#WestminsterBound

We know navigating forms, assignments, finances and more can be challenging. That's why we created #WestminsterBound events, which gather our experts together in one place for the sole purpose of assisting you! In just an hour, you can complete financial aid forms, adjust your course schedule, connect with a counselor, health center, or disability resource office, and so much more.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, we have moved these events online. In addition to "meeting" individually or in small groups with our experts, each event will include brief presentations for families that highlight important dates, action steps, and the upcoming transition to college life.

This year's events will be held throughout May, June, and July.

  Register Now

We know navigating forms, assignments, finances and more can be challenging. That's why we created #WestminsterBound events, which gather our experts together in one place for the sole purpose of assisting you! Meet with us to complete financial aid forms, adjust your course schedule, connect with a counselor, health center, or disability resource office, and so much more.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, we have moved these events online. In addition to "meeting" individually or in small groups with our experts, each event will include brief presentations for families that highlight important dates, action steps, and the upcoming transition to college life.

This year's events will be held throughout May, June, and July.

  Register Now

Schedule of Events

Beginning on June 15 (June 1 for Early Decision students), housing information will be available on https://my.westminster.edu/

Westminster is a four-year residential campus, which means all of our students live on campus in one of our residence halls. The residential experience at Westminster is unique and comprehensive. From the Resident Assistant on the floor, to the Residence Director of the building, to the Associate Dean, there is a group of people dedicated to your success. Everyone on the team is not only well trained, but excited and committed to helping you learn and grow in our residence halls.

A small percentage of our students commute from the home of a parent or legal guardian. If you have qualified for commuter status, please be sure to attend the commuter meetings during orientation to learn how you can make meaningful connections on campus.

The class of 2024 is reading Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. The book and a summer reading guide will be mailed to you on June 1.

Read this book! You’ll be asked to write an essay and submit it online to the D2L course environment before you come to campus for orientation. This summer reading book is a required text for Inquiry, our first year student seminar course. Inquiry provides an opportunity to understand what the Westminster academic experience is all about. For complete assignment details, please check out our First Year Program page.

Your bill will be available via CASHNet through my.westminster beginning on July 1. It is important that you understand and have a plan for paying for the costs of your college education. Your bill includes tuition, room, board, and fees for student activities, orientation, and certain music courses.

Be aware that there are other expenses associated with college. Some examples are books and supplies, parking fees, laptops and technology, travel, clothing, entertainment, etc. Regardless of who is paying for college, you should come up with a reasonable budget and determine who will pay for which items in advance.

The Financial Information Guide, which is included with this guide, is a more detailed guide to help you understand your bill, financial aid, and other financial policies. This guide should be kept with important papers as a reference tool. The Financial Information Guide includes information on topics such as:

An interactive alcohol education and sexual violence prevention program will be available online July 15.

Check your Westminster email. This is an online alcohol and personal safety awareness education program required of all incoming students. These topics will be reiterated during Orientation and as part of Westminster 101, a class that all first year students take during their first semester.

Payments on your account may be made online using CASHNet on my.westminster. You can pay by electronic check, credit/debit card, and/or certain 529 plans. An installment payment plan is also available through CASHNet. A 2.75% convenience fee applies to credit and debit card transactions only. The 529 fee is approximately $10 and there is no fee for electronic check payments. You can also stop by the cashier’s windows in the Business Office on the second floor of Old Main to pay by cash, money order, or personal check.

If your plans include taking loans or using the installment payment plan, those processes must be completed before your bill is due.

If you bring a car to campus, you will need to purchase and display a current parking decal. The cost for a parking decal for the 2020-21 academic year is $100. To obtain a decal, complete the online parking pass form and upload a photo of your vehicle registration form in the New Student Checklist on my.westminster starting on July 15.

You will pick up your decal when you arrive for Orientation in August. Parking decals are not valid until received from the Titan Card office and affixed on the vehicle for which it is registered.
Note: If you are an athlete or band member who is arriving on campus a week or two prior to orientation, you can obtain your parking decal at the Titan Card Office on the 2nd floor of Old Main.

The Titan Card is your campus ID card and is used for entry to your residence hall, using your meal plan, and checking out resources from the library.

But before you can get a Titan Card, you have to upload an ID photo to the Student Link Platform. Early this summer, we'll email you instructions that tell you how to do it.

Once you're on campus, you'll also use the Student Link website to see the balance on your meal plan, add commuter meals, and add Dine Dollars to your card. More information about Student Link can be found in the Financial Information Guide.

