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Freshmen - Fall Semester

 

We are so excited to welcome new Jags to campus each semester! Our Fall 2025 Southbound Orientation will consist of orientation sessions that are full of fun engagement, important information, and open discussion. New Jags will complete an online orientation course via Canvas prior to their scheduled session with their Orientation Leaders.

All students who are 2025 high school graduates and students who are first time freshmen under the age of 23 must attend a Freshman session of Southbound New Student Orientation. If you are 23 or older and are not transferring from another institution, we recommend you attend a Transfer & Adult Freshman session of Southbound New Student Orientation.

In an effort to prepare all of our new Jaguars for their transition to South, we host multiple orientation sessions that new undergraduate students are required to attend. Spaces for each session will fill up quickly, so we encourage you to register as soon as you can to secure your preferred session. Registration for fall orientation is open.

Admitted students should log-in to their application portal to register for Southbound New Student Orientation.

Please note: There is a one-time orientation fee for new students. If your enrollment plans change and you choose to cancel your registration, please contact our office directly to provide notification of the change. For refund consideration, a written notice of cancellation and refund request must be received by the respective deadline. No refunds will be issued after May 1, 2025 for incoming fall students. Please review our FAQs page before registering for orientation.

Dates for Fall 2025 Freshmen Orientation are as follows:

  • Tuesday - Wednesday, June 10-11 (overnight) - FULL
  • Tuesday, June 17 - FULL
  • Tuesday, June 24 - FULL
  • Thursday, June 26
  • Tuesday, July 15
  • Thursday, July 17
  • Tuesday, July 22
  • Thursday, July 24

We look forward to helping our new Jaguars transition to USA! Orientation Leaders will lead the way, providing new students with information about our campus, student services and support, and other resources.

 

Fall Freshman Orientation Registration

 

▼   Freshman Admitted Student Checklist
Congratulations on your admission to South! We are so excited that you have decided to join the Jaguar family. Here are the steps to take to become a student at USA:

Top Priority

  • Activate your JagNet Student Account at southalabama.edu/services/jagnet.
  • Login to your JagMail and PAWS (Personal Access Web System) accounts at southalabama.edu/logins.
  • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for financial aid at fafsa.gov (FAFSA opens in December). Visit the USA One Stop Financial Resources page at southalabama.edu/onestop/resources.
  •  Log in to JagSPOT to:
    • Search and apply for additional USA scholarships in JagSPOT.
    • Complete your special programs application in JagSPOT, if you meet the requirements and desire consideration.
  • All freshmen USA students are required to live on campus unless they commute from home. Students complete the housing application to live on campus or the housing exemption form to commute. Both are available in the USAHousing portal. More Information: southalabama.edu/departments/housing/residencypolicy.html.
  • Register for Southbound, your New Student Orientation, in your admissions portal. Visit southalabama.edu/orientation for more information.
    • Summer and Fall orientation registration opens in February.
    • Spring orientation registration opens in November.
  • Apply for USA Housing at southalabama.edu/housing and pay deposit.
  • Submit immunization information and records through the Student Health Web Portal at https://www.southalabama.edu/departments/studenthealth/immunization.html. Please contact the Student Health Center at 251-460-7151, if you need assistance.
  • Request final official transcript(s) be submitted to South, if you have not yet done so. If applicable, also submit official test scores (i.e. ACT/SAT, IB/AP).
  • Meet with your academic advisor to register for courses in PAWS. Your advisor will contact you for an appointment after you register for orientation. Some students may be required to take a placement test.
  • Attend your scheduled orientation.
  • After semester billing posts to your student account, pay tuition or set up a payment plan via PAWS. See southalabama.edu/onestop/resources for more information.
  • Order your textbooks and other materials for classes as required.

Priority

Strongly Encouraged

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Contact Us

If you have additional questions, please call or email the New Student Orientation Office:

(251) 460-7093
southbound@southalabama.edu