Sustainability at Knox

The Office of Sustainability helps lead the way in supporting the college’s ongoing sustainability initiatives and campus resources. Some of these include:

Knox Bike Shop-The bike shop is an on-campus repair and rental center open several times a week throughout the academic year. It is led by student mechanics who lend out bikes for FREE, provide guidance and resources on bike maintenance, and offer workshops to the Knox community. Check the shop’s Facebook page for updates and events. The shop is located in the basement of the Old Jail on Cherry St. 

Office Supply Share and the Food Share Pantry –These two spaces provide gently used school and office supplies and other non-perishable food items for FREE. This office is located in Seymour Union down the stairs from the Hard Knox Cafe, and is accessible when the building is open or by contacting Campus Safety. 

The Knox Farm– This farm is a one-acre urban green space located directly on campus, featuring two large high tunnels, outside gardens, and the first stages of an edible forest garden where organic food is grown for dining services by Knox students (volunteers, urban ag students, and farm employees). It is located at 422 South Academy St., across from SMC and the softball field. 

The Share Shop– Much like an on-campus thrift store, this shop is a FREE store for students, where items are donated by the Knox community and diverted from the landfill as part of the extensive recycling program. Stop by, grab what you need, and take it with you at no cost. Share Shop is located at 531 S West St in the basement of Conger Neal. 

Director of Sustainability Tina Hope works with student employees, leaders, and volunteers to plan and implement campus events, such as traditional and nontraditional recycling programs, organic recycling and composting projects, the national 8-week “Race to Zero Waste” campaign, the  “There is no Away” program during MOVE OUT, the eco-friendly reusable meal containers or “clamshells” used in dining (which will be distributed for FREE, after the Blaze-A-Trail session at New Student Orientation), Earth Month, and many other seasonal pop-up events. The Office of Sustainability is always looking for interested students to volunteer and work with them to implement new strategies, improve efficiencies, and encourage greater participation in ways that are socially and environmentally responsible and FUN! 

The Office of Sustainability is located in the brick building in the quads (with the fox mural on the east side), but the work of the office is done by all of us across campus!

Contact Director Tina Hope, kahope@knox.edu,for more information or visit https://www.knox.edu/offices/sustainability

New Student Orientation and Move-In – September 7th

We look forward to welcoming you to Knox for New Student Orientation on Thursday, September 7 between 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Here is some information that will help you sort through everything happening on campus that day.

Arrival Address for Navigation/Maps

All new students, including transfers and commuters, are asked to check in at the Center for Fine Arts (CFA) found at 500 S. Prairie Street, Galesburg, IL, 61401 upon arrival.

Check-in process
Inside CFA, you will check in at the registration table to let us know that you have arrived. If you live on campus, this is where you will pick up your residence key. Staff from various offices will be available to talk to you and answer your questions.

After you complete the check-in process, you will proceed to your residence hall where current student orientation leaders will be available to provide directions to your room and assist you with carrying your belongings into your room. You will be asked to move your vehicle to an available parking lot when you’re finished dropping off your things to free up space for others attempting to move in.

Before You Leave Home
Make sure you have signed the housing agreement by accessing your MyHousing portal at
My.Knox.edu. Here are instructions on how to log into the MyHousing portal.

Please complete the parking application if you plan to park a car on campus. Bring the completed form with you during check-in to get your parking permit sticker to use throughout the year.

If you plan to work on campus, you will need to provide important documents for your employment eligibility verification and paperwork (e.g., original birth certificate, original social security card, passport, etc.). Please review the I-9 Documents List to determine which documents you will need to bring to campus. Photocopies are not accepted by the Business Office; you must have originals. Business office staff will be present at check-in to help facilitate this process. 

Make sure you have uploaded your immunization records and have completed the tuberculosis screening questionnaire located in your admissions pre-arrival tracker by clicking here. Health Services staff will be present at check-in to answer questions and collect immunization documentation. 

The Office of Student Financial Services will meet with you as you arrive on campus to accept payments (checks, cash, or money orders) as well as assist you with setting up a payment plan if needed. Staff will review your student billing statement to ensure that everything is received and up-to-date. If you are borrowing federal student loans, please complete your Master Promissory Note and Entrance Loan Counseling here. 

We look forward to seeing you on campus next week!

