New Students

After you sent in your enrollment fee, you received a welcome email from us with your NetID and the information you need to claim your F&M account. Your NetID identifies you on the network and, when used in combination with your password, allows you to access a variety of computer resources at F&M.

If you didn’t already claim your account, please locate that email and follow the instructions. It directs you to set your account password, which will become your password for all campus services.

Note: When you set your new password, the system performs an automated check to see if it was involved in a breach/hack. If it was, then you will be prompted to select another password. 

When you log into the system with your NetID and password, you may be prompted to check your phone for a 7-digit passcode to verify your identity. This passcode will be sent to the personal mobile phone number you provided to F&M as part of the enrollment process.

If you’re having trouble, reach out to our Information Technology Service (ITS) team by calling 717-358-6789 or opening a ticket, and make sure you include your personal email address and/or phone number so we can get in touch with you.

Canvas is a web-based learning management system. Your professors use Canvas as a central hub for your course materials, syllabi, grades, quizzes, and more. We use Canvas to help you prepare for your arrival on campus by centralizing the forms, surveys, and online orientation programs you're required to complete.

Once your F&M Gmail is ready, you’ll be able to log into your Canvas Course. This course will be your go-to resource to keep track of all your to-dos. There is some useful information in this course for you to review and we will be adding essential forms and surveys as they become available.

If you need assistance using Canvas, check out our Canvas Student Orientation, which includes resources to help you get started.

To use the mobile app, download Canvas from your device’s app store. Search for “Canvas Student” and once installed, select “Find my school” and search for Franklin and Marshall College. You will then be prompted to log in with your F&M Google account. We recommend that you allow notifications.

If you have any questions about logging into your email or Canvas course, you can contact our Information Technology Services (ITS) division by submitting a ticket or calling 717-358-6789.

The Registrar's Office will create your fall course schedule based on your completed academic surveys and placement exams These surveys will be accessible through your Canvas course. Note that some forms become available at different points during the summer. You can expect to receive your class schedule in August.

Credit Transfers

Transfer credit is only considered for college courses that are documented on an official transcript sent directly to the Registrar’s Office from the original institution. View our Transfer of Credit Policy to learn more.

Advanced Placement (AP) & International Baccalaureate (IB)

Make sure you have your AP/IB scores and any college transcripts sent directly to the Registrar's Office at F&M by the end of July. As we create your fall schedule, we will adjust it to make sure you are not enrolled in any course for which you will receive AP credit or transfer credit. If we receive score reports or transcripts after the end of July, we may not be able to adjust your final schedule. 

View our Advanced Placement and Transfer of Credit policies to learn more.

Earning Credit During Deferral

For first-year and transfer students with approval to defer their admission, F&M will allow the study of up to two courses per semester at another institution. Should a first-year or transfer student deferring their admission pursue more than two courses, the student would be required to reapply through the transfer admission process.

You will be assigned to your College House based on which Connections course you’re enrolled in. In May, we will send you academic surveys, including placement exams and a list of upcoming Connections courses. You’ll rank the Connections courses that intrigue you most, which will help us determine your College House assignment. From there, we’ll use your completed academic surveys and placement exams to round out your fall schedule. 

In June, we will send you instructions on how to complete your housing application and roommate selection online. Details about deadlines and processes will be shared at that time.

You can expect to receive your course schedule and College House assignment in August.

One of the most exciting parts of the summer before college is getting everything you’ll want and need for your room. We know you can’t wait to get started, so check out this list of what we think new students might need. Be sure to also review what items you should not bring to campus!

Renter’s Insurance

Franklin & Marshall College does not cover the cost of your personal belongings if they are stolen or damaged. Students are expected — and in some cases required — to obtain renters insurance before moving in to protect their personal items.

Feel free to explore the specs of our residential facilities so you can get a better idea of what your room will be like. You can expect to receive your room assignment in August.

