First-Year Student Orientation

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 and continuing students will attend our mandatory Orientation program.

Your journey to college begins after accepting your admission by confirming your Intent to Enroll on your Admission Status Page. Within 24 hours you will begin receiving emails with the subject: UIS Orientation Info at your personal email address. Keep an eye on your inbox. Add UISOrientation@uis.edu as a safe sender to make sure you won’t miss anything.

At Orientation:

• Students and Family Members will become familiar with the University, its resources, and the opportunities 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 UIS’s 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 2021 Semesters

Step 1: Orientation is Mandatory. All freshmen and freshman transfer students are required to participate in the Summer Orientation and Fall Freshmen Welcome programs August 17, 19, and 19. 

UIS cares about the health and safety of incoming students, family members and our faculty and staff. We are following the guidance of experts in planning our programs. Orientation for new students and parents will be held over time in several stages. Students and parents can plan on completing some parts of your orientation:

• Asynchronously – an online orientation that you will be able to complete in Canvas, our learning management system. Some items you will be able to complete at your own pace, others will have deadlines for either before or after your orientation date. More information will be available later this Spring.
• In-Person, on campus in Springfield. You and up to two guests will come to Springfield for sessions that will include financial assistance, student billing, academic expectations, meeting with an academic advisor, and interacting with current peers. If Covid-19 mitigation guidelines suddenly change, preventing us from holding in-person sessions, these sessions will be held over Zoom on the Orientation that students will register
• Synchronous, Live sessions in Zoom will be offered weekly throughout the summer. A schedule will be available later this spring.

Step 2: Register for Orientation. Registration for First-Year Orientation will open in mid April. You will be able to enter the orientation registration form from your UIS Status Page. Make sure you have 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 and live Zoom sessions by email. Students, you will be making appointments for advising and registration during your Orientation session.

The 2021 First-Year Summer Orientation sessions will be from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Review a draft of the Summer Orientation schedule (pdf). The last date for Summer Orientation is Monday, August 16. It is an in-person Orientation on the UIS campus. 

Step 3. Pay your Orientation Fee any time after you register. When you complete the Orientation registration form, you will be able to indicate that you will pay the $175 Orientation Fee by credit card, mail a check or money order, or defer the payment to your student account (due September 28). The form will ask you if you are bringing any guests.

Guest Fees. There is a $25 fee per guest covering costs related to lunch, digitizing materials, videos, orientation staff, etc. The guest fee is non-refundable. You can pay the additional Guest Fees online with the student Orientation Fee.

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 share it with any guests who will be attending with you.

Step 5: Placement Testing. Entering students may have to take Math, Reading, or Foreign Language Placement Exams. If you are unsure whether or not you need to take placement tests, please contact the Center for Academic Success at 217-206-7471 or email advising@uis.edu

• Freshmen: the Center for Academic Success and Advising (CASA) by e-mail advising@uis.edu or phone (217) 206-7471.
• Freshman Honors: the Capital Scholars Honors office by email to Karen Barker, Sr. Coordinator of Recruitment and Operations [kguth01s@uis.edu] or phone (217) 206-7246.

Placement Testing will be arranged by the UIS Testing Center virtually. Placement Tests should be completed at least 2 weeks before your orientation session. More information and how to register for Placement Testing will be available on the Testing Services website.

Step 6: Prepare for your Orientation – Dates to Request off Work.

Schedule time to do the online, asynchronous modules in Canvas. It will open in early June. There will be modules you will need to complete before your Orientation session and others will open in August. You will also want to request off work on your Summer Orientation date.

Step 7: Read Your Email.
Information about accessing the online orientation in Canvas and links to the Live Zoom session will be sent to your email. Please read all emails carefully.

If your high school doesn’t allow you to access your school email after graduation, please email Admissions@uis.edu and change it to your UIS email or another personal email through a provider like Gmail or Yahoo so you won’t miss important information.