Art

Calling all artists: musicians, actors, dancers, designers, technicians, writers, dancers, and creators in 2-D and 3-D! Knox has many outstanding opportunities for you to discover, develop, and challenge your artistic potential. Most student-led opportunities are featured at the Student Organization Fair:

Student Organization Fair, Friday, September 22 (4:30-7:00 p.m.)

Location: Plomin Terrace

Music

Learn about the many ways you can participate in music—from performance to composition, music history to conducting, and more. Details about auditions and other opportunities will be provided at the Open House. For a full list of ensembles and audition sign-ups, check out this document.

Knox Music Open House, Tuesday, September 12, at 4:30 p.m.

Jay Rehearsal Hall, Ford Center for the Fine Arts (CFA)

Interested in being a part of the music culture of Knox College? Contact: Andy Crawford, Managing Director of Jazz and Instrumental Programs (acrawfor@knox.edu)

Also follow Knox College Music on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Creative Writing

The English Department’s Caxton Club readings and lecture series hosts events throughout the year, including award-winning poets Ross Gay, Adrian Matejka, Eduardo Corral, and Carl Phillips, among many others. 

Also, look out for student representatives from the following creative writing organizations at the Student Organization Fair:

  • Catch— Knox’s student-run, award-winning literary journal, is already accepting submissions.
  • Cellar Door and Quiver. Student publications focusing on creative expression in varied media and forms.
  • The Common Room— Student publication focusing on literary criticism
  • The Knox Student— Campus student newspaper
  • 90.7 WVKC— Campus student radio station  

Dance

Check out the Student Organization Fair for student representatives from the following dance organizations:

Auditions are held at various times throughout the fall term. Also, don’t forget to like the Knox Dance Program on Facebook!

Theatre

Come get to know the theatre department and learn more about the variety of ways you can participate—on the stage or behind the curtain—at the annual Theatre Open House:

Theatre Open House, Monday, September 11 at 6:00 p.m.

Harbach Theatre, Ford Center for the Fine Arts

Participation in theatre is open to all majors and students in all years.  There are no audition restrictions.

All theatre productions are free to the Knox Campus Community and all students with a school ID. 10.00-General; 5.00 Seniors and Alumni.

  • September 29-30 @ 7:30 New Plays Workshop (stage readings of original student works directed and acted by students)
  • Oct 14-15 @ 7:30 Dorothy and Aliceby Itamar Moses directed by Madelyn Pellegrino in Studio Theatre (student directed)
  • October 27-28 @ 7:30 Kassandriad by N.R. Ivan directed by Kamana’okekai Lattig in Studio Theatre (student written and directed) 
  • November 2-4 @ 7:30 and 2:30 (4th) Silent Sky by Lauren Gunderson directed by Professor Liz Carlin Metz in Harbach Theatre

The Theatre Department maintains its own website with information regarding upcoming events, auditions, and other experience opportunities.  Check out the Scene Shop and Costume Shop on Handshake for work-study and volunteer opportunities in technical theatre.  Also, follow Knox College Theatre on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Textbooks and Materials

Just a few more weeks until classes start! As you prepare to move onto campus (maybe even switch your wardrobe over to purple and gold), now is a great time to consider the following tips about textbooks and campus network access:

Textbooks

Consider these tips as you prepare to acquire textbooks for the fall term:

  • Textbook costs vary from term to term, depending on the courses you select. You should include this expense as a regular part of your budget plan. There are multiple ways to get the textbooks you need.
  • The list of required books for each class is available at the Knox Bookstore. Acquiring books through our bookstore ensures you are getting the proper edition of the book and access codes for online resources.
  • Course instructors may share additional information about course textbooks and required course materials. Be sure to confirm this information on the course syllabus.
  • Textbooks from the library: Knox students can borrow library materials for free from 89 other academic libraries in Illinois. Required course texts may be available. I-Share books typically arrive at Seymour Library within 5-7 business days. I-Share books can usually be checked out for 112 days (the whole term). Once you arrive on campus, visit us at the library research desk once you arrive on campus or visit this link.
  • Other on-campus student organizations also offer support for obtaining textbooks through co-op and book-sharing arrangements.  
  • If you’re taking a course that’s part of a multi-term sequence (these are most common in math, science, and languages), your textbook expenses might be higher in the fall than the rest of the year, since you’ll be buying books and materials that you’ll use for more than one term. Some courses may include additional costs (online access codes for homework, art supplies for art courses, movie rental fees, or fees for labs or music lessons). 

