![](https://be.sf.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/10-09-2020_Brookside_students-73.jpg)
New Student Orientation
Welcome to the University of Saint Francis!
As an incoming first-year or transfer student, you’re required to attend New Student Orientation, a day designed specifically for you and your parent/guardian.
New Student Orientation is where you’ll register for classes, meet your academic advisor and learn about the many resources available at Saint Francis. Additionally, it’s where you begin to meet people and feel at home.
Note: Those who attended Priority Registration during Accepted Student Day are still required to attend New Student Orientation.
Orientation 2024 Dates
july 26
Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
August 19
Monday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Register by August 5
![Ashley Childress ’25](https://be.sf.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/10-27-2023_Ashley-Childress-01-683x1024.jpg)
“Orientation is where you start making friends. Everyone is new and feeling the same way, so it’s a great starting point. By the end, you’ll know lots of new people and will feel a part of the Saint Francis family.”
Ashley Childress ’25 Orientation Leader
What to Expect at New Student Orientation
8:00 a.m. | Mass Oratory of St. Francis |
8:30 a.m. | Check-in North Campus |
9:30 a.m. | President’s Welcome University President Dr. Lance Richey North Campus Auditorium |
9:45 a.m. | University of Saint Francis Mission and Vision Dr. Alex Giltner North Campus Auditorium |
10:00 a.m. | Introduction to Academic Advising and New Student Orientation Overview Melissa Layton North Campus Auditorium |
11:00 a.m. | Financial Aid Parent Session Jamy Hess North Campus Auditorium |
11:00 a.m. –1:00 p.m. | Lunch Hutzell Athletic Center |
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Orientation Stations for Students* Various Locations Students escorted by Orientation and Welcome Leaders |
4:00 p.m. | Ice Cream Social Achatz Hall of Science and John and Toni Murray Research Center |
Students
After the morning sessions, your OWL (Orientation and Welcome Leader) will guide you and fellow students to register for classes, get your student ID, and learn more about being a student at Saint Francis.
Parents/Guardians
After the morning sessions, while your student is registering for classes and getting to know the community at Saint Francis, you are invited to talk with our financial aid team, learn about campus resources at the Resource Fair, and enjoy the campus bookstore and coffee shop. Reconnect with your student at the ice cream social at 4:00 p.m.
- Friday, July 26, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.— Registration Closed
- Monday, August 19, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. — Register by August 5
Meet Your Orientation and Welcome Leaders (OWLs)! These student leaders will be present at Orientation and Welcome Weekend events to assist you in your transition to life at Saint Francis.
Prepare for New Student Orientation 2024
New Student Orientation is for confirmed fall 2024 students. If you are unsure of your status, sign in to My Admissions Account and submit any missing items. Once you have been admitted and have confirmed with a deposit, you can prepare for Orientation via the following steps:
1. Select a New Student Orientation date (above) and register via the “Register” link.
2. Log in to the Saint Francis student portal, My Cougar Connection, at my.sf.edu using your student/Cougar email. If you have not logged in before, set up your password by selecting “Forgot my password.” Follow steps to set up multi-factor authentication. If you don’t know your student email, contact the Office of Admissions for help. Call 260-399-8000, text 260-217-0854 or email [email protected].
3. In My Cougar Connection, visit My Sites, then Colleague Self-Service. Ensure you are able to open Self-Service. During the course registration portion of New Student Orientation, this is the area you will access to register for classes. Self-Service also houses your Financial Aid (financial aid award package, scholarships and more), the Course Catalog and Student Finance where you will make payments and more.
4. In Colleague Self-Service, select your name and person icon in the top right corner to review and complete necessary documents. Be sure to verify your User Profile, submit Emergency Information and complete Required Agreements.
- Accept the Registration Agreement (Required Agreements)
- Confirm your address, email, and phone number (User Profile)
- Confirm your emergency contact information (Emergency Information)
- Name who can access your student records (Student Records Release)
6. If you haven’t already done so, submit your SAT, ACT and AP test scores.
7. Bring information, like course codes and transcripts, for dual, transfer and AP credit to New Student Orientation.
- Visit the website of the institution where you earned your dual credits:
- If you aren’t sure where you earned your credits, contact your high school and ask where your credits were earned.
- You may have earned credits at more than one college. In which case, you will need to complete these steps for each college.
- If you earned your credits from a different institution, use a search engine to find the transcript request page. Search for “[name of college where you earned your credits] transcript request.” For example, if you earned credits from Saint Francis, you would search for “University of Saint Francis transcript request.” Click on the appropriate search result to access the college’s transcript request page.
8. Before you come to New Student Orientation, think about your ideal schedule, especially how to balance classes with extracurricular activities, practice and work.