 

We have two food service venues on campus: the TUB Food Court and Galbreath Dining. Both facilities offer healthy options, snacks, carry out, and made-to-order items. Most dietary needs can be accommodated. For more information, please check out our Dietary Options page or email our Office of Disability Resources.

All first year, first semester meal plans feature a combination of cafeteria meals, commonly called “swipes,” and Dine Dollars. Swipes can be used at Galbreath Dining, which is a traditional all-you-can-eat cafeteria. Dine Dollars can be used at any venue. Including both options gives you the opportunity to experience the different dining options on campus to help you choose the plan that suits you best for future semesters. As a first year student, you will be assigned a default meal plan. However, during Orientation, you have the opportunity to change your plan if you wish.

Also, once the semester begins, you can keep track of your meal plan balance and add Dine Dollars via Student Link.

All textbooks online through the Campus Store website beginning July 20. To find your textbooks:

• Go to www.westminster.edu/campus-store
• Select Textbooks from the menu at the top of the page
• Select your courses from your schedule
• View your course materials and select your preferred format
• Check out

You will have the option to have the books shipped directly to the College for pickup, or to your home. Please note the Campus Store does not sell textbooks in the store, aside from the Inquiry Reader required for the first-year Inquiry course. However, we work directly with our faculty to ensure that textbooks are adopted and submitted to our bookseller partner (MBS Direct), so that there are many purchasing options available for you on their website, including purchasing new or used textbooks, renting them, or purchasing digital versions.

The Campus Store is located on the first floor of McKelvey Campus Center. The store offers a wide variety of apparel, decorative items, Westminster swag, gifts, supplies, snacks, and more. They also have a T2G trailer at home football games selling special merchandise that is not offered in the Campus Store.

Not sure how? Here are a few suggestions:

• If you can, we suggest meeting in person. However if distance (or a global pandemic) prohibits, we recommend a phone call or Facetime/Skype so you can get to know your roommate beyond their social media pages and text messages.


• Talk about logistics with your roommate. It is easy to get a conversation going if you kick it off with who is bringing the TV and who is bringing the microwave.


• Think about what you want out of a roommate relationship. Not all roommates are besties, and that’s okay! The best roommates are respectful and open to new experiences.


• Make a list of your expectations about living with someone new. Think about what on that list is negotiable and where you can be flexible. The best roommate pairs work together to compromise and find what works for them.


• Get excited! From making shopping lists to packing up the night before, it’s easy to get lost in the details. Take time to enjoy the experience, and get ready for all of the adventures ahead of you!

Your room comes equipped with a bed, a desk and chair, storage space, curtains, and a wastebasket. You may have thought already about the stuff you want to bring to make your new room YOURS (bedding, pictures, posters, etc.), but there a few things you can't do without:

• Sheets (twin extra-long)
• Pillow
• Study lamp
• Towels
• Small trash bags
• Fans
• Umbrella
• Bath bucket or shower caddy for soap, shampoo, toothpaste, etc.
• Laundry products (washers require high efficiency detergent)
• Laptop (See Get Tech Savvy)

Consider bringing these optional items:

• Microwave* (UL-approved, 1100 watts maximum)
• Refrigerator (UL-approved, 4.3 cubic feet maximum)
• Keurig style coffee maker
• Plates, bowls, cups, silverware
• Memory foam mattress topper (XL twin length)
• Comfy chair (i. e., beanbag, papasan)
• Area rug (not larger than 10'x10')
• Full-length mirror
• Television (must be a model with a digital QAM tuner)
• Television stand (wall mounting is prohibited)
• Cable cord (RG6 low loss black coaxial, 12-24 ft.)
• Streaming media device (Amazon Fire Stick, Apple TV, and Roku are supported)
• Computer printer
• Gaming systems (PlayStation, XBox, Wii)
• Small vacuum cleaner or Swiffer-type sweeper for tile floors
• Small aquarium for freshwater fish

BUT PLEASE LEAVE THE FOLLOWING AT HOME:

• Candles and incense (including candles with wicks removed)
• Non-LED string lights, halogen lights
• Open element appliances (i.e., toasters, toaster ovens, George Foreman Grills, traditional coffee makers)
• Pets (except for fresh water fish)
• Air conditioners
• Curtains or window dressings
• Personal networking devices, such as wireless routers
• Chromecast streaming devices (they are not compatible with our wi-fi network)
• Firearms, ammunition, weapons, fireworks, gasoline, flammable materials, and motor vehicles in the halls

When it comes to laptops, there are a lot of different options out there. If you are in the market for a new laptop, we recommend either of the following two models, based on their durability, processing speed, and size/weight. (NOTE: we always recommend at least a 3-year warranty. Your laptop will go through a lot during the next four years. If the unthinkable happens, you want to be able to replace it quickly and without spending a lot of money.)

