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.
Transfer Students (bringing in 24+ credit hours) who have decided on a major are assigned to a College or Faculty Advisor within your major. Use the web-based AdviseU app to find your advisor's name and make an appointment with them from their calendar of availability within the app .
Graduate Students should contact their program for their program advisor and contact information.
Star Guides are undergraduates.
New Student Programs is excited to introduce Prairie Star Family Connect, a communication hub designed to enhance your experience as a Prairie Star Family member. Prairie Star Family Connect allows you to customize the information you receive, helping you stay informed at just the right moments throughout your student's journey at UIS.
Through Prairie Star Family Connect, you’ll have access to:
There is a mandatory Orientation Fee that covers both online and in-person programming for students. A non-refundable guest fee ($30/person for in-person, $15 for virtual) covers publications, online resources, mailings, staffing, and lunch at in-person sessions. Payments are made online with the student’s orientation fee.
New Online (OL) degree majors (students who have been accepted in to our online degree programs) are invited to join our Virtual Orientation - which will be held synchronously (live) via Zoom.
To pay by personal/cashier’s check or money order, mail payment to:
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:
