Social Media ..........................................46 Faculty & Teaching Assistants ...........81 Directory ...................................... 109 University Honors Program .................81