New-Student Guide

As you prepare for your transition to college life at Eckerd, check out the timeline below to make sure that you are on track throughout the summer.

Be sure to add these important dates to your calendar, phone, right hand, or whatever you use to stay on schedule so that you don’t miss a deadline or due date.

June 1 – Housing Application and Housing Agreement Due

June 14 – Autumn Term Class Online Registration Opens

June 23 – Autumn Term Class Registration Closes

Late June/Early July – Student Billing Mailed

Late June/Early July – Housing assignments emailed to your Eckerd email account

June 30 – Immunization Form Due

August 1 – Emergency & Missing Contact Info. Form Due

August 1 – Family & Legacy Form Due

August 6 – Payment for 1st Semester Due

August 11 – Autumn Term check-in. You will receive a specific check-in date and time with your housing assignment.

August 11 – Health Insurance Waiver Form Due

August 12 – Autumn Term Begins.

August 23 – First-year registration for fall semester begins.

August 31 – Autumn Term ends.

August 31 – Check-in and orientation for new transfer students who did not participate in Autumn Term.

September 4 – Fall semester begins.

October 16-17 – Fall Recess

November 11 – Winter/Spring 2024 registration begins at 10 p.m.

November 22-24 – Thanksgiving holiday. No classes.

December 8 – Last day of classes.

December 15 – Residential students must vacate the residence hall by noon.

This is a TENTATIVE schedule highlighting the first few days of Autumn Term. A more complete Autumn Term schedule will be shared later this summer.

Wednesday, July 5

Required co-curricular pre-arrival online courses will be emailed to your eckerd.edu account. You will receive periodic reminders to complete them in their entirety in order to check-in on Friday, August 11, 2023.

Wednesday, August 2

7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Transitioning to College: What to Expect (Virtual)
Are you prepared to be a college student? Join our academic coaches and current students who have mastered the art of transitions from high school to college. Hear their advice on how to start out on the right foot!
Personalized links will be provided before the session.

Friday, August 11, 2023

8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Check in and Move in for New Students | Cobb Loop
Group 1: 8:00am – 9:30am (students with last names beginning A-H)
Group 2: 9:30am – 11:00am (students with last names beginning I – P)
Group 3: 11:00am – 12:30pm (students with last names beginning Q – Z)

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Trash 2 Treasure Sponsored by the Office of Sustainability | Cobb Gallery
Buy lightly used dorm essentials: mini-fridges, microwaves, bed risers, brooms, lamps, rugs, printers, and more. There also will be used bicycles for sale.

8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Bookstore Open
Be sure to buy books for tomorrow’s class.

11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Computer Help | Main Cafe
Technicians from the Information Technology Services (ITS) Department will be available to help you with network connectivity and to offer advice and to assist you with protecting your computer from viruses and spyware.
Call (727) 864-8318 for more information.

11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch on your own
Main Café, CEC Cafe, Triton’s Pub and Starbucks are open. Students on a meal plan will be able to access their meal plan. Cash and credit are also accepted.

2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Meeting for all International Students and their Parents | Siebert 100
The staff in the Office of Global Education, will review visa regulations for internships, social security number issuance, and driver’s license applications. They will answer questions related to topics specific to international students including health insurance and travel requirements. 

4:10 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Mentor Meetings for all students and their families | See Packet for Room Location

5:00 p.m. Seating McArthur Gymnasium | McArthur Gymnasium
Students will receive their class medallion and be seated for the Ceremony of Lights.
For those who would prefer to watch a livestream of the event, please visit eckerd.edu/lights.

5:30 p.m. Ceremony of Lights | McArthur Gymnasium
This ceremony symbolizes the Class of 2026 becoming part of the Eckerd College community of scholars.
For those who would prefer to watch a livestream of the event, please visit eckerd.edu/lights.

6:30 p.m. Welcome Picnic | Fox Hall and Hough Quad
Eckerd’s dining services provider, Bon Appétit, will be setting up a lovely summer picnic and giving students, their families, faculty, and staff an opportunity to eat, mingle, and talk about the Eckerd experience.

9:00 p.m. House Meetings for Students | Your Residence Hall
Meet your Resident Advisor and start discussing how to live together comfortably and considerately in college housing.

Important messages are sent regularly to your Eckerd email account. Check your email daily so that you don’t miss out on important events.

