Gateway FAQs

Why was I contacted to apply for the program?

Based on your application materials, either Admissions or Gateway staff identified you as a student who would likely benefit from and enjoy participating in Gateway. Gateway is designed to be an academic enrichment program that provides an opportunity for incoming first-year students to get a head start developing skills related to research, creative endeavors, and leadership and learn about resources and engagement opportunities on campus prior to the beginning of their first semester. Admissions and Gateway staff believe that the aforementioned enrichment opportunities match well with your academic interests.

What is the purpose of Gateway?

Gateway is designed to be an academic enrichment program that provides an opportunity for students from populations that are underrepresented in higher education within the United States to get a head start developing skills related to research, creative endeavors, and leadership and learn about opportunities on campus prior to the beginning of their first semester.

How was Gateway created?

Gateway was created in 1995 as a way to support UMN Morris’s mission and values related to providing full accessibility to all of UMN Morris’s teaching, living, service, and learning spaces and technologies to create an inviting and usable environment for everyone on our campus.

Why should I move to campus a month early?

To get a head start developing skills related to research, creative endeavors, and leadership and learn about opportunities on campus prior to the beginning of their first semester. Gateway also provides an opportunity for you to make friends, develop a community of support, and meet staff and faculty who will serve as resources during your time at UMN Morris and beyond.

Why should I participate in Gateway?

Gateway is designed to be an academic enrichment program that provides an opportunity for students from populations that are underrepresented in higher education within the United States to get a head start developing skills related to research, creative endeavors, and leadership and learn about opportunities on campus prior to the beginning of their first semester. Gateway also provides an opportunity for you to make friends, develop a community of support, and meet staff and faculty who will serve as resources during your time at UMN Morris and beyond.

What will I get out of Gateway?

Students who successfully complete Gateway receive 4 general elective credits. Moreover, Gateway is designed to be an academic enrichment program that provides an opportunity for students from populations that are underrepresented in higher education within the United States to get a head start developing skills related to research, creative endeavors, and leadership and learn about opportunities on campus prior to the beginning of their first semester. Gateway also provides an opportunity for you to make friends, develop a community of support, and meet staff and faculty who will serve as resources during your time at UMN Morris and beyond.

What skills will I learn during Gateway that will help me throughout my college career?

The Gateway courses help students further strengthen their skills related to analyzing text, academic writing, analyzing data and using data analysis software, stress management, wellness, and time management. The Gateway workshops and co-curricular programming offer students opportunities to practice event planning, community organizing, and leadership as well as teaching students about research, community engagement, campus engagement, and academic enrichment opportunities. During Gateway students will also learn about resources related to academic support, college finances, campus employment, and student services.

What have past participants said about Gateway?

Here’s a random assortment of quotes of Gateway students from past evaluations:

• “During Gateway you will learn how to navigate college before other students have a chance to. This allows you to get comfortable on campus at your own pace with a special group of (students from) your class.”
• “I really enjoyed getting to know some professors and the level of work that will be expected of me throughout college. I also like being able to navigate around campus better.”
• What I found most worthwhile about Gateway: “Making friends, being independent, finding purpose, leaving home.”
• “I learned what the approximate workloads of classes are. I also learned how to navigate the UMN systems.”
• What I learned in Gateway: “How to work with (other) young adults, be responsible, and organize/plan events”

What does a typical day during gateway look like?

Here’s an example of the itinerary for a typical day during Gateway:

Time:	Activity:	Location:
8:00 am to 9:00 am	Breakfast	Dining Hall
9:00 am to 10:20 am	English	Imholte 111
10:30 am to 11:50 am	Positive Psychology	Imholte 109
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm	Lunch	Dining Hall
1:00 pm to 2:20 pm	Quantitative Literacy	Science 3510
2:30 pm to 3:00 pm	Freetime
3:00 pm to 4:30 pm	Office of Community Engagement Project	Oyate Hall
4:30 pm to 5:00 pm	Freetime
5:00 pm to 5:30 pm	Dinner	Dining Hall
5:30 pm to 6:30 pm	Freetime
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm	Homework time	GP Lounge

What are the dates?

