Orientation Tips and Resources
We send a weekly message to new students throughout the summer prior to Orientation to introduce them to all the resources and supports available on the Tufts campus. The items below may also be useful as you prepare to join us on campus for Orientation.
What Should I Bring to Campus?
It can be overwhelming to pack for college. We’ve provided some guidelines to help you plan ahead.
What We Provide
Medford and Somerville Campus
Every student will be provided with the following in their residence hall:
- Bed – extra twin long (36” x 80”)
- Desk and chair
- Closet or wardrobe
- Chest of drawers
- Window shades and screens
- Ethernet data jack (one per student), telephone jack and cable television jack
SMFA: Fenway and Beacon House
Students living in on-campus housing will be provided with the following in their residence hall:
- Bed – extra twin long (36” x 80”)
- Desk and chair
- Small dresser
Things Not to Forget
For Your Room
- Recycling bin
- Power strip and power cords for your electronics
- Alarm clock
- Fan (rooms are not air conditioned)
- Flashlight (a real one, not your cellphone)
- Shower tote
- Towels
- Desk light
- Headphones
- Cleaning supplies: common spaces are cleaned, but your room is your responsibility
- Trash can
- Plastic shoe/boot tray
Suggestions from Health and Wellness
You can visit the Health Service at any time for bigger concerns, but we suggest building your own medicine cabinet for day-to-day needs. We recommend:
- Your health insurance card
- 1-month supply of any medications you take (Health Service can assist you with refills, if necessary, once you’ve settled in)
- Band-Aids
- Ace bandage
- Thermometer
- Hydrocortisone cream
- Tissues
- Waterless hand sanitizer
- Non-prescription pain reliever (acetaminophen or ibuprofen)
- Common cold remedies (e.g., cough drops, cold/cough medicine, sore throat spray)
Also, a safety-certified helmet is required if you plan on rollerblading or riding a bicycle, skateboard, longboard, or scooter.
Items to Discuss with Your Roommate
We recommend roommates talk in advance about certain shared items such as a TV, minifridge or MicroChill (combined minifridge/microwave unit), and single serve coffee maker/Keurig.
Things to Leave at Home
For your safety and the safety of your dorm mates, please leave the following at home:
- Candles, incense, flammable substances
- Microwaves and other cooking appliances
- Halogen lights and multi-armed “octopus” style lamps
- Weapons of any kind (real or replica)
- All upholstered furniture that does not meet the CAL-133 safety rating
- Dart boards with metal tipped darts
- Air conditioners
- Grills
- Explosives
- Hoverboards and similar devices
Living and Furniture Accommodations
If you have a disability, you may wish to request accommodations for your on-campus living space.
Health and safety concerns dictate that we handle these requests in a structured way. Therefore, you will need to submit an updated accommodation request yearly. If you have a medical condition, you may request a modification to the standard furniture in your residential room.
How Do I Get to Campus?
Please be aware that we can not provide accommodations before your official move-in date. If you arrive early for orientation or pre-orientation, you will need to arrange lodging until student housing opens for the new academic year.
By Air
The closest airport is Boston Logan International (BOS). From Logan Airport, you can then take a cab to campus or public transportation:
Board the MBTA Silver Line (with stops outside each terminal) to South Station. Change to the Red Line outbound to the Davis Square Station. Exit the subway on the College Avenue side. You may take the #94 or #96 bus or walk 15 minutes along College Avenue to the Tufts campus. If you board the bus, ask the driver to stop across from the Memorial Steps at Tufts University, just before the intersection of College and Boston Avenues. If you walk, turn right out of the subway station and follow College Avenue around a traffic circle. The Tufts campus will be on your left.
By Car (Parking)
Medford Campus – There are several parking lots on campus, including Dowling Hall Garage (419 Boston Avenue, Medford, MA) and Cousens Parking Lot (161 College Avenue, Medford, MA) . Families will not have to pay for parking during move in.
A map of the Medford campus and parking lots is available on the Orientation Program for Parents.
Students and families arriving for move in on the Medford campus must check in at the Joyce Cummings Center (JCC) first. If coming by car, you will be directed where to park once you arrive at the JCC.
SMFA Fenway/Boston Campus –Tufts has reserved a limited number of parking spaces in front of 1023, 1025 and 1047 Beacon Street during move in for students and families.
