The Orientation website is updated frequently so please refresh your web browser each time you visit a page within the website to make sure you are getting the most up-to-date information.
Information as of March 10, 2025
Orientation 2025
New students (first year students and transfer students) beginning enrollment in September 2025 are required to participate in all parts of Orientation which entails engaging with fellow students, learning about our academic and co-curricular programs, registering for classes, and obtaining information about how you can get involved with the Santa Clara community.
Components of Orientation
Orientation has the following main components:
- An on-campus Orientation session in July and September for first year students and in August and September for transfer students.
- Learning about the curriculum, academic advising, and fall course enrollment take place during the on-campus Orientation session unless otherwise noted.
- Several academic and support services departments will send emails during the spring and summer to new students with critical details related to academics, housing, and health.
- Bronco Prep Guides is a series of email newsletters to all new students and parents with welcome messages, information, deadlines, and online resources to help prepare them for Orientation, New Student Move-In, Welcome Weekend, and the transition to college.
- There are a set of requirements for each new student to complete by specified deadlines.
- Campus Life Learning Modules are online modules that new students must complete in the late summer before they start fall classes.
- Our Orientation Leaders use an online platform called BroncoExchange for new students to connect with classmates and other students through virtual meeting spaces that are fun, engaging, and informative.
Parents & Families
Parents and other family members are encouraged (not required) to participate in Orientation through sessions designed specifically for them. We will introduce parents and other family members to the values, goals, and practices of Santa Clara as well as share resources about our academic programs and student services.
In the late spring and early summer, all new students (first year students and transfer students) will receive a series of emails from the Drahmann Academic Advising & Learning Resources Center and the Academic Technology office with full instructions about preparing for and participating in academic advising and course enrollment.
Unless otherwise noted, academic advising and course enrollment take place during on-campus Orientation sessions in July and September for first year students and in August and September for transfer students. For those otherwise noted sessions, academic advising and course enrollment will take place online instead.
Earlier vs. Later Sessions
- Seats in many of our courses have been reserved for our new students. These seats are equally divided between the Orientation sessions listed above. So whether a student participates in their on-campus Orientation session in July or September, they will have the same chance of enrolling in the available courses.
- During the Orientation sessions, academic advisors will be assisting students with enrollment and students will leave with courses that fulfill requirements. Students do need to be open-minded and willing to try out new areas of learning that they have not experienced before. It may actually lead to new major and/or minor options.