Though Gateway always occurs in late summer, the specific dates are different each year to accommodate Welcome Week. So, if you’d like to know the specific dates of Gateway this year, please contact the Gateway coordinator.

Who is Gateway for?

Gateway is for recent high school graduates registered to begin their studies at UMN Morris in the fall. Gateway is designed to be an academic enrichment program that provides an opportunity for students from populations that are underrepresented in higher education within the United States to get a head start developing skills related to research, creative endeavors, and leadership and learn about opportunities on campus prior to the beginning of their first semester.

Who is the typical Gateway student?

Gateway students are diverse. So, there isn’t a specific sort of student that is a “Gateway student.” That said, Gateway students tend to become students that are fairly involved in leadership roles on campus. For example, Gateway students tend to be overrepresented on the executive boards of student organizations and in student leadership positions within academic disciplines and various offices/programs on campus. There are also proportionally many more Gateway students engaged in research positions on campus than one would expect. Gateway students are also very well represented among the UMN Morris students who win major awards.

What if I don’t fit the requirements, can I still apply?

If you’re not sure if you’re eligible to participate in the Gateway program please contact the Gateway coordinator.

Can I apply if I am a transfer student?

Yes, though we suggest that you email the coordinator to see if Gateway makes sense for you and will meet your needs. Gateway is designed with students entering college for the first time in mind but some transfer students have also found Gateway to be a good way to begin their studies at UMN Morris.

How will I know if and when I am accepted into the program?

The Gateway coordinator will contact you via email to inform you about whether you have been accepted to the Gateway program. Students admitted to the Gateway program will also receive materials by mail providing you with additional information about the program and moving to campus to begin the program. You should also feel free to contact the Gateway coordinator via email to ask about the status of your application or about any questions that you may have about the program.

What expectations are there for Gateway participants?

Gateway students are expected to make a good faith effort to participate to the best of their abilities in all the programming offered during Gateway. Such programming includes the Gateway classes and workshops as well as the various community building, cultural, and recreational activities. Each of the elements of Gateway are designed to support each of the other elements. So, for students to get the most out of the program, they should put effort into all of the program’s activities.

Gateway students are also expected to treat themselves, one another, their mentors, their faculty, university staff, and everyone else with respect, kindness, care, and grace. The Gateway program is committed to providing an affirming and supportive environment and we expect one another to support and maintain that environment for each other. Success requires mutual support.

Finally, Gateway students are expected to challenge themselves. Growth requires the overcoming of challenges and learning is essentially growth. That said, if challenges seem insurmountable, Gateway students are expected to seek support from faculty, staff, mentors, or one another. As noted above, success requires mutual support.

How much does Gateway cost?

All Gateway students receive a scholarship that covers all the direct costs of the Gateway program. So, Gateway students do not have to pay tuition, fees, or housing and food costs associated with attending Gateway.

How do meal plans work during Gateway?

All students participating in Gateway will have access to the dining hall at no cost to them. Meals will also be provided during any field trips or off campus events that overlap meal times.

Will I need to pay for housing for Gateway?

No. Housing during Gateway will be provided to Gateway students at no cost to them.

Is there a curfew?

No, there is no curfew for Gateway. However, we expect you to act in a responsible manner taking into consideration the amount of time you need for rest and study. We also expect you to be on time for classes, meetings, and activities.

What do we do during the weekends?

On the weekends, we have community bonding, cultural events, and field trips. In the past, we have attended exhibits at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, competed at dragon boat races, built a house through Habitat for Humanity, attended a powwow, and visited an environmental learning center.

Can I leave during the weekends?

No. However, extenuating circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Gateway coordinator.

Who are the Gateway staff?

