First Year Abroad Programs

A: Please navigate to the overview tab on your program’s website found on the First Year Abroad webpage. You will see the dates for your specific Rams Ready 2 Roam listed there and in your program’s pre-departure checklist. Check-in for Rams Ready 2 Roam will start at 1:00pm MST on the first day. Students will be emailed the address for check-in. We will provide a tentative orientation schedule at the time of the student’s virtual health & safety orientation.

A: Yes, students needing to arrive one day early are able to request early check-in to Academic Village (the CSU residence hall) where they will stay during orientation. An additional charge for the night will be added to the CSU student bill. Please email [email protected] to make this request.

A: Rams Ready 2 Roam is mandatory for students.  There is no programming for parents or families.

We encourage families, guests, and loved ones to meet their student at CSU when the international dates of the program are over. Students will arrive back to CSU in time for RamWelcome week and official Fall move-in at CSU. You can find the date your program returns to CSU on the over tab of the program website found on the First Year Abroad webpage.

In addition, we are hosting a Welcome Back event on August 19 from 6-7:30pm MST for all students & guests. Please see question, “What is the Ram Welcome Back Story Telling & Dessert Hour?” for more information.

All families and loved ones are welcome to attend the virtual First Year Seminar Abroad Parent & Family Session as well as the Health & Safety Orientation over the summer.

There are several opportunities for parents & families to get involved.

Parent & Family Webinar: All parents and families are encouraged to join our Virtual Parent & Family Webinar on June 11 at 6pm MST. Additional information will be sent at the time students commit to their program.

Student’s Virtual Health & Safety Orientation: All families and loved ones are welcomed to attend their student’s virtual First Year Seminar Abroad Health & Safety Orientation over the summer.

Ram Welcome Back Event: We are hosting a Welcome Back event for all students & guests upon return from the international portion of the program during Ram Welcome week Please see question, “What is the Ram Welcome Back Story Telling & Dessert Hour?” for more information.

A: Students will stay in CSU residence halls during Rams Ready 2 Roam. The students will stay in Academic Village in double-occupied rooms. The rooms are air conditioned and there is Wi-Fi. Bed and bathroom linens will be included.  

Families, Parents, or Guests: If you decide to travel to campus to drop your student off for Rams Ready 2 Roam and are looking into accommodations in Fort Collins there are many different hotel options in the area. We recommend when you call to book your room, to ask if the hotel supports CSU students, parents, and family members with a discount. Candlewood Suites (970-223-0200) and Fairfield by Marriot (970-226-6656) are very supportive of parents/families, so we recommend trying them first.  

A: We encourage all students to travel to campus only with what they will need for Rams Ready 2 Roam and their international travel dates. All students will review packing during their virtual health & safety orientation in the summer before arriving to campus. For Rams Ready 2 Roam, some of our sessions may take place outside if the weather is nice. We encourage students to bring comfortable shoes, sunscreen, and a hat. Please also bring a reusable water bottle, pen, paper, and a laptop.

A: All meals will be provided during Rams Ready 2 Roam for students. Students will eat on campus at CSU Ram’s Horn dining center during their stay. Students will receive a meal card when we check into the residence halls. Cards will be pre-loaded with meals. Students will list all dietary restrictions on the Accessibility and Accommodation Information form in their MyEdAbroad portal. View CSU Dining Center Menus.

If you are a student with food allergies or intolerances, the dining halls strive to have a wide variety of options with clear dietary labeling and in addition to making reasonable accommodations for individuals. View CSU’s food labeling system.

A: All students will receive one included parking pass for the dates of Rams Ready 2 Roam. Please park in lot #230, near Academic Village Engineering. View campus parking map. Rams Ready 2 Roam sessions will take place in the Canvas Stadium. As we get closer to arrival, we will collect the license plate of the vehicle you will be driving and need to park on campus. You will not need a parking pass for your Rams Ready 2 Roam dates once we’ve collected the license plate of the vehicle.  

