Orientation 2024
Feel at home at The Woods.
Important Dates
Aug. 16: New Student Move-In
Aug. 18: Transfer Students and Returning Students Move-In
Aug. 16-19: New Student Orientation
Aug. 17: Transfer Student Orientation
International Students
International Students should contact Campus Life (CampusLife@messianicfamilyfellowship.com or 812-535-5219) to coordinate their arrival on campus.
Orientation Schedule
All Students
Aug. 19: First Monday
Aug. 20: First Day of Class
Roommate Information
As exciting as it can be to move into a residence hall, it can also seem nerve-wracking to live with someone new for the first time. That being said, having a roommate can be a wonderful chance to learn about others. Here are some tips for creating a great roommate relationship!
- Be honest and be yourself! Like any new relationship, you’ll want to start off on the right foot and be true to who you are. This way your roommate can get to know the real you. If you are open about your own personality, wants, and needs, it’s likely that your roommate will open up as well.
- Have an open mind. Not everyone is coming from the same background that you are, in fact, most people that you meet while in college will have come from walks of life that are vastly different from your own. Try to be understanding and considerate of others’ identities and experiences.
- Set clear expectations from the beginning. You and your roommate will never know exactly what each other is thinking, so you need to be clear about what your expectations are for the shared space. Consider this: who is going to be responsible for taking out the garbage? How late can you leave the lights on at night? Can you borrow each other’s belongings? These are important questions, so we recommend discussing these with your roommate soon after you move in. Roommate contracts can be super helpful!
- You don’t have to be best friends with your roommate, or even friends at all. We could never expect you to force a friendship with someone when it’s not meant to be. However, we do expect that you can build a respectful relationship and share the space that you both pay for. Some roommates do become good friends, others just chat every now and again. Either type of relationship is fine, so long as you are able to communicate with and respect each other.
- When in doubt, talk it out. Just like how you and your roommate are likely to have different lifestyles, you’re also likely to have different ways of addressing conflict. No matter what your relationship is with your roommate, conflict is bound to arise at some point. The best way to make sure you get through it is to talk about it.
- Remember, there’s always someone here to help! Make sure you get to know your Resident Assistant, as they can help when conflict becomes too tough to handle. RAs are specially trained in mediation and conflict management and are always happy to help you work it out.
Please note: we do not make changes prior to move-in weekend based on a student’s social media presence.
Mail and Packages
There is daily U.S. Postal mail service delivery. Our mail service operates similarly to pharmacy pick-up. Student mail is delivered to the front desk of Le Fer Hall and is available for pick-up during normal front desk hours. Students will receive an email notifying them when they have a package that has been delivered.
Packages will be held at the Le Fer front desk during regular business hours. Please note: Guaranteed express or other timed early delivery packages are independent of SMWC.
Your mailing address should be formatted as follows:
[Student Name]
Le Fer Hall
1 St Mary of Woods Coll
Saint Mary of the Woods, IN 47876
Safety
Residence hall floors are locked 24/7 and are accessible only to residents of the building with an SMWC Student ID card.
- Guests signed-in and escorted on the residential floors.
- Public Safety is available to assist students and can be reached at 812-535-6400.
Other safety tips:
- Everyone is encouraged to sign up for text alerts.
- Don’t hold the door open for strangers entering the building, they must use their SMWC Student ID. We know it seems rude, but it’s okay!
- If you see anything suspicious, report it to Public Safety.
- Never lend out your room key or SMWC Student ID.
Lost Keys & Lost Student IDs
There is a $25 fee for lost keys and a $15 fee for SMWC Student IDs. Keys take up to 2 business days to be cut after payment is made – so please make sure you always know where your key is!
If you have lost your room key, please contact Campus Life immediately.
If you have lost your SMWC Student ID, please go directly to Public Safety on the garden level of Le Fer Hall.
Always keep your door locked!
Other Services
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College also offers some other amenities around campus.
- Club ’64 is located in the Knoerle Center and is a total fitness center with up-to-date equipment such as an elliptical machine, treadmills, stationary bicycles, a full nautilus circuit and free weight area.
- Studio ’64 is located on the garden level of Le Fer Hall. It is a multi-purpose space for student events, programs, and organization meetings. Additionally, yoga is offered on Mondays and Wednesdays at 4 p.m. and a self-defense/karate class is offered on Tuesdays at 6 p.m.
- The Oakley Student Center (OSC) is located on the garden level of Le Fer Hall. There is a pool table, ping pong, and a wealth of games and puzzles for students to use.
- The E-Sports Lounge is coming soon to the garden level of Le Fer Hall and is open to all SMWC students.
- Sacred Heart Chapel is located on the first floor of Le Fer Hall and is open to all SMWC students every day. Throughout the year Campus Ministry hosts services in the chapel and it is the location for the International Ring Ceremony.
Food
SMWC is focused on providing the campus community with quality services and products in a fiscally responsible fashion. Dining Services offers a variety of food choices including healthy, vegan, and vegetarian options. If you live on campus, the meal plan is included in your room and board fees. There is only one meal plan.
The meal plan includes: breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday through Friday; brunch and dinner on Saturday and Sunday.
SMWC Student ID: Your SMWC Student ID is your meal card, prox card for accessing Le Fer Hall and access to printing and copying services on campus. Be sure to carry it with you at all times. If your ID is not working, please contact Student Affairs at 812-535-5281 or stop by the Student Affairs Department on the first floor of Le Fer Hall. If you lose your ID, please contact Public Safety.
Parking
Please register your vehicle online by August 18, 2023. Please take the time to ensure that your vehicle registration information is accurate and complete. You will annually pick up your parking hangtag during First Monday check-in. The hangtag must be properly displayed on your vehicle.
Be advised that Public Safety will begin ticketing unregistered vehicles on Monday, August 21, 2023.
Should you have any questions regarding this process, please feel free to contact the Public Safety Department at 812-535-6400 or visit their offices on the garden level of Le Fer.
Laundry
Laundry rooms are provided on each residential floor in Le Fer and Les Bois. These rooms are open and available 24 hours a day. Laundry facilities are included in the room rate and require no currency to operate with the exception of the machines in the garden level of Le Fer Hall. These facilities are to be used by resident students only.
IT Helpdesk
Information Technology provides technology support for students, faculty, staff and guests. Contact the help desk here.