New Student Orientation

1.  Log into your Admissions Portal

2.  Look for orientation registration at the top of your status page.  

3.  Register for an open date.

4.  To change your orientation date after you've registered, complete the Change My Orientation Date request form available in your Admissions portal once you register.

NOTE:  Since you are logging into your admissions portal to register, use the email address and password you used when you submitted your admissions application to WCU.

Before coming to orientation, be sure to:

Complete New Ram Essentials so you're ready for your orientation day!

Upload an ID photo for your Ram Card.

• Only students who've uploaded a photo will be able to pick up their ID card at orientation.

Complete your First-Year Placement Assessment in myWCU.

• The First-Year Placement Assessment/Portal includes surveys and questions that help us determine the best classes for you. The sooner you successfully complete the First-Year Placement Assessment, the sooner you will receive your class schedule. Learn more about first year student class schedules here.
• Complete the First-Year Placement Assessment online through your MyWCU account.

Find your class scheduled so you're ready for your advising session.

• In early June, you'll be able to view your class schedule in two locations:  myWCU and the Navigate App.  Choose one of the following ways to have your schedule on hand so you're prepared for your advising session at New Student Orientation. 
• Download the Navigate App which you can find by searching “Navigate Student” in most app stores. Simply sign into the app with your WCU email and password once you've downloaded it.  We recommend downloading the app on your phone so your class schedule is at your fingertips for your advising session. 
• Screenshot a copy of your fall schedule from myWCU on a cell phone. 
• Print out a copy of your fall schedule from myWCU to bring with you. 
• Arrive between 8 AM and 8:30 AM on our orientation day to meet with an orientation leader who will help you access and print your schedule on campus. 
• If you need help with myWCU, check out these helpful training videos.
• Only students who completed their First-Year Placement Assessment will have their schedules available. 

Learn more about additional items to complete as a new student:

• Next Steps for Accepted Students

 

New Student Programs is committed to making orientation accessible to all new Golden Rams and their guests. Please specify your needs on your orientation registration form, or reach out to us at orientation@wcupa.edu or (610) 436-3305 to discuss: 

• Accessibility Needs
  We will do our best to accommodate all accessibility needs. The sooner we know about your needed accommodation, the more time we have to prepare. While we will make every effort to meet your needs, we may be unable to assist with accommodation requests received fewer than two weeks before your scheduled orientation and will communicate any progress with you.
• Spanish Language Interpretation
  New Student Programs offers interpretation services to our Spanish-speaking students and guests. Please let us know on your registration form or email us at orientation@wcupa.edu if you or your guest would like to utilize this service, and one of our interpreters will reach out to discuss your needs.
  
• Low Sensory Spaces
  We recognize that some of the large sessions in the Asplundh Concert Hall, Sykes Ballrooms and the Commons Dining Hall at orientation may cause sensory concerns for some individuals. Alternative, low-sensory spaces will be available to make those sessions accessible to new Rams and their guests. Please see any member of the orientation staff on your orientation day and they can direct you to this space. Check out the videos of these venues below. 

Asplundh Concert Hall & Sykes Ballrooms 

The Commons Dining Hall

The student's lunch in the campus dining hall is included in the program. Guests can purchase a meal ticket to eat in the campus dining hall for $5.50 at orientation, or they are welcome to explore off-campus lunch options in the Borough of West Chester.

We kindly appreciate your bringing cash to purchase your guest meal ticket if possible--exact change is great! This means less time in line and more time to eat for everyone. Thank you.

We know orientation is an exciting time for the entire family, but due to space limitations, each student is permitted to bring only one guest to orientation. We appreciate your cooperation with this policy in order to ensure a safe and productive orientation day for everyone. Guests and students will attend separate orientation sessions for portions of the day. Parents, guardians, and anyone who supports a Golden Ram are encouraged to sign up for Ram Fam Central to help them stay up to date on the latest news, information and happenings at WCU.

Orientation check-in starts at 8 AM at the Business & Public Management Center on the corner of Sharpless and S. Church Streets. The orientation program begins promptly at 8:45 AM and will end at approximately 4 PM.

June/July Student Orientation Schedule

June/July Guest Orientation Schedule

What exactly is New Ram Essentials?

• New Ram Essentials is an online program all new Rams to are required to complete before their orientation day.
• New Ram Essentials introduces you to WCU's campus, programs, and services so you can make the most of your orientation day and connect with the offices and services you need to have your important questions answered.
• New Ram Essentials stays with you. It's a resource you can refer back to over the summer and throughout your first year as a Golden Ram any time you need a refresher on the information it contains.