Saturday, August 12

7:15  – 8:45 a.m. Breakfast for Students | Main Cafe

8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Bookstore Open

8:15 – 9:30 a.m. Welcome Breakfast for Families Hosted by the President | Fox Hall
During this continental breakfast, parents will have an opportunity to meet President Dr. James J. Annarelli, the College’s Executive Staff, and Student Life Department Heads.
Students should not attend this breakfast in Fox Hall. Breakfast for students is available in the Main Cafe and CEC Cafeteria.

9:00 a.m – 12:00 p.m. Class and Academic Success with Peer Mentors | See Packet for Class Location
Only students should attend this class.
This meeting of your Autumn Term course is absolutely, totally, and completely MANDATORY, like all Autumn Term classes!  After all, who would want to miss their very first college course? Peer mentors will also lead a presentation that prepares incoming students for academic success. This session will focus on basic academic skills including proper email etiquette, using Moodle, and how to act as a college student.

10:00 – 11:45 a.m. Parents’ Session: Long Distance Parenting and Successful Power Shifting | Fox Hall
Barbara Rhode, LMFT, and Annette Reiter, LMFT, will present an interactive program focused on the inevitable shift in power that takes place when a son or daughter prepares to leave home…and then does.

9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. The following campus offices are open and available to answer questions:
The Dean of Students Office – Brown Hall
Housing & Residence Life – Brown Hall
Campus Activities – Brown Hall
Campus Safety – Brown Hall
Center for Academic Excellence – Brown Hall
Student Outreach & Support – Brown Hall
Accessible Education Services – Brown Hall
Counseling Services – Edmundson Hall
Mail Services – Edmundson Hall
Inclusive Excellence – Lindsey Hall
Financial Aid – Franklin Templeton
Bursar – Franklin Templeton
Career Services – Lindsey Hall
Global Education – Seibert
Waterfront – Waterfront Complex
Library – Armacost Library

12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Wifi Resnet Help | Armacost Library

1:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Waterfront Open House | Waterfront
Check out all of the exciting things the Waterfront has to offer! Go on a boat ride, check out a kayak or paddleboard, or just hang out and enjoy Eckerd’s awesome location on Boca Ciega Bay. This is a great time to take the Swim Test that is required for all Waterfront events and some academic classes.  Take yours today!

7:15 p.m. Tonight’s South Beach Sunset Sponsor: Eckerd College Organization of Students (ECOS) | South Beach Pavilion
Throughout Autumn Term, a variety of student clubs, campus departments, and college resources will be sponsoring South Beach Sunsets over Boca Ciega Bay.  Feel free to stop by and meet staff, pick up important information, and receive giveaways as the day comes to a close on South Beach.

9:00 p.m. Casino Night | Fox Hall
Dress up for an evening of prizes, food, and fun! There will be casino-style games of chance such as blackjack, poker and craps, and your winnings could lead to amazing raffle prizes that will make you feel more at home here at Eckerd. Light refreshments and snacks provided. Don’t forget your poker face.

Sunday, August 13

8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Breakfast & Brunch for Students | Main Cafe

9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Study Time
Remember – You should devote at least 4 hours per day to preparing for your Autumn Term class.

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Meet and Greet with Athletics: Student-Athlete Expectations & Resources | James Center
New student-athletes and their families are invited to join the Athletics department for a meet and greet hosted by Director of Athletics Tom Ryan and his staff. The meeting will go over expectations of Eckerd student-athletes and the resources available to them. Light refreshments will be provided.

11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Presidential Welcome for New Students | Pass-a-Grille Beach Pavilion
Join President Annarelli for a day of fun on nearby Pass-a-Grille Beach; lunch will be served.

4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Catholic Campus Ministries Mass | Wireman Chapel

4:45 – 5:45 p.m. EC Hillel Pizza Dinner | Fox Hall Patio
Join EC Hillel for a pizza dinner.  Meet other Jewish students and learn about the opportunities that Hillel provides at Eckerd College—from free trips to Israel on Birthright to Scubi Jew (the only Hillel Scuba Club in the country).

5:30 – 6:00 p.m. Religious Life Ice Cream Social | Academic Quad
Enjoy ice cream, meet new students, and learn about Buddhist Meditation, Catholic Campus Ministry, Christian Campus Ministry, Eckerd Hillel, Muslim Student Association, and the variety of spiritual life programming at Eckerd.

6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. It’s Up to Us: Bystander Intervention
Each of us has a role to play in creating a safe, respectful, and nonviolent community. During this interactive program you will learn about how you can best care for someone in need, what to do if you need help on campus and how to prevent sexual assault occurs.
See front of the Autumn Term Schedule for your assigned group.
6:00-7:15 p.m. Group I
7:30-9:00 p.m. Group II

9:00 – 11:00 p.m. Study Time
Remember – You should devote at least 4 hours per day to preparing for your Autumn Term class.

