Pre-Orientation for International Students (PO4IS)
Contact
International Student ProgramsKagin Commons, First Floor +1 (651) 696-6992 (tel)
+1 (651) 696-6806 (fax)
isp@macalester.edu
Hours
PO4IS is a required pre-orientation program for ALL international students on F, J, or other non-immigrant visas, as well as domestic participants of Ametrica.
Note: U.S. citizens or permanent residents must apply for and be accepted into the Ametrica program by the required deadline date, normally mid-June, in order to participate in PO4IS. Confirmed students will be asked to complete an Arrival Form and any pick-up if needed.
Students MUST arrive on campus on Tuesday, August 25th, 2026. We suggest arriving during daytime hours (8am-5pm or 08:00-17:00 hrs) to allow for an easier transition. No campus housing or transportation to Macalester is available before 8:00 am on August 25th, so students who arrive early are responsible for arranging their own place to stay.
BOLD = Mandatory Session for ALL students – domestic and international.
Tentative Schedule: August 25-31, 2026
The Bold denotes required attendance for all students studying in the U.S. on an F, J, or other non-immigrant visa.
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Day 1 (Required Arrival Day): Tuesday August 25, 2026 Time Event Location All Day Arrival & Check-in visit ISP throughout the day with any questions. Get on network and start GLACIER Tax, MacID biometrics enrollment.
ISP, Kagin Commons 11:30 am – 1:00 pm Lunch with any available mentors Cafe Mac (Campus Center) 4 – 5 pm Meet in ISP to visit 1550 Summit for dorm room supplies, clothes, etc. ISP, 1550 Summit 5- 7 pm Dinner with any available mentors Cafe Mac, Campus Center 7 – 9 pm Optional shopping time (independent from ISP, encourage group transit) TBD -
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Day 2: Wednesday August 26, 2026 Time Event Location 8:45 am Breakfast – sit with mentor group (see table signs and nametag group number). Bring your token/small gift to exchange. Cafe Mac (Campus Center) South end (right side)
9:30 – 9:45 am PO4IS Welcome Session (Purpose of PO4IS) Students welcomed by Student Affairs Leadership & ISP Staff
Cafe Mac, Campus Center 10:00 – 10:15 am Lisa Anderson-Levy, Provost, Welcome Kagin Ballroom 10:30 am – 12:00 pm Domestic Ametricans meet TBD 10:30 am – 12:00 pm Complete Forms for Social Security, I-9, and Glacier Tax Students with visa only – bring laptop/tablet along with orange folder documents
Immigration Part 1 of 2 & Required Paperwork
Immigration session: International students on a visa only – bring laptop/tablet along with orange folder with passport, I-20, I-94, other information
Kagin Ballroom 12 – 1 pm Lunch with mentor group (ISP Staff available to meet parents over lunch) Cafe Mac, Campus Center 1 – 2 pm Exchange students meet with Sarah Tolman & Britt Nelson (Exchange students only) Study Away, Markim Hall 2nd Floor 1:30 – 3:30 pm Resource Fair: Bank, Employment & Tax Paperwork, Campus Resources Students with a visa line up for Employment/Tax paperwork at these times, by last name:
1:30 – 2:00 pm: Last names A – K start with Business Services (Student Affairs Suite), move to Resource Fair and then Banks
2:00 – 2:30 pm: Last names L – S start in Resource Fair (Weyerhaeuser Board Room), move to Banks and then Business Services
2:30 – 3:00 pm: Last names T – Z start with Banks (Weyerhaeuser Lounge), move to Business Services and then Resource Fair
In Weyerhaeuser Lounge
Bring cash, minimum $25, to open a bank account. Bring immigration & GLACIER paperwork to complete employment and tax documents.
- US Bank, Wells Fargo, and Chase banks (each at their own table)
Campus Resources
- 1. Career Exploration (CE)
- 2. Center for Disability Resources
- 3. Writing Center & Sci-Q (formally the MAX Center)
- 4. Civic Engagement Center (CEC)
- 5. Forensics – Beau Larsen
- 6. Library – Talia Nadir
- 7. Sustainability Office
- 8. ITS (Lea Green)
- 9. Dean of Students Office / Student Affairs Administration (Angela, Javier, Lisa)
- 10. Institutional Equity Division: LSC and CRSL
In Student Affairs Suite (across from Wey Board Room)
- Business Services (Taxes)
- Student Employment (Jaelynn will do I-9s)
Weyerhaeuser Building: → Board Room
→ Lounge
→ Student Affairs Suite
5:00 – 6:00 pm Dinner Cafe Mac (Campus Center) 6:15 – 7:15 pm Mentor Dialogue I: Getting Started Meet in front of Kagin -
Day 3: Thursday August 27, 2026 Time Event Location 7:30 – 8:30 am Breakfast Cafe Mac (Campus Ctr) 9 -11 am Apply for Social Security Number – ONLY students on visa with work assignment; bring documents in orange folder, SSA paper application with online reference number - 9:00 am Last names A – K
- 9:30 am Last names L – S
- 10:15 am Last names T – Z
ISP & Kagin Commons 11 am – 12 pm
BREAK (Free time)
12 – 1 pm Lunch Cafe Mac, Campus Center 1:15 – 2:30 pm Health and Wellness with Hamre Center Mairs Concert Hall 2:30 -3:30 pm Mentor Dialogue II: Identity, Institutional Equity presents Mairs Concert Hall 3:30 – 4:30 pm Humor & Communication Session Mairs Concert Hall 5 – 6 pm Dinner Cafe Mac (Campus Ctr) 6:30 – 8:30 pm Ametrica Meeting (Ametrica participants only) Weyerhaeuser Board Rm -
Day 4: Friday August 28, 2026 Time Event Location 7:30 – 8:15 am Breakfast Cafe Mac (Campus Ctr) 8:30 – 8:45 am Academic Support: Lousia Bradtmiller & Katie Kelly JBD Hall 8:45 – 9:45 am Mentor Dialogue III: Adjusting to Academic Life in the US with Campus Tour JBD Hall 10 am – 12 pm Immigration part 2 of 2 Immigration session: International students on a visa only – bring the orange folder with passport, I-20, I-94, other information
JBD Hall 12-1 pm Lunch Cafe Mac (Camus Ctr) 1 – 2 pm Free time 2 – 3 pm Mentor and MenTEA: Special New Students PO4IS Talk & Tea ISP, Kagin 5 – 6 pm Dinner Cafe Mac (Campus Ctr) -
Day 5: Monday August 31, 2026 Time Event Location 7:30 – 8:30 am Breakfast Cafe Mac, Campus Center 9:00-9:30 am PO4IS Wrap-up Begin at CRSL and finish at ISP (Kagin), organize my mentor group
Chapel/ Center for Religious and Spiritual Life (CRSL) 9:45 am- 12:30 pm Maxploration Divide into groups for off-campus exploration 12:30 – 1:00 pm Lunch Cafe Mac, Campus Center Follow Schedule New Student Orientation Begins – check in Follow Schedule 2:15 – 3:15 pm Scottish House Meeting #1 – confirmed Various Locations – Check Name tag
Remember to take care and stay hydrated!