Fall 2023 International Student Orientation
Mandatory International Student Orientation
All new graduate and undergraduate students are required to attend the International Student Orientation. The in-person session will take place from 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 17 for undergraduate students and on Friday, August 18 for graduate students. Please refer to our Pre-Arrival & New Student Resources page for additional information about immigration requirements and campus resources and services available to you.
Online Mandatory Status Verification (Only for students who have arrived in the U.S.)
International students who arrive in the U.S. will check-in with ISSS by providing their immigration documents. This is a required step in maintaining your status. You can submit your status verification on the MyISSS portal. Student should submit their status verification within one week of their arrival to the US. Students who are attending from outside of the US do not need to complete Status Verification.
Fall 2023 Schedule
Orientation week will take place between August 13 - August 21 . Please see event calendar below. Additional events and more detailed information will be posted in July.
| Date | EVENT | TIME | FORMAT/Location | ACCESS | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 12 | International Student Move-in Day | TBD | In-person: USF Hilltop Campus, San Francisco |
Registration not required | International students will move onto campus. |
| August 12 | International Parent & Family Reception | 3 - 5 p.m. | Gleeson Library, Monihan Atrium | Registration required: http://rsvp.usfca. |
Join USF President Paul J. Fitzgerald, S.J., and Chancellor John P. Fitzgibbons, S.J., for a reception to welcome all families who traveled from outside the U.S. to help their students settle into life at USF. Meet International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS), faculty members, and other families of international students. Bring your incoming student and the entire family. |
| August 13 | Campus Tours | 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. |
In-person: |
Registration not required | Explore our beautiful USF campus with our friendly GO Team leaders. No RSVP is needed. Guided tours are available every 30 minutes for new USF students and family members. |
| August 13 | Resource Fair | 12 - 1:30 p.m. | In-person: Welch Field & Gleeson Plaza |
Registration not required | Banks, cell phone companies, and campus resources will be available at the resource fair for students to open a bank account, set up a cell phone, or ask questions about being a new USF student. |
| August 13-22 | Undergraduate New Student Orientation Activities | See more details here | In-person: USF Hilltop Campus, San Francisco |
See more details here | See more details here |
| August 16 | English Placement Test | 9:00 a.m. | In-person: Harney Science Center - Room 435 |
More details to come | English Placement Test for Fall 2023. *Only required for students who were instructed to do EPT from the AEM Office |
| August 16 | Library Tour | 11:00 a.m. | In-person: Gleeson Library |
Registration required. Register here. | Meet outside front doors of Gleeson Library. *Please arrive on time. |
| August 17 | Undergraduate International Student Orientation | 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | McLaren Complex, USF Hilltop Campus, San Francisco | Mandatory for all new undergraduate international students | This session is designed to address the most common questions and concerns that international students have as well as covering important information such as immigration regulations pertaining to your visa, academic expectations, and cultural adjustment. |
| August 17 | Undergraduate International Student Orientation Lunch | 12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. |
TBD, |
Registration not required | Join ISSS for lunch following the mandatory international orientation session. This is a great opportunity to meet your international admission counselor, the ISSS staff, and other students. |
| August 17 | SF and Beyond | 4:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. | University Center - 4th Floor Lounge, USF Hilltop Campus, San Francisco |
Registration not required | ISSS and our student leaders will join us for a fun presentation about living in San Francisco. Learn from other students about their favorite sites, restaurants and more. |
| August 17 | Off-Campus Dinner | 5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. |
Meet at University Center - 1st Floor, |
Registration not required | Student leaders will take a group of international students to a popular area for dinner. Students will pay for their own dinner, make sure to bring money, comfortable walking shoes, and a jacket. |
| August 18 | Graduate International Student Orientation | 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | McLaren Complex, USF Hilltop Campus, San Francisco | Mandatory for all new graduate international students | This session is designed to address the most common questions and concerns that international students have as well as covering important information such as immigration regulations pertaining to your visa, academic expectations, and cultural adjustment. |
| August 18 | Happy Hour for Graduate Students | 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Barrel Head Brewhouse | More details to come |
21+ event: Government Issued ID and USF One Card Required. More details will be sent directly to graduate students |
| August 22 | Working and Driving | 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. | Online | Zoom Link | Attend this virtual session to learn about on-campus employment and driving in the US. |
| August 29 | Time Management and "168" Prioritization Workshop | 11:50 a.m. -12:50 p.m. | Online | This workshop hosted by the Learning Center will provide tips and strategies to assist you in planning ahead in order to enhance your ability to make the most out of each week within the semester, as well as enable you to reach consistent personal and academic success during your college years. | |
| August 30 | "Active Study" Workshop | 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. | Online | This workshop hosted by the Learning Center provides an introduction to “The Study Cycle” as well as tools to identify your current study methods that are working and those that could be improved. | |
| August 31 | Part-Time Job Fair |
12-1 p.m. | McLaren Conference Center | Registration not required | This will be an event for student job seekers to inquire and give resumes to on-campus departments and off-campus businesses that are hiring. Note, international students need authorization to work off-campus and should review the ISSS employment pages and consult their ISSS adviser about working off-campus. |
NOTE: Should timing need to change, per public health guidance, we will communicate adjustments in as timely a fashion as possible. ISSS will offer in-person orientation activities as permissible.
Certain events will be photographed and/or video recorded for archival, educational, and related promotional purposes. By attending or participating in this event, you grant USF the full unrestricted rights to your photograph, voice and likeness in any manner or media whatsoever worldwide for educational marketing purposes. If you do not wish to be photographed or video recorded, please inform the camera person at the start of each event.