Incoming Oredigger Newsletter

Welcome

Whether you’ve decided to become an Oredigger (hooray!) or are still weighing your options, this is the first edition of our monthly accepted/incoming student newsletter to help keep you informed about what comes next.

Please take time to read it in its entirety as you will find important information about next steps and other interesting Mines tidbits. If there’s any additional information you would like to see in a future newsletter, please email your suggestions to admissions@mines.edu. 

From the Executive Director of Admissions

Jen Gagne

Hello, and happy March from Golden, Colorado! It’s hard to believe we’re already thinking about the fall semester, but it will be upon us before we know it. 

We’re thrilled that you’ve been admitted to Mines and are considering joining the Oredigger community. Ours is a university that climbs together, and we can’t wait to have you join us in Golden. We also know that this is a busy time for you, with many different tasks and requirements as you finish out the academic year. 

This newsletter is an effort on our part to ensure you have all the information you’ll need this spring and summer to make your journey to Mines a success. All of our campus offices are ready to help you make the transition to life at Mines throughout this summer and your first semester, so please reach out when you have questions. 

You love science, mathematics, engineering or technology, and so do we. We hope that your excitement and passion for these fields finds a home with us here in Golden. Again, congratulations on your acceptance to Colorado School of Mines. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions you might have along the way. 

Go Orediggers! 

Time-sensitive and important updates regarding admission, financial aid, and more.

Updates from the Admissions Office

Becoming an Oredigger!

Online Resources for Accepted Students

• Oredigger Next Steps Checklist: This checklist shows all of the required and optional steps you’ll want to complete between your acceptance and starting classes. It’s updated regularly and available in your Applicant Portal. Ensure you’re checking it each month for a successful and smooth transition to campus!

• Accepted Student Webpage: You will find lots of helpful info and resources on our accepted student webpage. Please visit this page regularly.

Accepted and Incoming Student Visit Opportunities

We have several different visit opportunities for you! Some highlights include:

• Webinars with campus partners highlighting important resource
• Daily visit experiences on our campus in Golden

Click the button below, select your preferred date on the calendar and register for one (or more) of our visit opportunities. We can’t wait to connect with you!

Do you have transfer credit or college credit?

Upon receipt of Official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended, your college credit will be evaluated within two weeks.  In- progress courses will not be evaluated until a grade is recorded on the transcript.  When you receive a final grade for in-progress courses this term, please send updated official transcripts to the Office of Admissions at admissions@mines.edu.

To see how your credits were applied, log onto my.mines.edu, find the Trailhead card and use the Degree Works Dashboard.  Details about transfer credit can be found at on our website.   If you have any questions about how transfer credit was applied you can reach out to transfer@mines.edu.  All other questions can be sent to admissions@mines.edu.

Registration and advising next steps for all incoming Fall 2024 students  will be sent out later this spring, as well as opportunities to start classes in Summer 2024.  Stay tuned!

NEED HELP UNDERSTANDING LOAN OPTIONS?

This 14-minute video can help you understand the types of loans available and weigh the pros and cons of each option. More information about loans will be sent in early June, and you do not need to make any loan decisions at this time.

Students, family members and friends can sign up to receive information with Financial Aid dates and deadlines by subscribing to our Financial Aid Newsletter.

2024 Oredigger Camp Abroad in Iceland!

Dates: July 19 – 25, 2024

FOR NEW UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS ONLY:

Get acquainted with Mines traditions, expectations, and values while getting a head start on building your community in Iceland! This collaboration between New Student and Transition Services and the Outdoor Recreation Center is one of a kind. You will have the chance to explore the coast of Iceland, meet new and incoming students, and learn from one of our Oredigger Camp Counselors, all while participating in this Outdoor Recreation Center and NeST program. More information and the link to register can be found on the Oredigger Camp website.

For more information and questions, please contact Austin Dyer, Director of Outdoor Recreation at ayder@mines.edu.

For International Students

Mark your calendars and make sure to book your flights to arrive in Golden, C before August 10th for Move In Day!

All international students must attend International Student Orientation on August 15th. More information to come on location soon.

