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Orientation General FAQs

 

General Orientation Questions
(*specific Orientation program FAQs are located on the One Book website)

  1. What is the Orientation fee and when is it due?
  2. Where do I park for December Orientation or Summer Springboard?
  3. When will I receive the One Book?
  4. How will I make a reservation for Orientation?
  5. If I cannot attend Orientation, can my parents attend and register for me?
  6. Where can I stay the night before and/or after December Orientation or Summer Springboard?

Questions about Residence Life Move-in

  1. How do I get information about living on campus?
  2. When will I receive information about my residence hall assignment?
  3. When do I move-in to my residence hall?
  4. What date do I move-in to the residence halls if I am a fall athlete?
  5. What date do I move-in to the residence halls if I am a member of the marching band?

Questions about On-line meal plan changes

  1. What meal plan do I have?
  2. Are there any other meal plans available?
  3. Can I change my meal plan?
  4. Can freshman (first-year) students living off campus purchase a commuter meal plan through Card Services?

Additional Questions

  1. Who is my advisor?
  2. Is there an admissions counselor or representative for my state/area?
  3. What are some other transportation options? What are nearby airports/bus stations/ train stations?
  4. If I am living in a residence hall, am I permitted to have a car on campus?

 

1. What is the Orientation fee?

All university financial accounts for first-year and transfer students will automatically be charged the $175 Orientation fee. The fee covers all Orientation programs, preparation and materials. You do not have to pay any Orientation fee at this time; however, if you have an installment payment plan through QuikBILL, you should make sure your annual budget includes this charge. All students are charged the Orientation fee whether or not you choose to attend.

2. Where do I park for December Orientation or Summer Springboard?

Directions to Orientation and parking lot information: (https://www.jmu.edu/orientation/directions.shtml)

3. When will I receive the One Book?

First-Year One Books will begin to be mailed at the end of March to all first year students who have paid their tuition deposit. As deposits are received One Books will continue to be mailed on a rolling basis. If you do not receive a One Book by May 15th, please contact our office at orientation@jmu.edu or 540-568-1787. Please allow 7-14 days delivery time after you have paid your tuition deposit.

Transfer One Books will be mailed beginning in April to transfer students admitted for the fall term. If you do not receive a Transfer One Book, please contact our office email at orientation@jmu.edu or phone 540-568-1787.

4. How will I make a reservation for Orientation?

Log in to the One Book website to complete the “My Orientation Reservation” step. When you’re completing the step, date(s) will appear based on your declared major and advisor availability for all program dates; then you are instructed to choose an available date from the screen. Once you complete the remainder reservation task list items and continue to the “My Reservation” status, the following message will appear: “Your reservation is now complete!” Please print a copy for your records.

First-Year students: Summer Springboard Orientation programming is specific to your major. Please attend Orientation on your scheduled day to ensure you receive the best possible experience.

5. If I cannot attend a Summer Springboard session or December Transfer Orientation, can my parents attend Orientation for me?

Parents and/or family members are welcome and encouraged to attend Summer Springboard/December Transfer Orientation, even if the student cannot attend. However, parents and/or family members will not be able to finalize class schedules for the student nor meet with an advisor. You may add these guests on the “My Orientation Reservation” step on the One Book website and send Orientation a message for the day they will be attending.

6. Where can I stay the night before and/or after Summer Springboard or December Transfer Orientation?

Please CLICK HERE to view a list of local hotels who have offered discounted rates for families attending Orientation. Be sure to mention JMU Orientation when making your reservations. Some restrictions may apply.

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Questions about Residence Life (ORL) Move-in

1. How do I get information about living on campus?

  • First-Year: The One Book is full of all the information you need to know about Residence Life including information on completing your Housing Contract, Learning Communities, descriptions of each residential area on campus, shopping tips and necessities for residential living.
  • Transfer: After you log in to complete your Transfer One Book steps, please refer to the “Begin your Housing Search” step. This is specific for summer and fall housing on-campus or off-campus.
  • You may also visit the ORL web site for additional information: https://www.jmu.edu/orl/.

 

2. When will I receive information about my residence hall assignment?

  • First-Year: Students: In early August, log in to The One Book website and go to the "Housing Assignment & Roommate Notification" step.
  • Transfer Students: If you submitted a housing contract, consult the ORL website or follow the instructions in the email correspondence that you receive once your housing application has been approved.

