The Essential Fall Semester Checklist

TMCC students
Rebecca A. Eckland

TMCC’s four locations are starting to get a little busier because the fall semester—which starts August 26—is just around the corner. Whether you’re enjoying every last drop of summer or you’re already ironing your new fall wardrobe, we wanted to provide you with a checklist to keep you completely organized before that first day when it can be hard to find a parking spot. 

We also put all the resources you might need into this one handy list, with links to specific support services, phone numbers, and campus locations. If you think we left anything out, send us an email or a shout-out on social media, and we’ll make sure your suggestion (if applicable) gets included.

In no particular order, here’s a list of important to-dos before you even set foot in a classroom this fall. (And who knows? If you complete all of this, you might just have time to grab a quick cup of coffee before your first class of the semester.)   

✔ Make sure you can access your TMCC email and that you’re checking it regularly. 

We know, we know—email was invented by dinosaurs and helped humankind to discover fire, but as antiquated as this messaging platform is, it’s also the primary method by which TMCC communicates important information to you. This could be anything from updates on your scholarship or financial aid, registration dates, payments due, overdue library books or campus closures due to holidays or weather. The college relies on email and expects that you will check it “frequently and consistently in order to stay current with College communications.”    

If you need help: If you can’t remember how to log in, here’s a website that can help. If you like in-person help, you can also visit the Welcome Center on the TMCC Dandini Campus in the Student Center, chat with them using their Live Support or call them at 775-673-7111.

✔ Make sure you can log in to WebCollege. 

Even if you’re enrolled in a class that meets in-person, chances are, your instructor may post reading assignments or require you to turn in your written work using Canvas. It’s always a good idea to make sure you can log in and that you remember how to navigate the system. 

If you need help: Your Canvas username and password should be the same one you use for your email and your MyTMCC account. However, if you need help beyond just logging in, WebCollege has a series of online support and tutorials and support documentation. If you still have questions, though, contact WebCollege using this form, or stop by their office in the Elizabeth Strum Library, room 200. 

✔ Verify that we have your correct contact information. 

By this, we mean your home phone number, cell phone, and mailing address. This will enable us to communicate to you in case of an emergency situation, to communicate campus closures and other really important information. This information is found in your MyTMCC portal under the “Personal Information” tab.

If you need help: If you need any technical help with your MyTMCC account, check out the IT Student Support Center, where there are a variety of self-service (and password reset tools) that can help you.

✔ Pay tuition and fees by August 20. 

Your payments can be completed through the MyTMCC portal using your TMCC username and password. Or, you can pay for classes in person by visiting the Accounting Services Cashier’s Office Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Dandini Campus in the Red Mountain Building, room 318.

If you need help: Contact the Accounting Services office at 775-673-7155.

✔ Get your Student ID.

If you’re enrolled in at least one credit hour, you can get a TMCC Student ID card from the TMCC Welcome Center, located in the Student Center on the Dandini Campus. Your ID card can enable you to print from campus printers and can also help you get great deals from our community partners, such as the RTC which is offering a free bus pass this year to all TMCC students and staff. 

If you need help: The easiest way to get your Student ID is to visit the Welcome Center on the TMCC Dandini Campus in the Student Center, chat with them using their Live Support or call them directly at 775-673-7111.

✔ Got any last-minute advising questions? 

If you’re having second thoughts about the classes you’ve already registered for, or you just want to make sure you’re on track to graduate, Academic Advising is offering drop-in appointments with a “Quick Answer” (QA) Advisor from August 12-August 30. If your question can’t wait (or you waited too long), Advising will still have a QA Advisor available each day for quick questions. 

If you need help: If you have something more in-depth to ask (changing your major or accepting transfer credits), schedule an appointment with an Academic Advisor by calling 775-673-7062. The Academic Advising Office is located in Red Mountain 111 (on the lower level of the Student Center, just across from the on-campus bookstore.) 

✔ Look at your class schedule, and make sure you know where every class is located. 

We have four locations in the Reno/Sparks area. Don’t drive to the wrong one on the first day of the semester (or, start the semester right by driving to the appropriate learning site!) 

If you need help: We have maps available for each location, and also specific information about parking. If you have a few minutes, we encourage you to take the virtual campus tour to give yourself the lay of the land before that stressful first day.

✔ Visit the Disability Resource Center to apply for accommodations for which you are eligible.

If you suspect you might need an accommodation for one or all of your classes, be sure to stop by the Disability Resource Center before the semester starts. It is very important that you connect with them as early as possible; accommodations don’t work retroactively. If you aren’t sure, check out this news story that outlines all the services offered by the DRC.

If you need help: Stop by or contact the Disability Resource Center at 775-673-7277; they are located in Red Mountain 122 on the Dandini Campus. 

✔ Buy your textbook and supplies. 

Buying your books and a few supplies before the first day of class can be helpful, and means you won’t have to stand in any long lines when you’d rather be studying. Of course, you can buy your books at the on-campus bookstore. The benefits of shopping there are that the books are organized by class, so you can rest assured you will have access to all the required readings in the correct editions. 

If you want to know what textbooks are required for your class before coming to campus, you can look up the books you’ll need. This is great if you want to double-check the edition (which matters!

If you need help: For questions about the availability of a textbook at the TMCC bookstore, you can contact them directly at 775-673-0316. For questions regarding textbook editions, or if open source versions are available (and that are suitable for the class you are taking,) you should reach out directly to the professor or instructor who is teaching the class.

✔ Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Stay “in the know” by following TMCC on social media. This is the best way to see what’s going on on campus, to get the latest from the TMCC News Desk (information about new degree programs, events, opportunities, etc.) Social media is also a fantastic way to engage with our community in a positive way! Please like and share our stuff to show family and friends how much fun you’re having (while you’re working on your academic and professional goals) at TMCC. 

On a more serious note, we also use social media to communicate important messages, such as campus closures—so if you’re unsure about the text you received at 5 a.m. on a snowy Monday, checking our Facebook is a great way to confirm if the campus is closed, on delayed start, or if it’s business as usual.  

If you need help: Social media is managed by TMCC’s Marketing and Communications Office. If you have a problem or suggestion, give us a call at  775-673-7087.

✔ Get a TMCC Fitness Center pass and make your health a priority. 

Located on the Dandini Campus, the TMCC Maria C. Sheehan Fitness Center offers cardio and strength training equipment, trained staff, and fitness assessments to make sure your health and wellness stay on track while you work toward your degree. 

Its location makes it easy to squeeze in a workout between classes without the hassle of driving and parking at another location. And, for a mere $50 per semester, it’s one of the most economical gym memberships around. 

If you need help: Your best bet is to drop by the Fitness Center—located in the Student Center on the Dandini Campus—for any membership questions. During the fall semester, they are open Monday–Thursday 7 a.m.–7 p.m., Friday 7 a.m.–5 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m.–2 p.m. They are closed on Sunday. If stopping by isn't an option, you can contact them at 775-674-7974.


While this isn’t an exhaustive list, if you can do all of these things before the semester starts, we promise your stress level will be much, much lower than if you don’t. And doesn’t having time for coffee always sound like a good idea?