If you have not already, please make sure to request your I-20/DS-2019 Forms for study from your international student portal located at international.mines.edu

Any questions? Contact International Student and Scholar Services at isss@mines.edu

Info about special programs and opportunities available at Mines before and during your time here.

Email honors@mines.edu with any questions, and start your application today!

Follow Teach@Mines on Instagram/Facebook for updates and events or check out our website for all of our program information.

Updates and info from academic departments and programs across campus, available here.

Math Placement at Mines

Let’s get everyone into the right math class this Fall! This newsletter item is informational. You will receive a placement survey from Mines later this Spring. Please contact Professor Nicholas at nicholas@mines.edu with any questions about placement or math/statistics courses.

General placement guidelines:

• Most students will start in Calc I
• AP Calculus AB 4 or 5 places you into Calc II
• AP Calculus BC 5 places you into Calc III (an AB subscore of 4 or 5 can place you into Calc II)
• Students who already have Calc III credit can take Differential Equations.
• Students who already have credit beyond that point should reach out for guidance on placement.

Honors Calc III:

If you are going to be placed into Calc III, consider taking Honors Calc III instead. This will place you in a cohort of students who also enjoy math and are intrinsically motivated. The class is not harder than the regular Calc III but will involve more applications and more theory of calculus.

Alternate Math Sequence Pilot

Professor Mike Nicholas was recently awarded an Alfred E. Jenni Fellowship to develop an alternative core math sequence at Mines. The aim of the pilot is to modernize our delivery of calculus and to incorporate data into the core math sequence. We will pilot this sequence in Fall 2024.

The current core track (required for most students) is:

In the pilot, students will instead take:

This sequence will take a modern approach to calculus in the form of computing and applications while maintaining the rigor of the traditional calculus sequence. The Data-Driven STEM course will be a view of how data is used at Mines and in the STEM professions. It will include data visualization, statistics, data science, signal processing, and linear algebra. 

We believe this sequence will be advantageous for Mines students for the following reasons:

• Data and computing are at the heart of all modern STEM disciplines, and this sequence will provide a solid foundation for students.
• With the data course, students will be able to learn and do more in the subsequent Differential Equations course.
• Data Driven STEM will also satisfy the requirements for our Introduction to Statistics course, so the sequence is something of a “buy four, get one free” situation. 

This sequence would be a great choice for any incoming Mines student who has not yet had calculus, has taken calculus but does not have calculus credit, or any student with Calc I credit who would prefer the modernized sequence with a focus on application and data. Students will be given an opportunity to opt into this sequence when Mines sends a placement survey. Space will be limited to four sections.

Summer Chemistry Course Available!

From the Chemistry Department

Want to get a jump start on your classes?

The Mines Chemistry Department will offer Principles of Chemistry 1 (CHGN 121), a required course for all students, during this summer session, June 24 – August 2, 2024.

This 4 credit course with lab will run Monday through Thursday from 1:00 -2:50 pm for class and Thursday 8:00 -11:30 am for lab (both class and lab must be taken concurrently).

Please contact the Chemistry Department with any questions!

Faculty Profile

Dr. Jeffrey Shragge (MINES Geophysics Professor) has extensive expertise in seismic wave propagation, seismic imaging and tomography, near-surface geophysics, and high-performance scientific computing.

He leads teaching and research in the Mines Humanitarian Engineering and Science program.

Contact Dr. Shragge at jshragge@mines.edu or check his webpage to learn more.

Info from a variety of campus partners, offices, services, student organizations and more!

My Account Page

The ‘My Account’ page is a one-stop shop for all student financial information, conveniently located in your Trailhead Portal. On the ‘My Account Page’, you will be able to:

• Make a payment to your account
• View account balances and ebill statements
• Enroll in a payment plan
• Sign up for direct deposit refunds (eRefunds)
• Set up authorized user accounts
• Access the 1098-T tax forms.

To locate the ‘My Account’ page, log in to Trailhead > Student > My Account

For more information, please visit the Bursar’s Office website.

Authorized User Access

The Authorized User Account is not the same as the Proxy Access. These two systems provide different access to student information and require separate login credentials.

The Authorized User Portal will provide access to make payments, view billing and tax statements, enroll in payment plans, and more.

