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 Spring 2022 Semester

Step 1: Orientation is Mandatory. All first-year (freshmen) and first-year (freshman) transfer students are required to participate in our three part Orientation: Online Orientation; Spring in-person Orientation, and our Spring Welcome-First-Year Program:

• Asynchronously – an online orientation that you will be able to complete in Canvas, our learning management system. You will be able to complete at your own pace, but encourage you to have it finished by January 12. The course will be available on your Canvas Dashboard by December 13. 
• In-Person, on campus in Springfield on Thursday, January 13. 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. 
• Spring Welcome-First-Year Program  Friday, January 14 and Saturday January 15. Students will continue to learn more about UIS, resources, meet current staff members, and classmates. 

Step 2: Register for Orientation. Registration for First-Year January Orientation will open in December 8. 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. 

The 2022 First-Year January Orientation sessions will be from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Review a draft of the January Orientation schedule (pdf). This is the only in-person orientation offered for students enrolling in the Spring semester.  

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 February 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 and Advising. Entering students may have to take Math or Reading Placement Exams. You can use the AdviseU app to see if you are required to take Placement testing. If you are unsure whether or not you need to take placement tests, please contact your advisor:

• Patrick Anderson (Math, Sciences [Bio, CHE, CLS, EXR, ENS, & MAT], CCJ & Psychology [non-TEP]), pande4@uis.edu; 
• Lori Benedict (Computer Science & Pre-Nursing), lbene2@uis.edu; 
• Mae Noll (Business [ACC, BBA, ECO, FIN, MGT, MKT, MIS, & SPM], majors not listed above & undeclared/undecided students), mnoll1@uis.edu;
• 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 academic advising session. More information and how to register for Placement Testing will be available on the Testing Services website.

Advising: While you are asking your advisor about placement testing, make an appointment for advising. 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.  

Step 6: Prepare for your Orientation – Review the dates above to Request off Work. Schedule time to do the online, asynchronous modules in Canvas. It will open December 13. You will need to complete your online modules by January 12.

Step 7: Read Your Email.
Information about accessing the online orientation in Canvas, reminders, and more 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.