Orientation for First-Year Students (Freshmen) is designed to assist incoming students as they acclimate to college life at Southern, learn about academic advising and course registration, become familiar with the number of resources that support student success, and meet their peers.
View the 2024 Orientation Schedule
The summer orientation program is informative, helpful, and full of Southern spirit! Orientation begins with summer orientation sessions and New Owl Welcome (the days leading up to the first day of class) and continues throughout the first year with extended orientation experiences, varying programs, experiences, and partnerships with the First-Year Experience Program.
Program Goals
- Begin to make social connections with their peers.
- Participate in a group academic advising presentation with an Academic Advisor.
- Meet with an Academic Advisor for individual advisement.
- Register for first-semester courses.
- Learn how to prepare for the first semester.
- Meet Orientation Ambassadors.
- Learn about valuable resources necessary for academic, personal, and career success.
- Begin to understand Southern technology which will be important throughout a college career.
Thank you to all who attended Orientation and supported the Office of Orientation, Transition & Family Engagement this summer! Our Winter 2024/Summer 2025 Orientation schedule will be out soon.
How to Schedule an Orientation Session
- Visit the New Student Orientation 2024 Registration system.
- Select your Orientation Session.
- Use your Admissions Portal credentials to log in and complete the registration form.
- Once you have registered, you will receive a confirmation email to your personal and Southern email address.
How to Prepare for Orientation
- Continue to visit the Next Steps page
- Establish your Academic Placement as soon as possible.
- Learn how to check SCSU email
- Upload your picture for your student ID
- Follow orientation on social media
- Know what to bring
- All first-year students (full-time and part-time) must establish a placement level in English and Mathematics before they can register for Fall semester courses..
- Students should visit Academic Placement for New First-Year Students as soon as possible to learn more and to begin the process of establishing their academic placement.
Students will continue to receive information to their personal email address until they attend orientation. However, it is extremely important that they are checking their Southern email regularly as well for important information. Visit Next Steps and click on “Set-up your SCSU Email Account” for more information.
Students will receive an email for the SCSU Card Office with a unique link to upload their picture to the system. In order to guarantee receiving a Student ID (Hoot Loot) at orientation, students must upload your picture no later than 48 hours prior to the session.
- SCSU email address, email password, Student ID number, and MySCSU password. These are important for different portions of New Student Orientation.
- An electronic device (laptop, tablet if possible). We will have a limited number to loan students for the day.
- Comfortable dress and walking shoes. Portions of the day will be spent outside so please prepare for the weather.
- All meals and snacks will be provided at no cost. We recommend bringing extra beverages and a water bottle.
- Overnight bedding: twin XL sheets, pillow and blanket.
Before attending orientation complete your emergency contact form in the residence life portal. To complete your form, follow the steps below:
- Log on to your MySCSU
- Click on "BannerWeb"
- Select "Student Services"
- Click on "Housing"
- Then choose "Click here to proceed to MyHousing Portal"
- Next to the Residence Life logo on the top left, click on the three lines
- Select "Applications"
- Click on "New Student Orientation Check in Forms" "
Information regarding parking, meeting locations, the day’s schedule, etc., will be provided in a confirmation email and posted on this website. Visit Frequently Asked Questions for Orientation for details on how to prepare. For more information about Orientation, please contact Orientation, Transition & Family Engagement.
Southern is your home. Make the most of every moment you have here.