Frequently Asked Questions

Submit your HuskyCard ID photo by June 16, 2025 for Summer Sessions in June and by July 7, 2025 for the Summer Sessions in July. Anyone who does not attend a Summer Session will need to submit their HuskyID photo by August 4, 2025 to have your ID printed and ready for pick up when you get here on August 18 and 19, 2025. If you have not submitted a photo, IT will be available to take your photo and print your HuskyCard during check-in in the Library at the IT Helpdesk. A valid government-issued photo ID is required, such as a driver's license, a state ID, or a passport. The HuskyCard is the official Michigan Tech ID card that is issued to all students, faculty, and staff. 

All students are required to have a computing device.  This will help maximize your success in a range of class scenarios during your college career. 

Students living off campus are strongly encouraged to have regular and reliable internet access.

Visit Information Technology’s Computing Device Requirement webpage for device specifications.

There are several banks in the area that assist students with finances. Please refer to this list of local banks to review your options for banking while in Houghton.

Spectrum, Verizon, and AT&T provide cell service to the local area. Phones are also available throughout the residence halls in the shared kitchenettes for student use and local, domestic, and Canadian long distance calls are free.

Students living on campus and choosing to bring a vehicle must register it with Transportation Services (the registration link will be available later in the summer). During move-in on Monday, August 18, 2025, or Tuesday, August 19, 2025, students who pre-register for their parking passes will have their pass in their Orientation materials. If a student does not pre-register, the Transportation Department will be available in the Van Pelt and Opie Library (#17) during the move-in times. 
Students arriving after 5 p.m. on Monday or Tuesday, August 18–19, 2025, should go to Transportation Services at the Administration Building, Room 100 (#1 on the campus map) to finalize parking arrangements. 
Students living in the local area and commuting to campus must register their vehicle online through Transportation Services or in person at Transportation Services at the Administration Building, Room 100 (#1 on the campus map).

Register your bike online through Public Safety and Police Services. Registration helps to ensure that bikes found without owners can be returned to the proper person. It is recommended to have a lock on your bike and secure it to bike racks located across campus at academic buildings, administrative buildings, and residence halls.

Bike storage is offered by the residence hall councils during the winter months for registered bikes. Watch for flyers or advertisements on how to store your bike!

High-quality healthcare options are available in the surrounding area including clinic and emergency locations. Review immunization recommendations, student health insurance, and campus health resources. Counseling Services at Michigan Tech can assist students in need of counseling services or medication management. Counseling sessions are free and confidential. Contact Counseling Services by phone at 906-487-2538 to arrange services.

Students at Michigan Tech also have access to the TELUS Health Student Support App for free! Counseling and support is available over the phone, video, or text chat.

Find out more about TELUS Health and download the app.

Student Disability Services provides accommodations for disabilities that might impact students’ college experience. To be eligible for accommodations, students must provide professional documentation. Contact Student Disability Services at sds@mtu.edu or 906-487-3558.

Given that many of our students travel 8-10 hours from home to get to campus, many students or their families will book local lodging to arrive at campus the day before move-in for Parents and Families Orientation. Hotels and other lodging accommodations fill quickly during busy times, so the earlier you reserve, the better. Visit our Admissions page to access detailed driving directions and an up-to-date listing of local lodging options.

Every student and family is unique. Some students will travel to campus and move-in on their own while others will have their family accompany them. There will be events for all families to attend during both Summer and Fall sessions, where they can ask questions and have their concerns addressed. 

Summer Session
Parents and Families can attend most events with their student.
Fall Session
University Welcome—6 p.m., Tuesday, August 19
Parents and Families Orientation—7 p.m. Tuesday, August 19

A special session for parents and families is planned for Tuesday, August 19, before the start of Fall Orientation. Fall Orientation Week is specifically designed for new students. Having students’ undivided attention and presence on campus is important to begin their successful journey at Michigan Tech. We recommend that parents and families say their goodbyes on Tuesday evening.

Michigan Tech has launched The Husky Family Den, a family-focused communication platform to connect parents and families with important information to support their students.

Parents and alumni of Michigan Tech can also contribute to Paws UP, a program that connects students in need to valuable resources that assist them throughout their college journey.

