Welcome Week & New Student Orientation

Welcome, check-in, move-in and several evening events

All students will check-in at the SUNY Plattsburgh Field House (GPS Location: 167 Rugar Street, Plattsburgh, NY 12901)

Please note that traffic on Rugar St. will be one way from west to east starting at Sanborn Ave. (just past Sibley Hall, building #22 and #23 on the map) and ending at the roadway between Macomb Hall (building #13 on the map) and Saranac Hall (the College Store, building #12 on the map). University Police will be present and have signage to assist with traffic management. Click image below to view our entire campus map.

Listing of Wednesday’s Events:

Welcoming you to our academic community — to your academic major and to people, offices, spaces and places

“Welcome to Academic Life Thursday” is an entire day built for you that provides time with faculty, staff and peers in your academic major and all around campus. We will help you navigate around academic buildings, introduce you to academic support offices and resources, and provide guidance with what to expect in your first day, week and semester — and help take care of any other academic business you have.

You will feel more connected, confident and academically ready for your first SUNY Plattsburgh semester.

• Academic department/school gathering 10 a.m. Learn where your major will meet
• My First Plattsburgh Class and info sessions and experiences throughout the afternoon
• Matriculation Ceremony 4 p.m.

Listing of Thursday’s Events:

On-campus community offerings

Multiple concurrent on-campus events throughout the day and evening.

Listing of Friday’s Events:

Off-campus community offerings

Multiple concurrent on- and off-campus events throughout the day and evening.

Listing of Saturday’s Events:

For a complete listing of events please visit and subscribe to our Welcome Week Calendar. 

First-Year Questionnaire & Information Literacy Exam

As soon as possible, students should complete the First Year Course Preferences Questionnaire and the Information Literacy Competency Exam that are now available on the Enrollment Checklist.

Academic departments and special program staff are using questionnaire responses and exam results to make a schedule of classes for first-year students that fulfill Cardinal Core Curriculum and major requirements that otherwise can be met by passing the LIB190 Critical Research Skills 1-credit course. Login to Brightspace and access the 2024–2025 Information Literacy Competency Exam. If you do not see the exam site listed, please contact Michelle Toth at [email protected] for assistance.

You are urged to take the exam as early as possible so that you are not enrolled in a section of the LIB190 course if you do not need it.

About the exam:

• The passing score is 74%
• The exam covers the basic knowledge and skills of academic research including: search tools and techniques, evaluating sources, and ethical use of information including citations.
• The online exam is 47 questions, and you have one hour to complete it. (Unless you are eligible for extended time).
• Passing the exam meets the requirement but does not earn you the credit hour associated with taking the course.

See the Competency and Placement webpage for more details

Take Placement Tests If Necessary

English College Writing Course Placement
If your high school average is less than 85%, plan to take ENG 100 College Writing I. If your high school average is 85% or above, ENG 101 College Writing II is appropriate. If you want some more guidance about which course to take you may complete the optional Directed Self-Placement Questionnaire found on the Competency and Placement webpage. For questions and assistance, contact Dr. Tom Friedrich at [email protected].

Mathematics Competency and Calculus Readiness
If your high school average is less than 85% you may either take the Math Competency Exam or you will need to take a foundational mathematics course; meeting math competency is required before you can meet your quantitative reasoning requirement of the Cardinal Core general education program or take a higher level math course. See the Competency and Placement webpage for instructions on signing up for the exam.

If your high school average is 85% or above you have met this requirement and no action is needed. For questions and assistance contact Dr. Robert Reams, at [email protected].

If you are required to take calculus you will also need to demonstrate calculus readiness through passing precalculus or the Calculus Readiness Test. See the Competency and Placement webpage for how to take the test. For questions and assistance, contact Dr. Robert Reams, at [email protected].

Modern Languages
If you plan to take French or Spanish language courses, please consult the Competency and Placement webpage for guidelines on which course level to take or how to take a placement exam. For questions and assistance, contact Dr. Marie Cusson at [email protected].

Advisement for new transfer students began April 24. Online registration began May 6. Contact your department chair for advisement and registration information.

View Chairs & Department Contacts

Readmit students will contact the chair of their department for advising and to obtain their registration PIN. Registration for readmit students began April 8 and continues through the summer.

View Chairs & Department Contacts

Send in your health forms to the Student Health and Counseling Center.

International Health Record

Domestic Student Health Record

If you have questions, call 518-564-2187 or email [email protected]

Upload a photo for your campus ID card — follow the instructions provided on our Campus ID Card web page.

In order to pick up your ID card from the Field House on August 21, 2024, you will need to have submitted a photo and received an approval email by Wednesday, August 14, 2024. The College Auxiliary Services (CAS) office will be closed August 21, 2024, with staff assisting at the Field House. If you miss the Wednesday deadline, you can visit the College Auxiliary Services office in Clinton Dining Hall after August 21, 2024, to have your photo taken or to pick up an uploaded ID that has been approved. In either case, a government-issued photo ID will be required in order to pick up your ID card. Please contact 518-564-2035 with any questions.

