First-Year Experience

New Student Orientation is designed to help new students transition smoothly here at Concordia University Irvine. Connecting with the student body, learning about the campus culture, and acclimating to a new living situation are all experiences which new freshman and transfer students will have during orientation. With the help of the Peer Advising Leaders (PALs), Resident Assistants (RAs) and other support staff from various departments on campus, the events and activities make a great first impression that will stay with new students throughout their time at Concordia. Concordia offers three orientation events – fall, spring, and summer. Here at Concordia, we call our Fall New Student Orientation, WOW: Week of Welcome.

Week of Welcome is our fall orientation experience for new students and their families. It kicks off on Friday, August 16th and goes through the first week of school. Events during WOW are designed to help new students meet their peers, learn about key campus resources, and prepare new students for their experience at Concordia University Irvine. Parents and families are welcome to attend events on Friday, August 16th and Saturday, August 17th. You can expect to have a lot of fun at events such as, Late Nite, Throwdown, The Hunt Field Day, the Involvement Fair, Beach Bash, SHOUT!, and More!

New students will receive their check-in time to their eagles email prior to WOW. For the best possible experience, please only arrive at your assigned check-in time. You will be directed to the drive through check in at the East Lot. Resident students will then proceed to their housing assignment and commuter students will be directed to the Commuter Workshop.

Research indicates students who attend orientation transition more positively in college, both academically and socially. To ensure a smooth transition, we encourage you to take advantage of the opportunities and events provided. WOW is mandatory as each has been planned with a specific purpose important for your success here at Concordia. New Student Orientation is the best way to meet new people, while having a ton of fun!

You are encouraged to rearrange your vacation dates or work obligations to make attendance at New Student Orientation a priority. Start your year off right at Concordia with the foundation that orientation provides. It is critical for all new students to go through Orientation Check-in as this affects your student status. Please contact the Office of Orientation and First- Year Experience at (949) 214-3065 if you are unable to attend due to legitimate reasons.

All new students (freshman, transfers, international) are assessed a one-time mandatory New Student Orientation fee in their first semester of enrollment, in addition to tuition charges and other fees. The mandatory orientation fee covers special services, staffing, meals/refreshments, materials and programs for new students during orientation that are not covered by regular operating funds.

Your New Student Orientation fee will be assessed on your student account. You will not be required to pay the fee at orientation.

Definitely! Parents and guests are welcome to attend orientation. Parents, family, and supporters play a very important role in helping you transition as well as be successful in your college career. Refer your parents and guests to our Parent Welcome page to learn how they can be involved at Concordia, and we encourage them to attend the sessions designed specifically for them. However, we ask that you are intentional about the number of cars that you bring to campus so that we can accommodate all new students and guests.

View the Hotel & Travel page to access the nearby hotels available for your parents/guests to stay at as well as directions and transportation options to the Concordia campus.

Peer Advising Leaders (PALs) are returning students who are eager to help you transition smoothly to Concordia. They are highly involved in orientation, both fall and spring. They are the first peer resources you meet upon your arrival on campus. Transfer students are assigned Transfer Mentors to assist with their transition. Feel free to contact them as they will be able to give you the student perspective of Concordia University Irvine and how to navigate it successfully. Your PAL is determined by your INT 100 section, and they will be in your INT 100 class with you, so it helps to get to know them!

These three areas (Bursar Office, Financial Aid, and the Wellness Center) will be available at Orientation Check-in if needed to clear any holds. They are the clearance portion of your orientation. If you follow the steps to on the admitted student checklist page, you can speed up your check-in process upon arrival.

Upon your acceptance, you are responsible for completing the necessary paperwork to ensure your status as a student. If you have outstanding paperwork (which results in a Hold) when you arrive for Orientation Check-in, you will be required to meet with those offices that day. Holds that are not taken care of can result in your classes being dropped, prohibiting you from registering for classes, or having to move out of your residence hall. Visit the New Student Checklist to ensure you have completed the necessary items and have a smooth check-in process.

If you are told by one of the offices at check-in that they are not able to clear you that day, please check with the RES team. They will assist you in continuing on with the process.

If you submit your ID Card application form ahead of time, your Digital ID Card will be available in the MyCUI app before the Friday of WOW (Week of Welcome). You can have your ID photo taken at the Academic Department, during the Campus Resource Fair on the Friday of WOW, or at the Campus Safety and Wellness Office (Room 117) during the first week of school.

