Pre-Orientation for International Students (PO4IS)
Contact
International Student ProgramsKagin Commons, First Floor
(651) 696-6992
+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. ISP will pick up students arriving after 5pm on August 25th, and students will need to make this request when filling out the Arrival Form.
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 Laurie Hamre Center for Health and Well-being 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!