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Freshmen Orientation - Spring/Summer Semester

South Alabama student posing for photograph

 

Welcome to Southbound Orientation! You are here because you are a 2024 high school graduate or a student who is a first-time freshman under the age of 23. 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.

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.  Only admitted students will have orientation registration access. Students who register for orientation will be contacted by an academic advisor who will assist them with course registration. 

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

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

  • After you have viewed your admissions status in the portal, click the "Register for Orientation" link to sign up.
  • Complete the orientation registration form and submit.
  • A confirmation email will be sent to you with next steps.

If your orientation 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 December 15, 2024 for incoming summer students. 

Dates for our Spring 2025 Orientation are as follows:

  • November 20, 2024 (closed)
  • December 6, 2024 (closed)
  • December 18, 2024
  • January 10, 2025

We look forward to helping our new Jaguars transition to USA!

 

▼   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, and pay the fee in your admissions portal. Visit southalabama.edu/orientation for more information.
    • Summer and Fall orientation registration opens in January.
    • Spring orientation registration opens in November.
  • Apply for USA Housing at southalabama.edu/housing and pay deposit.
  • Register for Southbound, your New Student Orientation, and pay the fee in your admissions portal. Visit southalabama.edu/orientation for more information.
    • Summer and Fall orientation registration opens in January.
    • Spring orientation registration opens in November.
  • 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