Orientation FAQ

Our goal is to help you make the transition from high school to college. The more familiar you are with the university’s expectations of freshmen, the more likely you are to be successful in your first semester. Orientation provides you and your advisor with information about the appropriate levels of courses in which to enroll for your first semester. We’ll introduce you to IUP’s academic offerings and to the role and benefits of academic advisors. You will also be introduced to campus life and services.

Orientation Dates for Freshmen

January 18 and 19, 2018

This above orientation is for freshman starting classes in January.

• April 7 and 8, 2018
• April 21 and 22, 2018
• June 3 and 4, 2018
• June 10 and 11, 2018
• June 14 and 15, 2018
• June 17 and 18, 2018
• June 19 and 20, 2018
• June 21 and 22, 2018
• June 24 and 25, 2018
• June 26 and 27, 2018
• June 28 and 29, 2018
• July 1 and 2, 2018

Northpointe Dates

• July 10, 2018

Held at the Northpointe campus

Punxsutawney Dates

• July 11, 2018

Held at the Punxsutawney campus

Transfer Dates

• December 8, 2017
• January 19, 2018

The above orientations are for transfer students starting classes in January.

• June 6, 2018
• July 6, 2018

January orientation for spring semester: date changes are not possible as each orientation has only one date. (Extreme conflicts should be noted in the comments section of the online enrollment form.)

Spring/summer orientation for fall admits: If you absolutely must change your orientation date, log back into MyIUP and select “reschedule my orientation date.”

Yes, orientation is mandatory for all incoming students. As part of orientation, students will also complete placement pre-testing. The tests are departmentally sanctioned and approved by the IUP Administrative Group and the university’s Council of Trustees.

All students must have placement scores on record in order to register for classes. Placement testing is only conducted through new student orientation.

Freshman orientation invitations are sent to your permanent mailing address once we receive your tuition deposit, starting in early spring (for fall semester admits) and early January (for January admits).

Admitted transfer student invitations will be mailed out in early April (for the fall semester) and in early January (for January admits).

Upon receiving your invitation letter, you should go to Orientation Registration to enroll for an orientation date of your choice.

After having submitted the online orientation enrollment form , you will receive confirmation of your participation approximately one week prior to your orientation date. Your confirmation letter will include arrival procedures and a campus map from the website.

No, although earlier attendance allows for greater choice when selecting options for required courses. Courses have been reserved specifically for the entering freshman class, and these are divided among the Orientation sessions. Like anything else, earlier attendance may allow for greater choice in class availability.

Yes. The date will only appear to you in the drop-down menu on the enrollment form if it is available. If a date doesn’t appear, then it is no longer available, and you must choose a date that is listed. (Dates are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.) Group sizes are restricted to allow the best advising and registration possible.

January orientation for spring semester: Date changes are not possible, as each orientation has only one date. (Extreme conflicts should be noted in the comments section of the online enrollment form.)

Spring/summer orientation for fall admits: If you have a legitimate conflict with the orientation dates and your schedule, then you will need to participate in late testing just before the semester begins. You will receive your test results and schedule classes at late orientation. ( Note : The only way to be advised and register is orientation, and it is best to attend a spring/summer orientation.)

We will verify your attendance at a mandatory educational event, on our stationery, for your school and/or employer. Please be sure to request this excuse on your enrollment form. The letter will be in your packet at program check-in.

Yes. The fee will be included in your fall (for freshmen)/first (for transfers) billing statement. The amount is determined by your admissions category, not by the date of testing or the semester of admission. (The 2018 orientation fees are: Two-Day Indiana Campus $255, One-Day Punxsutawney and Northpointe $155, Transfer $155.) This fee is nonrefundable irrespective of final attendance at IUP, as services have been rendered. There is also a $15 fee for your I-Card.

January Orientation (for spring semester)

Housing is not included in the fee, nor provided unless the student has made prior contracting arrangements to live on campus for the spring semester. January orientation students who will not be living on campus in the spring semester should plan to commute or make local hotel arrangements.

April Orientation (for fall admits)

Housing is not included in the April program fee. There are no opportunities for on-campus housing during April orientation. Families should use the Indiana area lodging information that can be found on the website to make reservations on their own.

June/July Orientation (for fall admits)

All students must live in a residence hall during their orientation session. The cost of this residential requirement is covered in the Orientation fee. Each suite has central air conditioning and a private bathroom.

Rarely, students who have legitimate circumstances that do not allow for residential housing during the program must inform the program director of such in advance, in writing. [Note: There is no reduction in fee if one does not stay on campus, as rentals, staffing, and materials were planned to include all entering students. Exceptions are granted rarely as evening activities are a part of the program.] You must obey both program and regular residence hall policies (e.g., no alcohol, no drug use, no pets, quiet hours, respect for program staff and fellow participants, etc.)

