New Student Checklist

We are excited that you are joining the Golden Bear family! Important instructions and next steps can be found below.

• Activate your Kutztown email and check it weekly

  You will receive instuctions in your personal email on how to access your Kutztown email account after the deposit is paid. The student email format is userID@live.kutztown.edu. All communications from campus offices will be sent to your Kutztown student email, so be sure to check it regularly! We recommend downloading Microsoft Outlook to your mobile phone for convenience.

  Having trouble logging in? Email helpdesk@kutztown.edu explaining the issue.

• File your FAFSA

  Be sure to file your FAFSA at https://studentaid.gov if you have not done so already. The PHEAA State Grant Fund deadline is May 1 for Pennsylvania residents. Reach out to the Financial Aid Services Office with questions.

  Financial aid offers are usually sent in mid-to-late Feburary to admitted students who have filed the FAFSA. Here is a short video with instructions on how to view your financial aid offer. 

• Register for New Student Orientation

  Be sure to register for a New Student Orientation date. Orientation is required and all students must attend one session.

  Click to register for freshman orientation or transfer orientation to start the process!

• Finalize housing plans

  This process differs based on anticipated starting semester and whether you are a first-year student or transfer student. Refer to the housing website to view your process and important dates. 

  First-year students who live within 30 miles of campus, some transfer students, and non-traditional students may be approved to commute to Kutztown by filling out the residency exception form.

• Select a meal plan

  Kutztown offers several meal plan options. Learn more about the process of how to select a meal plan.

  Students living in traditional residence halls must have MyTime Dining Diamond Meal Plan, MyTime Dining Platinum Meal Plan, or MyTime Dining Gold Meal Plan.

  Commuters, part-time students, and students living in apartments and townhouses are not required to have a meal plan, but can opt into having one for convenience. 

• Take the ALEKS Math Placement test

  The ALEKS Math Placement test is used to determine the appropriate level of math required for your degree. This assessment must be completed before you come to campus for your New Student Orientation session. 

  Students whose transfer credits have been evaluated and transferred to Kutztown as MAT 017 Introduction to Mathematics, or higher, are not required to take the ALEKS Math Placement Assessment. One exception is majors requiring a higher level than introductory math. If you have questions about the mathematics requirement for your program of study, please contact the academic department of your major.

  If you are dissatisfied with your score, you may work in the ALEKS Prep and Learning Module and then retake the assessment (contact the Math Department for details). 

  It takes 72 hours to process your score. For any technical issues with the assessment, contact the Math Department.
  Lytle Hall 227
  (610) 683-4410
  math@kutztown.edu

• Complete the First Year Seminar registration survey (first-year students only)

  All new first-year students must complete the First Year Seminar registration survey. This will be used to build your class schedule. Questions? Contact the Registrar's Office at regoffice@kutztown.edu.

• Submit ID photo

  Submit a photo for your Kutztown ID Card. You will receive an email to your Kutztown email account with instructions on how to submit your photo and link to do so. If you cannot find the email as your orientation date approaches, reach out to kucard@kutztown.edu to receive a new one. Learn more about photo ID submissions. ID cards will be distributed on your orientation day.

• Submit final transcripts/AP scores/dual enrollment transcripts

  Submit final official transcript(s) in order to complete enrollment and secure financial aid.

  • If you have taken dual enrollment courses or other college courses while in high school, contact the institution where you took the classes and have them send the official transcript(s) to admissions@kutztown.edu.
  • If you have taken Advanced Placement test(s), send official score reports to regoffice@kutztown.edu.
  • Transfer students who have earned an associate degree do not need to provide a final high school transcript. If you are not earning an associate degree, you will need to provide a final high school transcript with your graduation date listed.
• Choose a payment plan and review your bill

  Select a payment plan and learn about billing. Bills are available in mid-July for students beginning in the Fall semester.

• Submit health forms

  Health forms will be available for completion in the student health portal. 

  Students with a Fall semester start date:

  Forms are available beginning June 1. Please complete all forms assigned to your portal by July 15.

  Students with a Spring semester start date:

  Forms become available when you receive your MyKU log-in information and are due by January 2.

  You can access your student health portal here: https://www.kutztown.studenthealthportal.com, then click on "Pending Forms." If you have questions, contact us at 610-683-4082, option 2.

• Buy books and other course materials

  Find course materials on your Virtual Shelf. 

  Inclusive Access (IA) is a collaboration between your professor, KU Campus Store, and the publisher of your materials. This was created to provide you with the least expensive way to purchase your materials, combined with the convenience of charging the materials to your tuition. 