F&M does not provide moving or storage assistance for students. Instead, Dorm Room Movers is our preferred provider for moving, storage and shipping. Dorm Room Movers makes your move-out simple and secure with their storage & shipping solutions.

F&M does not allow first-year students to bring vehicles to campus unless a first-year parking waiver is approved.

Shuttles & Buses

We offer free on-campus shuttle services to both libraries, several of the residence halls, and various off-campus housing locations. Our shuttles also provide a link to Lancaster, offering free transportation to nearby grocery stores and pharmacies, as well as downtown Lancaster, Target, Walmart, and the mall. We also offer transportation to Baltimore-Washington International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport at the end of each semester for a fee. Local buses of the Red Rose Transit Authority also serve the F&M campus, and OurBus runs buses from Lancaster to New York City on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

A Bicycle Friendly Campus

F&M was designated ‘Bicycle Friendly’ by the National Bicyclist Group. Our bike loan program provides free bicycles for students to use during the semester. Students are also more than welcome to bring their own bikes to campus. There are plenty of outdoor bike racks to store and lock bikes, two bike repair stations on campus with pumps, and two bike shops within a mile of campus.

As a first-year, you’re required to purchase the All-Access Meal Plan with 200 Flex Points, unless you’re commuting. If you’re a commuter and want to purchase a meal plan, please contact housing@fandm.edu. Otherwise, your meal plan pricing is automatically enrolled into your tuition details.

Your meal plan is conveniently attached directly to your F&M student ID card. All you have to do is swipe your card in the dining hall and our retail locations to use a meal or your flex dollars.

If you’re an athlete coming early to campus for pre-season training, you won’t be able to use your meal plan quite yet. Instead, you’ll be fed in the dining hall. Please talk to your athletic advisers if you have any questions.

The chefs on campus work closely with those who have specific dietary needs due to allergen restrictions, religious affiliation, lifestyle choices or other dietary restrictions.

Dietary Need Due to Allergies

If you require a specific dietary need due to allergies, Simple Servings is a gluten-free station on campus that serves a variety of delicious meals that don’t include any of the top allergens, with the exclusion of fin-fish. This station is also gluten-free. The entire dining hall is a nut-free facility, and gluten-free options are available in our retail locations.

If you have other dietary restrictions, our chefs and our dietitian work closely with the Office of Student Accessibility Services to assist you with those restrictions to ensure you have nutritious and delicious meals while at F&M.

KIVO: Kosher, International, Vegan, and Organic

If you keep Kosher or Halal, we have an area in the dining hall called KIVO, which stands for Kosher, International, Vegan, and Organic. This space is a Star K certified kosher dining facility, and also houses Trellis, our entirely plant-based dining option.

The Office of Student Accessibility Services (SAS) works with students who have disabilities to determine reasonable accommodations and ensure that they have equal access to all aspects of their education. Accommodations may include academic, dining, and housing needs.

Tuition is due in August. Each student is charged fees that cover tuition, housing, food, and some charges for activities and labs. All charges and fees for each semester are billed in advance and must be paid in full by the specified term due date. Learn more about tuition, fees, and billing at F&M, including payment options and due dates.

If you have any questions about financial aid at F&M or your specific package, please feel free to reach out to your financial aid contact. Your contact is based on the first letter of your last name: 

• A-G: Eric Kopp, Director of Financial Aid
• H-O: Jasper Choi, Associate Director of Financial Aid
• P-Z:  Landon Ashlin, Financial Aid Counselor

Yes! Each year, more than 1,000 students seek on-campus employment in a wide variety of positions. These positions are more than just jobs; they are opportunities to build relationships and communication skills while developing your toolkit for careers after F&M. 

If you’re enrolled in at least three credits per semester (a full-time course load), you are eligible for on-campus employment. If you are awarded Federal Work Study or College Work Option in your financial aid package, you are given priority status as an aided student and are eligible to apply for any position on campus. If you’re not work-aided, you are still eligible to work on campus, but will have a limited number of positions available to you. F&M’s Student Employment Office (SEO) will guide you through the position search and hiring process, and match you with positions where you will learn valuable, transferable skills that will benefit you both at F&M and beyond.