The Gateway team includes a coordinator, student intern, peer mentors, faculty (from the English, Mathematics, and Statistics disciplines) who teach Gateway courses, staff from a variety of offices at UMN Morris (including but not limited to: The Office of Equity, Diversity, and Intercultural Programs, One-Stop Student Services, Briggs Library, the Office of Community Engagement, TRIO Student Support Services, Native American Student Success Program, the Division of Student Affairs, the Student Success Center, the Office of Sustainability, and Student Counseling).

Will I get to meet with faculty in my major?

There are opportunities to meet with faculty in the division, if not within your intended major.

What are the opportunities to explore campus during Gateway?

There are several ways that students get to explore and learn about campus during Gateway. As part of the Gateway orientation, your mentor will lead you on a campus of various important offices on campus. Moreover, many of the workshops for Gateway are hosted in the various locations on campus where the programs providing those workshops are housed. Finally, much of the social and recreational programming organized by the Gateway mentors will occur in various locations around campus, which will allow you to learn about many of the informal gathering spaces used by UMN Morris students.

Are the campus buildings and offices open during Gateway?

Yes. While the hours that some of the buildings are open might be more restricted during the summer than during the academic year, all of the buildings on campus are to some extent open and accessible to students during Gateway.

Will I have the opportunity to connect with the city of Morris?

Gateway usually includes some programming that partners with community organizations and off campus social and recreational activities that are hosted in various locations off campus in the city of Morris. Moreover, there will be many informal opportunities to explore town with the Gateway mentors and other Gateway students.

What do I do after Gateway is over?

Some people choose to go home or travel during the period between Gateway and Welcome Week. Some people choose to stay on campus until orientation. Either way, the choice is yours.

Will I interact with Gateway participants after the program is over?

Yes. There are events throughout the year for former Gateway students where Gateway students get to visit with other students from their Gateway cohort as well as meet students from other Gateway years. Also, given that Gateway students are so well represented in research, creative production and performance, student leadership, community engagement, and other roles on campus, you will likely routinely see and interact with other Gateway students throughout your time at UMN Morris.

What are the workshops?

The Gateway workshops are co-curricular programming that offer students opportunities to practice event planning, community organizing, and leadership as well as teaching students about research, community engagement, campus engagement, and academic enrichment opportunities. During the Gateway workshops, students will also learn about resources related to academic support, college finances, campus employment, and student services.

Will I get opportunities to become more familiar with campus during Gateway?

Yes. As part of the Gateway orientation, your mentor will lead you on a campus of various important offices on campus. Moreover, many of the workshops for Gateway are hosted in the various locations on campus where the programs providing those workshops are housed. Finally, much of the social and recreational programming organized by the Gateway mentors will occur in various locations around campus, which will allow you to learn about many of the informal gathering spaces used by UMN Morris students.

Do I get to pick my classes for Gateway?

All Gateway participants take the same classes during the Gateway program.

What are the Gateway classes?

There are three classes students take during Gateway: Quantitative Literacy, Positive Psychology, and Writing. These classes are intended to provide Gateway students with an opportunity to further strengthen the skills that will allow them to more quickly and seamlessly begin to engage in research, creative and academic writing, and student leadership during their time at UMN Morris.

Will I need to take the math or English class if I tested into a Higher level math or English class?

Yes, the Gateway classes are not part of the course sequences of the majors at UMN Morris and the Gateway classes teach students unique content intended to provide Gateway students with an enriched academic experience.

Where will I be living during Gateway?

Gateway students are housed together during the program in one of the on-campus dormitories. Usually Gateway is housed in either Spooner or Pine Hall but on occasion the program is housed in a different hall due to maintenance.

Will my Gateway housing assignment be the same as my housing assignment for the fall?

Probably not. Since all the Gateway students are housed together in the same building during Gateway, most students will not be assigned to the same room for both Gateway and the regular semester. However, you will have help from other Gateway students as well as Gateway staff to move into your regular housing assignment after the end of Gateway.

Will I have a roommate?

By default, Gateway students are assigned a roommate. If there is a reason that you need a room of your own, please contact the Gateway coordinator.

