WILKES HONORS COLLEGE FIRST-YEAR SOAR

Student Orientation, Academics, and Resources

Congratulations on your admission to Wilkes Honors College of Florida Atlantic University. We are so excited to have you join the Owl Family! This is an exciting time, with lots of steps to prepare for your first day on campus. The Offices of New Student Orientation and Campus Life are here to help you through this transition.

First-Year Student Orientation is specially designed with you in mind. All new incoming students are required to complete an orientation session. Please read through these pages carefully, as there is a lot of information to know before you make your reservation.

"See you soon!" — 2022 Orientation Leader team

Accommodations

If you are an individual with a disability and need accommodations please complete the Application for Support Services and submit with documentation of your disability to mshaw@health.fau.edu. Student Accessibility Services (SAS) will process the application and contact you to discuss your accommodation needs. SAS requires that this information be provided at least two weeks prior to your orientation date so that they have sufficient time to set up the accommodations requested. Thank you!

ORIENTATION CHECKLIST

First-Year Students and Transfer Students

Before starting class your first semester, there are quite a few items on your To-Do list. No worries—New Student Orientation is here to help. We've put together this handy list for you to know the right steps before, during, and after your orientation session. Many of these items are required, so follow this timeline closely.

Before Attending Orientation

**Items marked with an asterisk are REQUIRED before attending orientation. If you do not have these items completed, you will need to reschedule your orientation session.

Submit your Admissions Deposit to Undergraduate Admissions.**	First-Year Deadline Fall: May 1, 2022 Transfer Deadline Fall: August 1, 2022
Complete the Orientation Reservation form through the Owldone portal. Once you submit your orientation fee, your reservation is confirmed, and your orientation hold is removed.	Open Now
Complete the Immunization Compliance process in your Owldone Portal or follow this link for additional information.	Deadline: ASAP
Complete EZ Advising Online academic advising process will NOT register you for your courses. You must register for your courses on your own once approved by an academic advisor. If you have questions about faculty advising, please contact Academic Support Services at hcadvising@fau.edu. Students with an Associate of Arts (A.A.) Degree do not need to complete EZ Advising. Instead, please contact hcadvising@fau.edu to determine where/how to be advised.	Open Now
Complete Major KnOWLedge Major KnOWLedge, is an online resource developed by career counselors at the FAU Career Center that helps FAU students identify personal interests and their relationships to FAU majors as well as occupations. If you have any questions about Major KnOWLedge, please contact the FAU Career Center at 561.297.3533 or career@fau.edu.	Deadline: ASAP
Register for your classes through MyFAU Self-Service.** Once you have completed your orientation reservation, Faculty Advising completion and approval, and submitted your Immunization records, you should be ready to register for classes. Check your MyFAU account for any other holds that may prevent you from registration. Your exact registration time and day will depend on how many credits you have earned. Registration dates are subject to change, please refer to the Registrar website for updated information on course registration. Register for your classes as soon as possible to get the best selection for class seats. For assistance registering for classes, view the Registration Tutorial!	Open Now
Apply for Financial Aid by completing the FAFSA. The Office of Financial Aid can help you begin applying for scholarships, grants, and loans. Check your Financial Aid package status on MyFAU Self-Service or contact your financial aid counselor for more information.	Deadline: ASAP
The Housing Contract for Fall 2022 – Spring 2023 is available. The deadline to complete the housing contract for new students is May 1, 2022. Housing fills up quickly do not delay in completing your housing contract. Students access the 2022-2023 housing contract through the OwlDone portal. Housing assignments for new Fall 2022 residents will be sent to students via their FAU email accounts starting in early June. Please note that students who are required to live on campus will be assigned first. We encourage all students to sign up early for on-campus housing. Housing does fill up quickly. The contract date is a consideration in the housing assignment process. Complete your contract and non-refundable housing processing fee early so you are more likely to receive your top preference(s). Visit https://www.fau.edu/housing/room-selection/ for more information.	The 2022-2023 Housing Application is available.
Complete your Residency Form through Undergraduate Admissions. Are you a Florida resident seeking in-state tuition? Then you will want to complete this form to receive in-state tuition rates.	Deadline: ASAP

