Orientation

General Information

It is a campus expectation that all new transfer students attend Orientation. Transfer Orientation is for those students who have previously attended either a two-year or four-year institution and have been admitted to UC Davis as a transfer student. This program is a one-day, tightly organized event, full of sessions and activities. There are concurrent but separate student and family programs. While at Transfer Orientation, participants learn about the wide variety of resources and services at UC Davis and have many opportunities to ask questions as well as learn about campus culture and student life. Participants meet other entering students and their family members and register for fall-quarter classes with the guidance of an Orientation Leader.

The 48 Orientation Leaders are carefully selected and highly trained undergarduate student staff members who guide many of the sessions, teach students how to register for classes and serve as mentors to assist in navigating through the process of becoming a UC Davis student. They represent many of the 100-plus majors offered and have participated in a variety of campus programs and activities. They are friendly, willing to help and excited to meet new Aggies!

Transfer Orientation is under the direction of professional staff in the Student Housing department, under the Division of Student Affairs. The staff works closely with the college deans office staff to tailor academic advice to each participant. 

Registration

Transfer students are allowed to attend only those sessions for which their college and major provide advising. Advising for specific majors and colleges is not available on all dates. Transfer students should register online through MyAdmissions as soon as admitted to UC Davis to view specific dates available. Session dates fill quickly and space is limited. Students can register for Transfer Orientation before the Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) is submitted to UC Davis. The deadline to register for Transfer Orientation is June 3, 2012.

Register for Transfer Orientation at the MyAdmissions page. Find the "Orientation" link on the admissions checklist and then click on "Sign Up." Register as an incoming student and add any guest(s) who choose to attend Transfer Family Orientation. Family members can attend for an additional per-person fee.

All participants are responsible for the information located in the Program Policies and Fees section and are expected to read and agree to these terms at the time of registration.

Any reservation modifications must be made two weeks (14 days) prior to the start of the program (including adding additional family members, cancellations and/or session changes). Changes made before the deadline may be completed via MyAdmissions without any charge. After two weeks, refer to the reservation modification policy on the Program Policies and Fees section.

Housing for Orientation

Overnight participants in Transfer Orientation stay in the Tercero Area Residence Halls. The halls have traditional double- and triple-occupancy rooms. Rooms are grouped in clusters of four with a shared bathroom. Each floor of clusters has its own lounge area. Elevators, as well as stairwells, provide access to the four stories of each hall, while laundry rooms and kitchen facilities are located on the ground floor. 

Check-in is at the Tercero Services Center Main Lounge (see Travel and Parking Information) on the night prior to the registered Transfer Orientation session. See your confirmation e-mail for specific times.

Special Accommodations

Transfer Orientation participant(s) in need of special assistance due to a permanent or temporary disability, language translation services, or test-taking assistance during placement exams (which may require advance arrangements) must specify the request through the online registration system in the Special Accommodations section or contact the Orientation office at orientation@ucdavis.edu or (530) 752-4443 at least two weeks prior to the registered session date. When registering, participants should check which accommodation they are requesting, as well as state specific information in the “Other” text box, to provide as much information about the requested accommodation as possible.

Transfer Orientation can provide translation services for the following languages when requested in advance: Chinese (Mandarin), Chinese (Cantonese) and Spanish. Language translation services are offered for Family Program participant(s) only. Be sure to state which language is being requested in “Other” text box.  

Student Information

At Orientation, students will:

• Receive extensive academic advising and register for fall-quarter classes
• Learn about the academic environment and undergraduate research
• Explore ways to get involved in campus activities
• Meet UC Davis faculty, staff and administrators
• Discuss important college issues for new students
• Learn about campus life from current UC Davis students
• Meet other new students and make friends
• Get your questions answered about coming to campus

Transfer Orientation is the best way to get started on the path to academic success at UC Davis. Regardless of previous college history, attending UC Davis will be a new and challenging experience. UC Davis is a large, research-based institution that runs on a fast-paced quarter system. This means there is new jargon to learn and new online systems to navigate, in addition to setting a class schedule to ensure an on-time graduation.

See this summer’s Transfer Orientation dates on the Program Dates page. Plan to stay the entire time. Family members who wish to attend have a separate program (Transfer Family Orientation).

The focus of Transfer Orientation is to familiarize students with the UC Davis campus, their specific college, academic major department and to register for fall-quarter classes with the guidance of an Orientation Leader. Participants also learn about financial aid and the multitude of resources that help lead to success at UC Davis. Along with the transfer student perspective, participants will hear from their college. Student participants will also receive advising from a staff or faculty adviser in a one-on-one or small-group setting. In addition, students will learn about the Transfer Reentry Veterans Center (TRV) and meet other new UC Davis transfer students.

Transfer students wishing to participate in the three-day, two night program are able to register for the First-Year Orientation program under their respective college, which takes place in July and August. Much of the content for First-Year Orientation applies to all new students; however, the program is geared towards new first-years. Transfer students taking this option will be paired with an Orientation Leader who was a transfer student and will be able to help with the articulation of prior coursework. Transfers who would like to attend the three-day, two-night First-Year Orientation will be subject to the reservation fees associated with the First-Year Orientation program. If interested in this option, contact the Orientation office directly at (530) 752-4443, or by e-mail at orientation@ucdavis.edu. The online registration will not provide transfer students with the option of registering for the three-day, two-night program.

