Director: Sandra R. Terry

Attending an Orientation, Advisement, and Registration Session, coordinated by the Orientation Center, is required of all new undergraduate students. During orientation, students are given essential information: the University’s policies and procedures, community values and standards, and academic requirements and opportunities. Students also receive practical advice on consumer survival: where to buy books, open checking accounts, or meet other students with similar interests. For dance, film, music, and theatre majors, there are slightly modified sessions.

In addition to meeting faculty and administrators, students are assigned to small groups led by trained staff members—currently enrolled students who inform and guide the newcomers. Students are given standardized tests for placement and exemption credit in mathematics courses and meet with their academic advisers before registering for courses.

Students may not register for their first term on campus until they have completed an Orientation Session. Although they may be admitted up to a year before they enter, students may only attend orientation immediately prior to their enrollment. The Orientation Center provides sessions immediately preceding each academic term and during the summer at Early Orientation.

The June and July Orientation Sessions include a concurrent session for parents. Parents learn about the University, its services and academic programs, and meet with administrators and faculty. Parents and students share tours of residence halls and visit booths set up in a fair-like atmosphere, called Seminole Showcase. Seminole Showcase is an excellent way to view the diversity available at the University, from honors and scholars programs, cultural clubs, and service organizations to sororities and fraternities. Transfer students may attend regular sessions given the week before classes commence in either August, January, May, or June. Special transfer sessions are also held during Early Orientation. In addition, a one-day Early Orientation session for transfer students is held in November for enrollment in the spring term.

All admitted undergraduate students receive by mail information and instructions about registering for the session of their choice. Attendance is by reservation only, and participants must pay a nonrefundable fee of $25.

Persons with Disabilities. Any student in need of specific services and reasonable accommodations should contact the Student Disability Resource Center, 1st Floor, Kellum Hall; (850) 644-9566.

Director: Roberta Christie

International Student Advisor: Kristen Hagen,

107 South Wildwood

Orientation for new international students is held before both fall and spring terms. Orientation is required for both transfer students and for students coming directly from their countries. Students receive the International Student Handbook and other useful materials about University and community resources. Copies of immigration documents are made for University files. Students receive information and advice regarding insurance, immunization, and other health requirements. Returning international students address the concerns of students who have newly arrived from their countries.

International students receive notification of orientation dates and times with the pre-arrival materials sent from the International Student and Scholar Center and via the ISSC web-site:http://www.fsu.edu/~fsu-isc/

Most departments hold orientation sessions for new graduate students during the week before classes.

All undergraduate students, whether U.S. or international, are required to attend Undergraduate Orientation (see ‘Orientation Center’ above).