STUDENT ORIENTATION, ACADEMICS, AND RESOURCES (SOAR) EXPERIENCE

Student Orientation, Academics and Resources (SOAR) program at FAU shares important information with students and their families regarding academic and student services as well as what it means to be an Owl. We are committed to providing all incoming students the resources to be successful as they enter the university setting. We strive to provide excellent student experiences and knowledge about Florida Atlantic University (FAU) by way of intentional and specific programming for firstyear students, transfer students and their families. Our Orientations are designed with these goals in mind.

First-Year and Transfer students complete the Orientation requirement by participating in the following phases:

Phase 1 - Virtual Orientation: Complete First-Year Virtual Orientation session through Canvas.

Students should complete the Virtual Orientation course on Canvas by Friday, August 19, 2022 at 9 a.m. You will be added to the Virtual Orientation course on Canvas within hours of submitting orientation payment.

Phase 2 - Orientation Day

Students will attend Orientation Day in-person.

Phase 3 - How to FAU

Students will attend the extended orientation program to receive “just in time” information regarding academics, involvement, and more!

Things to do before Orientation Day

Log in to Canvas and complete the Wilkes Honors College Virtual Orientation. This course is required and you need 100% on all quizzes in order to complete
Check the Owldone portal to see what tasks you have left to complete.
Register for classes.
Refer to your reminder email from New Student Orientation (orientme@fau.edu) with more specific information after reserving your session!

Refund Policy

All orientation fees, including guest fees and orientation housing fees, are NON-REFUNDABLE. Please review your orientation reservation page carefully before submitting payment. Please refer to Frequently Asked Questions for more details.

HOW TO PLACE YOUR ORIENTATION RESERVATION

Log in to owldone.fau.edu using your FAU Net ID and password. If you do not know your FAU Net ID, click “Claim NetID”.
Once you have entered the portal, you will be able to access your financial aid, tuition deposit, immunization records, and reserve a spot for your New Student Orientation. All new incoming first-year students are required to complete an orientation program. Click the Sign-up Now button in the Student Orientation, Academics, and Resources module.
This will take you to the Orientation Reservation system. This should display your student information. If you notice errors on this personal information page, please refer to this Registrar link to revise your personal information or log in to your MyFAU account to update your address and phone number.
Complete the entire reservation system following the tabs on the left. The session dates that appear on your account show available sessions for your campus, major, and student type. If a particular session does not appear, it is likely full or not available for your major or campus. If NO dates appear, then please go back and confirm your campus and major.
At the end of My Reservation, you must submit payment for your orientation reservation. Please submit your orientation fee payment in order to reserve your spot.
Once payment is received, you will receive confirmation emails to your FAU email account. Please refer to those emails for further details on your orientation session. Be sure to check your FAU email account regularly, as this is the official communication method from Florida Atlantic University.
Refer to the Checklist to be sure you have completed all required steps before attending your orientation session. If you encounter trouble placing your reservation, please contact our office at 561.297.2733 or orientme@fau.edu.

PHASE 2 ORIENTATION DAY

Participation in the Orientation Day program is a requirement for all incoming students.

The Office of New Student Orientation is excited for you to attend your First-Year & Transfer Student Orientation session. It's an exciting time to join the Owl Family, and the orientation program is designed to help you make this transition. Get ready for a fun and informative session to help you prepare to be a successful FAU student.

After you have reserved your spot, check your FAU inbox or spam to read through your confirmation email for more check-in details. Be sure to accomplish all your checklist items before attending orientation.