Students can grant access to authorized users to view their financial account information. To do so, please visit the “My Account” page.
Trailhead > Payments and Refunds card > My Account  > Click on ‘My Account’ > Scroll to ‘Payers’ section

Sponsored Student

Do you have a third party paying for your tuition and fees (excluding family members and scholarships)? If so, please complete the ‘Sponsored Student Agreement Form‘ and submit it to the Office of the Bursar.

For more information, please visit our sponsored student page.

Disability Support Services

What is a disability? The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines disability as a “physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.”

The ADA regulations include both visible and invisible impairments, such as physical and physiological impairments, mental and psychological disorders, intellectual disabilities, and specific learning disabilities among many others.

Disability Support Services (DSS) works collaboratively with students, faculty, and staff to minimize barriers and support an accessible campus community. When barriers to access occur, Disability Support Services works one-on-one with students to determine accommodations and facilitate access to programs and services. If you are a student with a disability in need of accommodations, please visit our website for more information and to access the online accommodation request form. DSS is located at 1225 17th Street.

In preparation for registering with DSS, please consider collecting and/or requesting updated disability documentation from your provider including diagnostic evaluation records, current school disability records (IEP/504, if applicable), and any medical documentation to support your request for accommodations.

While students can register and request accommodations with DSS at any time, early submission helps to facilitate the coordination of accommodations by the start of the semester.

If living on campus:

Proof of a Meningococcal ACWY vaccine (for example: Menactra, MCV4, Menveo) given within the last 5 years must be documented on your immunization record. If this time period will expire while living on campus, you may choose to receive a booster from your physician or the Student Health Center. Students living on campus will have a hold placed on their account 5 years after the date of the most recent Meningitis ACWY vaccine. Currently, Meningitis ACWY is required, Meningitis B is recommended. A waiver of this requirement is accepted by completing and uploading the Meningococcal Disease form.

If under age 18 – Consent to Treat:

Parent/Guardian, please complete this form so that we may treat your student in the event of illness or injury if they are under age 18 as of the first day of class.

We communicate by secure email to your Mines account. Please watch for important messages and respond promptly. You may also access these messages through the Health Portal.

Student Health Insurance Options

The Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) enrollment/waiver period is open from July 15 – Census Day! SHIP has fantastic benefits such as a $0 deductible, free virtual care through AcademicLiveCare, and a $2000 out-of-pocket limit. Coverage is through United HealthCare, utilizing the nationwide UHC Choice Plus PPO Network.

All students are charged for the SHIP, but those students with approved waivers will also see the waiver credit. Annual coverage from 8/1/24 – 7/31/25 will be approximately $2500, billed half in Fall Semester & half in Spring Semester. Once the open enrollment period begins, you can visit csm.myahpcare.com to make your annual selection by September 4 (Census Day).

For more information visit the SHIP website or email ship@mines.edu.

Introducing the Career Center

The Career Center is here for you from your first day on campus! The Mines Career Center strives to support Mines students and recent graduates in reaching their career path goals by serving as the bridge between employers and students. Our services are available to students of all majors and degree levels, and we will work with students for up to two years after graduation.

The Career Center offers a variety of services to students including:

• Personalized advising with Career and Professional Development Advisors.
• Workshops on numerous topics including resume and cover letter development, practice interviews, proactive job search, networking, salary negotiation and more.
• Info Sessions with employers to learn about and network with companies.
• Industry Panels to hear from industry leaders and learn more about career options.
• Signature Career Days every Fall and Spring semesters connecting students with hundreds of employers hiring for internship and full-time opportunities.
• CSM 250: Engineering Your Career Path, a 1-credit elective focused on building career readiness and job search skills.

Whether you are not sure what you want to do after graduation or eager to begin your career journey, the Career Center is here to help.

Learn more about Career Center services. We are available for questions and to help Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) by email, phone or in person.

We look forward to working with you!

The Office for Institutional Equity

Coming Soon: Parking & Transportation Enhancements!

With a growing student body and new construction projects taking place on campus, parking and getting around campus has become increasingly more difficult. Mines recognizes the need for improvements to make life a little easier for the campus community. To that end, the Parking Services Office is excited to announce some new upcoming enhancements to campus parking and transit options, which are sure to improve your experience!