New Student Orientation
Welcome to your hilltop community!
We’re thrilled to have you join us at St. Edward’s, and we’re excited to meet you during Orientation this summer. Though your interactions with St. Edward’s have been virtual so far, we’re offering in-person Orientation experiences over the summer, and all students will be on campus this fall!
We have an entire team of Hilltoppers eager to get you ready and energized for your St. Edward's journey! Your 1-day Orientation session on campus will be fun and inspiring, and set the pace for a full and meaningful first year. And with students on campus this fall and the majority of classes held in person, your first semester on the hilltop will feel closer to normal as we monitor the pandemic.
Keeping Our Community Healthy and Safe
Throughout the pandemic, we’ve made it a priority to safeguard the wellbeing of our students, faculty and staff. At your Orientation, we’ll continue following the health and safety guidelines recommended by the CDC, Austin Public Health and the university’s medical advisory team. Face masks and social distancing will be mandatory. Daily screening and frequent hand washing will be routine. And shared spaces will be sanitized between use. See full details on our Healthy Hilltop standards. Also, new students will be allowed to have only one family member or guest accompany them on campus for Orientation.
Even with social distancing and safety precautions on campus, you’ll see that we’re a tight-knit, caring community that takes pride in getting to know you as an individual and supporting your success. We look forward to welcoming you in person to your new hilltop home.
Your Orientation Checklist
Stay on top of everything you need to do and know for Orientation with our handy checklists for first-year students and for transfer students.
Here’s What You’ll Experience During Orientation
You’ll connect with Student Orientation Leaders and your classmates — all who are smart, globally minded, creative thinkers and problem solvers, just like you. (Not to mention, super friendly and fun-loving, too!)
You’ll meet one-on-one with your personal success coach who will guide you throughout your time on the hilltop and help you customize your St. Edward’s experience to achieve your goals.
Key community leaders will also be present at Orientation to introduce you to academic programs, campus resources and opportunities to get involved.
The student leaders, success coaches, staff and professors you meet at Orientation will serve as a great resource to help you succeed by providing updates, advice and answers as you get ready for the fall semester.
Making the Hilltop Your Home
We’ve mapped out the following 4-part plan for your Orientation experience that will keep you engaged with your hilltop community throughout the summer break — and fully prepare you for your first semester. You’ll learn all about St. Edward’s and start building relationships with your fellow Hilltoppers. Check out each part, and get started right away!
Part 1: Complete Your Hillstart Tasks
Take care of necessary tasks first.
Like most milestone events in life, entering college involves reviewing and completing paperwork, procedures, and tasks that are mandatory for a smooth transition.
Hillstart allows you to conveniently take care of these important transactions online at the beginning of Orientation. That way, you can focus the majority of your Orientation experience on meeting new friends, building relationships, and getting ready for the spring semester.
Complete your required Hillstart tasks based on your status.
Activate and regularly check your St. Edward’s email account.
Go to Hillstart and complete ALL ACTIVITIES, including:
- Registering for Orientation
- Modern Language Placement Test
- Math Placement Survey
- Signing up for housing
- Completing the advising questionnaire
- Signing up to meet your success coach
- Submitting your bacterial meningitis vaccination record
- Submitting your proof of health insurance
Activate and regularly check your St. Edward’s email account.
Go to Hillstart and complete ALL ACTIVITIES, including:
- Registering for Orientation
- Signing up for housing
- Completing the advising questionnaire
- Submitting your bacterial meningitis vaccination record
- Submitting your proof of health insurance
Activate and regularly check your St. Edward’s email account.
Go to Hillstart and complete ALL ACTIVITIES, including:
- Registering for Orientation
- Signing up for housing
- Completing the advising questionnaire
- Submitting your bacterial meningitis vaccination record
Do you have your I-20 or DS-2019 form? If not, learn more about this important first step for exchange students and degree-seeking students. Contact International Student Services with any questions at iss@stedwards.edu.
Both Orientation and check-in at International Landing Day are mandatory for all new students.
Part 2: Get Advised and Register for Classes
Meet your success coach.
All students at St. Edward’s benefit from the guidance and support of a personal success coach, who collaborates with them throughout their college career. Your success coach will get to know you and become your go-to person for all kinds of advice. They’ll learn about your talents, interests and career goals, and help you navigate your college experience successfully. See what students say about the support their success coaches provide.
During this part of Orientation, a success coach will take you through the advising and registration process. Here’s how it works:
- To get started, log in to Hillstart and fill out the advising questionnaire.
- Complete the Math Placement Survey and Modern Language Survey in Hillstart (all students must complete these steps, even those with prior math or modern language credit).
