FREEING MINDS A Campaign for St. John's College
Fall Semester: Freshman Registration is Tuesday, August 27, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. You will receive your dorm and room assignment in early August. Dormitories open for move-in at 10 a.m.
Convocation, a long-standing tradition at the college, is held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, August 29. Family is encouraged to stay for this annual ceremony when the freshman class is officially welcomed to the community.
Freshman Orientation begins on August 28. View a complete calendar of the 2019–20 academic year (coming soon). The detailed Opening Week calendar will be sent with your housing assignment.
Freshman students are required to live on campus. This helps to create a sense of community among those attending the college and helps new students to adjust better to college life. Exceptions are granted, but students seeking a waiver to this rule should send a letter of request to the Director of Residential Life, Matthew Johnston. About 82% of undergraduate students at the college live on campus.
All dorms are non-smoking and most dorms are co-ed by floor, and there are a number of dorms designated as quiet, substance free, single-gender, or gender neutral. There are four dormitory areas: Uppers (Meem, Driscoll, Murchison, Kirby, Huffman, Anderson, McCune, Wagner, and Jones) which is mostly comprised of double rooms; Lowers (Calliope, Clio, Euterpe, Polyhymnia, Terpsichore, Thalia, and Urania) which is mostly comprised of single rooms; the Winiarski Dorms (Ferdinand, Ariel, and Miranda) which are the newest buildings on campus, mostly comprised of single rooms arranged around central common areas; and Suites & Apartments which are occupied by upperclass students.
Freshmen may have a roommate. Once roommate assignments have been made (usually in early August) the Director of Residential Life will provide the names and contact information of roommates who give permission for us to release this. You will be given your dormitory and room assignment at the same time. Dorm rooms are open for move-in after registration.
If you are able to contact your roommate(s) before you arrive, it is wise to consult about large items such as furniture and rugs to avoid duplication and overcrowding. In general, less is more. Wait and see what you need. You will have the opportunity to purchase needed items once you are here. The college runs shuttles to all the major shopping areas in and around Santa Fe.
Furniture for each student includes:
Dorm rooms have basic furniture. You may wish to bring:
Some students like to have a small refrigerator in their room. Microwaves, hot plates, electric skillets, camping stoves, and other open heating elements are not allowed. Other items not allowed are: candles, incense, pets, weapons and self-defense devices such as stun guns. Smoking is prohibited by state law inside all campus buildings, including the dormitories.
Kitchens are located in common buildings. Laundry facilities are available in the upper and lower dormitory complexes, and can be paid for using quarters or credit/debit cards.
Heavy luggage or packages may be sent to the college no more than two weeks before registration day.
Ship such packages to the following address:
Your Name St. John’s College 1160 Camino Cruz Blanca Santa Fe, NM 87505
Label the packages “Hold for Registration.” This address is also your mailing address while living on campus.
There is no limit on the number of boxes that may be shipped. These packages will be held in the mailroom in the basement of Weigle Hall and can be picked up during office hours. Any items needed right away, such as bedding, should not be sent ahead.
Although majority of students bring their own cell phones, dorm rooms are also equipped with phones that can receive incoming calls and make local calls.
To call a student: The main college number is 505-984-6000. Callers to that number can be connected to any dorm room. In an emergency, the Assistant Dean’s Office or the Public Safety Office will locate a student.
All freshmen students living on campus are required to be on the 21-meal plan. Meals are served in the Dining Hall seven days a week. A variety of foods is offered at every meal, including vegetarian and vegan options.
The Coffee Shop is located in Peterson Student Center. Snacks and meals can be purchased there all day and during some evening hours during the week. There are also a variety of snack and drink machines on campus, as well as a student-run coffee shop, the Cave.
Coffee Shop Hours (subject to change):
The services of the Student Health Office are available to all students regardless of their health insurance provider. (Students must be covered by health insurance; for questions, contact the Health Center at 505-984-6418.)
Three therapists are also on staff. Appointments can be made directly by students. The therapist makes appointments with the psychiatrist as necessary.
The student ID is required for students to access essential campus services and facilities, including meal plan, package pickup, and building access. Freshmen will receive their ID card upon registration and should carry the card at all times while on campus. Broken or worn cards may be replaced at no cost, and lost cards for $5.
Each student is provided with an email account. Your college email account is the official form of communication to students and should be checked at least twice weekly. Account information and guidelines will be provided during registration.
Students may park in student parking lots on campus. Parking passes are required for campus parking, and may be purchased at registration for $75, and provide parking for a whole academic year.
Bicycles are a good method of transportation around Santa Fe. There are bikes available for daily or semester-long loans from the Student Activities Center. There are several indoor and outdoor storage racks for bikes on campus, and you should be sure to have a secure lock. The city bus system has bike racks, which makes it easier to get back up the hill.
The Albuquerque airport can be reached via the Sandia Shuttle, which runs directly to the college, and the Rail Runner train runs between downtown Santa Fe and Albuquerque, where a free shuttle takes passengers to the airport. The Santa Fe airport can be reached by the Road Runner shuttle.
St. John’s College is located outside the main areas of Santa Fe. The college provides shuttles several days a week to locations within city limits, including grocery stores, shopping centers, restaurants, and events. Visit Santa Fe is a great resource for information on restaurants, local events, hotel accommodations, etc.
The Campus Bookstore stocks all program books required for St. John’s classes. Several translations and/or editions are available of most texts on the reading list. Several of the staff are either St. John’s graduates or current students and will happily offer you their personal views.
The Bookstore also offers fiction, poetry, reference, history, science, philosophy, books to help you learn Greek or math, biographies of philosophers, books on writing, drama, art books, music, sweatshirts, t-shirts, baseball caps, and other SJC paraphernalia. School supplies like pads, pens, binders, pencils, basic toiletries, snacks, headphones, and phone chargers are also available!
You will receive your first assignments in a letter from the Dean (this letter is usually out mid-to-late July).
Helpful tips when buying books
What you will need to start
