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.
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 Formyou 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.
Yes. It is built into the orientation schedule for students to get to see a bunch of different parts of campus. We are offering tours of campus and campus housing virtually.
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 (https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/UISOfficeofFinancialAid@uisa…).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.