We will reach out with more information about student employment at F&M over the summer. If you have questions in the meantime, you can reach out to studentemployment@fandm.edu.

New students need to fill out a health history form indicating personal and family health history, demographic information, tuberculosis assessment, and immunization records, including meningitis vaccine requirements. Completion of this form is mandatory for all new and transfer students.

This form will be available in your Canvas course. When available, please follow the instructions on completion and submission of the required forms. You can direct all questions related to health form requirements to studentwellness@fandm.edu.

Once the Student Wellness Center (SWC) has received and processed your forms, they will mark them as complete in your Canvas course. If the SWC needs additional information, they will let you know. If this is the case, you only need to send what they’ve requested, not the full set of forms again. If you submit your forms and don’t receive a response, it just means the SWC hasn’t yet reviewed your forms; there’s no need to resubmit.

Please note: Pennsylvania State Law requires that all college students residing in a dormitory must either receive the meningitis vaccine (quadrivalent vaccine is the CDC and F&M recommended vaccine), or sign a waiver declining the vaccine for “religious or other reasons.” You will not be able to receive your room key on move-in day without submitting proof of the vaccine or the signed waiver.

Health insurance coverage is required for all full-time students. You must enroll in F&M’s student health insurance program if you don’t have insurance or if your insurance does not provide comparable coverage — including mental health — to the school sponsored plan.

If you have any questions, you can submit a service request or call us at 717-358-6789.

To submit a ticket: 

• Go to our ITS request portal
• Select "Report Incident"
• Select "Identity, account, or log in" from "Problem Type List"
• Enter the details of your issue with as much detail as possible. Including screenshots can be helpful.

It’s up to you! We recommend bringing a laptop computer that you are comfortable using. If you want to use Windows or Mac, it’s your choice; we are not an exclusively Apple or PC campus.

As an international student, there are some additional steps you will need to take as you prepare for your arrival on campus. You can get started with these materials: 

International Handbook

Explore our International Handbook for an overview of everything you need to know before you arrive at F&M.

Learn more

Logging Into Your International Student Services (ISS) Portal

International Student Services (ISS) at F&M offers professional immigration support, advocating for your academic success at F&M by ensuring you are compliant with U.S. immigration laws and processes. Learn how to log into the ISS Portal, a tool you will use during your time at F&M.

Learn more

Learn How to Prepare to Apply for Your I-20

Your first step as an F-1 student will be to apply for your Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status.” Learn more about how to prepare for your I-20.

Please note this link is only accessible if you're logged into your F&M Gmail account. 

Learn more

Apply for Your F-1 Visa and Prepare for Your Interview

After you have applied for and received your Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for F-1 Student Status), the next step is to apply for your F-1 Student visa. Learn more about how to apply for your F-1 visa and prepare for your interview. 

Please note this link is only accessible if you're logged into your F&M Gmail account. 

Learn more

Getting to Lancaster From Various Airports

F&M's location in Lancaster offers easy access to several major airports. There is also an Amtrak train station just two miles from campus. Learn more about how you can get to campus after your flight lands.

Learn more

International Student Orientation

F-1 international students will be welcomed to campus for an early move-in on August 18. You will participate in a specialized orientation from August 18-20, during which you will learn about the requirements of their F-1 status, discover how to succeed in F&M's liberal arts community, and meet other international and domestic students from across the globe. International orientation is mandatory for all international students. There is no additional fee for this program. You will then participate in new student orientation August 20-23, 2026 before fall semester classes begin August 24, 2026. If you'd like to attend International Student Orientation but aren't on an F-1 visa, please let us know at iss@fandm.edu.

You can contact the orientation team at orientationteam@fandm.edu. One of our team members will be sure to follow up as quickly as they can.