How to move through the New Student Onboarding Sequence
This process can take at least one week — start now!
Pre-Onboarding Tasks
Time needed: 90-120 minutes. These must be completed before beginning your onboarding sequence.
What's needed:
- Confirm your enrollment and pay your deposit by:
- Students beginning in fall term: May 1
- Students beginning in winter, spring or summer: recommended as soon as possible to secure your spot; deposit is refundable up to 3 weeks before the beginning of any term.
- Complete the ALEKS Math Placement.
- The math placement assessment is used to gain an accurate measure of your current math skills, so your academic advisor can help you register for the appropriate courses.
- You are allowed a total of 5 attempts on the ALEKS assessment, including partially completed assessments. Your highest score is used for placement.
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Activate your ONID (Oregon State student account)
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Complete any other recommended items on your Beaver Basecamp checklist.
Note: if you are an international student, you will not have access to Beaver Basecamp; please see our International Students page for information on completing your pre-orientation tasks.
STOP: You will have access to the next step in 24-48 hours. After that time has passed, move onto Prepare.
Step 1: Prepare
Complete Prepare online learning modules through Canvas to learn key information for advising, registration, and navigating OSU resources like advising, finances, technology, and support services.
These modules take 2-4 hours to complete.
After you complete these modules, you can sign up for Launch orientation, and begin Activate, starting in November (dates vary).
Student veterans, qualified dependents of military service members, and Presidential Scholars can begin Activate as early as November 10. All other students can begin the Activate phase on November 17.
If you complete the modules after November 17, you’ll get access to Beaver Hub within 48 hours of submitting your final quiz.
Step 2: Activate
Complete all Success Plan tasks within Beaver Hub (Note: Beaver Hub is different from Beaver Basecamp). These tasks will introduce you to your academic college requirements. Once all tasks are complete, make an advising appointment to register for your first term of classes.
Advising and registration windows vary by academic college but will only take place between December 1 and December 26 for winter term admits.
Time needed: 1-3 hours
Your advising appointment should be completed or scheduled by December 26.
Step 3: Launch
Launch is your orientation to Oregon State. You'll meet other students, explore resources and opportunities, and build connections to get ready for your first term.
All students are expected to attend either an in-person or virtual Launch session.
Time needed: 10 minutes to register; 6-8 hours to participate.
Visit our Launch page for session information and details.
Pre-Term To-Do Items
Check your Oregon State email frequently! This is where all campus updates, reminders and course information will be sent.
Check Beaver Hub for tasks like completing your immunization records.
Check your Housing Portal (if you’re living on campus) for updates related to your room assignment and move-in date.
Step 4: Connect
Connect kicks off your first term at Oregon State. During Connect, you’ll attend events to meet new people, learn more about longstanding OSU traditions, hone your academic skills, and so much more.
This is your chance to settle in, make memories, and get to know your new community at OSU.
Time needed: Varies; we hope you'll spend as much time as possible exploring Oregon State during Connect.
Visit the Connect page to see a sampling of the events that welcome all new students to Beaver Nation.
Step 5: Engage
Onboarding doesn’t end when the term begins – support continues in the Engage phase throughout your first year at Oregon State.
Your first term, you'll take a Transitions course that builds upon what you've learned throughout new student onboarding
Every week, you’ll receive The Student Success Weekly email that will provide you with deadline reminders, helpful study tips, and more.
Each term, you’ll meet with academic advisors to plan your classes and ensure you’re successfully progressing toward your degree.
Throughout the entirety of the first year, participate in events offered across campus to continue building connections.