Network Access for Computers and Other Devices

Prepare your devices (computer, phone, gaming systems) for our campus network before classes begin, using the following resources:

Feel free to reach out with any questions. We’re looking forward to seeing you on campus!

Federal Student Loans

As part of your financial aid package, you were offered either subsidized and/or unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan(s). In order to receive these loans, you must complete Entrance Counseling and a Master Promissory Note online by Friday, September 8. These forms must be completed by the student borrower, not a parent or guardian. The instructions are below.

If you do not wish to borrow these loans, you will need to email financialservices@knox.edu stating that you would like to decline the loan(s). This notification can be done via email, but it must come from you, the student borrower.

Direct Loan Entrance Counseling

Estimated time to complete: 30 minutes

Login Instructions:

  • Go to http://studentaid.gov/
  • Log in using your FSA ID
  • Click on “Complete Aid Process”
  • Choose “Complete Entrance Counseling” (first loan)

Form Instructions:

  • School Information – Use the dropdown menu to select Illinois, and then Knox College. Click “Notify This School.”
  • Select Student Type – Identify yourself as an “undergraduate.”
  • Your Student Loans – Since you do not yet have a current loan balance, you will need to click on ADD LOAN, and then select Direct Subsidized Loan, and use the average information given on the screen. Open each section (click on V) and read carefully then answer the Check Your Knowledge question(s)
  • When finished, make sure to click SUBMIT COUNSELING

At this time, you can choose to complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) without having to sign in again (see additional instructions below). Completion of the MPN can also be done separately.

Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN)

Estimated time to complete: 30 minutes

A Master Promissory Note (MPN) is completed in four steps. Make sure to complete all steps.  Please note that if you exit the website before submitting the signed MPN you will need to start over when you re-enter the site.

Login Instructions:

  • Go to http://studentaid.gov/
  • Sign in using your FSA ID
  • Choose Complete Loan Agreement (Master Promissory Note)

Form Instructions:

  • Personal Information – Driver’s License number and state (if you have one), permanent address (this may be pre-populated – make sure to check the box to confirm), email address, telephone number, and school information (use drop-down lists).
  • Personal References – Must provide names, addresses, and phone numbers of two references at different U.S. addresses. The first reference should be a parent.
  • Review (and edit if necessary)
  • Click the box indicating that you have reviewed all of the information provided. 
  • “Sign” the MPN by typing your name in the boxes.  
  • Click “SIGN AND SUBMIT.” Confirmation will then be sent to Knox College.

DSD Parent Welcome

Dear Parents and Families,

On behalf of the Division of Student Development, I am pleased to welcome you to the Knox family. As the parent of a Knox student, you are an important part of our community, and our partnership with you is critical to your student’s success. No doubt this is a season of change for you and your student. We are here to help you along this important journey. 

I arrived at Knox College approximately a year and a half ago as the Vice President for Student Development. In this short time, I have seen how special Knox is. Our academic program is matched with an out-of-class experience designed to prepare students to be global thinkers and change-makers. 

There are a few important ways for you to stay connected with the College and be informed:

  • Our website is a great resource for news and information about the College.
  • Homecoming and Family & Friends Weekend — Please mark your calendars for October 27-29. These two events have been combined for a special weekend celebrating Knox. 
  • Family and Friends Orientation — We have a number of events planned just for you on Thursday, September 7. I’d encourage you to look over the events and attend as many as possible.

You can check out the most up-to-date information about orientation, including schedules, maps, and much more by downloading the Guidebook app. To access the app:

  1. Visit this URL on your device.
  2. Tap the “download” button to get the free Guidebook app.
  3. Open Guidebook and look for the guide titled, “Welcome to Knox College!”

You can also view the guide on your computer by clicking here; however, viewing it on a phone or tablet provides the most enhanced experience!

Along with the excitement of starting this journey, there may be challenges. When challenges arise, students will naturally turn to their parents for guidance. When this happens, we want you to feel confident, well-informed, and prepared to point your student toward the appropriate campus resource. There may be a point when you need to speak with someone at the College about a challenge your student is facing. If you are ever unsure about whether or not to call, please reach out to the Division of Student Development at 309-341-7222 and we’ll talk it through.

