July 9, 2025
Dear members of the Class of 2029,
As you prepare for your first year at Yale, I write to share two additional resources with you, both of which should aid your transition to college life.
Talking About Alcohol
The first is Talking About Alcohol: A Guide for Yale College Families, which we are also sharing with your parents or guardians. (There are also versions in Spanish and Chinese.) This short handbook is packed with research-based strategies for having productive conversations across generations. The start of college often creates new opportunities to learn more about what matters to important figures in your life, and to reflect more deeply upon your own values.
Work Hard, Play Smart
The second resource is a required online course, Work Hard, Play Smart: Making Mindful Choices about Alcohol and Other Drugs. The course is hosted on Canvas, the online platform you will also use for your academic courses. Once you receive a notice from Canvas that the course is available, you can log on with your NetID at canvas.yale.edu.
See detailed instructions and technical assistance →
Deadline: August 1, 12:00 noon, ET
If you anticipate being unable to meet the August 1 deadline (if you will be without internet service, for example), or if you have any other questions, please write to aodhri@yale.edu.
Mindful decision-making is one of our central values in Yale College. As we prepare to welcome you, I hope you will take this opportunity to learn, reflect, and plan about the contributions you will make to our campus community.
Sincerely,
Tom Adams
Assistant Dean of Student Affairs
Director, Alcohol & Other Drugs Harm Reduction Initiative
Director, Office of Gender & Campus Culture (he/they)
Coming dates and deadlines
July 31 -
Last day to complete Math & Science Survey
Last day to complete Summer online placement exams
Last day to complete the writing survey
August 1 -
Last day to complete health requirements
Last day to complete Work Hard, Play Smart training
August 15 -
Last day to complete Yale 101: Mapping Your Academic Journey
Last day to schedule a peer advising session, required of all first-year students
August 17 -
Last day to complete Perspectives training
August 20 -
Registration
Have a Question? Write to us.