The Orientation website is updated frequently so please refresh your web browser each time you visit a page within the website to make sure you are getting the most up-to-date information.
Information as of January 8, 2026
Orientation 2026
All new students (first year students and transfer students) beginning enrollment in September 2026 are required to register for an on-campus session which includes academic advising and course enrollment. Session dates will be announced in March 2026.
IMPORTANT: New students will not be able to enroll in their fall classes without registering for and attending one of the required on-campus sessions.
Registration
Registration for your required Orientation session will go live in March 2026. Once registration opens:
- Click the forthcoming button to register for the session that best fits your availability.
- Use the same login you used to check your SCU Admission process.
- If you do not recall your password, you can reset it.
Additional Details
Travel Planning
Here are some details to assist with planning travel to and from Santa Clara this summer for any of the on-campus Orientation sessions:
- For those first year students attending one of the on-campus July sessions (two days), check-in begins at 7:30am on the first day and the university welcome begins at 8:30am that day then the session ends on the second day no later than 2:00pm.
- For those transfer students attending one of the on-campus August sessions (one day), check-in begins at 7:30am then the session ends no later than 5:00pm.
- For those first year students attending the on-campus September session (one day), check-in begins at 7:30am then the session ends no later than 5:00pm.
- View additional travel resources and discounted hotel and car rental rates.
On-Campus Session Schedules
The full detailed schedule for the on-campus Orientation sessions will be available in June.
- For the two-day sessions in July, this includes a stay overnight in one of our residence halls.
- For the one-day sessions in August and September, there is no overnight component.
Earlier vs. Later Sessions
Seats in many of our courses have been reserved for our new students. These seats are equally divided between the course enrollment / orientation sessions listed above. So whether a student participates in their course enrollment / orientation session in July or September, they will have the same chance of enrolling in the available courses.
Unless otherwise noted, academic advisors will be assisting students with enrollment and students will leave with courses that fulfill requirements. Students do need to be open-minded and willing to try out new areas of learning that they have not experienced before. It may actually lead to new major and/or minor options.
Fees
Registration fees for Orientation and Welcome Weekend will be announced in March 2026 when registration for sessions launches.
What Do Fees Cover?
Fees cover staffing, meals, event logistics, materials, publications, and activities during Orientation and Welcome Weekend.
Fee Waivers
Students must be Pell Grant-eligible in order to receive a fee waiver.
- Most students who are Pell Grant-eligible will automatically receive the fee waiver, so there is no need to request a waiver; however, final determination for waiver eligibility will be made by the Financial Aid Office.
- Also, students must accept their financial aid packages first before a fee waiver can be fully processed.
- The fee waiver is for the Orientation & Welcome Weekend Fee only.
Important Note About Payment
Fees are billed to each student's SCU account under the Bursar Office. For students who are beginning enrollment in September 2025:
- Fall billing statements will be available in the student's Workday portal account starting August 1.
- The payment deadline for this bill is August 21.
- Please contact the One Stop at 408-551-1000 or email onestop@scu.edu with payment questions.
Authorized Payers
Students can also grant access to other Authorized Payers to view and use the online bill/pay system. Authorized Payers can be parents and other family, essentially whoever is responsible for paying bills for a student.
Financial Aid
Students need to accept their financial aid award in their Workday portal so it appears on their bill.