Important steps for new transfer students

Shortly after your deposit and enrollment at Lafayette you will receive an email in your Lafayette email from Dean Alexis Smith. Please use the link provided to schedule a preliminary appointment to talk with her about your academic goals and your first semester at Lafayette.

Please make sure to forward final official transcripts (and supporting materials as outlined below) from all institutions from which you have completed college coursework to the Lafayette College Registrar’s Office

Lafayette reviews each transfer credit individually by the appropriate department head or program coordinator. If a transfer course is determined to be equivalent to a course within Lafayette’s curriculum, students will receive credit for the Lafayette equivalent.  To facilitate this process students should provide the syllabus for each course that lists the required textbooks as well as the intended student learning outcomes. Depending on the schedule of each department, this process can take several weeks.

Please prioritize this step to ensure that we are able to accurately determine the appropriate courses for your first semester at Lafayette. For more information on the criteria used to evaluate transfer credits, please review the policy here.

Transcripts may be sent electronically to registrar@lafayette.edu  (preferred method) or via hard copy to the following address:

Lafayette College Registrar

001 Markle Hall, Easton, PA 18042-1768

The need for you to take placement exams will depend upon the type of course credit you have transferred to Lafayette as well as your academic interests.

Beginning May 7th, as you embark on your academic journey it is important that we find out about you, and your previous educational experience. The placement exams in Mathematics,  Languages, and Chemistry will be used as a guide and will need to be completed prior to registering for your fall courses.

Math Advising: All Lafayette students are required to complete a placement exam in Mathematics UNLESS you expect to complete the Quantitative Method Requirement via transfer credits. In order to fulfill the requirement, a transfer course must be evaluated to be equivalent to a Lafayette College course that has already been designated as having a Quantitative Reasoning attribute.

• Questions regarding Math Placement may be directed to Professor Justin Corvino

Languages Placement: The Common Course of Study requires that all graduates attain elementary proficiency in a foreign language. Please review the detailed information available on the Languages and Literatures website to determine how you can address this requirement. Placement Exams are necessary if you plan to take Chinese (Mandarin), French, German, or Spanish, and you have some knowledge of the subject; that is, you are not a true beginner. (Note: Lafayette uses an outside testing service, and there is a $10 fee. Alternatively, you may send an official AP, SAT II or IB-HL subject test score to the Registrar’s Office.)

• Questions regarding Language Placement may be directed to Professor Sid Donnell

Chemistry Placement: If you plan to take any Chemistry courses and do not have Chemistry transfer credits, it will be necessary for you to complete a Chemistry Placement exam.

• Questions regarding Chemistry Placement may be directed to Professor Rebecca Miller.

Links to all Placement Exams can be found here. Please be sure to read the directions carefully and direct all questions to the listed faculty member.

The purpose of this survey is to connect incoming Lafayette students to religious, spiritual, devotional, or educational communities, both on- and off-campus and capture any religious accomodiations that may be needed.

Any member of the Lafayette community may participate in any religious or spiritual community affiliated with Lafayette without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, or disability.

Religious and Spiritual Life at Lafayette

Review the Requesting Accommodations for the First Time page to learn more about the process of requesting services and/or accommodations through Accessibility Services.

Below are suggested timelines for non-housing requests:
Fall Semester: Submit Request by July 18th
Spring Semester: Submit Request by January 16th

Reference the Housing Accommodations webpage for deadlines regarding housing accommodation requests.

Unlike the process used to establish schedules for the members of our first year class, course selection and registration for transfers is an individualized process from the onset. This is necessary because as a transfer student, it is not only important to consider your overall expectations for the type of academic and co-curricular experience you desire, but also to assess how your transfer credits will fit within your new curriculum.

After your transfer credits are finalized, you will work with Dean Smith to craft your course schedule.

Before your transfer credits are finalized, take time to carefully review the Majors & Programs offered at Lafayette College. Next, review the  Common Course of Study, Policy on AP & IB credits, and Resources on the Registrar’s page

For transfers enrolling in the Fall Semester – Instructions for completing the Housing Application will be sent to your Lafayette email approximately June 15.  Your room assignment and roommate information will be available approximately August 1st.

Staff at the Bailey Health Center knows how difficult it can be to make decisions, including ones about health and wellness. Staff members are always willing to answer all your questions, and to make this process even more simple, they’ve answered many common questions on their website. The Center requires much of the same documentation that may be asked for by your family health provider. It is important that you complete all the required Bailey Health Center forms by July 15 to make using Lafayette’s health services seamless. Please also review Bailey Health Center’s information about immunizations that are required for matriculation. You can contact the Center at (610) 330-5001 with any questions about this step and the required forms.

It is very important for the College to have your most up-to-date information, you are required to enter this information into Banner by August 1st.

Included in updates are- Emergency Contact information, Cell Phone and Preferred name.

You should follow these instructions to electronically submit a photo for your Lafayette ID card. This is an important piece of identification that you will need for obtaining meals, and for other important uses as a Lafayette student. IDs will be distributed as part of the move-in process.

You can view room, roommate, and meal plan assignment information in the MyHousing website, available approximately August 1st.

Each year the Office of Advising and Co-curricular Programs records each incoming student’s name as a reference throughout their time on campus. Most notably the recording is reviewed before your name is announced at commencement!

Please use the link to log into your Spaces account and find “First Year Name Recording” and your class section. Follow the directions and submit before August 1st.

Please direct any questions to deanofadvising@lafayette.edu

The waiver is required to use the Recreation Center (includes fitness center, jogging track, swimming pool, dance rooms, basketball and racquet courts) plus all programs that occur inside the facility (e.g., group fitness classes, climbing wall, intramural sports). Upon completion, your ID will be programmed to allow access to the Kirby Sports Center.

Visit the Recreation Services website to get the waiver.

Visit the Finance & Administration page to look at Tuition, Fees and Payments as well as Bill Payment options.

Check out the Lafayette College Student Account Suite. This site is a service offered to you and your family for viewing bills, making payments, enrolling in payment plans, and managing your student account.

To ensure that your experience outside of the classroom is as positive and safe as possible, Lafayette College has partnered with Catharsis and Vector Solutions to provide courses that will help you develop critical skills to make thoughtful and educated choices. With these skills, you will achieve greater success not only here at Lafayette but also in your future endeavors.  You will receive communication directly from the Dean of Students in mid-to-late July.

Students who do not complete this course are unable to register for spring classes.

New Student move-in is scheduled for Thursday, August 20th.  Specific information will be emailed from the Office of Residence Life in late July.  General information about move-in can be found on the Office of Residence Life website!

Please note that International Student Move-in is August 15th.

To support your success this fall, please review some of the general academic resources available to you as a Lafayette student.

Your official Lafayette academic career is about to begin, so take advantage of all the College will be offering to you! Visit the Office of Advising and Co-Curricular Programs website for some useful resources, campus links, academic enrichment resources, general college transition advice, and much more.