Your Digital ID Card is essential for campus life. It is required to activate your meal plan and also serves as your library card and primary form of identification at campus gatehouses and other campus services. Be sure to keep your Digital ID Card for the entire duration of your time at Concordia.

Yes, all of the residence halls are wireless so students have access to the internet. Campus WIFI can be accessed by using your SSO login with your ENumber and password. If you encounter any network problems, you can either stop by the IT Office in Administration Building 220, email [email protected], or call (949) 214-3175.

Your computer access codes will be mailed to you upon your acceptance. These passwords give you access to Canvas, Concordia University Irvine network, and Web CT. You will also receive your Concordia University Irvine Eagles email address. All communication from the University will be sent to your Eagles email address so it is vital to check it at least once a week. To seek assistance with computer recommendations, you can contact the IT department at (949) 214-3175 or [email protected].

Complete the Parking Permit Form and submit it to obtain your parking permit. You can also visit the Campus Safety and Wellness building (Room 117). Bring your driver’s license, vehicle registration information and proof of payment. Students that wish to have a car on campus will be charged a parking fee of $150/ semester.

The Office of Orientation and First-Year Experience runs a shuttle system called FYExplore. There are two opportunities to get off campus each month at no cost to you- one to run errands and one to explore an Orange County Destination. You will reserve your spot on the shuttle prior to each shuttle day. You can also always rent a bike through CUActive. There are several shopping centers within walking distance if you need to run a quick errand. Feel free to use the First-Year Experience or Residence Life pages in the MyCUI app to coordinate other carpool activities.

Irvine is a very bike-friendly city. For bike paths in Irvine, visit the City of Irvine official website. There are also bus stops very close to campus. For bus information in Irvine, visit the Orange County Transit Authority website.

Your student ID card acts as your library card. You will use your Canvas computer access code to access your library account and online research databases from off-campus. The library homepage to access the catalog and electronic databases is library.cui.edu.

Mailboxes are available for students living on-campus. You can go to the mailroom, and you will be given your mailbox number and combination. Any questions regarding the mail services at Concordia can be answered in the Mailroom. You do not need people to put your mailbox number on your mail for you to receive mail.

Your on-campus mailing address is:

{Your name}
1530 Concordia West
Irvine, CA 92612

You can check your class schedule online through MyRecords. If you are unable to access MyRecords, please contact the Registrar’s Office. You will need to be completely cleared before you can receive a printed schedule.

In order to enroll in a class that is closed, students must attend the first class; request permission to add; obtain the required signatures (academic advisor, instructor or Dean/Department Chair); and submit the form to the Registrar’s Office (first floor of Grimm Hall) by the deadline. It is important to complete this process early as instructors reserve the right to refuse late requests.

Slingshot, Concordia’s new Bookstore partner, makes getting your books easy!

All new students are opted in to Slingshot automatically when they enroll at Concordia, with a preference for rental books set as the default as the most affordable option. You don’t even need to place an order! Any student can opt in or opt out at any time, or return any unneeded books during the first week of the term for a full refund. The course materials will automatically be added to your tuition bill for the semester.

To access your Slingshot Account, visit slingshotedu.com/student-login and click on the “Log In” button in the top right corner of the home screen. Use your student login for Concordia or your full student email address and student ID as the password.

View or adjust your course material subscription preference selection under the “My Account” tab. You can also update your shipping preference to ensure books are delivered exactly where you prefer.

Residential students – books will be delivered directly to your room before the first day of class, unless you choose a different option.

Commuter students – books can be picked up in Founders Bookstore or have them shipped to your residence.

If you choose to opt out of the Slingshot program, you can still buy books à la carte from Founders Bookstore. Place an order online, or visit Founders Bookstore to place an order in person.

Questions? Visit Slingshot’s FAQ page or send an email to [email protected].

You will be able to make schedule changes online through MyRecords during the first week of school starting at 8am on Monday, August 18th through 4:30 pm on Friday, August 22nd. Please know that your schedule may change at any time, but you will be notified via your eagles email right away. If there is something urgent that you need to relay to the Academic Advising team, please feel free to contact your advisor.