Transfer

Orientation is a critical component of a successful university experience and facilitates the smooth transition of students in the academic and social environments of the University. Because student success is at the heart of all we do here at USF, we require that every new student complete Orientation. The Orientation program is supported by a USF policy mandating that new students attend Orientation as a requirement of admission to the University.

Orientation is mandatory for all new students at the University of South Florida. We strongly encourage anyone who has concerns about being able to attend an Orientation session to email us immediately at OrientationStPete@usf.edu. Additionally, you might consider updating your term of entry to a later term to allow you to attend a later Orientation. To do this, you would need to contact the Office of Admissions.

As a former student returning to USF, you are not required to attend Orientation. However, you must set up an appointment with your Academic Advisor in order to register for classes.

Also be sure to check with Student Health Services, as you may need to meet new immunization requirements.

If you would like to attend Orientation to learn more about or refresh yourself on USF’s St. Petersburg campus, you are welcome to email us at OrientationStPete@usf.edu to register!

Students seeking their second bachelor’s degree must attend a Transfer Orientation.

Second Baccalaureate students who received their first bachelor’s degree from USF are not required to attend Orientation but must contact Academic Advising at 727-873-4511 to set up an appointment with an Academic Advisor in order to register for classes.

If you would like to attend Orientation to learn more about or refresh yourself on USF’s St. Petersburg campus, you can reserve your seat online.

Orientation strives to provide the same experience to all participants. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), we provide special accommodations to students and guests who require this to participate in the session. Requests are often submitted for assistance with mobility, vision or hearing issues.

Other requests might include special dietary concerns or special arrangements for religious observances.

If you need any type of accommodation during your session, please email OrientationStPete@usf.edu so we can ensure that all your needs are met. Requests should be submitted at least 14 business days prior to your session. In cases of emergency situations, we will do our best to meet your needs.

Please review information for your student type using the links above. You can register for Orientation using the myBullsPath portal. Be sure to have a valid form of payment (we accept American Express, Discover, Mastercard and Visa). Your Orientation reservation is complete only after payment has been received. 

You will need to know your NetID and password and have a valid form of payment (we accept American Express, Discover, Mastercard and Visa).

Your NetID is essential as you begin your USF student career. You will use your NetID to check the status of your application, tuition statement, financial aid, register for courses and access your USF email account. You will also need your NetID to login to the USF Orientation registration system. It is important not to share your NetID and password with anyone and to make sure you personally know your NetID name and password. Your NetID is not the same thing as your U#.

Visit the NetID website to activate your NetID. For step-by-step instructions, review the NetID and USF email activation guide.

For assistance with your USF NetID, contact the Information Technology Help Desk at 813-974-1222 or email OrientationStPete@usf.edu.

You can make changes to your Orientation session date by logging into your Orientation reservation portal. The available Orientation session dates will appear on the Dates tab. If you do not see any other available dates, please email OrientationStPete@usf.edu for assistance.

You can add up to two guests to your Orientation reservation by logging into your Orientation reservation portal. Select the "Additional Attendees" tab, click on the “Add an additional attendee” button, input the guest information, and submit payment for the additional fees. Guests can be added up to two business days prior to the session.

While this rarely occurs, it could be due to several reasons. To troubleshoot this issue, please email OrientationStPete@usf.edu. We will work with you to resolve the issue.

Please clear your cache and cookies and try again. If that does not work, try a different browser. If neither of those work, you will need to contact IT:

Phone: 813-974-HELP (4357)
Email: help@usf.edu
Chat

Please contact the Orientation Office at OrientationStPete@usf.edu. Include your U# and reference the “invalid college” error. It is generally a small update that needs to be made on your student account and no need to worry.

Please email OrientationStPete@usf.edu and we will assist you. While refunds are only considered under limited circumstances, you can review the conditions and request a refund of your Orientation fee. Please see our Refunds section.

First, please contact the Office of Admissions to submit an Application Update Form. Application Update Forms can take up to two weeks to process. Then, please email OrientationStPete@usf.edu.

Students who are updating to a later semester are permitted to attend Orientation for the current semester in certain circumstances. Refunds are not offered to students who update their term of entry, but the amount paid can be applied to an Orientation reservation for a future term.

The Orientation Office will only change your session date in the event that you fail to attend your originally scheduled Orientation session date or you did not complete the required steps prior to your Orientation session.

New undergraduate students are required to pay a $35 fee to attend Orientation upon making a reservation. Additional charges may apply for families and guests who choose to attend Orientation. The $35 covers the cost of hosting Orientation, including materials, software/technology, facility rentals, staffing, marketing and more.