• Learn about MyKU/D2L/Starfish

  MyKU, D2L, and Starfish are online tools that you will use while at Kutztown. A brief explanation, information and tutorial videos can be found below:

  • MyKU is Kutztown's student online web application that is used for class registration, checking grades, and much more.
  • D2L is Kutztown's learning management system for classwork. Many professors use D2L for specific classes, which allows students to do things like check the syllabus, see grades, submit assignments, and more.
  • Starfish is a platform that helps you easily connect with your professors and student success resources. 
• Connect with your Student Success Navigator

  Student Success Navigators are full-time staff members committed to guiding students through their academic journey. As long as you've paid your deposit, you will be assigned a Navigator. You can begin connecting with them starting one week before Orientation. You can find your assigned Navigator in MyKU and Starfish.

  The primary role of the Student Success Navigator is to provide personalized guidance, helping your transition to university life and connect with essential resources to enhance your academic experience. Academic advisors, who are faculty members within a student's major, are assigned at the start of the semester. Until then, reach out to your Navigator for assistance. Navigators work closely with academic advisors to ensure you receive the support you need to succeed.

  Questions?

  Email: success@kutztown.edu Call: 610-683-4007

  Learn more about your Navigator

• Request accommodations from Disability Services Office

  The Disability Services Office (DSO) manages requests for academic, housing and dining accommodations. To begin the accommodation request process, you must submit the Accommodation Request Form and provide supporting documentation.

  The Accommodation Request Form, documentation guidelines, and additional details are available at www.kutztown.edu/DSO. For questions, email DSO@kutztown.edu or call 610-683-4108. 

• Submit dietary restrictions

  Dietary accommodation requests, including placement in dorm rooms with kitchens and exemptions from the on-campus meal plan, begin with the Disability Services Office (DSO).

  To be reviewed for dietary accomodations, you must complete and submit the Accommodation Request Form and the Informed Consent to Release Confidential Information Form, allowing the DSO to share relevant documentation with the Dining Services Office. Supporting documentation must also be submitted to the DSO.

  Once all materials are reviewed, Dining Services will contact the student to schedule a meeting to discuss and determine the request. The final decision will be shared with the student and the DSO. Forms, documentation guidelines, and additional details about the process are available at www.kutztown.edu/DSO. For questions, email DSO@kutztown.edu or call 610-683-4108. 

• Take the Modern Language Placement test

  The modern language placement test serves as a diagnostic tool to help Modern Language Studies faculty recommend the most appropriate level courses.

  • All students must complete this assessment before enrolling in their first language course, since placement at the appropriate level is essential for success.
  • The assessment can be accessed online and takes only about 20 minutes to complete.
  • Students who place into level 102 or higher, then subsequently complete the appropriate course at KU with a grade of C or better, will receive additional credits for courses in the same language at the lower levels, up to a maximum of 9 additional credits.
  • Students who do not take the placement assessment before taking their first KU language course are not eligible for additional credits.
  • Students are only eligible for additional credits if they earn a C or better on their first attempt at their first language course. Additional credits may not be earned for repeated courses or subsequent courses at a different level.
  • Credits will not appear on the student’s transcript until the semester following successful completion of the course.

  Contact the Department of Modern Language Studies at moswald@kutztown.edu or 610-683-4427 with questions.

• Add a second mobile number for campus emergency alerts

  Your primary mobile phone number and Kutztown email are automatically registered to receive campus emergency alerts. If you opted out of receiving text messages from Kutztown, you will need to register to receive alerts. 

  If you would like to add a secondary mobile phone and/or email address, you can do so by logging into the system. You must create an account if it is the first time you have logged in. 

• Obtain a parking pass

  All students who wish to park on campus must register their vehicle(s) and properly display an authorized parking permit.

  Vehicle registration must be completed online via MyKU web portal. 

• Complete a FERPA form

  The purpose of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is to define the rights of students and parents in regard to student educational records, and to regulate the use of these records by university personnel. 

  Follow this link to complete the form: Authorization for Access to Student Records

  • FERPA prohibits the disclosing of student records to anyone other than the student to whom the records pertain, unless the student has given consent.
  • FERPA protects transcripts, exams, grades, "academic" records, but also all other records in any format that contain personally identifiable information about a student.
  • Other records protected by FERPA include disciplinary records, "unofficial" records, photographs, and emails.
  • "Personally identifiable information" includes names, addresses, ID numbers as well as demographic information such as gender, age, major, class year, and residence.
• Connect with the Center for Student Success and Academic Excellence

  The Center for Student Success and Academic Excellence offers a wide variety of support services for you to take advantage of during your time at Kutztown. From success workshops, to tutoring services, to having your own success navigator, the Center for Student Success and Academic Excellence will help you along the way to having a successful academic career. 

• What does that mean? Kutztown Glossary

  Kutztown comes with its own lingo.  Here's a listing of many of the terms you may hear at KU and what they mean.