Welcome to UIS – We are so excited that you have chosen to come to our University! Orientation programming is designed to assist you and your parents/family/guests in making the transition to university life and being a successful Prairie Star. All new first-year (freshmen/women) and freshmen/women transfer students will participate our mandatory Orientation programs.

Your journey to college begins after accepting your offer of admission by confirming your Intent to Enroll through your Admission Status Page. Keep an eye on your inbox. Add UISOrientation@uis.edu as a safe sender to make sure important information isn't being blocked, or sent to your spam or junk folders.

Orientation Outcomes

  • Students and Family Members will become familiar with the University, its resources, and the opportunities available for student success academically, socially, and out of the classroom;
  • Students and Family Members will learn about academic expectations;
  • Students will gain an understanding of the academic requirements for their major area;
  • Students and Family Members will have opportunities to learn about our campus academic and social culture and understand the core attributes of our university mission: Student-focused Teaching & Learning, Integrity, Inquiry, Civic Engagement, Diversity, and Accountability;
  • Students will have opportunities to have fun and interact with current students and members of their orientation session cohort;
  • Family Members will gain an understanding of new student transition needs and how to support their student’s success through graduation; and
  • Family Members will be welcomed as partners promoting their student success.

First-Year Student Orientation

For First-Year Students/Freshmen Enrolling in the Summer and Fall of 2023 review the steps below.  For students admitted to the Spring 2024 Semester check this page for updates in October. 

Step 1: Orientation is Mandatory. All first-year (freshmen) and first-year (freshman) transfer students are required to participate in all three parts of our hybrid Orientation: Online Orientation; In-person Orientation, and our First-Year Welcome-programs:

  • The Online Orientation you will be able to complete asynchronously in Canvas, our learning management system. This may be completed at your own pace, but you should finish it before your In-Person Orientation date. The orientation will be available on your Canvas Dashboard in mid-April. If you have made your Orientation reservation, you will receive a message to your personal email account when the Canvas online orientation is available for you to begin.  
  • In-Person, Summer Orientation on campus, in Springfield from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (schedule). You and up to two guests will come to campus for an Orientation session that includes information about academic expectations, student billing and payment plans, course registration and interacting with current peers. A campus resource fair, consultations with financial assistance counselors, campus and residence hall tours will available from 9-10:15 a.m. before Orientation begins. There is a Parent/Family program that runs concurrent with the student program - so parents we welcome you to the in-person program too!   

    Notes:
    • Students admitted after the June orientations will attend the last in-person Orientation on Monday, August, 21. 
    • Online (OL) degree majors, International Students, and Out-of-State students will be invited to attend the Virtual (synchronous - Live) Orientation that will be held over 2 days: Monday, June 26 & Tuesday, June 27 (see schedule). There will be a concurrent parent program on these days as well. 

  • First-Year New Student Welcome beginning Tuesday, August 22 on campus in the evening, and continuing Wednesday, August 23 and Thursday, August 24 before classes start Friday, August 25 will continue to introduce students to UIS, our resources, meet current staff members, and classmates through a variety of programs and workshops. Students should plan on attending programming between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. (A draft schedule will be available later in the summer). 

Step 2: Register for Orientation. Registration for in-person Orientation will open in early March. You will be able to enter the orientation registration form from your UIS Admission Status Page if you have submitted your Intent to Enroll. Please read the information on the rest of this page before registering. Registering for the orientation program will set you and your guests up to receive the information for the online orientation in Canvas. Make sure you follow the directions in the email you were sent after your offer of admission with the subject: 'Set Up Your UIS Account' to create your password and recovery options that will give you access to UIS portals and Canvas.       

Step 3. Pay your Orientation Fee online any time after you register but before July 31. When you complete the Orientation registration form, you will be able to indicate that you will pay the $175 Orientation Fee and any guest fees by credit card, mail a check or money order, or defer the payment to your student account (due September 28). If you have chosen to defer your payment to your semester bill or haven't paid by credit card, check, or money order by July 31, any unpaid orientation and guest fees will be assessed to your student account on August 1, 2023. After August 1, you will only be able to pay the Orientation Fee on your student account through the Bursar's Office.

  • Guest Fees. The registration form will ask you if you are bringing any guests. You are able to bring up to 2 guests. There is a parent/family orientation program that runs alongside the student program. There is a $25 fee per guest covering costs related to lunch, digitizing materials, videos, orientation staff salaries, etc. The guest fee is non-refundable. You can pay the additional Guest Fees online with the student Orientation Fee or by credit card when you check-in onsite.

Step 4. Put Your Confirmation On Your Calendar. A confirmation will be sent to the email account you listed in your admission application. Please make sure you read the confirmation and forward it with any guests who will be attending with you. Put this on your calendar so you don't forget. Work with your guests to make travel and accommodations arrangements to your in-person Orientation.  

Step 5: Placement Testing and Advising. Entering students may have to take Math or Reading Placement Exams. You can use the AdviseU app you will learn about in the Online Orientation to see if you are required to take Placement testing and make an advising appointment with your academic advisor. Students who have completed the Online Orientation in Canvas will be able to make their advising appointment. Academic advising appointments will begin May 15.

Placement Testing: You can arrange for Placement Testing with the UIS Testing Center virtually or in person. Placement Tests should be completed at least 2 weeks before your academic advising appointment. More information and how to register for Placement Testing will be available on the Testing Services website.

Advising: Students who have registered for Orientation will be able to make an appointment with your academic advisor after you have completed the first online orientation module in Canvas. You must have registered for orientation to make your appointment. You will not be able to register for classes until you meet with your academic advisor. A registration hold is placed on your account until after your meeting. Please Note: Students will register for classes during their in-person Orientation session. 

Step 6: Prepare for your Orientation – Review the dates above to request off work. Schedule time to do the online, asynchronous modules in Canvas. You will need to complete your online modules by your in-person Orientation session or you will not be able to register for classes. After your have completed the modules in the online orientation, make your advising appointment.

Step 7: Read Your Personal and UIS Email.
Information about accessing the online orientation in Canvas, reminders, and more will be sent to your personal email. Start checking both your personal and UIS email accounts at least weekly. Then daily starting a week before your in-person Orientation date. Please read all emails carefully. Departments like financial assistance and residence life will be sending emails to your UIS email.

Many high schools do not allow you to access your school email after graduation. If you used your school email when you applied to UIS, please email Admissions@uis.edu and request to change it to your UIS email or a personal email through a provider like Gmail or Yahoo so you won’t miss important information.