Orientation

Orientation FAQs

khobb2 — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 20:16:22 +0000

Orientation FAQs khobb2 Tue, 02/11/2025 - 14:16

How do I know if I have to take a placement test?

Entering students may have to take Math or Reading Placement exams. If you have taken the ACT/SAT and sent UIS your scores this may determine if you can waive one or both placement exam requirements. If you are unclear about what tests you need to take, please contact your advisor. Traditional first-year students contact the Center for Academic Success and Advising (CASA) and Honors students contact the Capital Scholars Honors program.

Should I take Placement Exams before Orientation?

Yes. You can take your placement testing online, remotely or if you live near Springfield, at our Testing Services office here on campus. It is Free. Placement Testing is scheduled at UIS throughout the year. Refer to the Testing Services webpage for directions to request online or in-person testing appointments and sample testing questions.

Do I have to attend orientation?

Yes, new first-year students are required to attend, including Freshman Transfer students (less than 30 credit hours accepted by UIS). Orientation is a vital part in the transition to college. The information that is presented lays a foundation for your future success at UIS. For more information visit the First-Year Student Orientation page.

If I or my parent/guardian/guest require(s) special assistance will UIS be able to provide me with the necessary assistance?

Students who need accommodations (Assistive Technology, Documents in Large Format, Sign Language Interpreter) during Orientation, please indicate this on the online registration form. We need at least three weeks before the orientation session to make arrangements with our Office of Disability Services staff who will need time to contact sign language interpreters or take print material like our program and handouts and modify them for students who are blind or have a visual impairment. We will make every effort to make accommodations, but sign language interpreters are dependent on their availability.

We can make some limited arrangements for parents/guardian/guests. Please call the Orientation Office at 217-206-8181 for further discussion.

How do I register for New Student Orientation?

Visit your UIS Admission Status page and click 'Orientation Sign up is Open'. You will use the login and password from your UIS Admissions application to login to the registration form. For any questions or concerns call 217-206-8181 or email UISOrientation@uis.edu.

Will I be able to receive my orientation date of choice?

In June because we limit the number of student participants in each session they are filled on a first-come basis. Therefore, if you register early you are more likely to receive your 1st choice orientation session. Once a session is full the system will close the session. If someone changes their reservation, a session may open back up. August and January sessions have one orientation date and no limits on the number of student registrations.

I am trying to register for orientation but the logon page says I do not have clearance?

There could be a couple of issues. (1). You are not using the logon id and password you created for your UIS Admission Application, or (2) you have not accepted your admission to UIS, or (3) you have selected the wrong date. Honors students must select Honors designated dates and Non-Honors (Freshman) students must select Freshmen dates. View the Admitted Students for more information.

What are my chances of getting the courses I need if I attend a later session?

The first people to register have the opportunity to register for courses offered during preferred/peak class times (i.e. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.). Some popular introduction courses at these times tend to fill up faster. You might have to take it earlier or later in the day than you would prefer, but you will still be registered for these classes. Some general education subjects (i.e. psychology, sociology) are also more popular than others so you may have to choose an alternate subject. Required courses like Freshman Seminar, English, and Math add sections as they are needed throughout the summer. You will be able to register for all the credit hours you need. It may not be at your first choice time or subject.

Students attending August or January (spring semester admits) should use the AdviseU app (/cas/advising/advise-u/) to set up an appoint with their advisor before their 1-day Orientation. Students will still have to attend the 1-day Orientation and Freshmen Welcome programs even though they have been advised for classes. Failure to attend could result in your schedule being cancelled and you will have to wait until the first day of classes to register again.

Does it matter which dates I select?

Yes, first year students must select first year dates and Capital Scholars honors students must select Honors dates

Will someone from Financial Assistance be at orientation to answer questions/concerns?

We strongly encourage students and their parents/guardian meet with the student’s financial assistance counselor to review the financial offer notification and cost of attendance before or after their orientation date. The Office of Financial Assistance can meet with the student and parents virtually by appointment. Contact their office to arrange a meeting: Phone: (217) 206-6724 or Email: finaid@uis.edu. Do not make any appointments on the Orientation date the student registered for. The student will have mandatory programming to attend the whole day.