RECOMMENDED LAPTOP MODELS

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DELL LATITUDE 5401

14 inch
Intel Core i5 2.8 Ghz
8 GB RAM
256 GB Solid State Hard Drive
3-year ProSupport warranty

MACBOOK PRO

13 inch
Intel Core i5
8 GB RAM
256 GB Solid State Hard Drive
3-year Applecare protection

We mean no offense to Google, but Chromebooks do not work well for Westminster students. We do not use Google classroom and many of our faculty members teach students how to use software that cannot be installed on Chromebooks because they don't have enough storage space.

RECOMMENDED COMPUTER PROGRAMS

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Office 365:

During your time at Westminster, you can download and use the entire Office 365 suite FOR FREE on multiple devices. Follow the ‘Office 365’ links on my.westminster to download the software. Even if you are a Mac user, you’ll want to take advantage of this deal because D2L, our online course system, can’t read .pages files.

Anti-virus and malware protection:

To protect yourself against computer viruses and phishing schemes, it is essential your computer has updated antivirus software and malware protection. Any anti-virus program will do, but we particularly like Symantec and McAfee. For malware protection, we like Malwarebytes, which is available FOR FREE from http://www.malwarebytes.com (or http://www.malwarebytes.com/mac if you have a Mac).

WI-FI CONNECTIONS

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Our secure wireless network supports most current computers, phones, tablets, Smart TVs, streaming devices, and gaming systems. However, hard-wired internet connections are not available in the residence halls.

While the high school academic year and the college academic year are similar in some respects, there are significant differences.

There are scheduled breaks throughout the academic year for which you will be expected to return home. It might be helpful to know that Westminster holds classes on Labor Day. Residence halls are closed for fall midterm break, Thanksgiving, winter, spring break, and Easter break.

However, with the exception of these scheduled breaks, you are expected to attend every class session. Missing multiple classes for any reason can have a negative impact on your grade.

Athletes who are in season during breaks will stay on campus with their teams. Your coach will be able to provide more information.

Transportation Tip: Transportation to the airport and Greyhound bus station is available during breaks. Reservations can be made online or in Student Affairs and email reminders will be sent to students prior to each break.

About halfway through your first semester at Westminster College, you will receive midterm grades from your faculty. While these grades do not appear on your official transcript or affect your grade point average in any way, they are an important measure of your academic success. You can expect to meet with your classroom faculty or your faculty advisor to review your midterm grades.

In October and March, the Online Registration Schedule for the upcoming semester is published, and registration begins a few weeks later. With the publication of the registration schedule, the Academic Advising period begins.

Faculty advisors in each major area arrange advising appointments differently, so keep in touch with your faculty advisor as the Academic Advising period approaches, around the middle of each semester.

When the Registration Period opens, each class is assigned a Registration Day, and every student is expected to register for the next semester on their assigned day. Don’t miss your Registration Day! Many course sections fill quickly and you don’t want to be left scrambling to get the courses you want.

At the end of each Fall and Spring Semester there is a designated four-day Final Exam Period. There is a special Final Exam Schedule that indicates the day and time of the final exam for each of your courses, as your final exams are scheduled separately from your regular class meeting times. A few days after the end of the Final Exam Period, faculty will record final course grades for the semester.

Students choose different paths to academic success and campus involvement—and even their definition of what success is may vary. Regardless of time, path chosen, and goals for success that are set, Westminster’s faculty and staff know that there are universal behaviors that will help every student move closer to success in all aspects of student life.

Show up

One of the obvious differences between high school and college is that you have more choice and autonomy at Westminster than you did in high school. With autonomy comes responsibility. Sure, it would be easy to silence an alarm clock, play video games, or spend the day in Pittsburgh rather than go to class. Most Westminster courses meet two or three times each week, so missing even one class can significantly hamper your success. Absences also can affect student-athletes’ ability to practice or compete with their teams.

Westminster’s faculty members notice when their students are absent because most of our courses have 25 or fewer students in them. We will get to know you well, and we expect you to show up for classes, labs, rehearsals, and appointments. We also expect that for every hour you spend with us in class, you will spend another two hours studying and preparing for the next class or assignment. College is a lot of work (it is your full-time job!) and being present is important.