Michigan Tech provides a variety of resources to help students adjust to college life. A great first stop for students is the Waino Wahtera Center for Student Success. The Wahtera Center staff coordinate Orientation and assist students throughout their time on campus to identify mentoring and tutoring opportunities along with strategies to support the academic transition to college. 

Account access for parents, also known as Guest Access, allows Michigan Tech students to grant individuals access to the student's confidential records. The student may grant access to any or all of the following information: electronic bill notification, tuition bill and associated holds, student's emergency contacts, financial aid awards, unofficial academic transcripts, midterm grades (for first-year students only), term-end grades, and class schedules and course details. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which is a federal law, protects the privacy of students over the age of 18 or enrolled at a postsecondary institution such as Michigan Technological University. Students have the right to choose those to whom they give access to their confidential records. For a student to grant guest access, they can follow the instructions on the Guest Account Setup webpage.

It is very important that students do not share their personal login with anyone. Student's access to their email and Canvas is intended for the student only and sharing of personal login information can be a violation of Michigan Tech's Academic Integrity Policy.

Michigan Tech views students as young adults who are in the process of becoming responsible, accountable, and capable individuals. We respect their growing independence and hold them accountable for decisions they make. We also respect their privacy, but don't always promise confidentiality, and if needed, we will get others involved to ensure their wellbeing.

As such, we view parents and guardians as our partners and will collaborate with them to the best of our ability. However, we prefer to work directly with students in order to foster their growth and development. Parents and guardians are encouraged to continue to strengthen the relationship with their student by assuming the additional role of mentor/coach.

Parents, guardians, and family members often have questions or concerns about their student's Michigan Tech experience that may be helpful to share with us. Our staff is dedicated to assisting parents and family members and encourages you to communicate with us at any time. Please call the Center at 906-487-3558 or email your inquiry to success@mtu.edu.

Yes, you need to register for Part 1 Summer Session.

All new students are automatically registered for the Fall Orientation, August 18-23, 2025.

Yes. Orientation is a mandatory program for all new Michigan Tech students. It is a great way to get more connected with the campus community! During your Summer and Fall Orientation Sessions, you will learn need-to-know information and have a chance to explore all of the extra elements that Michigan Tech has to offer.

Yes. New Michigan Tech students are charged a fee of $300 for Orientation.

Students need to register for one of the following Summer Orientation Session dates:

• June 22-23
• June 26-27
• July 13-14
• July 17-18

All New Students are automatically registered for the Fall Orientation Session, August 20-23, 2025.
Classes will start the following Monday, August 25.

Even though some students may have some college knowledge or experience, Orientation gives you the tools to be successful at Michigan Tech. You will 

• get information about campus resources 
• learn about University policies and expectations 
• meet other students—especially in your major 
• become familiar with faculty and staff 
• explore campus
• successfully transition to life at Michigan Tech

You will spend the week learning about campus resources, connecting with other students in your major, getting to know your academic department and advisor, experiencing all that campus has to offer, and preparing to personally and academically engage in college.

Yes. Orientation is valuable for you as a commuter student. It provides a way to meet students in the same major and become familiar with all that campus offers. As a commuter student, you can eat meals in any residential dining hall during Orientation Week. This allows you to enjoy meals with resident students or eat without needing to leave campus during Orientation Week.

Students will be assigned time slots either on Monday, August 18, 2025 or Tuesday, August 19, 2025. While we know this is an exciting time for everyone involved in the move-in process, we ask that you please adhere to your scheduled move-in time which can be found in your HuskyHouse Portal. The time you are assigned should be the time that you arrive at the Van Pelt and Opie Library (#17). 

Helpers in yellow “Welcome” T-shirts will be available around the Van Pelt and Opie Library along with each of the residence halls for moving items, directions, or any questions that you may have.

For full directions about the move-in process, please see the following directions for students living in Wadsworth, McNair, DHH, or Hillside.

Students who are arriving after 5 p.m. on Monday, August 18, 2025, should wait until Tuesday to move onto campus. Those who are arriving after 4 p.m. on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, should go to Wadsworth Hall Reception Desk to retrieve their Orientation materials, room key, and parking pass (if they have pre-registered their car). Students who are arriving after the move-in days and times, should check in at their assigned Residence Hall Reception desk.

If you have any questions about where you should go to receive your items, please reach out to orientation@mtu.edu or call 906-487-3558.

