Supporting Students’ Academic Success Messages Archive

As the Class Dean for new students I wanted to reach out and welcome you to Amherst. There are three other Class Deans who are here to support your intellectual journey as you experience new academic and co-curricular opportunities that lie ahead, whether inside or outside of the classroom. Depending on your transfer credits you will be assigned to the appropriate Class Dean (sophomore, junior, senior) in our Workday system. They will communicate with you regularly via email throughout the year in order to map out important deadlines as well as to clarify college policies and procedures. These messages will provide resources so that you can thrive academically as well as socially and emotionally while becoming a member of the Amherst community.

Below are several important points related to what to do and expect this summer before you arrive on campus:

1. Now that you have received your Amherst College email address, please use this for all communications with your academic advisor, professors, and staff. Try to reply promptly to emails from instructors, your academic advisor, and your class dean if a response is required. It is important not to ignore any Amherst email that is asking for a response.
2. By the end of July all new students will be assigned an Academic Advisor. This faculty member will help guide and support your learning while at Amherst. They should reach out to you with a welcome message and to schedule an advising meeting to take place over Zoom between August 16-20. If  you do not hear from your advisor, by the second week of August, feel free to initiate contact using your Amherst email address. You can find their name and email using Workday.*
3. Between now and August 21st start exploring various departments and majors at the College and generating a potential list of courses to take this Fall. You may find that some are already full, but don’t worry there will be plenty to choose from during Registration. Several classes give preference to first year and transfer students.
4. Between August 16-20, new transfer scholars will meet with their Academic Advisor for around 30 minutes over Zoom. This meeting is an opportunity for you and your advisor to get to know one another, so that you can share your academic and personal goals, as well as questions, concerns, and interests pertaining to Amherst. At the end of this meeting your advisor will approve your selected course list. Once you have moved to campus, reach out to your advisor to schedule an in person meeting, so that you can locate their office and check in about how classes are going for you. Throughout the year you should be in regular contact with your advisor, both if any issues arise and if they ask for an advising meeting. You can read more about advising at Amherst here.
5. Course registration day for transfer scholars is Wednesday, August 21st, via Zoom. The Registrar will send you detailed information as the date nears, and they will have staff support available if you have any questions regarding Workday.

I look forward to meeting you when you’re on campus.  

Go Mammoths!
Dean Vigil 

As your Class Dean, I am here to support your intellectual journey as you experience new academic and co-curricular opportunities that lie ahead, whether inside or outside of the classroom. I will communicate with you regularly via email throughout the year in order to map out important deadlines as well as to clarify college policies and procedures. These messages will provide resources so that you can thrive academically as well as socially and emotionally while becoming a member of the Amherst community.

Below are several important points related to what to do and expect this summer before you arrive on campus:

1. Now that you have received your Amherst College email address, please use this for all communications with your academic advisor, professors, staff and myself.
2. Try to reply promptly to emails from instructors, your academic advisor, and your class dean if a response is required. It is important not to ignore any Amherst email that is asking for a response.
3. By the end of July new students will be assigned an Academic Advisor. This faculty member will help guide and support your learning while at Amherst. They should reach out to you with a welcome message and to schedule an advising meeting to take place over Zoom between August 16-22. If  you do not hear from your advisor, by the second week of August, feel free to initiate contact using your Amherst email address. You can find their name and email using Workday.*
4. Between now and August 22nd start exploring various departments and majors at the College and generating a potential list of courses to take this Fall. You may find that some are already full, but don’t worry there will be plenty to choose from during Registration. Several classes give preference to first year and transfer students.
5. Faculty are busy preparing for your arrival, which includes collecting information to make the most appropriate Math and Science Placement recommendations. The College does not require you to take Placement Exams, instead please fill out this brief Google Form as soon as possible, even if you are not planning on taking Math or Science.** There is also a writing survey that must be completed which is linked here.
6. In early August all first year students will be assigned to a First-Year Seminar (FYS), which you will see when logging into Workday. These placements were based upon academic interest forms and cannot be changed. In addition to your FYS, you should plan to sign up for three classes for the Fall.
7. Between August 16-22, new students will meet with their Academic Advisor for around 30 minutes over Zoom.* This meeting is an opportunity for you and your advisor to get to know one another, so that you can share your academic and personal goals, as well as questions, concerns, and interests pertaining to Amherst. At the end of this meeting your advisor will approve your selected course list. Once you have moved to campus, reach out to your advisor to schedule an in person meeting, so that you can locate their office and check in about how classes are going for you. Throughout the year you should be in regular contact with your advisor, both if any issues arise and if they ask for an advising meeting. You can read more about advising at Amherst here.
8. Course registration day is Friday, August 23rd, via Zoom. The Registrar will send you detailed information as the date nears, and assign you a specific registration time slot. It is not possible to change your assigned time. It is important that you arrive on time, with Workday open on your computer screen. I will be on hand in the Zoom, along with some other faculty, and staff from the Registrar to assist you in registering for your Fall classes.

I look forward to meeting you online during Registration, and in person during Move-in day and Orientation,

Go Mammoths!

Dean Vigil

*Most Academic Advisors will meet with their advisors on Zoom during August 16-22, but in a few cases faculty may reach out to students to schedule a meeting prior to these dates, as long as this scheduling works for both the advisor and advisee.

**Please contact the Math Placement Advisor, Professor Danielle Benedetto (dbenedetto@amherst.edu), or Chemistry Placement Advisor, Professor Stephen Cartier (scartier@amherst.edu), with any specific questions about your Math or Chemistry Placement Recommendation.