Speak up

Merely being present is not enough. Your faculty expect you to be prepared for each class by reading materials and working on assignments ahead of time. In class, we expect you to be active, engaged learners who share your knowledge, experience, and insights. Sitting quietly at your desk and never contributing to class discussions deprives us of your perspective. Similarly, being present but holding side conversations, using electronic devices for purposes unrelated to the course, or catching up on missed sleep is discourteous to your faculty and fellow students. Every time you come to a class, lab, or studio, be prepared and ready to learn. If you have an opinion, share it. If you have an answer, give it. We want to hear from you.

Ask early

Faculty and administrators often find students wait too long to ask for help. The request comes just before a big exam, or after a number of poor grades. In some cases, students say they didn’t realize they were having problems until too late; in other cases, students suggest they didn’t know who to ask for help.

Westminster faculty members will evaluate your progress in courses through exams and quizzes, lab reports, rehearsals and performances, and so on. Many of them post your grades on our learning management system (D2L), so you will know your grades throughout the semester. Even if your professors do not use D2L, you can always ask them to let you know how you are performing in their courses. You do not need to guess at how you’re doing; your faculty will tell you exactly how you’re doing.

But don’t wait until an exam to visit your professors. Instead, visit each professor during the first week to introduce yourself, ask questions about things in the course that you don’t understand, and hear advice for succeeding in her/his course. Every faculty member sets aside time to meet with students (called “office hours”) each and every week of the semester. This is the ideal time for you to visit with your professors to learn how you are doing in their courses; to discuss strategies for improving; and to ask questions that were not addressed in class or textbooks.

In addition to the faculty teaching your courses, you have a dedicated faculty member who serves as your academic advisor. Advisors help you plan and register for your courses, but they can also help you find the resources you need to succeed. Those resources include the Academic Success Center, the Disabilities Resource Office, and the Professional Development Center. You should stay in touch with your advisor, especially if you are struggling in your courses.

Own up

When students have trouble in their courses, they sometimes think the professor does not like them, is disappointed in them, or that other factors are preventing their success. However, we often find that the reasons students struggle (or the solutions to their problems) are within their control. For example, they may be studying in ineffective ways, or not managing their time wisely. A part of succeeding academically is taking ownership of your education and making choices that help you meet your goals. If your grades suffer because you are staying up late to peruse social media rather than to study, then you can change your behavior to bring about a better outcome. Blaming others for not succeeding is easy, but it doesn’t lead to success.

Get involved

Westminster students are well-known for being incredibly active and engaged in the life of the campus—from student organizations to music ensembles to athletics to study abroad and more, students stay busy. Take advantage of the many lectures, performances, sports and cultural events offered on and off campus. Because engaged students are far more likely to manage time effectively, earn good grades, and persist at higher rates, we recommend you try out at least one organization or activity in your first semester. You must learn to balance out of class activity with academics—an important life skill. Your goal at Westminster is to earn your academic degree, and that is where your primary focus should be.

Take care of your health

It is important you plan for your physical and mental health care needs while attending college. No one plans to become ill, but if it happens, know that our Student Wellness Center is available for you. Being prepared and becoming familiar with the services available can help you manage illness much easier when it occurs.

Represent well

Westminster College was founded in 1852, and we are proud of our history. We are pleased that you have decided to join a community of scholars and alumni who care about your personal and intellectual development. You are a Titan, and we expect you to represent the College professionally and positively in all that you do. We want you to enjoy your time at Westminster, but also to appreciate that decisions you make today could have lasting consequences on your future careers—especially in the practically permanent life of the internet and social media.

The Academic Success Center, located in Thompson-Clark, is open for all Westminster students. If you need someone to help you with concepts in a particular course or need help writing a paper, our exceptional peer tutors are available to help you in every subject from biology to Spanish. Or maybe you would just like to talk to students who have “been there, done that” with a course or an assignment and who can share how they improved their time management and study skills. Whatever it is, the Academic Success Center is here to help you succeed.

For more information, please visit our Academic Success Center page.

The mission of the Office of Disability Services is to ensure that all students at Westminster participate in a useable, equitable, inclusive, and rigorous learning environment. Some students want to start college with a “clean slate” and to attempt college without accommodation or support. This may work for some students while others stumble. If you have received academic accommodation in the past and find yourself needing similar assistance, you should seek out the Office of Disability Resources. There someone can talk with you to help identify the appropriate campus resources and accommodations. Students with medical, academic or housing issues can find information at the Office of Disability Services.

For more information, please visit our Disability Services page.

