Welcome Letter from the Office of Student Services
Congratulations on your plans to attend the Monterey Institute of International Studies! On behalf of the Student Services team, we are looking forward to your arrival on campus and are ready to assist you in any way we can to ensure a smooth transition.
I'd like to share some practical information that may be helpful with your move to Monterey and your first days at the Institute. Please read below for this information and if you should have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.
New Student Orientation: Tuesday, January 22nd through Friday, January 25th
On Tuesday, January 22nd, your first day of New Student Orientation, we invite all students to the McCone Building (499 Pierce Street.) between 8:30am - 9:00am for check-in. At this time you will receive your orientation USB drive as well as have an opportunity to meet your new classmates while enjoying a cup of coffee, tea or juice and a tasty breakfast pastry.
If you plan to arrive to Monterey during the two weeks prior to orientation, you can check-in and pick up your orientation USB drive from the Center for Advising & Career Services prior to the first day of orientation. Although, we do encourage you to still join us for breakfast and mingle with other new students before the President's Welcome Session beginning at 9:00am.
For more information on what to expect during orientation we have created a webpage for new students: http://www.miis.edu/student-life/newstudent. Please review all sections including: Information for All Students, Orientation Schedules, and Program-Specific Information.
Arrival
We strongly suggest that you plan to arrive at least five to ten days prior to the start of orientation to allow yourself enough time to secure housing and get settled in. Monterey is a very popular tourist destination so you should make arrangements for accommodations as soon as possible. A good starting point is the Lodging page of the MIIS website. It is not advisable to wait until you arrive to make your reservations. It’s best to plan on staying in a hotel or motel for up to five nights so that you have a secured place to stay once you arrive to Monterey.
If you are having a difficult time finding a rental property, there is a short-term, Emergency Housing list that we make available should the need arise. These accommodations may be available with other students or staff members at a rate of approximately $20/night. However, there is no guarantee that such space will be available, so you must make advance hotel/motel or hostel reservations for the first five nights, at the minimum.
Housing
While the Office of Student Services cannot arrange housing for you, we can provide you with the resources you will need to conduct a successful housing search. The Institute's housing resources are available on the Student Services website at: http://www.miis.edu/student-life/housing. As you likely know, access to our secure Off-Campus Housing website is provided when you contact the Office of Student Services.
In addition, if you need assistance with your search, please plan to attend a Housing and Insurance Information Session. These sessions begin on Monday, January 7th in the Office of Student Services. We also offer these sessions online November 27th through January 9th. Register for an online sessions at: http://www.miis.edu/student-life/newstudent/webinars.
The Institute cannot receive and hold mail for students. If you wish to leave an address with friends and family, we suggest that you contact the local Post Office at: 831-372-4063 to inquire about "general delivery" options with the post office.
Parking
New students who are on campus for orientation are permitted to use the Student Parking Lots, if space is available. There are also metered parking lots at Van Buren and Franklin Streets and on Pierce Street. Limited parking is available on some of the residential streets within walking distance of the Institute campus; many of these streets have two-hour limits, so please be sure to read the signs.
On campus parking permits will be available in the Security Office once you secure housing and can provide proof that you live at least one mile from campus. This process will begin on Monday, January 7th.
On a Lighter Note
There are many fun activities offered on campus outside of the classroom. These include foreign language films, noted speakers on a broad range of topics, dances, and other social events organized by student groups or the Student Council. At the beginning of the fall and spring semesters, the Student Council sponsors an Activities Fair so that you can learn more about the various campus clubs and organizations. To see the types of clubs available on campus this past academic year please visit the Student Club page of the MIIS website. Please plan to attend.
The Monterey area itself offers many activities including theaters, films, nightclubs, and sports activities such as sailing, kayaking, tennis, and hiking. The area is also noted as a music center; in addition to clubs, which feature local and visiting bands, it hosts blues, country, reggae, and jazz festivals, and the Carmel Bach Festival each summer. Upcoming events and information about the Monterey Peninsula can be found by visiting web sites at http://www.monterey.com and http://www.montereycountyweekly.com.
If you have any questions or concerns about your move to Monterey, please feel free to contact the Office of Student Services at 831.647.4128 or via email at student.sevices@miis.edu. You will also find a plethora of information about housing, insurance, the local area, etc. on the Student Services website at: http://www.miis.edu/student-life. Also, please check out our Blog at: blogs.miis.edu/studentservices, “like” us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MIISstudentservices, and follow us @MIISstuserv.
We look forward to your arrival and hope you will enjoy our international community!
Regards,
Ashley Fera Arrocha
Director of Student Services