* Starred items may be found at Trash To Treasure, an annual sale of second-hand items that past students have donated for new students to purchase at discounted prices. Trash 2 Treasure is hosted by the Office of Sustainability and will be running on move-in day during Autumn Term. Items are subject to availability.

Small Items
● Reusable face covering (bandanas, gaiters, buffs, face coverings with exhalation valves or vents or similar face coverings are not permitted for use on campus)
● Small shelf unit*, milk crates or shelves*
● Mattress pad
● Comforter or blanket
● Twin extra long bedsheets
● Desk lamp and floor lamp*
● Pillows
● Under bed storage boxes (3 or 4)*
● Towels (2 to 4)
● Posters or other wall art*
● Washcloths (2 to 4)
● Day Planner or calendar
● Message board for your door*
● Beach towels
● Plates, utensils, cups, mugs and bowls
● Toothbrush holder
● Small trash can*
● Coffee or tea maker without hot plate (Keurig style)*
● Hangers*
● Shower caddy (for shampoo, soap, toothbrush, razor, etc.)
● Surge protector*
● Headphones or a small speaker
● Command strips/hooks for hanging decorations
● Portable laundry basket* and laundry detergent
● Broom/small vacuum and Swiffer*

As part of Eckerd’s commitment to environmentally conscious living, we also recommend the following products:
● Dryer balls
● Reusable containers and Stasher bags
● Reusable cutlery (ex. To Go-Ware)
● Reusable cups
● Composting bucket/collection container
● Recycling bin
● Bamboo toothbrush
● Shampoo bar
● Conditioner bar
● Reusable bags for grocery shopping
● Reusable K cups for coffee maker
● Loose-leaf tea + strainer

Large Items

• Television
  Each room has cable available with approximately 100 channels. There are televisions in the lounges, but if it’s possible, it’s nice to have one in your room.
• Computer
  If you have a computer or are thinking about getting one, it’s a great idea and there is plenty of space. All of our rooms are equipped with wireless internet. You’ll find minimum requirements and other information on the Information Technology Services site.
• Refrigerator*
  If you buy a small fridge (roughly between $50.00 and $90.00) and use it for your four years at Eckerd, you can donate it to our Trash 2 Treasure sale before you graduate. Renting is much more expensive, costing over $200.00 per year.
• Bikes on Campus
  Eckerd College has yellow “community bicycles” available for use only on campus as part of the Yellow Bike Program. They are wonderful for getting around campus. Eckerd also has six white bicycles that are available for students to take off  campus. However, you will still want to consider bringing your own bike as these are all very popular. There’s plenty to do within a few miles of campus and many bike trails for the more serious rider. Florida’s flat terrain makes biking easy. If you don’t want to bring your bike from home or don’t own one, you can purchase a bicycle at one at any of the bike shops in the Tampa Bay area, including the Nu Bicycle Shop on campus.
• Skateboards
  Skateboards are also a popular item on campus. The roads on campus are paved and in pretty good shape. If you have a skateboard, bring it along!
• Cars on Campus
  First year students are allowed to keep cars on campus. All cars must be registered with campus safety during Autumn Term. The parking permit is $120 for the year.

Transportation Off Campus

For those who do not have a car, or those who are not a fan of biking – you are in luck. There is a public bus stop on campus. Fares are reasonable and you can buy an all day pass or monthly unlimited passes. You can ride the bus to the beaches, downtown St. Petersburg, Tyrone Mall and Clearwater. Check out the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority website for more information.

Mailing Items Ahead

If you would like to ship a few boxes to campus in advance, you are permitted to mail a maximum of 5 boxes to your Eckerd mailbox number. Make sure they arrive after July 31st. Students will receive their mailbox number and mailing instructions in mid July.

Summer Storage

The only time that students generally move out of their rooms is during summer break. From time to time, first-year students are asked to move their belongings for the winter term if they don’t plan to be on campus and their room is needed for winter term visiting students. Basically, once you move in, it’s your room and your space. During the summer, there are some great storage places within 1 to 4 miles of campus. Many students will share storage space with friends. Costs can range from $30.00 to $60.00 for the summer, depending on how many people are storing together. Within the group, a few will have cars available and will help get everyone’s items to the storage area.

For those interested in maintaining a small storage space throughout the school year (for those with lots of luggage or other large items that might be inconvenient in a dorm room), you may contact one of the following local storage facilities:

Hideaway Storage
3950 34th Street South
727-565-0363
PODS $55/month, $69 delivery charge
PODS can be delivered on campus for mobile storage.