Students planning to arrive on campus prior to their scheduled move-in time must fill out the early arrival form on the Housing and Residential Life website. Early arrivals will be permitted under extenuating circumstances only. If you have further questions, please contact the Housing and Residential Life Office by phone at 906-487-2682 or by email at housing@mtu.edu.

Students who signed a Housing contract prior to June 1 will receive their housing assignment by July 1. Students who signed a Housing contract after June 1 will receive their housing assignment by August 1. Room assignment details will be available in the HuskyHouse portal. If you do not receive this information by June 1, please contact Residential Living by phone at 906-487-2682 or email housing@mtu.edu.

Read this list of items to bring (and those to leave at home).

More information about on-campus living is available at the following resources:

• Residential Living Guide
• Frequently asked questions about on-campus housing
• New and Transfer Student Housing Contract Process

All first-year students and any transfer students with fewer than 30 transfer credits are registered and placed into classes in mid July by the Registrar’s Office at which time students can access their schedule through their MyMichiganTech portal. Students must be sure to send their final high school transcript to the Admissions Office so the class schedule can be created and once created won’t be dropped.
Students must also send official transcripts for any college-level courses taken while in high school so classes can be evaluated for transfer credit along with any Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or College Level Examination Program scores that may earn college-level credit. Students attending the week-long orientation will have the opportunity to register for General Education courses, other required courses, or physical education electives during fall orientation.

Transfer students with more than 30 credits can register for courses through their MyMichiganTech portal after their transfer evaluation is complete. Academic advisors will connect with transfer students about course recommendations prior to registration based on the transfers evaluation. Transfer students enrolled in courses that do not appear on the most recent transcript can email a list of those courses to transfer@mtu.edu so the courses can be added to the record as pending transfer credit. Students must send an official transcript to the Admissions Office once pending courses are completed. Transfer students will have the opportunity to make changes to their schedule during Transfer Student Orientation, by contacting or visiting the Registrar’s Office, or by working with their academic advisor.

You can access a full listing of undergraduate academic advisors by major. Please note not all advisors hold summer office hours. You'll have the opportunity to meet with an advisor during orientation.

Students can get a list of the books they need and purchase them online via the Campus Bookstore. Students can also print a copy of their schedule and visit the Campus Bookstore in the Memorial Union Building (#34 on campus map).

Students requesting a major change prior to Orientation Week should contact the Admissions Office by phone at 906-487-2335 or by email at mtu4u@mtu.edu. Students requesting a major change after orientation should contact the Waino Wahtera Center for Student Success by phone at 906-487-3558 or by emailing orientation@mtu.edu.

You will be placed in your first math course based on the highest qualifying score. We recommend that you request to have your ACT, SAT, AP, IB,or CLEP score(s) sent directly to Tech from the testing agency, or have your official college transcript(s) sent through a transcript service such as Parchment. Or, take the ALEKS math placement test.

• We can't create your schedule without a qualifying math test score, applicable transfer credit, or ALEKS test result. To learn more about what is a qualifying score is, visit the Math Placement website. 
• Questions? Contact Ann Humes at amhumes@mtu.edu.

Students enrolling in computer science, software engineering, or computer engineering must take the online Computer Science Knowledge Assessment in June to determine which introductory computer science course is best for you.

First-year students may be placed into a chemistry course by the Registrar’s Office prior to arriving at Michigan Tech as part of the course scheduling process, but this can be adjusted during orientation or within the first few weeks of class. Students who have not taken chemistry for several years or find math challenging may have difficulty with chemistry. These guidelines from the Chemistry Department can help you choose your first chemistry course. When selecting your course, consider the grades you earned in your last semester of high school chemistry and algebra, and the number of years since you last studied chemistry.

This free online test is required for students who have prior experience in German or Spanish and wish to take modern language classes at Michigan Tech. (Students who have submitted AP or IB scores for German or Spanish do not need to take the placement test.) The test ensures placement into the appropriate language level/course. Students who place above the beginning level may be eligible for additional placement credit after completing a language course at Michigan Tech.
You are encouraged to take the online exam before arriving on campus in the fall. Register for the test free online. There will also be limited opportunities to take the placement test during the August orientation. In August, an open house will be held to meet with Modern Language faculty and learn more about our language minors.