My colleagues and I look forward to working in partnership with you with the goal of helping your student achieve great academic and personal success. 

Best Regards,

Dr. MarQuita Barker

Vice President for Student Development

General Orientation

Welcome to the Knox Community

We look forward to your arrival this fall! The New Student Orientation program is designed to welcome you to campus and introduce you to the larger Knox community as a whole. Not only will you get to know your classmates, you’ll also meet faculty and staff, learn how to navigate the campus, understand how learning happens at Knox, and explore Galesburg, Illinois. 

New Students who are not already on campus for athletics or other programs should plan to arrive between 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 7, 2023. Check-in and Residence Hall key pick-up will be in the Ford Center for Fine Arts, 500 South Prairie Street, Galesburg, Illinois 61401.

On September 7th there will be time to move into your residence hall room and start to settle in. There will be opportunities for students and families to meet with staff from various offices in the morning. Lunch will be available for $11 for non-students (no cash accepted) in the Hard Knox Cafe. After the Welcome at 3:30 PM there will be time for good-byes before the students will begin their journey with their Orientation Leaders and Family and Friends are invited to the President’s home.

You can check out the most up-to-date information about orientation, including schedules, maps, and much more by downloading the Knox College Orientation mobile app. 

To access the app:

  1. Click here on your device or scan the QR code below.
  2. Tap the “download” button to get the free Guidebook app.
  3. Open Guidebook and look for the guide: “Welcome to Knox College!”

Scan the QR code

Scan the QR code using your mobile device.

Transfer Orientation

Welcome to the Knox community!

As a transfer student, you are expected to participate in a new student orientation program that will ease your transition to Knox. 

The New Student Orientation schedule is ready and can be accessed through Guidebook. You can access the information on how to download the Guidebook by scanning this QR code:

Here’s a quick highlight of key action items specific to transfer students (you can find them all in the Guidebook): 

  • Check-in (for all students) and Move-In (for Residential Students): Everyone including transfer students who will be living on campus AND off campus should plan to check in at the Center for Fine Arts Building (CFA) 500 South Prairie Street, Galesburg, IL between 8:30 am and 11:30 am the morning of September 7. Students assigned space in residence halls will also pick up residence hall keys at that time and move into their room.
  • Orientation Leader Meetings: All new students are assigned an Orientation Leader (OL), an upper-class student leader who will meet with new students assigned to them in small groups. These scheduled meetings (listed on the Orientation schedule) have specific agendas for each meeting. Transfer students are assigned to a Transfer OL group with other transfer students.
  • Resident Assistant/Campus Life: On September 7, at 2:00 p.m., transfer students who are living on campus will meet with their suite and RA. Transfer students who are not living on campus will meet in Taylor Lounge in the Seymour Union with a member of the campus life office.
  • Advisor Meeting: Many transfer students are not required to take First-Year Preceptorial (FP), so you will not have a first FP class to attend on Friday, September 8, but please note on the schedule that transfer students will meet their advisers for lunch on campus at 11:30 a.m. 

Contact our team at newstudent@knox.edu if you have questions or concerns about orientation for transfer students.

On behalf of the Knox community, we look forward to seeing you on campus!

Smart Start – One Week Later

Watch (or Re-Watch) Smart Start Sessions Online

Did you make a trip to Knox last week? Or maybe you watched Smart Start sessions live online. Did you miss it? 

That’s ok! Whether you made it or not, you can view all Smart Start sessions online. 

Click here to learn more about academic advising, educational resources, pre-professional programs, and more.

Questions? Email questions about your upcoming academic experience to your faculty advisor or Dean Crawford at mcrawfor@knox.edu.

Your Campus Box Number

Access Your Knox Mailbox

You have been assigned an on-campus mailbox and combination. All students at Knox have their own mailboxes at Postal Services, located on the lower level of Seymour Union, adjacent to the bookstore. 

You will learn more about how to access your mail during New Student Orientation. In the meantime, here’s how you can find your box number and combination:

  1. Log into My.Knox. 
  2. Go to the Knox Apps dropdown in the left column. 
  3. Select the Mailbox Info icon, where you will find your campus box number and combination. 

Planning to ship items to campus? Before you do, review our Shipping Items to Knox page.

Our Mailroom & Postal Services website offers more information about postal services at Knox.

Looking forward to seeing you on campus in a few weeks!