Q: When do new first time freshmen have to be on campus?
All new first-time freshmen must be on campus on Friday, August 24, 2007 by 1:30 p.m. for the beginning of New Student Orientation.

Q: When do new transfer students have to be on campus?
All transfer students who have been notified by the Registrar that they are required to participate in the two-week, pre-fall Writing Seminar must also be on campus by August 24th by 1:30 p.m. for orientation activities. All other transfer students may arrive on Sunday, September 2nd by 4:00 pm.

Q: When do new international students have to be on campus?
International students will follow a special orientation schedule after they arrive on campus on Sunday, August 20. International students will also participate in the two-week Writing Seminar, prior to the beginning of fall quarter classes.

Q: When does New Parent Orientation begin?
New Parent Orientation (NPO) begins on Friday, August 24th and ends on Sunday evening after Hymn Sing. (Parents are welcome to stay on campus until Monday at 10 a.m.) Parents are encouraged to accompany their new student to campus on the 24th, arriving as early as 8:00 a.m. or as late as 1:30 p.m. to help their student settle into their new rooms, unpack their belongings, and make any necessary off-campus trips during the morning and early afternoon to Wal-Mart or Target to purchase last-minute necessities. The first official NPO activity for parents and all new students begins at 4:30 p.m. with the welcoming talks in the Chapel.

Q: Can we arrive before the 24th for NPO?
If you choose to arrive before the 24th, we ask that you make arrangements to stay overnight on the 23rd at a nearby bed and breakfast or hotel. Dorm rooms will not be available until 8 a.m. on the 24th.

Q: What if my student arrived in mid-August at Principia to participate in one of the athletic camps? Will they participate in NPO with the parents?
Yes, beginning at 3:30 on Friday afternoon, August 24th. Up until that time, they are expected to be at practice with their team, as athletes are on a different orientation schedule up until that time on Friday. Contact Lora McMullin in the Athletic Department for more information on this topic. (1-800-277-4648, ext. 2855.)

Q: When do athletes have to be on campus to participate in a sports camp for a Fall quarter sport?
Sports camps begin mid-August. Contact the coach of your sport by phone or email to learn the exact arrival date for your sports camp.

Q: What if a new student cannot be on campus by the designated time?
The importance of New Student Orientation and the Writing Seminar cannot be overstated. If a student is unable to be on campus by August 24th to begin participation in both activities, the student may not enroll for Fall Quarter, 2007. The Admissions Office will be happy to help the student enroll for Winter Quarter, 2008.

Q: What happens if I am accepted for Fall Quarter, but choose not to enroll at that time? Then, late in the summer, it works out for me to enroll for Fall Quarter after all. Is this possible?
Yes, only if the student can be on campus as a participant in New Student Orientation activities beginning on August 24th. This also assumes that space in the dorm is still available at this late date.

Q: What if it works out for me to enroll after August 24th?
A new student MUST be on campus by August 24th. No new students will be allowed to join orientation activities or the required Writing Seminar after August 24th. If you have an exceptional reason to be late (the passing of a parent or the marriage of a sibling, for example), you may contact the Registrar, Mrs. Patty Langton, who will ask that you petition the Scholastic Committee in writing/email for an exception. Once she hears from you, she will then convene the Scholastic Committee to review your situation. Mrs. Langton can be reached at 1-800-277-4648, extension 2816 or at patty.langton@principia.edu.

Q: What is Principia's First Year Experience (FYE) program?
A: FYE was started in 1998 to address academic and educational needs of freshmen. This required program enables students to choose from a variety of program and curriculum offerings that vary in disciplines, instructional methods, and quarters offered. FYE programs comprise general education courses that are linked together thematically. Students take 2 or 3 courses (15 or 16 quarter hours) in the first year in one of the FYE programs. Each program has a different theme, and the courses within each are drawn from different academic departments.
Visit the FYE site for more information on the different programs

Q: What courses do freshmen take?
A: All freshmen are enrolled in our First-Year Experience (FYE) program. These freshmen programs are comprised of general education courses which are linked together thematically. Freshmen will take between 15 and 22 quarter hours of their courses in one of our FYE course offerings. Each program has a different theme, and the courses are drawn from different academic departments. First-year students are expected to enroll in one of the programs. Students will choose from a variety of program/curricular offerings. These programs vary in disciplines, pedagogy, and quarters offered. All have ten common goals which address the academic and educational needs of freshmen.

Q: Are there any special or unusual programs that prospective students ought to know about?
A: FYE includes an Honors Program for freshmen only. It is a 15 quarter hour, 3-course group of courses. About twelve percent of the first-year class participates in this Honors Program. A number of the other FYE programs provide exceptional educational opportunities for honors students as well.

Q: Do International students need to participate in the FYE program?
A: International students who are enrolled in Principia's degree program must participate in FYE. Those in the enrichment program without University-level coursework are encouraged to participate in the FYE program (should they decide to switch to the degree program). All other students participating in the enrichment program are not required to participate in FYE. Any exception to the general rule will be determined by the Registar's Office.

Q: What is the Writing Seminar and when does it begin?
A: All first-time freshman and some transfer students (upon the recommendation of the director of Principia's Writing Center) are required to enroll in a pre-fall, non-credit Writing Seminar two weeks before the quarter begins. For Fall 2007, this date is Friday, August 24, the beginning of New Student Orientation.

Q: Are all new students involved in a Writing Seminar?
A: Yes. All first-time freshmen and some transfer students will enroll in a pre-fall, non-credit Writing Seminar. Our goal is to open a door to academic writing by giving students a realistic sense of what it takes to read analytically, to think critically, and to produce effective writing at the college level. As a consequence, we expect that students will begin the year with added enthusiasm for writing as an essential tool in the learning process and with added confidence in their ability to write. At Principia we are committed to helping all students grow as writers. This seminar is the first step in that process. It helps our freshmen successfully enter a community in which we vigorously and creatively explore ideas, using writing as a vehicle to discover what we think, to extend what we know, and to develop clear pieces of prose for varying audiences and purposes.

Q: Are there ways in which the academic mission of your school is evolving?
A: We feel it is extremely important that our students get the most solid grounding possible in the skills — writing, oral communication, geographical and numeracy literacy — that will be essential to them in the marketplace and in virtually every other serious pursuit in life. We are placing increasing emphasis on these basic elements of a liberal arts education, even as we stress the value of creativity and interdisciplinary thinking. The ultimate goal is to help our students become clear, analytical thinkers, problem solvers, and strong communicators.

The following four strategies are also evolving: 1) wider areas of selection for general education with more student empowerment and responsibility; 2) more collaborative learning and teaching projects using interdisciplinary and integrated methods; 3) more overt assessment of our programs; and 4) more careful planning for freshmen and senior years. Principia's academic "mission" in its highest sense is one with the purpose of the College that is established firmly "to serve the Cause of Christian Science."

Q: What are the advantages of attending a small college?
A: Class size is approximately 10-15 students per class with a 9:1 student/faculty ratio. You will have one-on-one contact with your professor as needed. You will be taught by your professors, not teaching assistants. There are many leadership positions available for all students, and many students choose to participate in internship and abroad programs. In a number of fields in the sciences, students have hands-on experiences with state-of-the-art equipment that they might not otherwise encounter until graduate school.

Q: What is the computer use availability for students?
A: There are over 200 computers in labs on campus, including three or more in each dorm. All of the computers are connected to Principia's network, and laser printers are provided in each public location. Labs are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and both PCs and Macs are available with current versions of Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, Powerpoint). A Help Desk is staffed from 8 AM to 5 PM to answer any questions that may arise.