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 first-year (freshmen) and freshmen 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 you don’t miss anything.

At Orientation

• 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 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, hybrid Orientation: Online Orientation; In-person Orientation, and our Fall Welcome-First-Year Program:

• An online orientation that 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 course will be available on your Canvas Dashboard by May 16. You will receive an email to your personal email address when the Canvas online orientation is open.  
• In-Person, on campus in Springfield. You and up to two guests will come to campus for an Orientation session that will include financial assistance, academic expectations, and interacting with current peers. 
• Fall Welcome-First-Year Program will take place for three days before classes start: Tuesday, August 16, Wednesday, August 17, and Thursday, August 18. Students will continue to learn more about UIS, our resources, meet current staff members, and classmates. Students who live on-campus will move-in Monday, August 15. 

Step 2: Register for Orientation. Registration for in-person Orientation is now open. You will be able to enter the orientation registration from your UIS Status Page. 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 have 'Set Up Your UIS Account' claiming your NetID and password to access UIS portals.   

The 2022 First-Year Summer Orientation sessions will be from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Please review a draft of the schedule (schedule subject to change). There will be five (5) in-person, one-day Orientation sessions in June: June 11, 13, 16, 21, and 25. 

• Freshmen Honors Students: if you have been admitted to the Capital Scholars Honors program you must attend one of the Honors designated sessions: June 11, 13, 16, and 21. These are the only dates the CAP faculty and advisors will be on campus.
• Freshmen: Can choose any of the 5 dates. 
• Out-of-State and International Students, you will receive an email about your June orientation date and how to register.     

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 and guest fees 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. If you have chosen to defer your payment to your fall bill or students who have attended any of the June session but haven't paid by credit card, check, or money order by July 25, any orientation and guest fees will be assessed to your student account on August 1, 2022. 

• Guest Fees. 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.

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 academic 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/exploring 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: 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 beginning May 16 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 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 Orientation session.

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. Please read all emails carefully. Departments like financial assistance and residence life will be sending emails to your UIS account .

Many high schools do not 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.