How do I know that my reservation for orientation has been received?

When you submit the reservation you will automatically receive a copy of your registration form to the email you gave UIS on your application. You will also be emailed a confirmation of the session you're registered for. You can also verify your reservation by going to your UIS Application Status page.

Will I be able to tour the campus/housing facilities during orientation?

Yes. Fifty minute campus tours will be offered before (8, 8:20) and after (5:30) the in-person Orientation. In August and January a schedule tour of where classes are is built into the afternoon schedule. Tours of the Residence Hall Showroom will be held during the Summer session. We are offering tours of campus and campus housing virtually. Go to our Visit page for more information.

I checked pay my Orientation Fee by credit card when I was registering for Orientation but I didn’t see anything that asked for my credit card number?

If you go to your UIS Application Status page you will see under Status Update – Payment Due $175 (or more if you added guests). Click on that and it will take you through the process of paying by credit card.

What is your refund/cancellation policy regarding New Student Orientation fees?

The Orientation and Guest Fees are non-refundable.

How much does Orientation cost?

There is a mandatory $175 Orientation fee that is assessed to each student and covers expenses for the student. The Orientation Fee can be paid online after registering for Orientation, or the payment may be mailed after registering, or deferred to the student account until the tuition bill is due. The Orientation Fee is mandatory and non-refundable. There are separate Guest fees for each guest a student would like to bring. Students are allowed up to 2 guests. The guest fee is $25/guest and can be paid by credit card when paying the student's orientation fee.

If I haven’t sent back my Acceptance of Admission Form to the Admissions Office yet, can I attend orientation?

No. By accepting admission the advising and testing services offices will have access to your records to properly advise you. When you complete your Intent to Enroll Form you will receive a Welcome email from New Student Orientation within a couple of days. Within a week of your acceptance of admission you will be on our new student lists and we will mail our orientation brochures to you and your parents. Visit the Admitted Students page for more information.

If I attend Orientation do I have to attend the Welcome Week program?

Yes, UIS’s mandatory orientation program has three parts. The first part is the online orientation in Canvas which focuses on big-picture activities like advising and registration. Freshmen Welcome Week is the last part of our mandatory programs, held right before classes start August 16-18, that will help prepare you for your first semester of college.

What will I be doing during orientation?

The goals of orientation are to make sure our students learn about campus resources, have an understanding of academic expectations and resources, what it means to be a member of our community, and make connections with peers and current students. Orientation activities are designed to meet these goals. You will be attending sessions that will provide you with information, learn UIS technologies, allow you to explore campus and meet your classmates. There will be a general schedule which outlines the content on the First-Year Student Orientation page. You and your parents/family members will receive a detailed schedule in late May.

Can I make changes to my Orientation reservation?

Yes, we understand that things come up during the Summer. Please email us with the date you want to cancel and indicate your new preferred date. We will cancel your reservation and register you for the other date if it is still open. Do not register for another session online, this will lead to confusion and being registered and charged for two Orientation dates. Please note that once your cancel your reservation the reservation system automatically opens a spot in that date and someone else can register for that spot. So please be sure and check dates before cancelling anything.

Transfer Student Orientation

rbye — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 15:15:46 +0000

Transfer Student Orientation rbye Mon, 02/10/2025 - 09:15

Transfer Student Orientation

Summer/Fall 2025 admitted Prairie Stars review the steps below. Register for Orientation after accepting admission by completing your Intent to Enroll.

Plan your travel to Springfield
Planning vacations? June In-Person sessions will be offered on June 16, 18, 21, and 23.
- Register for June 16th Orientation
- Register for June 18th Orientation
- Register for June 21st Orientation
- Register for June 23rd Orientation
Virtual Orientation for Online (OL) degree majors, International Students, and Out-of-State students will be held over two days: June 25-26.
- Register for June 25th-26th Orientation
Hold August 20 for on-campus move-in
New Student Welcome will begin on Wednesday, August 20, 2025!
Fall semester classes start Friday, August 22. All first-years will have their first class on that Friday.

