How it works
Every new student attends one in-person session before fall 2027. You leave with a registered first-semester schedule, a Porter Card and your financial questions answered. All sessions cover the same content, so choose the dates that suit you best. The steps are:
- Confirm your enrollment with the $100 deposit, or a waiver, by May 1, 2027. See enrollment deposit and confirmation.
- Register for a session in MyPorter starting Monday, March 1, 2027. Sessions are filled first come, first served.
- Finish the pre-orientation checklist at least seven days before your session: math placement, immunizations, account setup and the two online modules. Advisers build your schedule from your placement results. See placement testing.
First-year sessions (two days)
Day one runs 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and covers placement follow-up, advising and registration. Students stay overnight in Millrace Hall. Day two runs 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and covers housing, dining, safety, technology and the closing session with families. Each session has room for 160 students.
| Session | Dates | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mon–Tue, June 14–15 | Opens the season. Fills first every year. |
| 2 | Thu–Fri, June 17–18 | Health Sciences and Nursing advisers on site |
| 3 | Mon–Tue, June 21–22 | Honors College session |
| 4 | Thu–Fri, June 24–25 | |
| 5 | Mon–Tue, June 28–29 | Health Sciences and Nursing advisers on site |
| 6 | Thu–Fri, July 1–2 | The university is closed Monday, July 5 |
| 7 | Thu–Fri, July 8–9 | Coaches available for recruited student-athletes |
| 8 | Mon–Tue, July 12–13 | Health Sciences and Nursing advisers on site |
| 9 | Thu–Fri, July 15–16 | The final high school transcript deadline, July 15, falls on day one |
| 10 | Mon–Tue, July 19–20 | |
| 11 | Thu–Fri, July 22–23 | |
| 12 | Mon–Tue, July 26–27 | Last session. Held for late admits and anyone who missed theirs. |
Transfer, adult and international students
| Session | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer and adult students A | Wed, June 23 | One day, 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Credit evaluation reviewed with an adviser. |
| Transfer and adult students B | Wed, July 21 | One day, 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Childcare is available on request with two weeks’ notice. |
| International students | Wed–Fri, Aug 25–27 | Required on campus, in addition to an online advising appointment in June. Students arrive by Tuesday, Aug 24. |
| Spring 2027 starters | Thu, Jan 21, 2027 | One day, for students starting classes on January 25 |
Transfer students should send all college transcripts by May 15 so the credit evaluation is ready in time. See transfer student orientation.
Families, cost and changing your date
Family and supporter track: runs the same two days on its own schedule. It covers FERPA, billing, safety, health and what the first year is really like, and ends with families and students back together. Families arrange their own lodging. Hotels in town fill quickly in June, and suggestions are on hosting visitors. More is on families and supporters.
Cost: the $150 orientation fee covers meals, the overnight stay and materials, and is billed to the student account. It is waived for anyone whose enrollment deposit was waived. Guests pay $30 each for meals.
Changing your date: switch sessions yourself in MyPorter up to seven days before. After that, call New Student & Family Programs. Sessions 9 to 12 are the last to fill, so they are the usual fallback.
After orientation: first-year move-in appointments are August 28–29, 2027, followed by First Forge, and classes begin September 1. See move-in.
Fictional information
UW–Porter Falls is a work of parody. These orientation dates, fees and sessions are invented for a fictional university. Do not book a summer trip to Porter Falls, and confirm your real college’s orientation dates with that college.