This checklist has been prepared to help you navigate the deadlines due before you begin your first semester at Colgate.
Required Items
Set Up Your Accounts
Set Up Colgate Email Account
Deadline: Friday, December 27
Check your Colgate email weekly for updates and deadline reminders. Your Colgate username and instructions for setting up your account were sent to your admission application email when you completed your admission deposit.
Set Up Duo Authentication
Deadline: Friday, December 27
Enabling multi-factor authentication is a critical and proactive step to ensure unauthorized people do not access your account.
Housing Preference Form
Deadline: Thursday, January 2
More information will be sent to your Colgate email.
Sign Up for Your Colgate Emergency Alert Account
Deadline: Friday, January 3
Colgate’s emergency alert is part of the University’s emergency management program that provides responsive communications to all appropriate parties.
Update Your Information in the Colgate Portal
Deadline: Friday, January 3
Log into the Colgate Portal to confirm and update your personal information. This includes your contact information, emergency contact, pronouns, name recording, and cell phone number.
Login to Get Involved
Colgate's Get Involved platform is the online focal point for many clubs and organizations. Log in to Get Involved using your Colgate credentials.
Required Forms
Student Health Services
Deadline: Thursday, January 9
New incoming students must complete medical and immunization forms.
Financial Responsibility Form
Deadline: Thursday, January 9
The form is required of all students, and serves as acknowledgment and understanding of financial responsibility to the University.
Pay Your Bill Online
Deadline: Saturday, February 1
TouchNet is the student account and billing system used by Colgate University. Students, and their designated Authorized Users*, use the system to view e-bills and student account activity; establish monthly payment plans; and make electronic payments.
Student Health Insurance Decision (domestic students only)
Deadline: Friday, February 14
Domestic students are asked to enroll in or waive out of the Colgate health insurance plan. If you do not waive out of the plan, you will be enrolled automatically and your fall term student account balance will include the annual health insurance premium.
Family Information Contact Form
This link allows parents and guardians to sign up for newsletters, email announcements, and more.
TouchNet Authorized Users
You may choose to designate a parent or guardian as an authorized user to your student account. This would allow receipt of e-billing notifications, viewing student account information and making payments on your behalf.
InfoShare
InfoShare allows you to share select records online with trusted individuals like parents or guardians.
Preparing for your Arrival
Gate Card Information
Your student ID card is your facility access card, meal swipe card, quasi–debit card, and more.
You may provide this photo either:
- Using the GET Mobile app
- Using the GET Online ’Gate Card portal
The University requires a new photo to be taken for these purposes, and this can be done on your smartphone or device. Your photo must be taken against a plain white background. Printed ’Gate Cards will be available for students to pick up upon arrival.
Upload Via the GET Mobile App
- Visit the App Store or Google Play Store on a smartphone and download the GET Mobile app.
- Scroll through the listed schools and select Colgate University.
- Sign in with your Colgate username and password.
- Select a PIN, setup biometric login (fingerprint or facial ID depending on device), and complete the updated contact information section (if prompted).
- Once signed in, select: Menu icon >> Settings >> Change ID Photo.
- Select the camera icon, then tap Select Photo. You will then be prompted to choose either your camera or files — because Colgate requires a new photo to be submitted, please select your camera.
- Campus safety will review each image prior to approval. If a photo is rejected for any reason, you will receive an email notification from GET Mobile with a reason for the rejection and a prompt to submit a new photo.
- Tap the check mark and adjust the crop settings as desired, then tap Crop to save and submit your photo.
Your photos or digital images must be:
- In color
- Taken within the last two months to reflect your current appearance
- Taken in front of a plain white or off-white background
- Taken in full-face view directly facing the camera
- Taken from the shoulders up
- With a neutral facial expression and both eyes open
- Taken in clothing that you normally wear on a daily basis
- Do not wear a hat or head covering that obscures the hair or hairline, unless worn daily for a religious purpose. Your full face must be visible, and the head covering must not cast any shadows on your face.
- Headphones, wireless hands-free devices, or similar items are not acceptable in your photo.
After completing the photo-upload process, we recommend that you keep GET Mobile on your device, as the app can be used to add funds to your ’Gate Cash account, for contactless payments at select venues on campus, and more.
Upload Via the GET Online ’Gate Card Portal
- Go to get.cbord.com/colgate
- Click Login and sign in with your Colgate username and password.
- In the Quick Links section of the page, click Upload ID Photo.
- Under Upload ID Photo, click Choose File.
- Take a photo with a phone or camera and transfer it to your computer. The site has a file size limit of 1MB.
- Photos should be taken from the shoulders up. Face and head coverings are not allowed unless for religious purposes. Students who regularly wear glasses should have them on in the photo. Please ensure you are against a plain white background. Campus safety will review each image prior to approval. If a photo is rejected for any reason, you will receive an email notification from GET Mobile with a reason for the rejection, and a prompt to submit a new photo.
- Drag and center the gray box over your face, then click Crop to save.
If you have any questions or issues, please contact campus safety at cusafety@colgate.edu.
Required Trainings
Deadline: Friday, February 7
These training modules offer new students education about issues around alcohol use and abuse and sexual assault.
Complete Moodle Modules - DEI
Deadline: Friday, February 7
Moodle provides you with various engagement opportunities, important deadlines, and informative content to help you be successful at Colgate.
Recommended Items
The following action items are not required, but may be useful to you as you prepare for your first semester at Colgate.
Academic Support and Student Disability Services
We would like to plan with you for any reasonable accommodations you may need at Colgate. Once you have identified your accommodation needs, please submit your accommodation request to Student Disability Services.
Buy Your Textbooks
The Colgate Bookstore offers rent or buy options for academic textbooks and is conveniently located in downtown Hamilton, N.Y. not far from campus and on the Colgate Shuttle route.
Request Your Parking Permit
Parking permit applications can be submitted online.
Packing List
Refer to our lists of what to bring, what not to bring, and other useful items to consider having this fall.
Download Colgate App
Stay connected by downloading the official app of Colgate University.