Pre-register your vehicle prior to arriving on campus to get early access to your assigned parking tags at New Student Orientation. Register at least 48 hours prior to allow time for processing.

To pre-register, you will need:

• Your assigned Banner ID and vehicle state registration
• Access to MyPlattsburgh from a computer or phone to:
• Register a vehicle (MyPlattsburgh to STUDENTS tab to AUTOMOBILE REGISTRATION link)
• Accept two parking fees (coded PR & PK) already billed in tuition ( MyPlattsburgh to MY ACCOUNTS link under the STUDENT ACCOUNTS heading).

To claim your hang tag at orientation, bring a photo ID (NetID or driver’s license.)

Problems with pre-registration? Email [email protected].

Vehicle Registration & Hangtag Instructions

The Accessibility Resources Office (ARO) team will discuss the differences between The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which is the guidance in high schools, and The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which is the guidance in college. We will discuss the transition and the differences between high school accommodations and college. The ARO team will be available for questions during this event.

• Date: Tuesday, June 11
• Time: Noon

Join the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) team and learn more about the program and how you can benefit from being part of this community. The EOP team will be available for questions during this event.

• Date: Thursday, June 13
• Time: 5 p.m.

Join the TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) Team for an interactive question and answer session introducing new SUNY Plattsburgh students and their families to their many resources. SSS is an academic support program funded by the United States Department of Education that serves first-generation college students, PELL-eligible students and students with disabilities.

• Date & Time: Monday, June 17 at 6 p.m.
• Date & Time: Wednesday July 17 at noon

Join the Cardinal Achievement Program (CAP) team and learn more about the program and how you can benefit from being part of this community.

• Date: Tuesday, June 18
• Time: Noon

Get ready to learn about the Summer Academy in this engaging Q&A session with the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) team.

• Date: Thursday, June 20
• Time: 5 p.m.

Explain the benefits of the new Advancing Completion through the Engagement Program, including a cost-of-attendance award, textbook assistance and a monthly stipend. Learn where on-campus and off-campus Cardinal Cash can be used, what is available at our campus store, how to purchase it and what other financial needs are.

• Date & Time: Monday, June 24 at 6 p.m.
• Date & Time: Thursday, July 11 at noon

Receive an introduction to the Accessibility Resources Office (ARO), including an overview of services available to students and how to register for accommodations. The ARO team will be available for questions during this event.

• Date: Monday, July 1
• Time: 6 p.m.

This information session is designed to provide valuable insights and details about the EOP Summer Academy for friends, family members, and guardians who cannot make the trip to SUNY Plattsburgh. It will provide a comprehensive overview of the program and how it can enhance the educational experience of new EOP students. The EOP team will be available for questions during this event.

• Date: Saturday, July 6
• Time: 3 p.m.

Learn about resources, tools and tips to help you transition to your first year at SUNY Plattsburgh. The CAP team will be available to answer questions during this event.

• Date: Wednesday, July 10
• Time: 6 p.m.

Do you have housing questions? Are you still struggling with finding a roommate or a room? Confused by the acronyms CA, PA, CD, ACD?  Then this is the webinar for you! Get your campus housing questions answered from the professionals.

• Date: Tuesday, July 16
• Time: Noon

Do you have questions about which English class to take or how the placement process works? Want to change the English course on your schedule? Join members of the English faculty to chat about your upcoming class.

• Date: Thursday, July 18
• Time: Noon

Join the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) for this summer virtual Zoom discussion. During this program, you will have an opportunity to meet the DEI and Title IX staff and to learn about some of the upcoming programs and events that will be hosted on campus. You will also be able to hear about some of the job opportunities and internships that are available for students.

Special breakout sessions are available for students to learn more about the campus culture and opportunities to engage with the community. We will provide information on some of the diverse groups that you may choose to join and interfaith opportunities that are available. We will also have a breakout session for parents who want more information on the ways in which they can best support their students. Lastly, we will devote time to discussing safety on campus, reporting mechanisms and opportunities to keep everyone safe.

• Date: Wednesday, July 31
• Time: Noon

Learn about resources, tools and tips to help you transition to your first year at SUNY Plattsburgh. The CAP team will be available to answer questions during this event.

• Date: Wednesday, July 31
• Time: 6 p.m.

Getting ready for your Plattsburgh experience but have no clue what to bring with you? What will I be doing for Welcome Week? What will life be like for me living in the residence halls? Get these questions answered and more from a crew of our professional community directors.

• Date: Thursday, August 1
• Time: 6 p.m.

Join the directors of the Learning Center and the Academic Advising Office to learn about some of the key people and places to help you succeed in classes and complete your degree. We’ll cover the academic advisor–advisee relationship (and other support, too), identify the steps to connect with peer tutors, and how together your entire support network can help you to adjust to college and thrive academically.

• Date: Wednesday, August 7
• Times: Noon and 5 p.m.