Orientation
Congratulations, and welcome to Marshall University! We are excited that you are joining the Marshall family and invite you to join us for New Student Orientation.
All new students need to attend an Orientation session (students admitted to a fully online degree program will complete Online Orientation through Blackboard). These sessions introduce the Marshall family and deliver essential information.
Students can expect an engaging experience that will include group sessions, individual meetings with academic advisors, student life presentations, housing information, and more – all focused on preparing new students to live their Marshall Moment.
Family and guests are encouraged to attend New Student Orientation; however, you cannot participate in the student-only sessions. During that time, we will have alternate programming for guests, including ways that you can support your student during their time here. Guests will be able to attend the welcome session and have lunch with their student.
Information about orientation and the daily schedule are included below.
Students must confirm their enrollment before registering for New Student Orientation. To confirm your enrollment, log back into your portal account and complete the intent to enroll form. Once the form is complete, you may register for an Orientation date.
During New Student Orientation, you will:
- Prepare for your first year at Marshall University, including academic expectations and student life.
- Get your student ID and learn about Marshall’s student resources and support services.
- Meet with an academic advisor to register for your first semester of classes.
- Get to know many of your new Marshall classmates.
We offer three Orientation programs – one for freshmen and one for transfer students. Please see the date options for both types below. There is no set date for online students, and the orientation can be completed at your own pace.
Tuesday, June 10, 2025Wednesday, June 11, 2025Thursday, June 12, 2025Friday, June 13, 2025- Wednesday, July 9, 2025
- Thursday, July 10, 2025
- Friday, July 11, 2025
- Wednesday, July 30, 2025
- Thursday, July 31, 2025
- Friday, August 1, 2025
Morning check-in begins at 8:15 a.m. in the Memorial Student Center. The Orientation program starts at 9 a.m. at the Joan C. Edwards Playhouse, across the street. Programming runs until 4:30 p.m. Please plan to stay for the entire day. If you miss portions of the day, your fall schedule could be dropped. Optional campus tours are available at the end of the day. Parking is in the 6th Avenue Parking Garage near the Playhouse, with validation at check-in.
While students are not required to bring items to Orientation, we have some recommendations to make your day go as smoothly as possible! We suggest you get a reusable water bottle, comfortable clothing and shoes, and a light jacket/sweater.
Schedule of Events
- 8:15 am | Check-in Opens
- 9 am | Your Marshall Moments – Student Panel Discussion
- 9:45 am – 12:00 pm | Morning Program Rotations for Students (Students Only)
- 10 am | Supporting Your Student (Parents/Guests)
- Noon Lunch Break | Lunch tickets will be provided to students and guests; Resource Fair and Residence Hall Tours
- 1:30 – 4:15 pm | Afternoon Program Rotations for Students (Students Only)
- 1:30 – 4:15 pm | Optional Programming for Parents and Guests
- 4:15 pm | Check-Out, Optional Campus Tours, Resource Tours, and Residence Hall Tours
The following date has been designated as Transfer Students Only. If you are a transfer student, but you cannot come to Orientation on this date, please contact the Orientation office at orientation@marshall.edu to register for one of the other available dates.
- Tuesday, July 8, 2025
Morning check-in begins at 8:15 a.m. in the Memorial Student Center. The Orientation program starts at 9 a.m. at the Joan C. Edwards Playhouse, across the street. Programming runs until noon. Students can opt to stay for the afternoon, enjoy lunch in one of the dining halls, and attend optional programming, including housing and commuter information, along with student life. Optional campus tours are available at the end of the day. Parking is in the 6th Avenue Parking Garage near the Playhouse, with validation at check-in.
While students are not required to bring items to Orientation, we have some recommendations to make your day go as smoothly as possible! We suggest you bring a reusable water bottle, comfortable clothing and shoes, and a light jacket/sweater. You may also want to bring copies of transcripts from the schools you have attended.
Schedule of Events
- 8:15 am | Check-in Opens
- 9 am | Your Marshall Moments – Student Panel Discussion
- 10 am – 12 pm | Program Rotations for Students (Students Only)
- 10 am – 12 pm | Supporting Your Student (Parents/Guests)
- Noon Lunch Break | Lunch tickets will be provided to students and guests; Resource Fair and Residence Hall Tours
Optional Programming:
-
1:30 – 2:30 pm | Housing and Dining or Commuter Information Session
-
2:30– 3:30 pm | Student Life
-
1:30 – 3:30 pm | Meet with a Financial Aid Counselor
-
3:30 pm | Campus Tours, Resource Tours, and Residence Hall Tours
Students who have been admitted to a fully online degree program or to the Regent’s Bachelor of Arts (RBA) program will complete Online Orientation through Blackboard. New Freshmen and new Transfer students who live over 300 miles from campus can also request to complete Online Orientation. Please email the Orientation Office at orientation@marshall.edu to request Online Orientation. If approved, you will be registered for a Blackboard course, which you will access through myMU. Once you have completed the course, your academic advisor will be notified of your completion, and you can reach out to your advisor to schedule fall courses. After completion, the Orientation Office will notify your academic advisor so you can work with them to register for classes.