Here's some other important information about New Ram Essentials:

• Log in with your WCU email and password.
• You can complete the program in one sitting (it takes about an hour), or you can log out and log back in. The program will save your progress and pick up where you left off.
• Your family and supporters can complete the program too! Just share the link with them and have them log on as a guest.

All new students are charged a one-time New Student Fee on their first semester bill. This fee covers the costs associated with all orientation programming. All new students are charged the New Student Fee regardless of their level of participation in orientation programming. 

• Thursday, June 22:  The Colleges of Arts & Humanities, Education & Social Work, Health Sciences, and the Wells School of Music
• Friday, June 23:  The College of Business & Public Management, University College (Exploratory Studies/Interdisciplinary Studies) and the Summer Academic Success Program*
  
  
• SESSION FULL - Tuesday, June 27:  The College of Science & Mathematics, University College (Exploratory Studies/Interdisciplinary Studies), the Summer Academic Success Program*
• SESSION FULL - Wednesday, June 28:  The College of Business & Public Management, University College (Exploratory Studies/Interdisciplinary Studies) and the Summer Academic Success Program*
• Thursday, June 29:  The College of Science & Mathematics, University College (Exploratory Studies/Interdisciplinary Studies), the Summer Academic Success Program*
• SESSION FULL - Friday, June 30:  The Colleges of Arts & Humanities, Education & Social Work, Health Sciences, and the Wells School of Music
  
  
• SESSION FULL - Tuesday, July 11:  The College of Business & Public Management, University College (Exploratory Studies/Interdisciplinary Studies)
• Wednesday, July 12:   The College of Science & Mathematics, University College (Exploratory Studies/Interdisciplinary Studies)
• Thursday, July 13:  The Colleges of Arts & Humanities, Education & Social Work, Health Sciences, and the Wells School of Music
  
  
• Friday, July 14:  Open Enrollment for Students from All Academic Colleges & Majors

*Students attending the fall Academic Success Program register for an orientation date for their academic college.

Free parking will be available in the Sharpless Street Parking Garage located at 25 Sharpless Street. Please use this as your primary parking location. If needed, overflow parking will be available in The Commons Parking Garage, 124 North Campus Drive. You can find both garages and the Business & Public Management Center on WCU's campus map.

To avoid being ticketed or towed, do not park in designated faculty/staff parking lots. These require a valid permit and are strictly enforced over the summer. Street parking is controlled by the Borough of West Chester and is also strictly enforced. If parking on the street, you will need to pay at the meter or kiosk. West Chester University does not validate or reimburse for Borough-controlled parking. 

The West Chester University Resource Pantry supports student success by minimizing food and basic need insecurity and preparing students for life after graduation.

As a new Golden Ram, you can help support the Resource Pantry's mission by bringing a donation with you to orientation! The most-needed items for the Resource Pantry include:

PERSONAL CARE ITEMS

• Body wash
• Deodorant
• Dish soap
• Dryer sheets
• Laundry pods
• Lotion
• Menstrual Care Products
• Paper towels
• Reusable shopping bags
• Shampoo & conditioner
• Shaving lotion 
• Soap (bar and pump)
• Toilet paper
• Toothbrushes/oral care

SCHOOL SUPPLIES

• Backpacks
• Binders
• Folders
• Loose Leaf Paper
• Notebooks
• Pens, pencils, and highlighters

You can also check out the Resource Pantry's Amazon Wish List for more ideas!

You'll be in many spaces on campus during orientation, but three of the biggest are the Asplundh Concert Hall, the Sykes Student Union Ballrooms and the Commons Dining Hall. Here's a quick look at each of these venues.

Asplundh Concert Hall & Sykes Ballrooms

The Commons Dining Hall

 

We know spaces and crowds can cause sensory concerns for some individuals, so we'll have low-sensory alternatives (quieter, fewer people) available for each of these venues. See any member of the orientation staff to be directed to these low-sensory spaces. 

Throughout the summer, Aqua Pennsylvania will be replacing water mains in the Borough of West Chester. This work will impact several streets around the University, particularly S. High Street between E. Nields Street and Rosedale Avenue. Traffic delays and detours due to street closings may add additional time to your commute as you travel to and from the University. 

During orientation, you’ll have plenty of time to get to know your orientation leaders and meet other new Rams. You'll also connect with an advisor from your academic department and hear about the support services WCU offers to help all Golden Rams be successful. You’ll be touring campus too, so wear comfortable shoes and bring an umbrella if rain is in the forecast!