Welcome to the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus!
Welcome to the Pack and California State University, San Bernardino’s Palm Desert Campus! We are excited that you have selected CSUSB to pursue your undergraduate education. The Orientation program provides you with key resources and tools to help with your transition into the CSUSB community as you bond with other members of the Coyote community, your peers, and the student Orientation Leaders.
First Year Orientation will consist of:
Pre-Orientation: After registering for Orientation please allow 24-48 hours to access the Pre-online Orientation modules under the “checklist items menu” This will begin introducing you to campus resources, and get a taste of what it means to be a student at CSUSB.
Orientation: Historically, Orientation has been an all-day event! Please be prepared to spend the entire day on campus, where you’ll have the opportunity to connect with your peers, explore the campus, and engage in valuable sessions.
Light refreshments and snacks, including lunch, will be provided throughout the day.
During this experience, you’ll also have the chance to:
- Meet with academic advisors to discuss your course plans
- Learn about important campus resources, including financial aid and more
- Get to know various departments and services to set you up for success at CSUSB
We look forward to welcoming you and ensuring you have a memorable and informative day!
Post-Orientation:
- Be sure to regularly check your Coyote email for important updates and communications leading up to the start of the semester.
- Before the semester begins, don’t forget to visit our Parking and Transportation website to purchase your parking permit.
- If you have any questions or concerns before your first day of class, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help and support you every step of the way!
How to Register
In order to register for an Orientation session, you will need to:
Accept Your Offer of Admission by May 1
Visit the Admissions Next Steps for information and step-by-step directions. Once you accept your admission, please allow 24-48 hours before you register for an Orientation session.
Register for Orientation!
Log into your myCoyote Self Service portal, click the “Student center” tile > click the “MyTask” tile > find the Orientation Registration tile.
Changing Your Orientation Date
If you need to change your Orientation date:
- Send us an email at orientation@csusb.edu. In your request, please include the following information:
- First and Last Name
- Student ID Number
- Original Orientation date your are registered for
- New Orientation date you want to switch into
- Contact phone number
or
2. Call Orientation and First Year Experience at (909) 537-5233. Please be ready to provide the above information when you call.
NOTE: Changing your Orientation session is subject to availability in another session. If you change your Orientation date more than once, you will be charged an administrative fee of $25 per change. Please review the Program Costs and Fees page.
Cancelling Your Orientation Registration
To cancel your orientation:
- Please contact Admissions and Student Recruitment at (909) 537-5188 or moreinfo@csusb.edu to withdraw your admissions from CSUSB.
- Once your admissions cancellation is processed, your orientation date will automatically be cancelled.
When choosing your Orientation session, please make sure you do not have any outside conflicts (such as work, classes, etc.) with your scheduled Orientation date.
Information regarding your Orientation session will be sent to your CSUSB email account.
First Year Two-Day Program
Dates: Tuesday, June 10, and Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Times: Tuesday, June 10, from 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Wednesday, June 11, from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Parent & Family Orientation
Date: Tuesday June 17, 2025
Time: 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Website may not reflect current-time statuses on orientation sessions; visit the registration page via your myCoyote portal to view available sessions.
Your Orientation hold is not removed from your account until you participate in the entire First Year Orientation program. You will not be able to register for classes until your Orientation hold is removed. Please check your CSUSB e-mail account for updates. Orientation information will not be sent to your personal email account.
Although not everything can be covered during Orientation, the full-day schedule is designed to provide you with the most important information as you transition into CSUSB. During Orientation, you will be put into Pack groups with other new students within the same college, lead by a returning student Orientation Leader to guide you through the day.
Check In
Check in begins at 7:00 a.m. Students who arrive after 8:30 a.m. are considered late and will need to reschedule their orientation session.
Program Schedule
- Welcome
- Campus Navigation
- Engagement Opportunities
- Money Management - Financial Aid & Student Financial Services
- Lunch
- Campus Resource Fair
- Life at PDC
- Academics at CSUSB
Academic advising connects students with the university community. Advisors are here to help you transition from high school to college by providing accurate information about academic requirements and using campus resources to help you with your educational and career journey at CSUSB. During Orientation, you will participate in a group advising experience. You will learn about academic program requirements, policies, procedures, and other services that will help you achieve academic success.
Pack Enrollment places incoming first-year students in their first-semester classes. This process began to minimize stress, assist in transitioning from high school to college, and help students meet their academic goals. The schedules are a careful mixture of major-required coursework and General Education. Students will have their courses by Orientation, where they will receive guidance on making necessary changes to ensure their success at CSUSB. For more information, please visit Pack Enrollment.
During Orientation, Students will receive guidance on how to make adjustments to their schedules in myCoyote should they require.
In order to have a successful Orientation session and smooth transition, you'll want to have done the following before you attend Orientation.
- Pre-Orientation - An online program to start introducing you to CSUSB resources, services, and getting acquainted with some of the terminology used on campus!
- This is available on your myCoyote portal under the Checklist Items menu, 24-48 hours after registering for Orientation.
- Get connected on NearPeer! - Join the online social community to meet other new Coyotes, find new friends based on your major or other interests, and get connected to the Pack!
- Review Orientation Cost/Fees & Waiver of Liability - Students who register to participate in Orientation agree to the cost of the program, any fees that may be charged, and waiver of liability. It is important that you review these policies.
- Emergency Contact Information - You are required to submit your emergency contact information on your myCoyote Self Service Student Center. Be sure to keep this information updated with CSUSB.
- Take care of HOLDS – Please take care of any holds that are on your account. For example, if you did not yet send your transcripts over on time you may risk not being able to register for classes! Please contact us if you have questions about a hold! The SOAR hold will be removed once you attend orientation.