New Student Orientation
Welcome to the University of South Florida Sarasota - Manatee!
We are pleased that you have chosen our campus to further your educational goals. Now that you have been admitted, your next step is to sign up for an Orientation session. Completion of Orientation is
mandatory for undergraduate students newly admitted to USF and comprised of two parts: the general Orientation session (presented in an online or in-person format) and a Newly Admitted Student Appointment with your advisor.
Who should attend Orientation?
All newly admitted undergraduate students who have never taken
classes at USF as a degree seeking student must attend Orientation and a
Newly Admitted Student Appointment.
What will I learn at Orientation?
Orientation will provide you with university and academic information, as well as financial aid and student affairs information specific to the Sarasota-Manatee campus. If you attend an in-person general Orientation session, you will also have the opportunity to meet fellow students and get to know USF Sarasota-Manatee staff members.
What should I do before I register for Orientation?
- Obtain
your NetID and make sure you can
login to your USF email account (eg. jsmith@mail.usf.edu). You will need your U#. Any information regarding Orientation will be sent to this email account.
- Decide whether you would prefer an online or in-person Orientation session by reviewing the details below. You need only attend the online Orientation
or the in-person Orientation. NOT BOTH.
- Make sure your home campus is USF Sarasota-Manatee. Only USF Sarasota-Manatee students can fulfill their Orientation requirement on the Sarasota-Manatee campus.
- Make sure you have been admitted for the Summer 2012 semester.
- If you need to update your campus or admissions term (term of entry),
please fill out this form and fax it to USF Sarasota-Manatee Admissions at (941) 359-4236.
IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENT: IMPORTANT!
If you do not submit the
required immunization information, you will NOT be able to register for courses.
For students admitted into the Communication Sciences and Disorders program only:
Due to the online nature of this program, you must sign up for the online Orientation (not the in person sessions). Your Newly Admitted Student Appointment will be included in the online Orientation, so you will not need to register for an on-campus appointment. Once you complete the online Orientation, you will be assigned a registration appointment time within 2 business days.
Orientation Components
Our online Orientation is designed for you to complete at your leisure. If you decide to register for the online Orientation session,
you will receive a link to the session with unique login and password credentials when the session becomes available for completion. This information will be sent to your USF email address
(eg. jsmith@mail.usf.edu). It may take up to two business days to process your Orientation registration, so register early!
You are welcome to complete your Newly
Admitted Student Appointment with your advisor before or after you complete the online Orientation session, but keep in mind that you must complete both the online Orientation
session and the Newly Admitted Student Appointment before you will receive a registration appointment time (a registration appointment time designates the date and time at which you may begin registering for classes). Assignment of a registration appointment time can take up to
two business days to process, so be sure to complete your Newly Admitted Student Appointment and online Orientation session as soon as possible.
Our in-person Orientation session gives you the opportunity to meet with USFSM staff members and interact with student organizations such as student government. If you decide to register for an in-person Orientation session, you will receive a receipt of registration
at your USF email address (eg. jsmith@mail.usf.edu) within two business days of your registration submission. The general Orientation session lasts approximately 2 hours.
Due to space constraints, we ask that guests not attend unless necessary, maximum 1 guest per student. Please be sure to indicate how many guests (in addition to yourself) that will be attending the Orientation session on the Orientation Registration form.
We encourage you to complete your Newly Admitted Student Appointment before attending Orientation. If this is not possible, advisors will be available after the main Orientation session to provide
Newly Admitted Student Appointments in a group format. This can last up to an additional 1 1/2 hours, so you would need plan to be on campus that day for up to a total of 3 1/2 hours.
Our registrar will be available after the general Orientation session and Newly Admitted Student Appointments to assist students in registering for their first set of courses at USF Sarasota-Manatee. Once you get home, you will
be able to change your class schedule at any time, as your registration appointment time will have been assigned after you completed your general Orientation session and Newly Admitted Student Appointment.
*The Newly Admitted Student Appointment for CSD (BS-SLS) Majors is integrated into the online Orientation.
Our Newly Admitted Student Appointment is designed to familiarize you with your chosen college and major, as well as introduce you to your academic advisor. Your advisor will:
- Discuss the policies of your college
- Assist with holds that may impede registration
- Discuss how to register for classes and submit permits (if applicable)
- Assist with selecting courses for your first semester
- Familiarize you with the services academic advising provides
Remember: the Newly Admitted Student Appointment is mandatory for all newly admitted students. Newly Admitted Student Appointments are on a first come, first serve basis,
and fill up quickly. Assignment of a registration appointment time is dependent upon the completion of both a general Orientation session (in-person or online) and the Newly Admitted Student Appointment,
so be sure to sign up for your appointment as soon as possible by clicking on the link in the flow chart below.
When you go to this site, log in if you have previously made an appointment with one of our advisors, or click "First Time User" and create your account. Once you are logged in, select "Newly Admitted Student"
as your Department, select your college/major as the Activity, and then select the appropriate option under Advisor. Once confirmed, you will be scheduled to come in for your Newly Admitted Student Appointment.
If you are a College of Business or a College of Arts and Sciences student, your appointment will be in a group format. Due to limited space, we ask that you not bring guests or children to the session.
If you would like to attend your Newly Admitted Student Appointment with an advisor at our North Port Instructional Site, please call (941) 426-7330 to schedule an appointment.
Orientation Registration Options
Please review the following options and proceed with one path that best fits your needs. Be sure to activate your NetID and USF email account before you register for Orientation. Emails regarding Orientation will be sent to your USF email address (eg. jsmith@mail.usf.edu) ONLY!
CSD (BS-SLS) Students: Your Newly Admitted Student Appointment is built into the online Orientation, you DO NOT need to attend a Newly Admitted Student Appointment to complete Orientation.
*Note: The cost of Orientation is $30 whether you choose the online format or the in-person session.
Students with Disabilities
If you are in need of accommodations for a disability, please contact Pat Lakey, Coordinator of Disabilities and Diversity via telephone
at (941) 359-4714 or via e-mail at plakey@sar.usf.edu for arrangements. Requests must be made five working days in advance.
International Students
International students are required to attend an additional orientation in Tampa. Please refer to the International Admissions Web site for complete information. It is extremely important to adhere to these guidelines.
You are required to attend both Orientations.