 

3. When do I move-in to my residence hall?

  • First-Year Students:  To determine your assigned move-in date, click on the “Housing Assignment & Roommate Notification” step on the One Book website in early August.  You should also receive an email from ORL with specific instructions. First-Year students are scheduled to move in on either of two days (Tues/Wed) the week prior to the first day of class.
  • Transfer Students: Please follow the instructions in the email correspondence that you receive from ORL once your application has been approved.

 

4. What date do I move-in to the residence halls if I am a fall athlete?

  • This depends on the particular sport. You will learn more from your team coach.

 

5. What date do I move-in to the residence halls if I am a member of the marching band?

  • You will receive information from the Marching Band office regarding move-in times.

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Questions about On-line meal plan changes

1. What meal plan do I have?

  • First-Year: All incoming freshmen are able to select an on-campus meal plan when they sign their housing contract. Please follow instructions on the "View or Change Your Meal Plan" step if you need to make changes.
  • Transfer: Transfer students select an on-campus meal plan when they sign their housing application.
  • Commuter: Commuter students may purchase a meal plan each semester and do not have the ability to change their meal plan choice through MyMadison.

 

2. Are there any other meal plans available?

  • Yes, there are other campus meal options available at the following website:

 

3. Can I change my meal plan?

  • First-Year: Yes. Click on the "View or Change Your Meal Plan" link on The One Book website. Once the bills are generated you will have to wait until the 2nd through 4th week of school to change your current meal plan. If you have signed housing contracts for future semesters, you can change your future meal plans in MyMadison.

Note: Changing your meal plan for the Fall Semester will not automatically change your meal plan for the spring semester.  You must change both to have the same meal plan both Fall and Spring.

  • Transfer: Yes, you may change your meal plan in MyMadison for a limited time at the beginning of the semester.

 

4. Can First-Year students living off campus purchase a commuter meal plan through Card Services?

  • Commuter meal plan choices:

http://www.campusdish.com/en-US/CSMA/JMU/MealPlans/CommuterMealPlans.htm

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Additional Questions

1. Who is my advisor?

  • First-Year: Students will receive an email from their advisor one week prior to Enrollment Appointments which is prior to Summer Springboard. The advisor will give students contact information so he or she can be of service during class enrollment. Students will then meet with their advisor at Summer Springboard to confirm class schedules. An advisor may be reassigned without notice to accomodate change of major requests. Students may confirm their current advisor in the "Student Center" of MyMadison.
  • Transfer: Students admitted for spring semester will be assigned an advisor during December Transfer Orientation; students admitted for the summer semester will be directed to contact a specific advisor within the student’s declared major department for summer classes only; and for fall semester (includes students admitted for the summer and/or fall semester) will be assigned an advisor during Summer Springboard Orientation. 

 

2. Is there an admissions regional counselor or representative for my state/area?

  • Yes, below is the link to the admission counselor’s website so that undecided students (students that have not committed/made the decision to attend JMU) can speak with a JMU representative in their area. https://www.jmu.edu/admissions/contact/index.shtml

3. What are some other transportation options to and from campus? What are nearby airports/bus stations/ train stations?

  • Refer to the Transportation Station section of the One Book
  • Visit the following link for up to date information about local Harrisonburg transportation as well as information about nearby airports and train stations: https://www.jmu.edu/parents/student_travel.shtml

4. If I am living in a residence hall, am I permitted to have a car on campus?

  • First-Year students are not permitted to have cars on campus.
  • Transfer students are permitted to have a car on campus, but must obtain a parking permit for residential parking. For more information on parking policies, please visit www.jmu.edu/parking.
  • Students living off-campus must obtain a parking permit for commuter parking

Mission Statement

Orientation engages students in the JMU learning experience by preparing them to be active and authentic members of the university community.

2013 Transfer Dates

Summer Springboard:
May 29, 30
June 3, 4

1787 August Orientation:
August 23, 24, 25

2013 First-Year Dates

Summer Springboard:
June 24, 25, 26, 27
July 1, 2, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18

Residence Hall Move-in:
August 20 or 21

1787 August Orientation:
August 21, 22, 23, 24, 25