First-Year Experience

Click here for a printable version.

Friday, August 22

• This mandatory meeting is for all freshmen resident and commuter students. Students will receive the Rule of Saint Benedict from Archabbot Martin de Porres Bartel and Father Paul Taylor.

9:00 pm - 11:00 pm, Welcome Social & Bonfire, Saint Benedict Hall

Saturday, August 23

• 9:50 am, What is a Catholic, Benedictine College?
• 10:10 am, Academic Affairs Policies & Procedures
• 10:30 am, Alcohol, Drugs and the College Experience

11:30 am – 1:00 pm, Lunch, Community Center

Information Sessions, Carey Performing Arts Center, ATTENDANCE REQUIRED

• 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm, Title IX and Campus Safety
• 2:00 pm – 2:10 pm, Community Standards 
• 2:10 pm – 2:30 pm, Personal Safety & Wellness

• Wear your Graffiti Dance Party Shirt for the photograph.

• Get your marker when you wear the shirt that you received in your Welcome Bag to the dance!

Sunday, August 24

9:00 am – 11:00 am, Tour of Campus with your Big
11:00 am – 1:00 pm, Brunch with your Big, Community Center
1:00 pm - 2:15 pm, Hired! Carey Performing Arts Center, ATTENDANCE REQUIRED
2:15 pm – 4:30 pm, Scavenger Hunt with Pod, Performing Arts Center, ATTENDANCE REQUIRED
4:30 pm, Mass, Mary Mother of Wisdom Chapel
7:00 pm, Mass, Mary Mother of Wisdom Chapel
9:30 pm, Mass, Mary Mother of Wisdom Chapel

First-year residential students may arrive on campus at the following designated arrival times. Your pod is shown in your room number. Example: B405 is in Pod 4B, D302 is in Pod 3D.

• 5th Floor 7:45 am – 8:15 am
• 4th Floor 8:15 am – 9:00 am
• 3rd Floor 9:00 am – 9:45 am
• 2nd Floor 9:45 am – 10:15 am
• 1st Floor 10:15 am – 10:45 am
• Late Move-In 10:45 am – 11:15 am

Click here to download the Freshmen Move-In Informational Flyer

Label Your Belongings

• Due to the amount of luggage that will be unloaded in one area, it is crucial that ALL belongings are marked with the student’s name and residence hall room number (this includes the Pod letter and room number (e.g. C209). Please label all belongings in a prominent location prior to arrival.
• If you arrive with unlabeled belongings, you will be asked to step out of the line and label belongings prior to continuing to move in.

Arrival

• Residential students will be directed to the Welcome Area in Parking Lot A near the Fred Rogers Center after arriving on campus, where student ID cards and Residence Hall room keys will be distributed.
• Residence Life and Orientation Staff will then direct cars to Saint Benedict Hall for unloading.
• Please keep your party’s cars together when entering the parking lot. If a car in your party is running behind, please pull over in a separate lot or area and wait for their arrival prior to entering Parking Lot A.

Unloading

• After being directed to the unloading areas, Orientation committee members will unload vehicles and assist in transporting all belongings to residence hall rooms.
• The driver of the vehicle should remain with the vehicle at all times.
• Please move vehicles immediately after unloading in order to allow other vehicles to unload easily. The Orientation Committee will direct vehicles to the parking locations in Parking Lot R. Handicapped parking will be available after move-in has concluded, but passenger drop off in the handicapped parking zone will be permitted during move-in as needed.
• No bed bunking will be permitted in Saint Benedict Hall

Extra Late Arrivals

Resident students who arrive after the scheduled Late Move-In time, which concludes at 11:15 a.m., should proceed directly to Saint Benedict Hall and seek out their Prefect with Residence Life who will check them in individually. After 11:15 a.m., the Orientation Welcome Tent and assistance with move-in will not be available.

