Winter Quarter Orientation

Snow falls on the Seattle Pacific University sign in Martin Square

Welcome Falcons! We are so excited for you to join the SPU community and hope you are, too. However, we also recognize transitioning to a new school mid-academic year can pose unique challenges. We hope that Orientation can help that transition go as smoothly as possible and provide the opportunity for you to make some connections. Orientation is an exciting and informative one-day experience that will connect you to campus and all the resources we have to offer. You'll have the opportunity to get to know campus better, meet current and other new students, and interact with some representatives from various student services around campus.

Register

Orientation is mandatory for all new students, and you should register ahead of time to ensure we have swag and dinner reserved for you and your guests. Students are encouraged to bring parents, family, and other supporters to our in-person Orientation program.

Schedule

For Winter Quarter 2024 admits, Orientation will host an in-person program on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 5–7 p.m. The program will include student services presentations, dinner, and giveaways. If you’re planning to live on campus, we invite you to begin the move-in process at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan 2. Check back here and in your email for a more detailed schedule for Tuesday, Jan. 2.

New-Student Orientation Canvas Course

In addition to our in-person Orientation experience, there is also a New-Student Orientation (NSO) course that all incoming students are asked to complete. This NSO Canvas course is the first step to a successful transition to SPU! Canvas is our learning management system, where the classes you’re taking Winter Quarter will be housed, along with the NSO course.

Through this mandatory course, you’ll learn about vital support systems, resources, and departments at SPU, all while going through the course modules at your own pace. We’ll launch the course on Monday, Dec. 4, and all incoming students should complete the course by Friday, Jan. 26.

Before You Arrive

  1. Register for Orientation.
  2. Start the New Student Orientation Canvas course.
  3. Complete New Student Advising. Make sure you're registered for winter quarter classes!
  4. Complete your online medical history form and vaccination requirement documentation. More details from SPU Health Services can be found here.
  5. Submit a Falcon Card photo.
    • Falcon Cards are our SPU Identification Cards that give you access to buildings, copy services, meal plants, Falcon Funds, student discounts, and more!
    • Before you arrive to campus, you must submit a photo for your ID card. Find more information here about how to take and upload a photo.
    • Schedule a time to pick up your Falcon Card
    • Reach out to falconcards@spu.edu with any questions you have.
  6. Thanks to our Falcon Advantage Program, you no longer have to work to buy your books. What is Falcon Advantage? It is a program you're automatically enrolled in the program with the option to opt out. Once you are registered for the upcoming term, materials are compiled with physical textbooks mailed to campus, while digital course material access information is emailed. You can then pick up and access materials on the first day of class without having to place individual orders or pay out of pocket. The cost is added onto your student account and calculated on a flat fee per student per credit hour, regardless of how much each textbook costs.
  7. Check your email for the most up-to-date information as Winter Quarter gets closer.

Questions

Call the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership at 206-281-2689 or email orientation@spu.edu.