Freshmen - Fall Semester
We are so excited to welcome new Jags to campus each semester! Our Fall 2026 Southbound Orientation is a hybrid experience. It will consist of on-campus orientation sessions that are full of fun engagement, important information, and open discussion with our Orientation Leaders, as well as an online orientation course via Canvas prior to the session and Week of Welcome activities before the semester begins.
All students who are 2026 high school graduates and students who are first time freshmen under the age of 23 must attend a Freshman session of Southbound New Student Orientation. If you are 23 or older and are not transferring from another institution, we recommend you attend a Transfer & Adult Freshman session of Southbound New Student Orientation.
In an effort to prepare all of our new Jaguars for their transition to South, we host multiple orientation sessions that new undergraduate students are required to attend. Spaces for each session will fill up quickly, so we encourage you to sign up as soon as you can to secure your preferred session.
Admitted students will log-in to their admission portal to establish their intent to enroll, and subsequently, reserve their spot for Southbound New Student Orientation.
Please note: There is a one-time, non-refundable New Student Enrollment Fee for incoming students. If your enrollment plans change and you choose to cancel your reservation, please contact our office directly to provide notification of the change so that your admissions application can be cancelled. Please review our FAQs page before signing up for orientation.
Dates for Fall 2026 Freshmen Orientation are as follows:
- Tuesday - Wednesday, June 9-10 (overnight)
- Tuesday, June 16
- Tuesday, June 18
- Tuesday, June 23
- Thursday, June 25
- Tuesday, July 7
- Thursday, July 9
- Tuesday, July 14
- Thursday, July 16
- Tuesday, July 21
- Thursday, July 23
We look forward to helping our new Jaguars transition to USA!
Top Priority
- Declare your commitment to enroll at South by submitting your New Student Enrollment Fee, or elect to defer payment to a later date, in your admissions portal. https://explore.southalabama.edu/portal/status-portal
- Complete ID Verification.
- Reserve your spot for Southbound, your New Student Orientation. Visit SouthAlabama.edu/orientation for more information.
- Summer and Fall orientation reservations are available starting in February.
- Spring orientation reservations are available starting in October.
- Submit immunization information and records through the Student Health Web Portal at SouthAlabama.edu/studenthealth. Please contact the Student Health Center at 251-460-7151 if you need assistance.
- Submit JagID photo to the Student Center’s Jag Card Office at SouthAlabama.edu/studentcenter. You will be notified via JagMail when you can pick up your JagID.
- Log in to JagSPOT at SouthAlabama.edu/scholarships to:
- Search and apply for additional USA scholarships.
- Complete your special programs scholarship application if you meet the requirements.
- Meet with your academic advisor to register for courses in PAWS. Your advisor will contact you for an appointment after you sign up for an orientation session. Some students may be required to take a placement test.
- Accept the invitation you’ll receive to join the orientation and enrollment resources digital course through USAOnline (powered by Canvas) in order to have it completed prior to your orientation session date.
- Attend your scheduled orientation session.
- After semester billing posts to your student account, pay tuition or set up a payment plan via PAWS. See SouthAlabama.edu/onestop/financialresources.html for more information.
- Verify your textbook order through JagPack and purchase other materials for classes as needed.
Priority
- Visit our campus or check out other opportunities at SouthAlabama.edu/visit.
- If you have a vehicle or bicycle on campus, register with USA Parking Services to secure your parking pass at SouthAlabama.t2hosted.com/account/portal.
- If you need accommodations, please contact the Center for Educational Accessibility and Disability Resources at SouthAlabama.edu/ceadr.
- Review financial and academic deadlines on the academic calendar at SouthAlabama.edu/academiccalendar.
- Apply for USA Housing at SouthAlabama.edu/housing if on-campus housing is applicable.
- Complete Title IX training to ensure we are working together to keep our campus a safe environment for everyone. You will receive an email to your JagMail and should email usauetraining@southalabama.edu if you need assistance.
Strongly Encouraged
- If you’re interested in the Student and Scholar Health Insurance, be sure to review the health insurance plan information for details at SouthAlabama.edu/studenthealth/insurance.
- If you are interested in departmental programs (for example, Jaguar Marching Band), be sure to check the department’s website to learn about the requirements to join.
- Check out our student organizations and ways to get involved. Visit SouthAlabama.edu/studentinvolvement.
Contact Us
If you have additional questions, please call or email the New Student Orientation Office:
(251) 460-7093
southbound@southalabama.edu