First-Year Students
First-Year Experience (FYE) Program
The FYE aims to create spaces and opportunities for new students to connect with the campus, explore new interests, and engage with a variety of people and ideas.
Learn about the FYE Program
Our programming emphasizes social connections, balance, and campus resources. Our annual calendar includes a dinner and discussion series, off-campus outings, student panels on getting involved, and more. All of our events are free and open to all students.
Attend Events & Win Prizes
First-year students earn FYE points throughout the year by attending and signing-in at FYE core programs and eligible events. Prizes include gift cards to the campus bookstore, Fojo Beans, Euphoria, and movie passes. We also host free raffles, finals week care package giveaways, and other fun giveaways throughout the year!
Meet the FYE Leaders
FYE student leaders create and host FYE events and act as a resource for new students. Get to know our 2024-25 leader team!
Getting Started
The Hill Card is your student identification card, meal plan card, door access card, library card, and campus debit card. (Access Account)
Mobile Credential
Students have the option to add your mobile Hill Card to Apple Wallet or Google Play to use on campus. To get started with the mobile credential, download the Transact eAccounts app for Apple or Android.
Students who wish to be assigned gym lockers should visit the equipment issue room on the lower level of the Alumni Gymnasium. Lockers will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis.
Visit hamilton.edu/mailbox to access your mailbox number and combination. The link is also located in the Personal Information section of the Tools tab on My Hamilton.
If you have any problems, stop by the Mail Center window for assistance. Please have your Hill Card with you. Mailbox combination information cannot be released if you do not have your Hill Card.
Mail sent to you on campus must be addressed as follows. Please do not use the term “P.O. Box” in your address. Your mailbox number should be indicated on all incoming mail and packages.
Student’s Name
Mailbox #_________
Hamilton College
198 College Hill Rd.
Clinton, NY 13323
Here are some ways to find event information and learn about what members of the Hamilton community are doing on and around campus:
- Daily email summarizing events for the upcoming day
- Weekly email summarizing events for the upcoming week send each Friday
- Events page (search and filter)
- Student Activities page (student-sponsored events)
- My Hamilton channel Hamilton Events includes a list and link to entry on the event’s calendar
- Hamilton App (App Store or Google Play)
- Listserv emails to specific groups (students, employees, everyone)
- Posters
- Student publications and social media (social media directory)
Auditions for the Orchestra and Chamber Music Ensembles (Brass Ensemble, Flute Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Saxophone Ensemble, Hamstrings Quartet, and other woodwinds) will be held during Orientation on Wednesday, August 28. Complete the application form at and sign up for an audition time.
Come prepared with a solo or etude that represents your playing – contrasting styles are helpful!
- More information on these groups is posted at https://academics.hamilton.edu/music/ensembles/ensembles-overview.
- Email Prof. Heather Buchman at hbuchman@hamilton.edu with any questions.
Auditions for Hamilton College Choir and Hamilton Voices will take place on Monday, August 26 - Wednesday, August 28. International tour details, audition information, sign-up sheets, and application forms can be accessed at tinyurl.com/hamchoir2024 using your Hamilton email account. Find all other details on instagram @hamiltoncollegechoirs or contact Professor Charlotte Botha at cbotha@hamilton.edu if you have any follow-up questions.
Auditions for Hamilton College Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combos will take place on Wednesday, August 28. Audition information including application form, sign-up sheet, and repertoire can be accessed at https://tinyurl.com/hamiltonjazz2024 using your Hamilton email account. Please contact Professor Gabe Condon at gcondon@hamilton.edu with any questions.
Auditions for the Saxophone Ensemble will be held Sunday, September 1st at 6:30 p.m. in List 104. Audition materials will be available on Thursday afternoon, August 29th, outside the Fillius Jazz Archive, McEwen 102, near the rock swing. Please inform ensemble director Monk Rowe at mrowe@hamilton.edu beforehand if you intend to audition or have any questions.
Want to get involved on campus? Looking to find the right student organization for you? Great! Come to the Student Activities & Organizations Fair in September to see what your campus has to offer. See some performances, collect swag, and enjoy the sunshine!
- The Jitney is a free transportation service for students who want to visit locally owned shops, restaurants, and supermarket in Clinton and New Hartford.
- Transportation requests can be submitted through an online form and managed by the transportation coordinator.
- For school breaks, Hamilton offers shuttle services to and from the Syracuse and Albany airports as well as the Utica train/bus station. Reservations must be made in advance. The cost for the shuttle services is billed directly to the student’s account. Please contact the Transportation Office with any questions.
In an effort to move away from single-use products, Hamilton’s implemented the Fill it Forward container checkout system. Students will be able to opt-in to the program and use the Fill it Forward app and with their Hamilton username and password.
- Check out either a food container or reusable cup through the app.
- After selecting the container, show the checkout page to the dining hall cashier.
- Once you're finished with the container, return it to the dining hall and check in the container in the app.
Please note, the reusable container is the only way to take dining hall meals out of the dining halls.
Expect a weekly email from Assistant Athletics Director for Fitness and Recreation Steph Kowell with details regarding facility hours, group fitness and wellness classes, and recreation opportunities.
- A Hill Card is required to access all athletic facilities
- All classes are open to Hamilton students and employees, free of charge, and no registration is required to attend (unless otherwise noted).
Recreation Equipment
Stop by the Fieldhouse Rec Hub located just inside the main entrance the Fieldhouse with your Hill Card to sign out any of the available equipment:
- Court sports: Basketballs, Volleyballs
- Racquet sports: Squash, Tennis
- Pickleball equipment
- Field sports: Soccer balls, Footballs,
- Ice Skates and Helmets (seasonal, October - March)
- Fitness: weighted medicine balls, jump ropes, cones
Operating Hours:
Monday-Thursday: noon-11 p.m.
Friday-Saturday: 11a.m.-9 p.m.
- Hamilton uses a single-stream recycling system that enables all recyclables to be placed in the same bin.
- Bins are emptied Monday through Friday, not on weekends.
- Don’t forget to break down cardboard boxes before recycling or donate them to the box co-op located next to the Mail Center entrance.
Hamilton’s color-coded system for waste management:
- Black bins with black bags are for landfill waste
- Blue bins with clear bags are for recycling
- Green bins with clear bags are for compost and food waste (only in dining halls)
Resources for First-Year Students
Our Region
We are 10 minutes from Utica, 45 minutes to Syracuse and 90 minutes from Albany. Check out a list of some of the “not-to-miss” places our students love in the region.
Contact
Contact Name
Tessa Chefalo
Assistant Dean of Students for Student Engagement