Transfer Orientation 

On-campus housing is not available for this program. If overnight accommodations are needed, students and families should plan to commute or make local hotel arrangements.

Northpointe and Punxsutawney Orientations

On-campus housing is not available for this program. If overnight accommodations are needed, students and families should plan to commute or make local hotel arrangements.

Students must bring extra-long bed linens (or two flat single sheets), pillows, blankets, towels, toiletries, and, we recommend, a small reading lamp/light. Students must abide by regular residence hall policies. See the What to Pack page for more information.

Yes, depending on the program for which you registered. Below is a list of what is provided for the student orientations and, if applicable, parent and family orientations. More details are available on the Schedule page.

Spring (April) and Summer (June–July) Orientation 

Two days
Lunch and dinner on Day 1 and continental breakfast on Day 2 are provided

Transfer Orientation

One day
Lunch is provided

Northpointe Orientation

One day, Northpointe campus
Lunch is provided

Punxsutawney Orientation

One day, Punxsutawney campus
Lunch is provided

Yes, depending on the student’s admission status and orientation program they attend. An optional parent and family program is offered concurrently with the freshman and transfer programs offered from April through July. 

There are no parent programs for freshman or transfer orientations held in late August, December, or January.

Campus police will be notified and appropriate criminal and judicial charges will be filed. Judicial cases will be heard after the student’s matriculation.

Spring and Summer Orientation

Two days
Approximately 11:00 a.m. on Day 1 to 1:00 p.m. on Day 2

Transfer Orientation

One day
Approximately 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Northpointe Orientation

One day, Northpointe Campus
Approximately 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Please see the Schedule page for more details.

If you are not able to remain for the entire program on the days that you were assigned, you should reschedule your dates. Should you have a conflict but still want to attend your assigned date, indicate that on your enrollment form, and we can provide a written excuse for your high school or an employer on our stationary.

If you plan to attend IUP’s Summer Session I or have a summer-long military obligation, you may attend either of the spring orientation dates. You will receive your test results, be advised, and be eligible to register for both summer and fall classes during these sessions.

Students who plan to take summer courses and are unable to attend orientation prior to class should not schedule math or English courses. You must still attend orientation.

If you plan to attend classes at IUP during Summer Session II only, be sure to attend orientation before Summer II begins.

Please e-mail orientation-testing@iup.edu. Make sure you have your full name and student ID in the e-mail.

If you’re already registered for orientation, you will need to go to your MyIUP and select “Change My Orientation Date” and select a date when you can fully participate.

If the illness occurs when the university’s Health Service is open, you will be examined, treated, and/or referred to the appropriate health care provider. At other times, you will be referred to Indiana Regional Medical Center. The cost of any treatment will be the responsibility of the student or family.

The university orientation programs do not provide transportation. Each student/family member must make his or her individual travel arrangements, incorporating program times. When making plans, remember that orientation programs conclude at approximately 1:00 p.m. for freshmen and 5:00 p.m. for transfer students. Advance arrangements are required for all transportation services.

View the Directions and Traveling to Campus page for details about specific modes of transportation available for traveling to campus, and the Schedule page for details about when you’ll need to be on campus.

If you wish to change majors before orientation, you should notify the Office of Admissions through the orientation enrollment form. If you have not notified Admissions before your testing date, you will be tested using the tests required by your original major. If you decide to change majors after enrolling for orientation, but before attending orientation, please notify the Office of Admissions at admissions-inquiry@iup.edu. (After orientation, we may need to modify your schedule.)

Notify both the Office of Admissions (admissions-inquiry@iup.edu) and the Office of New Student Orientation (orientation-testing@iup.edu) of the change(s) in writing—also change this information on your MyIUP account.

Please supply your name and ID number (included in your orientation invitation letter), and admission type (transfer, freshman). Please note that office hours for orientation questions are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

We hope that you will change your mind! But if you are unable to attend, please notify the Office of Admissions (Sutton Hall, Room 117, 1011 South Drive, Indiana, PA 15705) in writing (admissions-inquiry@iup.edu) as soon as possible.

If you have one, bring an unofficial transcript. If not, bring the name of the college and the subject course number with you to Orientation. We will try to determine to which IUP course the course you are taking will equate (as long as you receive a C or better).

You will still take placement tests, but may delay registering for the IUP course equivalent until you get your final official transcript sent to IUP, as you may not need to take the course, if it transfers in.