The USF St. Petersburg campus Orientation Office only accepts credit or debit card payments (American Express, Discover, Mastercard or Visa). We do not accept e-Checks, checks or money orders. If you are unable to pay via credit card, please email OrientationStPete@usf.edu to have the fee applied to your student account.

Because the Orientation fee covers the cost of the Orientation, we are not able to offer waivers for the Orientation fee. However, we are happy to charge the amount to your student account during your first semester so you do not need to pay the fee upfront (see below).

Students choosing this option of payment are fully responsible for the Orientation fees. Financial aid may or may not cover these charges. 

Please complete your Orientation reservation up until the point of payment. Then email OrientationStPete@usf.edu with your name and U# with “Charge Student Account” in the subject line and we will be happy to assist you.

Students choosing this option of payment are fully responsible for the Orientation fees. Financial aid may or may not cover these charges. 

Refund requests will be considered under limited circumstances. However, note that no refund will be granted if the request is received late. A request is considered late if it is not received at least seven calendar days before the date of the registered Orientation session.

Orientation refund requests are not considered until after the scheduled Orientation session has passed and can then take up to a month to process.

The Office of Orientation will consider issuing a refund if:

• The student’s admission to the university is rescinded before the student attends Orientation.
• The student registers for an incorrect USF campus Orientation or updates their home campus after registering for Orientation.
• The student cancels their admission more than seven calendar days before their scheduled Orientation.
• The guest cancels their reservation more than seven calendar days before their scheduled Orientation.

No refund will be considered if:

• The request is made within seven calendar days of the scheduled Orientation.
• The request is made after a student or guest fails to attend their scheduled Orientation session.
• The student’s admission to the university is rescinded after the student attends Orientation.
• The student changes USF campuses after attending the St. Petersburg campus Orientation.
• The student has not already canceled or updated their application with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Please note: The amount of any refund granted will equal the amount paid less a $10 administration fee. Refunds will be issued to the credit card used for the original transaction only. If an e-Check was used, a paper check will be issued. Allow at least three weeks for this process to complete.

Request a refund by emailing orientationstpete@usf.edu

• A sweater or hoodie as temperatures vary in our buildings
• A valid government-issued ID
• An umbrella
• A reusable water bottle and snack
• Comfortable walking shoes

Please park in the 5th Ave. Parking Garage on levels 2-4, located at 250 5th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. You will receive a parking permit in your reminder email. Be sure to print ahead of time as you must place that on your vehicle's dashboard.

Two days prior to your Orientation, you will receive a confirmation email with details. Please check that email for all details on check-in and things to bring for your Orientation.

The Virtual Live Synchronous Orientation session will take place in a Microsoft Teams meeting. All USF students have an account with Microsoft Teams through the university.

For best results, download the Microsoft Teams application ahead of time and sign in using your USF email address and password. 

Both a web camera and a microphone are highly recommended for the Virtual Live Synchronous Orientation session so that you are interact with your Orientation Leaders and fellow new students. However, if you do not have access to either, you can still participate using the chat feature.

Call the Orientation Office at 727-873-4754 immediately so we can help you troubleshoot.

For technical issues, please call 813-974-4357.

Transfer students will meet with their advisor to register for classes prior to their Orientation session. You will book an appointment via Archivum (more details to come via e-mail once you register for your session). If you are unable to meet with your Academic Advisor prior to your Orientation session, you will be rescheduled to a different Orientation session.

College is not just a new journey for students but for parents and families as well. USF’s St. Petersburg campus offers a supplemental Family and Guest Orientation program that is designed to answer the myriad of questions surrounding a student’s first time in college. The success of your student is our top priority. We hope to engage all parents as partners in the process.

Family and Guest Orientation provides family members an introduction to campus resources and helpful information to support your student, as well as opportunities to ask questions and meet others.

We allow two guests per student. One to two parent(s), guardian(s), or other adult family member(s) may attend. Family and Guest Orientation is limited to these relationships to students. The Orientation program and atmosphere are not appropriate for siblings or other guests. 

If you’d like to attend, please make sure your student formally adds you to their Orientation reservation.

Please note that participation in the virtual Family and Guest Orientation Session therefore requires an additional device.

Families and guests will start and end their session with presentations specific to their roles but will be able to attend presentations with their student for the middle portion of the event. Family members and guests are not permitted to attend the student-only presentations as we want to start their transition and create an environment where new students can get to know each other as they learn about campus and how to succeed at USF’s St. Petersburg campus. 

No. Parents, guardians or partners and other adult family members may attend, but the Orientation session is not appropriate for siblings or other guests.

The Family and Guest Orientation incurs the same costs related to materials, software/technology, facility rentals, staffing, marketing and more.