First-Year Students

Welcome to The College of New Jersey! The Student Transitions team will help guide you over the next few months as you prepare to start classes this fall.

Check back often!

Our website will be updated regularly between April-August, and will contain important information and communications about your transition to TCNJ.

Don’t hesitate to email us at studenttransitions@tcnj.edu with questions.

We couldn’t be more excited to have you join our campus community!

Communications

Your TCNJ email is the official communication method of the College and should be checked every few days throughout the summer so you don’t miss important deadlines. New students will receive an email with instructions on how to set-up their TCNJ account the first week of May, after the National Deposit Deadline passes and the incoming class is finalized. That week we will also be mailing home the Roar Booklet, a brochure filled with information about your transition from offices across campus including Housing, Financial Aid, Student Accounts, and Records & Registration.

Our bi-weekly email newsletters, The Transition Times, will also begin in early May and are sent to both students and parents as a way to help stay organized and on track. With placement testing also opening at that time, we can’t reiterate enough the importance of checking your TCNJ email regularly!

If you are interested in receiving a hard copy of the Spanish version of our 2023 Roar Booklet for First-Year Students, please fill out this form. Booklets will be mailed out in late May.

Transition Times

Orientation

Your summer orientation is a hybrid model that consists of a series of online modules you will need to complete, and an in-person day on campus with faculty, staff, and other incoming new students. Read below for more details!

Part I: Online

All incoming students will have a series of online modules to complete throughout the summer. Hosted in Canvas, our course management system, it will also give you an introduction to the platform your faculty members will be using for their classes. The first modules will open on Friday, May 5 and an email with instructions and more details will be sent to your TCNJ account.

Part II: On-Campus

Save the date! This one-day program is a fantastic opportunity to connect with leadership in your academic school, meet other new students, and learn more about the amazing resources and opportunities you’ll have as a TCNJ Lion! The RSVP form and schedule will go out in June, however please plan to be on campus from 8:30a-4:30p on your assigned day (see below). Guests (maximum of two) are encouraged to join you!

School of Education students should attend the day based on their content area. For example: the orientation date for an Elementary Education & Sociology major is Wednesday, July 19th; a Secondary Education & Mathematics major should attend on Tuesday, July 18. Undeclared-Education students (who have not declared a content area) and Speech Pathology majors will have their orientation day on Monday, July 17. Because these students are entering as dual majors, they will have two department sessions while on campus.

Students in K-12 certification programs (Art Education, Music Education, and Technology & Engineering Education) should attend on Monday, July 17 and will only attend one department session within their academic school (The Arts & Communication and Engineering, respectively).

While the overwhelming majority of our incoming new students attend their orientation date, we recognize some may be unable to do so due to distance from campus, previously scheduled plans, or exciting educational opportunities. You do not need to let us know ahead of time if you are unable to make it, but please make sure to indicate that on the RSVP form when it goes live in June. If you have any concerns, don’t hesitate to contact us!