The third part of Guiding Stars Orientation for all first-year students (commuter students and students living on-campus) will be to attend New Student Welcome. Recent assessment of the Orientation program has found that students that participate in all sessions have higher grade point averages and are more likely to return to UIS in their second year than students that miss/skip sessions.
New Student Welcome (on campus, in Springfield) begins with check-in at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, August 20. Tuesday evening programs include meeting with your Welcome Leader and classmates until 9 p.m. New Student Welcome programming continues Wednesday, August 21 and Thursday, August 22. Plan on being on campus each day from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for required activities. There will be lots of fun activities each evening too. If you will be a commuter student (living at home and commuting to campus) request time off work and let your family know of this commitment.
Students who attended the June In-Person Orientations will move in to their on-campus housing assignment on Tuesday, August 20 between 9 and 3 p.m. Residence Life will begin sharing details about when you and your family can check-in mid-July. Students commuting from home will start with the Commuter Student event at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, August 20.
Future Orientation Dates
Guiding Stars: New Student Orientation for First-time, First-Year undergraduates and First-Year Undergraduate Transfers entering UIS in Spring 2025
Hey, Spring class of 2025! Save these Dates for your 3-part Guiding Stars Orientation at UIS!
- Early October - the First-Year Orientation websites will be updated with information for Spring 2025 admit/confirms.
- Registration for Spring Orientation will open in late October.
- Online Orientation will be available in late October to students who have registered for their In-person or Virtual Orientation session.
- Virtual, synchronous Orientation for Online degree majors will be Tuesday, January 7.
- In-person Orientation session will be held Thursday, January 9. Students who will be living on-campus can move-in Wednesday, January 8.
- New Student Welcome will be held Friday, January 10 and Saturday, January 11 (plan on 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day). Online degree majors are not required to attend New Student Welcome.