A: If you need to temporarily store your vehicle on campus, the best option is to consider purchasing an R permit, which allows overnight parking in lot 740 on South Campus by the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Purchase a parking pass here. You can view the cost of a monthly R permit here. If any questions arise, you can call (970)-491-7041 or email parking at [email protected]. 

A: Yes! All students are required to register for a check-in date for their fall housing. Students can register for a move-in arrival time slot via the CSU Housing Portal (opens in July). Please see more information on CSU Move In Information. We encourage students to register for check-in on the date you arrive back to campus from the international portion of your program.

Education Abroad and housing collaborate closely and understand that travel arrival times may change due to the international travel and nature of our First Year Seminar Abroad programs. Housing has confirmed it is completely fine if students end up checking-in a day later than they registered for. For example, if a student registers for a move-in arrival slot on August 18 but doesn’t end up checking-in until the 19^th, this is fine! Residence halls are staffed throughout the night.

We provide transportation for all students from Denver International Airport to Colorado State University after the international portion of the program.  Students are not required to take the provided transportation from DIA back to CSU. Loved ones are welcomed to pick up their student from the airport when they return. Students will note their plans in the, “First Year Seminar Abroad Logistics Form” in their myEdAbroad portal. 

A: All students will have the option to store fall bedding for free with Education Abroad while traveling internationally.  The Education Abroad Office is located at Laurel Hall, and this is where bedding can be stored.

Education Abroad staff will greet students upon arrival back to CSU and support students in navigating to their Fall Housing for check-in that evening.

If you choose to store sheets in Laurel Hall to use starting the evening you return from your program, please store your pillow and bedding together: bound or in a bag/box clearly labeled with your name.

As an alternative option, CSU Residence Hall Association partnered with Dormify if you’d like to order your sheets and other items ahead of time.

A: Storage is very limited at Colorado State University and students are unable to store additional fall belongings on campus while traveling internationally.

We highly encourage students to come to campus with only the items they will need for their Rams Ready 2 Roam dates and their international travel. We encourage all families and guests to meet their students at the end of the program with the remaining move-in items they will need for the fall semester.  

All programs will return to CSU in time for official fall move-in. 

We recognize for some students their only option will be to store fall belongings while traveling internationally for a variety of logistical factors. The best option for short-term storage for students is with College Student Storage.

• College Student Storage is a Preferred Business Partner with CSU.
• This option will come with a cost but provides you the flexibility and opportunity to store larger storage options such as furniture, beds, dressers, desks, futons, etc.
• You will be responsible for setting up logistics with College Student Storage before you arrive for the Pre-Departure Orientation for check-in.

A: Yes. All students will have access to laundry for free in the residence halls at CSU. However, students must provide their own laundry detergent.

A: Please join us at our Ram Welcome Back Story Telling & Dessert Hour!

Join us for dessert, reflections, and storytelling with your cohort of Rams that went abroad together as you kick off the fall semester. Guests are encouraged to join! 

August 19 from 4:30-5:30pm MST

• First Year Seminar Abroad in Ireland
• First Year Seminar Abroad in Japan
• First Year Seminar Abroad: Engineering in Germany

August 19 from 6:30-7:30pm MST

• First Year Seminar Abroad: Biology in Australia
• First Year Seminar Abroad: Fashion & Architecture in Italy
• First Year Seminar Abroad: Happiness in Denmark

A: If you are traveling without a car, we recommend booking a Groome to get from the Denver International Airport to Colorado State University. The Groome will drop you off at the CSU Transit Center. Once you arrive at the CSU Transit Center you can:

• Walk from the CSU Transit Center to Academic Village Residence Halls for Check-In (approximately 0.5 miles)
• Take the free Around the Horn bus from the CSU Transit Center stop to the Meridian & Pitkin stop. You will then walk to Academic Village Residence Halls for Check-In.