Once you’ve registered for an orientation date, complete a student survey! This information helps us tailor your unique Marshall experience and craft your first-semester class schedule just for you. We also look for special programs and opportunities within the Marshall community that might be an excellent fit for you. The survey will take approximately 15-20 minutes. Once you begin the survey, you have 24 hours to complete and submit it. After you’re done, you’ll receive a #MarshallBound window cling to show off your school spirit!
We make every effort to accommodate individuals with disabilities. If you have special accommodation needs, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations at least one week before your confirmed Orientation date at 304-696-2467 or wyant2@marshall.edu.
Please visit the Huntington Area Convention & Visitors Bureau for information on where to stay, what to eat, and things to do.
If you have questions, please visit our FAQ page below or contact us at 304-696-3646 or orientation@marshall.edu. Please note that our standard method of communicating with students is via their Marshall email account. If you have not activated your Marshall email account and need help, please contact our IT Service Desk at 304-696-3200 or chat online.
New freshmen and transfer students (admitted for Summer 2024 or Fall 2024) can register by clicking on the registration link available at www.marshall.edu/orientation. Please note the specific dates for Freshman and Transfer students referenced above.
All new students must participate in Orientation. Failure to participate in the Orientation program will result in the cancellation of your fall course schedule.
While there are no required items for students to bring to Orientation, we have some recommendations to make your day go as smoothly as possible!
- A reusable water bottle – many activities will take place outdoors so having a water bottle to stay hydrated is important!
- Comfortable clothing, socks, and shoes – there will be walking outside to and from different buildings on campus so plan to dress comfortably!
- A light jacket/sweater – some of our buildings are cooler than others, so we recommend a light jacket or sweater in case you get cool.
If you are a transfer student, you may want to bring copies of transcripts from the schools you have attended.
You can easily reschedule your date by clicking the registration link and then selecting a new date. If you have any trouble, please contact the Office of New Student Orientation to reschedule You can reach the office by calling 304-696-3646 or emailing orientation@marshall.edu
Yes. In advance of your Orientation date, your advisor will have prepared a course schedule for you. Your schedule will include a variety of general education courses and perhaps a course or two specifically related to your academic major. When you meet with your advisor, you will have the opportunity to discuss those courses and make any changes that might be necessary.
Your academic advisor will prepare a course schedule before your Orientation date. This ensures you get the best course seats available. You will have the opportunity to discuss any potential schedule adjustments when you meet with your academic advisor at Orientation.
You will get your new digital student ID when you come to Orientation. You will also set up your Marshall email and multi-factor authentication on your phone.
Before you attend your advising appointment, it would be helpful if you reviewed our general education Core Curriculum available at www.marshall.edu/gened and also review the Academic Map for your chosen program of study. Academic Maps are available at https://www.marshall.edu/advising/curricular-resources/.
The process for changing your academic major depends upon your stage in the Orientation process.
- Before May 15, you can contact the Office of Admissions to change your selected academic major. You can email admissions@marshall.edu or call 304-696-3160. Be sure to include your name and MUID number.
- After May 15, you can discuss a change of major when you meet with your academic advisor or, if you change your mind after orientation, you can contact your academic advisor to assist you in transitioning to another major.
Some of our academic colleges have full-time staff advisors, other colleges utilize faculty advisors and some colleges utilize a combination of staff and faculty advisors. So, depending on your academic major, you might have a staff advisor or a faculty advisor. You will find out who your academic advisor will be when you come to orientation.
All incoming freshmen and new transfer students have a New Student Hold. This hold will remain on your record all summer and will be automatically lifted the week before the first day of the Fall 2024 semester. This hold ensures that all schedules are created by an academic advisor. If schedule adjustments are needed after you attend Orientation, you will work with your academic advisor to make those changes.
Yes. Orientation must be completed by every new student for the summer and fall term. When you have your meeting with your advisor, be sure to mention that you plan to attend one of our regional campuses (be sure to mention which campus), and your schedule will be created for the specific campus you wish to attend. If you are unable to attend Orientation in person, you can email the New Student Orientation office at orientation@marshall.edu. You will then be given a link and password to complete the online orientation program. After completion, the Orientation office will notify your academic advisor so you can work with them to register for classes.