Throughout your orientation program, you will learn from several university departments and resources, along with a chance to meet your fellow classmates. Here are a few things you'll do during your Orientation Experience:

Learn about Wilkes Honors College Campus Safety and Emergency Management
Learn more about FAU Business Services – Owl Card, Dining Services, FAU Campus Store, and Parking & Transportation
Learn about Wilkes Honors College Campus Life, including Student Government and Organizations
Learn from Student Health Services about healthy decision making
Learn how to get involved and connected on campus
Learn about FAU traditions
Make new friends, including your Orientation Leader!

Things to bring:

Orientation Day will be hosted in-person so bring an umbrella, light jacket, snacks, notebook and writing utensil/writing device, and something to drink (i.e., water bottle).

Orientation Day Date:

Wilkes Honors College Student Orientation, Academics and Resources (SOAR) program at FAU shares important information with students and their families regarding academic and student services as well as what it means to be an Owl. We are committed to providing all incoming students the resources to be successful as they enter the university setting. We strive to provide excellent student experiences and knowledge about Florida Atlantic University (FAU) by way of intentional and specific programming for first-year students, transfer students and their families. Our Orientations are designed with these goals in mind.

SOAR reservations are NOT confirmed until the orientation fee payment has been submitted.Reservations close three (3) business days before a session starts. Please do not make any arrangements until you have completed your reservation, paid your SOAR fee, and have received a confirmation email in your FAU inbox or spam.

Date: Thursday, August 18, 2022

Student Orientation, Academics, & Resources FAQ'S

What are the phases of the SOAR experience for fall 2022?
Phase 1 - Virtual Orientation
Complete First-Year Virtual Orientation session through Canvas. Students should complete the Virtual Orientation course on Canvas by Friday, August 19, 2022 at 9 a.m. You will be added to the Virtual Orientation course on Canvas in hours of submitting orientation payment.

Phase 2 - Orientation Day
Students will attend Orientation Day in-person.

Phase 3 - Extended Orientation
Students will attend extended orientation program to receive “just in time” information regarding academics, involvement, and more!

Should I still reserve my Orientation?
Yes. You will still need to complete Orientation. If you have already reserved an orientation session, you will be automatically enrolled in our Canvas course and receive information via your FAU email regarding the phase process and if you are eligible for any refunds.

Do I have to register for each phase of the new SOAR experience?
No. Students must only reserve Orientation through the Owldone portal. Once reserved, students will receive a confirmation email with steps to complete the different phases of the experience.

If I already signed up for Orientation, do I need to do anything to secure my spot in the fall 2022 SOAR Experience?
No. Your registration and fees will carry over to the virtual SOAR experience.

How do I cancel my reservation?
SOAR is required for all incoming spring students. Please email hcadmissions@fau.edu if your enrollment plans have changed.

Can my family member attend the new SOAR experience?
Yes. As a family member with a WHC student, you will participate in Family Virtual Orientation. Family Virtual Orientation is hosted on Canvas. If you had multiple guests register for Orientation, you all may complete the virtual session using one account. Your access to the Family Virtual Orientation will open within five business days of orientation guest registration. In addition to the Canvas course, families have the opportunity to attend Orientation Day. More information will be sent within three business days of the event.

Will my family members receive this information?
Family member(s) will receive more information via the email provided in the reservation form about Family Orientation.

Who should I contact if I need assistance reserving an orientation date or an error appears?
Please contact the New Student Transitions & Family Engagement team at orientme@fau.edu or 561.297.2733 to better assist you in troubleshooting the issue.

Do I need to attend orientation again if I changed my term of entry?
Your attendance/completion of orientation is valid for one year.

When will the orientation hold be removed?
The orientation hold is automatically lifted within two hours of payment submission.

OR hold for incoming freshmen with 29 credits or less post high school
OT hold for transfers with 30+ credits post high school

How do I update my records to show that I have earned 30+ college course credits accomplished after high school to be classified as a transfer for orientation?
An official transcript with current courses in progress, if applicable, must be sent to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Once it is received and processed, the credits will be updated and the transfer orientation options will be displayed in the orientation reservation form. Please contact Transfer Student Services at transfer@fau.edu if this is not the case.