First Year Orientation

Program Dates

Our First Year Orientation program is an overnight, two-day experience on campus. When selecting your date, note that you will be attending the entirety of both days. Please plan accordingly to ensure you have no other conflicts. 

For current session availability, please visit the registration page in your myCoyote portal.

How to Register

To register for an Orientation session, you will need to:

• Accept Your Offer of Admission
  • Accept your admissions offer before May 1, 2025.
  • After accepting your offer, please allow 24-48 hours before you register for an Orientation session.
• Prepare to Register
  • Know your Coyote (student) ID number and myCoyote login information
  • Know any scheduling conflicts - Orientation is mandatory, and you are required to attend both days of your two-day program. Please make sure you do not have any outside conflicts (such as work, classes, appointments, etc.) with your selected Orientation program.
• Register for Orientation
  • Log into your myCoyote portal.
  • Find the Checklist Items menu across the top navigation.
  • Select Orientation Registration.

Information regarding your Orientation will be sent to your CSUSB email address. 

Need help registering? Contact us at (909) 537-5233 or orientation@csusb.edu.

Attendance Policy 

Participation in Cal State San Bernardino's orientation program is required of all newly admitted undergraduate students prior to enrolling in classes and in order to hold their place for course enrollment.  A student’s Orientation Hold will not be removed until the student’s successful completion of their orientation program.

Changing Your Orientation Date

If you need to change your Orientation date:

1. Send us an email at orientation@csusb.edu. In your request, please include the following information:

• First and Last Name
• Student ID Number
• Original Orientation date your are registered for
• New Orientation date you want to switch into
• Contact phone number

or

   2.  Call us at (909) 537-5233.  Please be ready to provide the above information when you call.

NOTE: Changing your Orientation session is subject to availability in another session. If you change your Orientation date more than once, you will be charged an administrative fee of $25 per change. Please review the Program Costs and Fees page.

Overnight Exemptions 

Exemptions to the overnight component of the program may be granted on a case-by-case basis for any of the following reasons:

• Medical accommodations;
• Religious; or
• Accommodations via Services to Students with Disabilities*

To request an exemption, students must email New Student Orientation and Family Programs at orientation@csusb.edu at least five (5) business days prior to their orientation date, and provide details in your exemption request.

*Services to Students with Disabilities must be contacted prior to exemption request.  

Cancelling Your Orientation Registration

To cancel your orientation:

1. Please contact Admissions and Student Recruitment at (909) 537-5188 or moreinfo@csusb.edu to withdraw your admissions from CSUSB. 
2. Once your admissions cancellation is processed, your orientation date will automatically be cancelled. 

Our First Year Orientation program is an overnight, two-day experience on campus. You’ll spend the night in Coyote Village, along with the other students in your pack. Regardless if you are commuting or living on campus in the fall, you’ll have the opportunity to experience life on campus. 

Bring the following:

• Change of clothes for staying overnight in campus housing (dress casual and comfortable) and comfortable shoes for walking around campus
  • Showers are available for your use!
• A backpack or bag to carry orientation materials
• Pillow, sleeping bag or bed sheets (extra long twin) and blanket. Bedding is not provided!
• Towel and personal care essentials (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, etc.).   
• Any medication you might need for two days

Orientation Schedule

The Orientation program is designed to provide you with the most important information as you transition into CSUSB. During Orientation, you will be put into Pack groups with other new students within the same college, lead by a student Orientation Leader to guide you through the two days.

Check In

Check in begins at 7:00 AM. Students who arrive after 8:30 AM are considered late and will need to reschedule their orientation session.

Day 1

• Welcome
• Financial Aid & Student Financial Services
• Pack Time
• Lunch 
• Campus Resource Fair
• Academics at CSUSB
• Dinner
• Cosmic Coyote

Day 2

• Breakfast
• Engagement Opportunities
• Lunch
• Campus Navigation
• Your First Year at CSUSB
• Closing

Academic Advising at Orientation

To assist in the transition from high school to college, and help students meet their academic goal of obtaining a degree in four years, the university designed and implemented the strategy of Pack Enrollment.

Pack Enrollment places incoming first-year students in their first semester classes. The schedules are a careful mixture of major-required coursework and General Education. Students will have their plans by Orientation, where they will receive guidance on making necessary changes to ensure their success at CSUSB. For more information, please visit Pack Enrollment.

In order to have a successful Orientation session and smooth transition, you'll want to have done the following before you attend Orientation.

• Pre-Orientation - An online program to start introducing you to CSUSB resources, services, and getting acquainted with some of the terminology used on campus!
  • This is available on your myCoyote portal under the Checklist Items menu, 24-48 hours after registering for Orientation. 
• Directed Self Placement - The Directed Self Placement (DSP) survey at CSUSB helps first-year students select the most suitable English composition course by asking them to reflect on their academic experiences and preferences. Completing the 25-30 minute online survey provides a course recommendation, which, while not binding, offers valuable insight for making final registration decisions before orientation. Complete by May 16, 2025. 
• Get connected on NearPeer! - Join the online social community to meet other new Coyotes, find new friends based on your major or other interests, and get connected to the Pack! 
• Review Orientation Cost/Fees & Waiver of Liability - Students who register to participate in Orientation agree to the cost of the program, any fees that may be charged, and waiver of liability. It is important that you review these policies. 
• Emergency Contact Information - You are required to submit your emergency contact information on your myCoyote Self Service Student Center. Be sure to keep this information updated with CSUSB.

Don't Forget!

Submit Your Final Transcripts - You can attend orientation without having submitted them, but we want you to be aware of the deadline!  Your final transcripts are due to CSUSB Admissions and Student Recruitment by July 15, 2025.

• For more information on how to submit your final documents, please visit Admissions & Student Recruitment.

Parent and Family Orientation at CSUSB takes place on the first day of your two-day Orientation program. It equips families with essential information on academics, financial aid, campus resources, and student success while providing opportunities to connect with other families.

Our Parent and Family Orientation program is offered in both English and Spanish. Visit our Parent & Family Orientation page for more details. Para obtener más detalles visite nuestra página de Orientación para Padres y Familias.