How are roommates assigned?

Once accepted into the program, you will be sent questionnaires to declare your roommate preferences. Roommates are assigned by the Gateway staff based on your replies.

Will my roommate for Gateway be the same roommate for the fall?

Probably not. All Gateway students are housed together in the same building during the program but are not housed during the academic year. That being the case, it is unlikely that your Gateway roommate will be the roommate that is assigned to you by the Office of Residential Life.

Can I have visitors?

No. Unless you have the express permission of the Gateway coordinator. Extenuating circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Can I bring my pet?

Pets are not permitted in the residence halls or apartments except small aquarium fish. Aquarium tanks cannot exceed five gallons in size. Exceptions are made for service animals and emotional support animals. Please make sure to contact UMM housing with the appropriate details for housing your service animal or emotional support animal.

What do the peer mentors do?

The Gateway mentors support Gateway students in a number of ways. These include but are not limited to: providing academic support as teaching assistants and tutors for the Gateway classes, offering guidance that will be useful to strengthening skills and knowledge, serving as a point of contact for the university that will be collectively available to students at any time throughout the Gateway program (and can rapidly connect Gateway students to various university support services and resources), being knowledgeable about the University of Minnesota Morris and being available to answer questions about most aspects of campus life, creating and hosting social and cultural programing to facilitate Gateway students 

How are the peer mentors selected?

The Gateway peer mentors are chosen based on two criteria. The first benchmark that potential Gateway mentors must meet is that they must be an exemplary leader in at least one (but usually more than one) of the following areas: academic performance, artistic production or performance, research, campus or community engagement, or campus and community leadership. The second criterion that a Gateway mentor must meet is that they have demonstrated both an inclination to and superior skills for mentoring and teaching other students the skills and insights that they have learned.The Gateway mentors are among the very best students that are attending UMN Morris.

How am I assigned a peer mentor?

Once accepted into the program, you will be sent questionnaires to answer a few questions pertaining to you as a student and individual. Peer mentor groups are assigned to cater to the interests and needs that you may have both as a student and an individual.

What do I need to bring with me?

Since coursework is a core part of Gateway, you will need school supplies such as notebooks, pens, and other similar materials. Also, while Gateway will provide you with all of your meals and with a room in our residence halls during the duration of the program, you will need to provide your own bedding (blankets, sheets, and pillow for a twin XL bed), toiletries (including: soap, shampoo, conditioner, razors, shaving cream, skin and hair care products, shower sandals, towels, washcloths, feminine hygiene product if you need them, and something to carry your hygiene supplies between your room and the bathroom), and medication. 

The Gateway schedule includes some outdoor activities. So, please bring a hat, sunscreen, and a pair of shoes that are comfortable for running around outside. There will also be several semi-formal events; please bring business casual dress for those events. 

Former Gateway students have noted that a mattress pad would have made their beds more comfortable. So, that might be another item that you bring with you. Another item that you might consider bringing is a personal first aid kit.

Do I need a computer?

Yes, but we can provide one if you don’t have one of your own.

Do I need a car?

No, you will not need a car to participate in Gateway. Transportation will be provided for any Gateway activities that occur off campus. Moreover, all activities happening on campus will be nearby. Indeed, many students at UMN Morris do not have a car on campus throughout their time here.

What about my summer employment?

This is a decision that you will ultimately have to make. However, students who attend Gateway report that the benefits of Gateway far outweigh the benefits of a summer job. Some students take jobs that end just before Gateway starts so they get the best of both worlds. Keep in mind that the tuition, housing, and food cost for students during the Gateway program are covered by a scholarship provided to all Gateway participants. Finally, as a Gateway participant, you will have the opportunity to connect with on-campus jobs sooner than other students since you will arrive on campus earlier.

Is Gateway fun?

Nearly all students report that Gateway was the highlight of their University of Minnesota, Morris experience and a great way to begin their time in Morris. Although we try to have fun in all we do, keep in mind you will be taking college classes and that academic work will be required.