Summer Orientation

We invite all Transfer Students to register for one of our four summer orientation dates. UIS students love the positive impact our new student orientation has on them when starting college. It helps them feel more comfortable, learn more about their academic programs, find their way around campus, and discover resources they didn’t even know existed. We can't wait to meet you at orientation!

Orientation is a day-long event for new first-year/ transfer students and their family members/ guests. See a draft of the Transfer Student June 2025 schedule here. More details will be posted in early June. Here is a sample of the family/guest schedule.

Things to know:

Orientation is a full day experience that introduce you to all the different resources on campus to help you have a successful experience at UIS! "But I already attended another orientation", we know our orientation helps introduce transfer students to the valuable resources we have in our Prairie Star community!
There is a $175 orientation fee which covers all your materials, lunch, and programming experiences. This fee can be billed to your student account.
You will be in a group where you will meet other transfer students!
Research shows that students who attend orientation are likely to have higher GPAs and report a more satisfied experience!

Guiding Stars: New Student Orientation

lmcgu2 — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 00:59:15 +0000

Guiding Stars: New Student Orientation lmcgu2 Wed, 06/05/2024 - 19:59

This In-person Orientation program is for undergraduate First-Year (Freshmen/women) and Freshmen/women Transfer Students admitted to the Summer and Fall 2024 semesters. It is the second, of a 3 part series of programs for students entering their first-year or transferring with less than 24 credit hours. The program's schedule and information about how to register are available at the First Year Student Orientation & Parent Relations website.

When

Mon, Aug 19 2024, 8am - 5pm

Location

University Center, 2251 Richard Wright Drive

Event Type

Academic Calendar

Campus

Student

Department

Admission

New Student Orientation

Orientation

Guiding Stars: New Student Orientation

lmcgu2 — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 00:01:33 +0000

Guiding Stars: New Student Orientation lmcgu2 Wed, 06/05/2024 - 19:01

When

Wed, Jun 26 2024, 8am - 5pm

Location

University Center, 2251 Richard Wright Drive

Event Type

Department

New Student Orientation

Orientation

Guiding Stars: New Student Orientation

lmcgu2 — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 23:56:27 +0000

Guiding Stars: New Student Orientation lmcgu2 Wed, 06/05/2024 - 18:56

When

Mon, Jun 24 2024, 8am - 5pm

Location

University Center, 2251 Richard Wright Drive

Event Type

Department

New Student Orientation

Orientation

Guiding Stars: New Student Orientation

lmcgu2 — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 23:54:51 +0000

Guiding Stars: New Student Orientation lmcgu2 Wed, 06/05/2024 - 18:54

When

Sat, Jun 22 2024, 8am - 5pm

Location

University Center, 2251 Richard Wright Drive

Event Type

Department

New Student Orientation

Orientation

Guiding Stars: New Student Orientation

lmcgu2 — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 23:49:52 +0000

Guiding Stars: New Student Orientation lmcgu2 Wed, 06/05/2024 - 18:49

When

Tue, Jun 18 2024, 8am - 5pm

Location

University Center, 2251 Richard Wright Drive

Event Type

Department

New Student Orientation

Orientation

Guiding Stars: New Student Orientation

lmcgu2 — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 23:32:22 +0000

Guiding Stars: New Student Orientation lmcgu2 Wed, 06/05/2024 - 18:32

When

Fri, Jun 14 2024, 8am - 5pm

Location

University Center, 2251 Richard Wright Drive

Event Type

Department

New Student Orientation

Orientation

What will I be doing during orientation?

Anonymous — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 19:21:55 +0000

What will I be doing during orientation? Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 12/19/2023 - 13:21

If I haven’t sent back my Acceptance of Admission Form to the Admissions Office yet, can I attend orientation?

Anonymous — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 19:21:55 +0000

If I haven’t sent back my Acceptance of Admission Form to the Admissions Office yet, can I attend orientation? Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 12/19/2023 - 13:21