Students unable to attend Transfer Orientation need to log on to MyAdmissions, click on the Orientation “Sign-Up” link and complete the “Questionnaire” page. Under the question “Will you be attending Orientation?” select “No”, marking a reason why, and click the “Save and Continue” button at the bottom of the page. Students will be e-mailed detailed information on how to complete the activities covered during Transfer Orientation independently, such as taking placement exams, picking a class schedule, registering for classes, learning about campus resources, etc. This information, as well as any other important campus updates, will be sent to the student’s UC Davis e-mail account, so the account should be checked often.

If circumstances change later, students can go back and change their reservations through MyAdmissions until June 3, 2012. After logging in, change the answer to “Will you be attending Orientation?” to “Yes” and the system will allow a participant to register for any available sessions.

All transfer students who have submitted their Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) by the June 1 campus deadline will receive an offer to live in Student Housing. Incoming transfer students will be offered a choice of two types of housing for the 2012-2013 academic year (based on availability and student's age): Student Housing apartments or residence halls. For additional housing information, visit the Student Housing website or contact their office directly at (530) 752-2033.

UC Davis AggieCard

• Is the official UC Davis photo identification card.
• Is active only when students are enrolled and paid for the quarter.
• Is part of the student record.
• Identifies the card holder as a UC Davis student to all faculty and staff at UC Davis and at other UC campuses. Present the AggieCard when visiting campus offices and when requested by university staff.

• All students who register for an Orientation session are expected to process their AggieCard photo at least 10 business days prior to the program start date. 
• All students must upload a photo for their AggieCard to be processed using these photo requirements.
• To upload a photo, log onto the AggieCard website using your Kerberos ID and passphrase.
• A government-issued photo ID (ex. Driver's License, Passport, Military ID, etc.) is required in order to receive your AggieCard at Orientation.

Arrival at Orientation

Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. at the Tercero Services Center, Main Lounge. If a student or family participant(s) does not arrive by 10:00 a.m. on the day of the registered session or cancels the reservation less than two days prior to the registered session, the enrollment in the program will be cancelled and, the student will be responsible for the full reservation fee for all registered participant(s), regardless of UC Davis student status in fall 2012.

If you are registered for the Full Program (includes overnight accommodations and meals), check-in begins at 6:00 pm the night before your registered session. Participants who register for this option will receive information via e-mail on the check-in procedures.

International Students: Important Visa Information

If attending any of the summer orientation dates during June, July or August, Tranfer International Students can stay in the United States to wait for the beginning of fall quarter. This can only happen if proper steps have been taken to transfer the SEVIS record to UC Davis from the previous institution. Students should contact their SISS international student advisor with any questions.

Family Information

The UC Davis campus understands the important role that family members play in their students' lives and educational success. Continued communication and support from family members can contribute immeasurably to the success of new UC Davis students. The Transfer Family Orientation program runs concurrently during Transfer Orientation. Sessions are held separately, but family members come together at lunch to share information and experiences. This separation is the first step for students to learn autonomy and develop the skills they'll need to be successful at UC Davis. By sharing the experience at Orientation, families can build a partnership with UC Davis, focusing on ways in which everyone can support students in reaching their educational and career objectives. Please note that separate activities or sessions for siblings or young children are not provided.

At Transfer Family Orientation, participants learn about academic and social aspects of campus, receive information about support services, as well as campus resources available to students. Participants meet current students and hear presentations from university faculty and staff. This is a prime opportunity to meet with other family members to network, while having plenty of opportunities to have questions answered. While at Transfer Family Orientation, participants attend a special family transition session by Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). Transfer Family Orientation is the best way for family members and the university to create a partnership for student success.  

Transfer Family Orientation participants are served by two Family Hosts, current undergraduate Orientation Leaders. The Family Hosts are highly trained and skilled individuals who are excited to introduce family members to the vast resources available at UC Davis, share about their own undergraduate experiences and answer any questions participants might have. Be sure to look to the Family Hosts for anything needed during the program!

This is a very important time in a student's life. Family members can help by being active participants at Transfer Family Orientation. Come prepared to take notes during the sessions and write down questions in advance. Transfer Family Orientation strives to make this transition as smooth as possible.

For participants registered for the Full Program (includes overnight accommodations and meals), check-in begins at 6:00 p.m. the night before your registered session. Participants who register for this option will receive information via their student’s UC Davis e-mail account on the check-in procedures.

Transfer family members wishing to participate in a three-day, two-night Orientation program are able to register for the First-Year Family Orientation program under their student's respective college (as long as their student is attending that same session), which takes place in July and August. Much of the content for First-Year Family Orientation applies to all family members of new students; however, the program is geared toward families of new first-years. All participants who would like to attend the three-day, two-night First-Year Orientation program will be subject to the reservation fees associated with the First-Year Orientation program. If interested in this option, contact the Orientation Program office directly at (530) 752-4443, or by e-mail at orientation@ucdavis.edu. The online registration will not provide transfer students and family members with the option of registering for the three-day, two-night program.

If family members cannot attend Transfer Orientation, they should still encourage their student to do so. If the student cannot attend, then the student needs to log on to MyAdmissions, click on the Orientation “Sign-Up” link and complete the “Questionnaire” page. Under the question “Will you be attending Orientation?” select “No” and click the “Save and Continue” button at the bottom of the page. Students will be e-mailed detailed information on how to complete the activities covered during Transfer Orientation independently, such as taking placement exams, picking a class schedule, registering for classes, learning about campus resources, etc. This information, as well as any other important campus updates, will be sent to the student’s UC Davis e-mail account, so the account should be checked often.

If circumstances change later, students can go back and change their reservations through MyAdmissions until June 3, 2012. After logging in, change the answer to "Will you be attending Orientation?" to “Yes” and the system will allow a participant to register for any available sessions.