The Office of Diversity & Inclusion serves a variety of functions at Westminster College. Its main purpose is to advance diversity and promote a positive climate for differences of race, gender, culture, sexual orientation, religion and age on campus and in the community. Among its priorities are the recruitment, retention, and success of students of diverse cultures, religion and racial backgrounds. The diversity director’s goal is to prepare students to become effective leaders and productive citizens in the culturally diverse 21st century. With student input, the staff offers activities and experiences that nurture respect for the dignity of all human beings, and a tolerance and appreciation for individual differences.

For more information, please visit our Diversity & Inclusion page.

The Office of Faith & Spirituality provides resources for members of the campus community to develop and grow in their own faith journey. This includes delivering weekly non-denominational worship services and a Catholic Mass on campus; providing a detailed listing of places to worship for most religious traditions in the area; organizing opportunities to participate in local and international volunteer opportunities; and maintaining the most up-to-date schedules of campus fellowship organizations and small groups for students to join.

For more information, please visit our Office of Faith & Spirituality page.

Even before you arrive on campus, ITS is here to help you with any tech questions or issues. Whether you are looking for laptop recommendations or you need help connecting to the wifi, we've got you covered. Email us at helpdesk@westminster.edu, stop by our physical Help Desk in McGill Library, or-if you are the DIY-type-you can check out our online guides on my.westminster.edu (look for the word Help in the top menu).

Ralph McGill Memorial Library is more than just books. The library is home to traditional and digital resources and the people who will help you navigate and understand them. The Library supports student learning in a multitude of ways, including individual research consultations and collaborative study spaces, such as our new tech friendly space – the Hub. All first-year students receive an introduction to Library resources as part of the Inquiry course, and discipline-specific instruction is incorporated into many other lower- and upper-level courses. More information about library services and resources can be found at www.westminster.edu/library.

You may have confidently selected a major or you may have no idea at all. Did you know an average college student changes majors three times during their college career and 80% change their major at least one time? The first year is often one of exploration and many students choose or change their majors. The Professional Development Center offers counseling and assessments to help match your interests and abilities to an academic major that is a good fit.

Additionally, you will meet the Professional Development Center staff in your Westminster 101 class where they will introduce you to important resume building strategies.

For more information, please visit our Professional Development Center page.

The Westminster College Department of Public Safety provides safety and security services to the campus community 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the year. The Public Safety Department is made up of two full-time and 16 part-time members, the majority of whom are retired from public emergency service agencies, primarily state and municipal police. Public Safety officers have a wide range of training and experience in resolving safety and security issues and emergencies. Help is always just a call away.

For more information, please visit our Public Safety Office page.

The Wellness Center is an integrated health care facility that provides general health services for illnesses and accidents, short term mental health counseling services, and wellness promotion for the students of Westminster. Clinical services are available for undergraduate students who pay the student activity fee.

Registered nurses provide assessment and consultation and a college physician or physician assistant holds daily clinic hours to treat acute illness and injuries. Westminster College strongly encourages all students to carry individual health insurance and to become familiar with their coverage. While most services at the Wellness Center are covered by the student activity fee, diagnostic testing and referral to outside community providers will require the use of individual health insurance.

Short term counseling services are free of charge; licensed and certified counselors address a wide range of mental health issues and provide referrals to services off campus. Appointments can be arranged by directly emailing the counselors or through the Wellness Center.

If you currently receive psychiatric services, we recommend that you locate a psychiatrist in the area PRIOR to matriculation for prescription needs, since waiting periods for a first appointment with local providers are no less than three months. For medications that do not require a psychiatrist prescription, a Wellness Center physician may be able to meet those needs. Please note that our campus physicians do not prescribe for ADD/ADHD. If you currently receive counseling services, and would like to meet with a campus counselor, please be sure to provide a release form from your provider.

For more information, please visit our Wellness Center page.

Our doors are always open to families who return to campus to visit! Parents and families are encouraged to remain connected to campus life by attending athletic events; music, theater, and Celebrity Series performances; Vespers services; Family Day activities; all-campus academic lectures; and special events planned by our Director of Parent Engagement.

Keep up with campus events using our Arts & Culture Calendar and the Titan Athletics page.

Parents may have questions. We strongly encourage you to transfer responsibility to your student to ask those questions. They know the offices and the people who can provide answers. However, we also know what it is like to be the parent waiting and waiting for our child to get this done! In those moments, please contact Student Affairs at (724) 946-7110 during business hours. During breaks or when the college is closed, please contact Public Safety at (724) 946-7777.

    Parent Association Facebook Group

    Westminster College Photo Gallery

    Campus News

    Upcoming Alumni Association Events (open to parents and families, too!)

For a complete description of the different divisions that make up the College and a contact list, please visit our Parent Resources page.