Orientation

Co-Director: Patrick Heaton; Co-Director: Jan Daly; Assistant Director: Meredith Kahl

All new undergraduate students are required to attend an orientation, advisement, and registration session coordinated by the Dean of Students Departments' Office of New Student & Family Programs. 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.

In addition to meeting faculty and administrators, students are assigned to small groups led by trained staff members, comprised of currently enrolled students, who inform and guide the newcomers. Students must meet with their academic advisers before registering for classes.

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 Office of New Student & Family Programs provides sessions preceding each academic term.

Orientation sessions include a concurrent session for family members. During these sessions family members learn about the University, its services and academic programs, and meet with administrators and faculty. New Student & Family Programs also coordinates a shared reading program (One Book / One Campus) and first-year experience course for new students. Family Members have the option to participation in Family Connection, an association for the parents and other family members of current FSU students.

All admitted undergraduate students receive information and instructions about registering for orientation by mail. Attendance is by reservation only, and participants must pay a nonrefundable fee. For more information about orientation or other programs, please visit http://www.nsfp.fsu.edu or call (850) 644-2785.

Persons with Disabilities. Any student in need of specific services and reasonable accommodations should contact the Student Disability Resource Center, 1st Floor, Student Services Building; (850) 644-9566; http://www.disabilitycenter.fsu.edu.

Director: Cindy Green; Associate Director: Kristen Hagen; Assistant Director: Joy (Maria Lourdes) M. Ira

In addition to the University Orientation mentioned above (see 'Office of New Student & Family Programs'), newly admitted international students are also required to attend an International Student Orientation. This mandatory orientation for new international students is held just before the start of the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters (before each Summer session) for students coming directly from abroad, transfer students, and students readmitted to the University after an absence of two or more semesters. International students receive notification of International Student Orientation dates and times in the welcome letter sent along with the appropriate immigration form (I–20 or DS–2019) to newly admitted students

During International Student Orientation, students are provided with important information on maintaining their legal non-immigrant student visa status while obtaining their academic degree at FSU. Federal regulations make it essential that students know and understand their responsibilities under federal immigration law. International students must report to and stay in close contact with their International Center advisers, even regarding academic matters.

Students also receive the International Student Handbook, as well as useful materials about International Center services and programs, and University and community resources. They receive information and guidance on various topics including housing, utilities and transportation, insurance, immunization and other health requirements, registration and fee payment, and more.

Note: Incoming students may register for classes only after presenting their immigration documents to the International Center staff, obtaining health insurance, clearing required immunizations at the Thagard Student Health Center, and attending the International Student Orientation.

To obtain more information on F1 and J1 student visa status and on the International Center and its services and programs, please visit http://www.ic.fsu.edu or contact the International Center at 945 Learning Way; phone (850) 644-1702; fax (850) 644-9951; email: intctr@admin.fsu.edu.

Note: In early 2010, the International Center will move to its new address: 110 South Woodward Avenue.