Freshman Orientation

Congratulations! You've made a great decision in choosing to join the Charger family! As a new freshman student attending UAH for the summer or fall 2019 term, your next step is to register to attend Freshman Orientation.

Registration

Register for Freshman Orientation through your existing Charger Status account by clicking on the session date you wish to attend below. In order to register, you will need your Student Identification Number (begins with "A") and your Charger ID which can be found on your acceptance letter.

Your Charger Status account was created when you registered for any Admissions event or submitted the online application for admission. Creating a new Charger Status account for the purposes of orientation registration could affect your reservation. Please contact the Office of Admissions if you are having any difficulty accessing your existing Charger Status account.

2019 Freshman Orientation Dates

All orientation dates with the exception of the session on August 16 are two-day sessions in which students will spend the night in a campus residence hall.

Monday, June 3 - Tuesday, June 4 - FULL
Monday, June 10 - Tuesday, June 11 - FULL
Monday, June 17 - Tuesday, June 18 - FULL
Monday, June 24 - Tuesday, June 25 - FULL
Monday, July 8 - Tuesday, July 9 - FULL
Monday, July 15 - Tuesday, July 16 - FULL
Monday, July 22 - Tuesday, July 23 - FULL
Monday, July 29 - Tuesday, July 30 - FULL
Monday, August 5 - Tuesday, August 6 - FULL
Thursday, August 8 - Friday, August 9
Wednesday, August 14 - Thursday, August 15*
*Only students who have received an official housing assignment for the 19-20 academic year will be able to spend the night in a campus residence hall for the August 14-15 session.
Friday, August 16**
**This session is reserved for students traveling eight or more hours away from campus.

Please keep in mind that all sessions are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. All first-time freshmen are required to attend a Freshman Orientation session. If you need to make changes to your orientation registration, please email orientation@uah.edu.

Questions about the differences between your Charger Status and myUAH accounts? Click HERE for more information.

Orientation Fees

A charge of $225 will be included in your university bill payable when tuition is due at the start of the semester. This cost covers the student orientation fee and up to two guests.

What to Expect

Freshman Orientation is designed to be informative and productive. 

At Freshman Orientation, you will:

• Meet with your academic advisor to discuss expectations and register for classes
• Learn more about campus housing
• Get your Charger Card (Student ID) and complete immunization forms with Student Health Services
• Discover tools to enable your academic success
• Learn about the campus, student involvement opportunities, and traditions
• Meet and socialize with current and new students

For more information regarding orientation programming, check-in, and parking, visit our Schedule of Events page.

Parents and family members are welcome to join you. Your orientation fee includes up to two guests. Due to facility capacity, we strongly encourage students to bring no more than two guests. However, if you do bring more than two guests with you, there will be an additional fee of $50 per guest (over the age of eight) also charged to your university bill. Parents and guests attending two-day sessions should make overnight accommodations.

Meals are provided. Students and parents/guests attending a two-day Freshman Orientation session will be provided lunch and dinner on Day 1 and breakfast and lunch on Day 2.

Preparing for Orientation

Once you have registered for your orientation experience, review and complete the Charger Checklist.

What to Bring

• Current government issued photo ID- U.S Driver’s License, State-Issued ID Card, Passport, or U.S Military ID to obtain your Charger ID card
• Casual-comfortable clothing and walking shoes
• Rain jacket and/or umbrella
• Money for snacks or souvenirs
• Any current or updated transcripts that have not been received by the Office of Admissions
• Advanced Placement/IB Scores/CLEP Courses that have not been received by the Office of Admissions
• Completed Student Health Forms (Required Immunizations)

As a reminder, students attending two-day Freshman Orientation sessions will spend the night in a campus residence hall. Residence Life will provide a pillow, blanket, linens, towels, toilet paper, paper towels, and hand soap. Students should plan to bring toiletries, a change of clothes for evening activities and the second day of Freshman Orientation, extra blanket (if desired), alarm clock, and phone charger.

Special Accommodations

Do you have a medical, physical, or disability-related need? We will do everything we can to make orientation a positive experience for you. Please contact the Office of Admissions at 256.824.2773 or orientation@uah.edu prior to your arrival so that we can best accommodate your visit to campus.

FAQ

• I’m an Honors student or planning to pursue a pre-professional program, are these specific sessions I should attend?

  Prior to event check-in on Day 1 of Freshman Orientation, there will be an advising session for Honors College students and students planning to pursue a pre-professional program. Students are strongly encouraged to attend these sessions, as this information is integral to your class schedule.

• Will I be able to get the class schedule I want if I come to one of the later orientation sessions??

  There is no way to predict which classes will be available at the time of any specific orientation session. The "perfect" schedule may not be available, but all students should be able to register for a full load of classes that will fulfill their core curriculum and degree requirements. New students should be prepared to be flexible and should not rule out registering for classes that begin as early as 8 a.m. or late in the afternoon. Students who are not satisfied with their schedule can change it as late as the fourth day of classes during the Drop/Add period.

• What should I do if my plans change and I need to switch to another orientation session?

  Orientation sessions are assigned on a first come, first served basis. If you do need to change sessions, you may contact the Office of Admissions by emailing orientation@uah.edu to see if there is room in another session for you. Once you make a change, be aware that you may not be able to get back into your previous session. The orientation fee is non-refundable.

• If I don't attend orientation do I still have to pay?

  Yes. The orientation fee is assessed to your student bill and will be charged regardless of whether you attend or not.

• If I am attending a two-day Freshman Orientation session, am I required to spend the night on campus?

  While students are not required to spend the night on campus, orientation programming is scheduled to last until 8 pm on the evening of Day 1. There are also a variety of student activities provided until 10 pm. We highly encourage students to spend the night on campus to take full advantage of the orientation experience. However, if you choose not to, we ask that you stay on campus until you have completed all Day 1 sessions.

• Do I have to attend all orientation programming?

  Students are required to attend every program during their orientation session.