After move-in at SMFA Fenway, it is recommended that students and families drive to and park at the Medford campus if attending pre-orientation, matriculation, or related events.
Parking-Related Reminders
There will not be a “Drive and Drop” for this year’s Move-In. Tufts offered this early curbside drop-off for the past two years during COVID-19 to ensure physical distancing during move-in. The Facilities team will be working right up until move-in day to prepare residence halls.
Please do not double park or park in an unloading zone in Medford or Boston as it creates a backup and you also risk getting a parking ticket or other citation issued by Boston, Medford, or Somerville.
After parking, students moving into residences on the Medford campus must check in first at the Joyce Cummings Center; SMFA students moving into Beacon Street residences in Boston must check in first at 230 Fenway. For arrival information, visit the Undergraduate Orientation website.
By Public Transportation
Please visit the links below for updates from the MBTA.
- The closest subway to the Medford Campus is the Green Line E train at Medford/Tufts station on Boston Ave. The Red Line at Davis Square is about a 15-minute walk from campus. Bus Routes 80, 94, and 96 bring you directly by the Medford campus.
- The closest subways to the SMFA Fenway/BostonCampus are the Green Line E train or the Ruggles stop on the Orange Line.
Tufts free shuttle services, including to and from the SMFA, are also available.
Arriving for Pre-Orientation
Your program will send out more detailed information regarding your arrival day and where to go. If you will be participating in Pre-Orientation and will be living on campus, you will be able to pick up your room keys and be able to move into your room on the first day of Pre-Orientation. We’ll send you information about where and when to pick up your keys during the summer.
If you are a commuter student, contact us directly once you have been assigned to a program and we will make specific arrangements for your housing during the Pre-Orientation program.
Sending Packages to Campus?
We encourage students to pack light -- but if you need to ship belongings to campus ahead of time (beginning August 1), please review Mail Services' guidelines.
Technology at Tufts
Tufts offers a variety of technology resources to help you achieve your academic objectives.
The Basics
- Your Tufts Account is your Tufts Username and Tufts Password
- Your Tufts Email is powered by Microsoft Office 365
- Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds a second level of verification when you log into designated Tufts websites and online services.
- The Student Information System (SIS) is your go-to place for course registration, catalogs, schedules, financial accounts, financial aid, address information, transcripts, and grades
- Canvas is Tufts’ learning management system that offers faculty and students a collaborative online learning environment
- Computer purchases - view Tufts’ recommendations or request a computer purchase consultation
- Student discounts for computer purchases
- Tufts Mobile provides information on Tufts shuttles, news, events and calendars, athletics, Facebook and Twitter feeds
Connecting to the Tufts Network
On-Campus
Your Tufts username and password will connect you to the wireless network using Tufts Secure (recommended) or Tufts Wireless.
Tufts Guest is an open wireless network with limited access.
Off-Campus
Use the Tufts Virtual Private Network (VPN) to create a secure and private connection from off-campus locations.
Tools and Software
A variety of tools and software are available to you at a discount or for FREE:
- Microsoft Office Suite (O365) for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, online and downloadable software. (free)
- DUO (2FA) adds a second level of verification when you log into designated Tufts websites and online services.
- Box - File storage and file sharing (free)
- Other software (discounts on Adobe Creative Cloud, SPSS, and more)
Computer Labs and Printing
- Public Computer Labs offers Macs, PCs, printing, and the Internet. Many also provide specialized software.
- Printing, copying, and scanning from either personal or public computers is available in all Medford libraries and labs.
What Is the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)?
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act, or DMCA, is a U.S. federal law that protects copyrighted materials like music and movies. The DMCA allows a holder of a copyright to inform an entity that it has violated the copyright and that the offending entity must take certain action. When a copyright holder -- of a piece of music, a movie, or another type of file -- determines that a Tufts-owned IP address is the source of a violation, they send a complaint to University, who in turn follows up with the owner of the IP address.
Find out more about DMCAs on the Tufts Technology website -- including what happens when a student is found sharing or downloading content illegally on the Tufts network.
Help and Other Resources
The TTS Service Desk is available to help you 24/7
- Phone: 617-627-3376
- Email: it@tufts.edu
- Walk-In tech support
Unfortunately, the Tufts campus is not immune from hackers. Tufts Technology Services (TTS) Information Security maintains a number of tips on securing information and your devices while at Tufts.