Orientation

Early Orientation – For students admitted early to the University that want to get set up for classes and college life as soon as possible! This is also a great option for students interested in enrolling in summer courses at UT Southern. Early Orientation sessions begin at 9:00 AM (CDT) on our campus, and will conclude by 4:00 PM (CDT):

• Friday, April 1
• Friday, April 29

Orientation – Our traditional Orientation sessions are open to all new students and happen on Fridays throughout the summer. All traditional Orientation sessions begin at 9:00 AM (CDT) on our campus, and will conclude by 4:00 PM (CDT):

• Friday, June 3
• Friday, June 10
• Friday, June 17

Transfer Orientation – For all students transferring from another college or university, these options are express evening Orientations, 5-9 PM (CDT):

• Wednesday, June 22
• Tuesday, July 12
• Thursday, July 14

Saturday Orientation – For any new student for whom Friday dates do not work well, this weekend option is 9 AM – 4 PM (CDT):

• Saturday, June 25

Distance Orientation – For all students coming from a far distance, this session will be in the days before the start of the semester so that students and their families need only travel once:

• Estimated Date of Friday, August 19
  • Residential students attending this Orientation will be able to move in to their residential hall on Thursday, August 18 between 1 and 5 PM (CDT).

To register for any Orientation session, just click here!

At each of our traditional Orientation sessions, our day looks like this:

8:30 AM           Check In (at Martin Hall, #12 on our campus map, available here!)
9:00 AM           Opening Session
10:00 AM         Concurrent Student and Parent Sessions
12:00 PM          Complimentary Lunch on Campus
1:00 PM            Rotating Afternoon Sessions 
4:00 PM            Closing Session

Throughout the day, students can expect the following:

• Meet peers and upper class students
• Get registered for classes
• Establish student email address
• Tour campus
• Have private meetings with Enrollment and Financial Aid
• Complete loan, scholarship, and other business paperwork
• Get set up for housing and parking 
• Become familiar with the technology and student accounts our students use every day
• Learn about on-campus resources such as Student Resource Center, Student Life, Clinic, etc. 

Enrolling in college can seem a bit overwhelming, but don’t worry! We will make sure that you have everything you need to be successful at the University! Below are links to many of the forms that you will need to enroll:

1. On-Campus Housing Application: Required of all new students who will live on campus.*

2. Off-Campus Application: Required of all students who will commute/live off-campus.

3. Parking Application: Required of all students (both commuter and residential) who will have a vehicle on campus.

4. Immunization Verification: Required of all students. Should be submitted via MedProctor. (More information is available here under “Immunization Compliance.”) MedProctor requires the student’s UT Southern email address. (Email addresses for students entering the University in the fall semester are generated after the student has been confirmed as an Accepted Student. These auto-generated emails will be securely sent to the email address with which the student applied to the University.)

5. Parent & Family eNewsletter Subscription: Recommended for all families of students

*New Housing Applications will only be processed along with the $150 Application Fee. You can pay the fee through the application, or click here.

While we encourage families to take advantage of our virtual tour, our campus is open for visits on an individual basis. Students will be limited to 2 guests and will be asked to practice social distancing and precautionary measures, i.e. wearing a face mask. 

Tours are included as part of Orientation dates, but if you’d like to schedule one outside of those dates, please do so with our Admissions Office (931-363-9800 or utsadmissions@utsouthern.edu)!

You can also find a map of our campus here!

Welcome Week is a multi-day celebration of a new year and a fresh start! 

A tentative schedule for 2022 is below, and more information about Welcome Week 2022 will be coming soon!

August 18: Move In Day for Distance Orientation Attendees only
August 19: Distance Orientation
August 20: Move In Day for All New Students
August 21: First-Year-Experience Classes for All New Students
August 22: First-Year-Experience Classes for All New Students
August 23: First-Year-Experience Classes for All New Students
August 24: First Day of All Other Classes
August 25: Welcome Back Block Party
August 26: Welcome Back Concert

Current UT Southern students lead our Orientation sessions, helping new students meet people and get Six of our amazing current students lead our Orientation sessions, helping new students meet people and get acclimated to college life! Get to know our 2021 OL’s below!

Jackson Tiller is a rising senior studying Business Administration Management while being a student athlete on the Competitive Cheer Team. Jackson transferred here from UT Chattanooga the beginning of his Junior year to pursue his degree and for his love for cheer. Jackson believes that making friends and connections at orientation is what really sets the groundwork for your next four years of college, as these bonds are what got him through his freshman year of college.

Hanna Hargrove is a junior Elementary Education major from Tuscaloosa, Alabama and plays softball here! She has played softball since she was 5, and playing in college was her dream. She is really close with all of her family, who have always been so supportive of her and her goals. Choosing this college was easy for Hanna not only because of softball, but because of the community and how small it is. She graduated with 86 people in her high school class, so she wanted a smaller university experience to feel at home at! 

Jana Williams is a college senior from Pensacola, FL. She is majoring in Behavioral Sciences with an emphasis in human services and counseling. She is passionate about politics and criminal justice. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends outdoors and knows the best places to go in Pulaski to swim. Jana is co-leader of La Conexion, a multicultural studies group at the University that is partnered with a ZOE Empowers group in Kenya to empower orphaned children to learn to provide for themselves and their siblings/families. She hopes to join the Peace Corp after college and possibly go to Law school.

Koby Houser is an upcoming senior, and is a part of the competitive cheer team. Koby’s major is psychology with an emphasis in Human Services and Counseling. Koby believes that having someone to help you out when you get started in college can help new students to get the nerves out and be really excited about college. Koby strives to be that person that people look up to and ask for help if they need it.

Sandra Flores is a junior and is currently perusing a public health education degree. She entered college thinking of being a nurse, but after some great conversations with professors on campus, she believes public health is really her calling! Sandra runs cross country and track, and on her days off, she likes to go outdoors and explore. Sandra is also bilingual and has a dog named Smoky, who you will see around campus with her from time to time!

Hayden Galloway is an honor student majoring in Behavioral Science. As a sophomore, she has played for the Women’s Soccer Team for two years and plans to continue her passion through the rest of her college experience. Besides soccer, Hayden enjoys spending time with her friends and photography. She is also a member of our Student Government Association, which serves as a bridge between student voices and the University administration. Hayden believes that, as an orientation leader, she can express the love she has for her college to others.

Orientation Leaders lead each of our in-person Orientation sessions and assist with Welcome Week in Fall 2022! OL’s receive a $550 stipend, up to 3 free credit hours after summer aid is applied (fees still apply), and a discounted summer housing rate. OL’s also receive leadership training and experience, conflict resolution and mentoring training, and individualized support from the University.

OL’s must be current full-time UT Southern students in good academic and judicial good standing with an outgoing, hospitable personality, a strong knowledge of life at UT Southern, a positive attitude, willingness to energize a group and help break the ice, ability to serve as a role model for new students and to present self and The University of Tennessee Southern in a professional manner.

To apply for an Orientation Leader position for 2022, students should complete the OL Application before March 1. Interviews will take place March 7-11.

Please note that OL’s and Summer RA’s are now two separate roles! OLs cannot also serve as Summer RA’s. Learn more about the Summer RA role on our Residential Life page.