First-Year Student Orientation

Orientation Outcomes

Familiarize students and family members with University resources and opportunities for academic, social, and extra-curricular success;

Communicate academic expectations and provide insight into major-specific requirements;

Introduce the campus academic and social culture, emphasizing the core attributes of our university mission: Student-focused Teaching & Learning, Integrity, Inquiry, Civic Engagement, Diversity, and Accountability;

Facilitate enjoyable interactions between students, current peer leaders, and members of their orientation session cohort so our newest Stars can start developing friendships;

Equip family members about new student transition needs and strategies to support their student’s success through graduation; and

Welcome family members as partners in promoting their student's success.

First-Year Student Orientation

Spring 2025 (January) admitted Prairie Stars review the steps below. Register for Orientation after accepting admission by completing your Intent to Enroll.

Summer/Fall 2025 Prairie Stars - check for updates in late February for June In-Person Orientation registration information and dates.

Planning vacations? June In-Person sessions will be offered between June 13-28.

Virtual Orientation for Online (OL) degree majors, International Students, and Out-of-State students will be held over two days: June 25-26.

Hold August 18-21 for on-campus move-in and New Student Welcome.

Fall semester classes start Friday, August 22. All first-years will have their first class on that Friday.

Guiding Stars: New Student Orientation for Spring Semester Admits (enrolling January 2025)

All first-time, first-year undergraduates and first-year undergraduate transfer students (bringing in less than 24 credit hours) are required to complete a hybrid Orientation, consisting of three parts:

Online Orientation
In-Person, One-day Orientation Session (or Virtual-synchronous, two-day, Orientation for International Students), and
First-Year New Student Welcome, In-person.

1. Online Orientation

After registering for your in-person or virtual (for online degree majors) orientation, you will gain access to the asynchronous Online Orientation in Canvas, our learning management system (LMS). It will appear on your Canvas Dashboard within 24 hours or registering.
The Online Orientation guides you through making an academic advising appointment, accessing your student account, managing your financial aid, and setting up authorized payers, payment plans, direct deposit, and more.
It includes 10 modules with readings, videos, and forms, taking about 2 hours to complete (you can pause and return anytime).
Please finish by your orientation date to be eligible for class registration.

2. In-Person Orientation

In-person Orientation will be held on-campus, in Springfield, IL from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (schedule) in Springfield on Thursday, January 9. This is the only in-person session before classes start on Monday, January 13, 2025.

Notes:

Note: Students who will be living on-campus will move in to their on-campus housing assignment on Wednesday, January 8 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Online (OL) degree majors will attend a Virtual (synchronous - live) Orientation (see below). OL degree majors that live near Springfield have the option to attend the Thursday, January 9 in-person session instead.

Virtual Orientation (to substitute for In-Person session for first-year and first-year transfer Online (OL) degree majors).

Virtual Orientation will be synchronous (live) Wednesday, January 8, 2025 between 10:30 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. (CT). Here is the Virtual Orientation Schedule.
We will be using Zoom. The links will be emailed to your UIS email account late in the afternoon on Tuesday, January 7, 2025.
You will need a reliable internet source. For the best experience we encourage a laptop or desktop and connection to the internet through an ethernet cord. You will need to be able to turn on your camera and microphone and respond in the chat.
You will need to complete the online orientation in Canvas by January 7, 2025.

3. New Student Welcome

The third, and final required part of your orientation is New Student Welcome. It will be held on Friday, January 10 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. The program will kick off at 9 a.m. in the Student Union Ballroom. You will receive your schedule on Thursday.

Notes:

Online (OL) degree majors will not be attending New Student Welcome.

Steps to Complete for Orientation

Step 1: Register for Your In-Person (or Virtual) Orientation

Registration will be available on your UIS Application Status Page beginning October 21 or within 24-48 hours of submitting your Intent to Enroll (after October 21). Registering for the in-person/virtual Orientation date triggers access to the Online Orientation within 24 hours of registering for Orientation.

Step 2: Parents, Family members, and Guests

We encourage Parents and Family Members to register and attend Orientation with their students.
Parent/Family track runs concurrently with student sessions for both the In-person and Virtual programs.
Substitute family friends or mentors (18 or older) are permitted if parents or family members are unavailable. They should expect to attend parent/family programming.
Parents, family members, and guests are not allowed at student-only programming.
Access to online orientation through May of 2025 is included in the registration fee.
Note: no play facilities are available for children.

Step 3: Orientation Fee

Pay the $175 Orientation Fee and, any guest fees, after registration.
- Choose payment method when registering for your Orientation date: credit card, check/money order (drawn from US bank), or defer to student account (assessed January 28, due February 28).
- If deferring payment, the Orientation Fee can be paid through the Bursar's Office after January 29.
- Guest Fee: $30/person. Includes lunch (In-person), materials, online orientation access, and more. Virtual Orientation $15/person. Non-refundable.

Step 4: Confirmation & Calendar

Confirmations emailed to your personal email address. Review and mark your calendar.
Forward to family members and guests attending with you.
Coordinate travel and accommodations for in-person Orientation.

Step 5: Placement Testing and Advising

Placement Testing: First-year students are required to take Math and English Placement Testing. Your academic advisor will let you know if you are required to take any placement exams. Make arrangements with the UIS Testing Center. Complete tests before your In-person/Virtual Orientation date.

Advising: Directions to make your virtual advising appointment are part of the Online Orientation. Please Note: Students will register for classes during their in-person/virtual Orientation session.

Step 6: Prepare for Orientation

Request time off from work and plan family activities around your In-person/Virtual Orientation and New Student Welcome.
Complete online modules in Canvas before your In-person/Virtual Orientation session.
Completion of Online Orientation is necessary for advising and course registration.

Step 7: Read Your Personal and UIS Email

Regularly check both personal and UIS email accounts.
Start checking email daily a week before In-person/Virtual Orientation for Orientation reminders.
Read emails, especially from Orientation, Financial Assistance and Residence Life.
Used your school email on your application to UIS? Don't miss important information after graduation. Update Admissions@uis.edu with your personal (gmail, yahoo, etc) email address.

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Orientation Outcomes