Spare Room Mini-Storage
4311 34th Street South
727-866-9357
No PODS, $47.08/month storage unit

Stormax Self Storage
4250 34th Street
727-866-7373
No PODS, $39-84/month storage unit

Eckerd College has partnered with GradGuard to provide students with their own personal property insurance while living in their home away from home. GradGuard provides students with insurance designed for them.

As noted in your housing agreement, Eckerd College assumes no responsibility and provides no insurance or financial protection for your personal property. We strongly recommend that you get renters insurance coverage.

Microfridge and Bed Lofting Rentals

There are a few housekeeping items you need to be aware of that will ensure that your friends and loved ones will be able to effectively correspond with you while attending Eckerd. In early July, you will receive an introductory email from Mail Services which contains your Campus Box number. It is essential that this number be used on all mail and packages sent to you.

Many students elect to ship objects, such as books or other items, to the college in advance of their arrival. While this practice is permitted, please understand that Mail Services has limited storage space. Because of this, please schedule your deliveries as close to your arrival as possible. DO NOT ship anything to the campus before you have your Campus Box number. If you plan to purchase items online and have them shipped directly to the college, you MUST be sure to provide the campus box number as part of the ship-to address (use the address format below). The information that Mail Services uses to identify student names is based off the name the student provided during registration. Mail Services sorts all packages based on the student first and last name, not by box number, failure to include the actual student name, not a pet-name or alias, may result in the item being misplaced or lost. Finally, because of space limitations, we ask that you limit the number of advance shipments to no more than 5.

Please use the following address format for all items:

Student Name
Campus Box xxxx
Eckerd College
4200 54th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, FL 33711-4744

Every business day, Mail Services receives large volumes of mail and packages. Therefore, failure to indicate the actual name of the recipient will delay the item. Also, it is not unusual for some students to share the same name. In this circumstance, absence of the Campus Box number results in confusion and delay.

The Student Name and Campus Box number should always be located above Eckerd College in the address field. Use the specific words “Campus Box” followed by the number. DO NOT refer to the Student Box as “PO Box”, “Box No” or “Box” since the processing equipment used by the US Postal Service specifically looks for these. If that system reads one of these indicators, it may misdirect the piece of mail causing delay and, in some instances, loss of the item. Also, many shipping carriers and online vendors may not ship to PO Boxes because they require a signature as proof of delivery.

Once you get to campus, follow these easy steps to open your mailbox.

What is the closest airport?

There are two airports within 20-25 minutes of campus that serve the Tampa Bay area. TPA handles a large volume of flights and handles most airline carriers. PIE is a smaller terminal that serves fewer airline carriers.

Tampa International Airport (TPA)
St. Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport (PIE)

How should we get from the airport to Eckerd?

• Renting a Car
  Both airports also offer rental car services. Tampa International has sixteen rental car companies located on the property: Avis, Budget, Payless, Zipcar; Enterprise, Alamo, National; Hertz, Dollar, Thrifty; Ace; Advantage; E-Z; Executive; Fox; Sixt. St. Petersburg/Clearwater airport offers service from the following rental car companies: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz and National.
• Driving Directions
  Right off of Interstate 275, Eckerd’s campus is easy to find! For specific driving directions, utilize Google Maps here.
• Uber/Lyft
  Uber and Lyft are downloadable apps for users on Android, Apple iOS, and Windows Phones. Uber and Lyft connect riders with drivers using their phone’s GPS capabilities and provides users with a reliable, safe form of transportation. Use their website to get a fare estimate to see what it might cost you.

When should we arrive and depart and where should we stay?

Although you will not be able to move into your residence hall until check in, many families choose to arrive early and stay in the area. They enjoy the extra time to rest and recharge before check-in as well as to pick up any last-minute items not purchased at home.

There are quite a few hotel options in the local area. A list of recommended hotels can be found on our Parents page. If you’re considering a hotel that is not listed, please feel free to contact the Admissions Office at 727-864-8331 if you would like information regarding the hotel’s location, surrounding area and proximity to the College.

If you plan to be in the area longer than a couple of nights, we would recommend that you consider renting a condominium or house as the cost may be equal to or less than many nights in a hotel and it would provide a full kitchen and more space. Feel free to use Airbnb or Vrbo for rentals.

NOTE:
You may not move into the residence halls until your assigned check-in date and time. If you will be driving to St. Petersburg and anticipate that you will have items to store for a few days, please contact Spare Room Mini Storage, Inc. Their phone number is 727.866.9357.