Early Arrivals

• Freshman resident students are invited to move items into the residence halls on Thursday, August 21, from 6-8 pm only.
• When you arrive on campus, vehicles may be parked in Parking Lot Q, located behind Saint Benedict Hall. This period is for item drop off only. Keys, IDs, and other materials will not be distributed, and Orientation and Residence Life staff are unable to allow students to unpack any items. Students do not need to register for item drop off.
• Students may not remain in the building overnight. When you return to campus the next day, please process through the Welcome Tent to receive keys and IDs.

Orientation Assistance Station

An Orientation Assistance Station and other resources will be available in the lobby of Saint Benedict Hall for your convenience.

Parking Permits

To request a parking permit, please sign up on the Public Safety page on the MySV Portal. Students are required to display their permit. Cars without permits will be ticketed during the first week of classes.

Orientation Committee

svc.orientation@stvincent.edu

Residence Life Office

Alfred Hall, 1st Floor
Phone: 724-805-2567
Email: studentaffairs@stvincent.edu 

Click here for printable information about Commuter Check-In

When should I arrive?
Please arrive to Check-In on Friday, August 22 from 1-2:30 p.m.

Where should I go?
Commuter students should park in Parking Lot A near the Fred Rogers Center, then proceed directly to the Citrone Family Commuter Center, located in Placid Hall near the Post Office and Community Center Dining Room.

What can I expect to receive at Check-In?
This is where you will receive your student ID card, important first-year student information, and Welcome Weekend packets. You will also meet other Commuters and start to build your new home on campus.

Do I have to attend Check-In?
Check-In is mandatory, as are the other events of the weekend.

How do I get my parking permit?
To request a parking permit, please sign up on the Public Safety page on the MySV Portal. Students are required to display their permit. Cars without permits will be ticketed during the first week of classes.

Important Information About Financial Clearance
Financial Clearance must be obtained prior to check-in. Students who are not cleared will be directed to the Business Office to obtain their clearances. You will be notified by the Business Office when you are financially cleared. Please make sure you have financial clearance prior to check-in.

If you have questions about financial clearance, please contact the Business Office at 724-537-4577.

Contact information
Bridget DiVittis, Coordinator of Commuter Outreach
bridget.divittis@stvincent.edu

Orientation Committee
svc.orientation@stvincent.edu

Residence Life Office
Alfred Hall, 1st Floor
Phone: 724-805-2567
Email: studentaffairs@stvincent.edu

• Financial Clearance must be obtained prior to moving into Residence Halls. Those students who have been financially cleared will be given their room key, and students who are not cleared will be directed to the Business Office to obtain their clearances. Students without financial clearance will not receive their room keys.
• If you haven’t received financial clearance, staff will be available between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm to help you through the process. Lot A Welcome Area staff will guide you to the Business Office, where you’ll need to complete your clearance before receiving your room key. Once you're cleared, return to your car and a staff member will help direct you to your residence hall. Please note: this may cause a delay in your move-in.
• If a student arrives after 4:30 pm, they are expected to obtain financial clearance the next day or on Monday, August 25, by noon. Otherwise, the student’s ID card will be deactivated, and they will be required to leave their residence hall until clearance is obtained.
• You will be notified by the Business Office when you are financially cleared. Please make sure you have financial clearance prior to move-in. Students without financial clearance will not receive their room keys.

To ensure timely and accurate delivery of your mail, please use the following format on all correspondence:

YOUR NAME  
BOX #### ST VINCENT COLLEGE  
300 FRASER PURCHASE RD  
LATROBE PA 15650-2690

Important Notes:

Always include your Post Office box number. Do not use your dorm name or room number—mail is not delivered to residence halls.

• Share your box number with family and friends to avoid delays.
• Mailbox numbers can be found in the black book at the post office counter.
• Do not send cash through the mail. Instead, send checks, which can be cashed at the Business Office with a valid student ID.
• The Post Office is not responsible for:
  • Cash sent through mail or housemail
  • Perishable packages
  • Mismarked mail

Mailbox Keys:

Mailbox keys can be picked up at the Campus Post Office (Headmasters Hall - 1st floor) near the Community Center.

• Keep your key for the entire duration of your time at Saint Vincent.
• Upon graduation or withdrawal, you must return your key to avoid a $75 fee.
• Lost keys can be replaced for $5.