- Throughout the end of April and the month of May, a success coach will reach out to you to set up a virtual advising appointment for the week of your Orientation date to finalize your fall schedule.
- In that appointment, you will speak with your success coach about your major, classes and schedule, and get answers to any academic questions you have.
- Advising appointments will begin on Monday, May 31, 2021
Find out what to expect when you meet with your success coach for the first time.
Part 3: Meet Your New Community
Connect with students, staff, professors and classmates.
During your in-person, 1-day Orientation, you’ll get a fuller picture of life at St. Edward’s and the numerous opportunities, programs, activities and resources available to you. Best of all, you’ll have a chance to meet many of the people who will play a big role in your first semester, including your peers. To register for Orientation, please complete the Orientation Registration module in your Hillstart Course.
We look forward to welcoming you to campus and have essential updates to our Freshman and Transfer orientation programs planned for this week and next week. Recently, Austin Public Health moved to Stage 5 because the COVID-19 cases continue to increase, effecting our ability to gather in large groups, and we want to ensure the health and safety of everyone in our community.
First-year Student Orientation
All freshman students who have not yet attended an orientation session now have the option to participate in an in-person Orientation session on Aug. 18, 2021, or a virtual Orientation session on Aug. 20, 2021.
Transfer Student Orientation
All transfer students now have the option to attend an in-person Orientation session on Aug. 19, 2021 or a virtual Orientation session on Aug. 20, 2021.
Transfer students scheduled to attend Session 1: Aug. 13, 2021, now have the option to participate in an in-person Orientation session on Aug. 19, 2021, or a virtual session on Aug. 20, 2021.
Please Note: In order to maintain our health and safety standards, family members and guests are not allowed to participate in in-person Orientation.
All students who have not yet attended an orientation session must select whether they would like to attend their orientation session in-person or virtually by Thursday, Aug. 12, at 5 pm. If you do not make your selection by the deadline, you will automatically be placed in the virtual session.
Click here to make your selection.
Family and guest orientation sessions are canceled. There will be a series of videos and recordings available to family members and guests soon.
Here’s a sample of what’s in store during Orientation:
Topper-Time Talks
Student Orientation Leaders, staff and professors will provide an inside view of what you can expect to experience at St. Edward’s, from college classes and campus resources to hilltop traditions and opportunities in Austin.
LiveWellSEU Introduction
Hear from our Recreation and Wellness (RecWell) staff about the many activities and resources on the hilltop that support your physical and mental health and wellbeing throughout your years on the hilltop. From club sports to Group X classes to personal training and counseling, you’ll be amazed at the range and popularity of our RecWell programs.
Choose Your Own Adventure
You’ll have time at the end of the day to visit different university offices to get questions answered and meet our friendly staff. Make the rounds to hear from success coaches, study abroad staff, career services advisors, financial aid counselors, the admission team and more. The choice is yours!
Part 4: Arrive on Campus for Move-in & Anchors
Move-in
For new students living on campus, the Office of Residence Life will contact you to get acquainted, cover your move-in date and details, and answer any questions you have prior to your arrival on campus. For health and safety reasons, first-year students will experience a phased move-in designed to limit the number of people in each residence hall during the move-in process.
Move-In Dates:
- First- Semester International and Exchange Students: Aug. 17, 2021
- First-Year Students: Aug. 17–19, 2021
- First-Semester Transfer Students: Aug. 17, 2021
For a more detailed list of move-in dates, see our Welcome Days page.
Please note: Due to our health and safety guidelines, students are allowed only two family members or guests to accompany them on campus during move-in.
Anchors for First-Year Students
Once you arrive on the hilltop and settle into your residence hall, get ready to have some fun! From Aug. 20–22, you’ll take part in Anchors, a series of events designed specifically for first-year students. Anchors will help you acclimate, engage, connect and transition into your new life at St. Edward’s.
Anchors, our second stage orientation program for all new students, will be modified based on Austin Public Health risk guidelines. Large signature events will be postponed, and other events will be delivered differently. Please monitor your SEU email account for more information on Anchors coming soon. While we are disappointed that we will not be able to celebrate the start of fall with some of our larger traditions and events, we know this is the right decision in order to keep our Hilltop safe.
Become an Official Hilltopper!
Your Orientation experience will culminate with the Medallion Ceremony and Legacy Walk, which marks your formal induction into the St. Edward’s community. All incoming students participate in this time-honored and cherished campus tradition. You’ll receive your university medallion and join your fellow incoming Hilltoppers in a procession through the iconic red doors of Main Building.
These events will be rescheduled when the public health situation allows.
Orientation is sponsored in part by UFCU.