Your First Days as a Lion
You have your schedule in hand, your room reserved, and your bags packed (or almost packed). Move-in day is finally here, and your first college course is only a couple of days away. With all of the excitement about starting your college journey, your mind must be racing with to-dos. This page will help you with some of the last minute questions students have as they get started at Lindenwood.
Last Minute Items
You have likely received several emails and calls from Lindenwood preparing you to start your semester. Still, it can be easy to forget some of those important last-minute items. What follows are important details to remember as you begin your first semester at Lindenwood.
Your Student ID
Your student ID will be an asset for navigating your life as a Lindenwood Lion. Students can obtain a physical student ID from the IT Help Desk in the Library and Academic Resource Center or generate their digital ID using these online instructions.
Welcome Home Activities
As you move to campus, you will notice New Student Orientation transition into Welcome Home and Engage in 8 activities. First Year Programs and the Office of Student Involvement offer programming to help students find their place on campus, connect with their peers, and become the person they aim to be.
Students can find the most up-to-date information on Mane Connection.
Residential Life Programming
In addition to programming offered by Student Involvement, the Office of Residential Life offers programming to residential students and their peers. These events are a great way for students to connect with their roommate and neighbors. Students should expect to receive information from their Residential Community Coordinator or Residential Life about upcoming programming.
International Student Support
In addition to completing standard incoming student materials, international students must adhere to additional federal and international rules and regulations. Lindenwood's Advocacy Support and Services for International Students Office supports international students through every process and regulation. It is vital that international student check in with ASSIST every semester to ensure compliance with the federal government.
Book Vouchers
Students with excess financial aid may be able to apply for a book voucher. Book vouchers allow students to use their financial aid at the university bookstore to cover costs of textbooks and some materials. More information about book vouchers can be found on the Bursar's Office page.
GradGuard Tuition Insurance
If a student has not already done so, this is a great time to consider GradGuard tuition insurance. GradGuard allows students to take out an insurance policy to protect their financial investment in case a life emergency prevents them from completing the semester. Students can visit GradGuard's website for more information or to obtain a quote.
Schedule Changes
Registering, unregistering, and withdrawing from classes is a complicated topic that could include a variety of implications. Students should contact their advisor to discuss adding or removing classes. For instructions on how to use the course addition and removal screen in Portal, students can consult the Student Portal Training Guides in the Training Resources section of MyLindenwood.
Major or Minor Change
As with adding and removing classes, a major change can be a complicated topic. Students should confer with their advisor to discuss what major they wish to change to. Students can also discuss a possible advisor change if their current advisor cannot support their new major. If a student needs to change advisors, they should reach out to advising@lindenwood.edu.
Getting Started FAQ (Housing)
With move-in quickly approaching, here are a couple of common last minute questions students sometimes have about living on campus.
What should I bring to my residence hall?
Information about what to bring and not bring can be found in the Policies and Questions section of the Residential Life page.
How do I change rooms/roommates?
Students can request to change rooms after the first few weeks of classes. Students seeking a change should contact their Community Coordinator or ResLife@lindenwood.edu.
While general room changes cannot occur until after the first few weeks of the semester, the Office of Residence Life will consider emergency room or roommate changes on a case-by-case basis. Students should contact the office if they have an immediate or pressing need for a room change.
Where can I use my mealplan?
Students can visit Sodexo's Lindenwood website to learn where on campus they can use their meal plan and even find information about how to check hours of operation and daily menus for each services.
When do I move in?
New student move-in occurs the week before classes start. Students will receive information from Residential Life closer to the start of term regarding their specific move-in dates and times. If a student has questions about move-in, they should contact ResLife@lindenwood.edu.
How can I learn more about my residence hall?
The Office of Residential Life maintains a webpage for each campus residence hall. After reviewing their hall's page, if a student has any remaining questions, they can direct them to ResLife@lindenwood.edu.
Getting Started FAQ (General)
We hope you are excited to begin your new life as a lion! What follows are a few common questions students have as they start their Lindenwood journey.
How do I get to campus?
Lindenwood maintains directions to the university from I-70 and I-64 on the university website. Once you make it to campus, you can use the interactive campus map to find your way. If you need help finding your way around campus, you should always feel free to stop and ask a faculty or staff member for directions.
How do I apply for academic accommodations?
Students can submit an Accessibility Application to begin the process for accommodations consideration. The process will involve an online application, submission of medical documentation, and interaction with the accommodations team.
What is Lindenwood's policy on emotional support animals (ESAs) or service animals?
The institution's policy on emotional support animals and service animals can be found in our Policy Library. If a student has additional questions after reviewing the policy, they should contact the Student Academic Support Services office.
What is New Student Orientation?
New Student Orientation (NSO) is your first chance to get to know Lindenwood as an official student. It will include vital information about academic, housing, residential life, getting involved, and more. The NSO page on the university website contains more information.
How do I order my books?
Lindenwood's bookstore offers a helpful online tool students can use to identify their course materials. Students can input their schedule to be directed to and place an order for their required materials.
What is a book voucher and can I receive one?
Book vouchers allow students who have financial aid beyond their cost of attendance to use their excess financial aid at the university bookstore to pay for books and some materials. More information, including a step-by-step guide, can be found online.
What is financial aid verification?
To ensure institutions are in compliance with federal financial aid policy, a random assortment of students are selected each semester by the US Department of Education for further review of their financial aid information. This process is called verification.
If you are selected for verification, you will receive communication about steps required to complete verification. The university also offers helpful tools on our website.
Do I need my own laptop? What minimum standards should it meet?
In general, a personal laptop or computer is not a requirement, but many students benefit from the flexibility a personal machine provides. Lindenwood makes several computer labs available to students to support their learning.
If a student takes an online course, they are expected to have access to a personal computer or laptop. The university website lists minimum technology specifications to adhere to our online learning policies.
Individual classes or majors may require additional technology beyond university-wide minimum standards. Students should speak with their instructor or advisor for more information.
