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PDC First-Year Program

Welcome to CSUSB Palm Desert Campus!

Welcome to California State University, San Bernardino 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 Orientation Leaders.

First Year Orientation 2023

First Year Orientation will consist of:

 

  1. Pre-Orientation: an online program for you to start getting connected to CSUSB resources, services, and opportunities; available to you 24-48 hours after registering for your orientation date.
  2. Orientation: an on-campus experience which will include academic advising, opportunities to learn more about campus, and information about course registration; and 
  3. Connections: enhanced fall social programming to connect you to campus.

Deadline to register for any session is June 15 or your admissions will be cancelled. In the meantime, explore the university website and prepare to become a part of the Coyote community.

Important Information

Before You Register for Orientation

Accept Your Offer of Admissions

All students must accept their offer of admission BEFORE May 15. Visit the Admissions Next Steps for information step-by-step directions. 

Once you accept your admissions, please allow 24-48 hours before you register for an Orientation session. 

Emergency Contact Information

You are required to complete the Emergency Contact information on your myCoyote Self Service Student Center before registering for Orientation. This information will only be used in case of an emergency and someone needs to be contacted on your behalf. Be sure to keep this information updated with CSUSB.

Submit Your Official Transcripts

Partial transcripts are due to Admissions and Student Recruitment by July 17. Failure to submit final transcripts by the July  17 deadline will result in your offer for admission being cancelled and you will not be able to register for courses at CSUSB. You do not need to submit final transcripts in order to register for Orientation, but we want to ensure you aware of the deadlines! 

In order to be considered fully admitted to CSUSB, you must submit official transcripts to demonstrate that your final grades and coursework continue to reflect your eligibility to the university, and that you have graduated from high school. Applicants will be considered fully admitted when an admissions officer verifies that the student has completed all coursework in progress at a satisfactory level.

All official transcripts may be mailed to:

CSUSB Admissions & Student Recruitment
5500 University Parkway
San Bernardino, CA 92407

Review Orientation Cost / Fees and Waiver of Liability

Students who register to participate in the Orientation program agree to the cost of the program, any fees that might be charged, and a waiver of liability. It is important that you read these policies prior to registering for Orientation.

Make sure you complete all your Next Steps, in conjunction with registering for Orientation!

Program Dates

  • Deadline to register for any session is June 15 or your admissions will be cancelled.
  • Due to limited space, it is advised that you register for the first available session.
  • You will not be able to register for orientation once a session date has closed.
  • Please make sure you do not have any outside conflicts (such as work, classes, etc.) with your scheduled Orientation date. Expect to be on campus for a full day; your attendance is required in full in order to have your Orientation hold removed. 

    Information regarding your Orientation session will be sent to your CSUSB email account. 

 

Registration is now closed. 

First Year Orientation Dates
Session Number Date Time Registration Deadline Status
1 Wednesday, June 14 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM Wednesday, June 7 Closed

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.

Schedule

New Student Orientation is a mandatory program for all newly admitted students that provides you with key resources and tools to help with your transition into the CSUSB community and help continue your journey towards academic success.

Orientation will consist of:

  1. Pre-Orientation: an online program for you to start getting connected to CSUSB resources, services, and opportunities; available to you 24-48 hours after registering for your orientation date.

  2. Orientation: an on-campus experience which will include academic advising and course registration (attendance required to remove your orientation hold); and 

  3. Connections: enhanced fall social programming to connect you to campus. 


Information regarding your Orientation date will be sent to your CSUSB email address ONLY. Please check that email account for final information and updates. 

How to Register for Orientation

Orientation Registration

You may begin to register for your Orientation date in March. Registration is online and based on the following:

  1. You have accepted your offer of admissions.
  2. After accepting, please allow 24-48 hours before attempting to register for Orientation. 

Keep in Mind

  1. Space is limited for each orientation date. The earlier you accept your admissions, the more likely you are to obtain the Orientation date of your choice.
  2. Orientation dates fill up quickly. Dates that were once available may be closed when you revisit them, so have an alternate date in mind. 

How to Register

In order to register for an Orientation session, you will need to:

  1. Know your Coyote (student) ID number – each student is given a nine-digit identification number upon submission of their application for admission (ex: 000123456).  The number is listed on all of the communication set to you by Admissions & Student Recruitment.  If you can't locate your Coyote ID, please contact Admissions & Student Recruitment at 909.537.5188.
  2. Know your CSUSB Coyote e-mail address – Orientation information will be sent to you electronically to your CSUSB e-mail address, not a personal email address. 
  3. Know any scheduling conflicts – Orientation is a three-hour program; make sure you plan accordingly to attend the entire day. Your Orientation hold is not removed unless you complete the orientation program in full, and you will not be able to register for courses with this hold.
  4. Be prepared to provide information for your parent / family member(s) – Our Parent and Family Orientation sessions are offered on specific dates. If your parent(s)/family member(s) are interested in receiving more information, make sure you include their name and email address on the page in our registration system. For more information please go to our Parent and Family Orientation page. 
  5. Log into myCoyote.
  6. Select the Orientation registration link - This will be located under My Tasks, entitled Orientation Registration.
  7. Follow the on-screen instructions to register for your Orientation session. 

Making Changes to your Orientation Session

If you need to change your Orientation date:

  1. Send us an email at orientation@csusb.edu. In the e-mail be sure to include the following information:
  • First and Last Name
  • Coyote ID Number
  • Original Orientation date your are registered for
  • New Orientation date you want to switch into
  • Contact phone number

or

  1. 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 changed an administrative fee of $25 per change. Please review the Program Costs and Fees page.

 

Advising and Registration

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.

Before You Attend Orientation

In order to have a successful Orientation session, be prepared with the following information or requests of you for Orientation.

  • Pre-Orientation -- an online program (available 24-48 hours after registering for your Orientation date). This is available on your myCoyote portal, under My Tasks. Please access via Student Log In, not as a Guest. If Student Log In does not allow you access, please allow another 24 hours for system updates! -- This will launch in early April; we will send a notification once available.
  • Submit Your Final Transcripts -- your final transcripts are due to CSUSB Admissions and Student Recruitment by July 17, 2023. Failure to submit final transcripts by this deadline will result in your admissions offer being cancelled. We recommend submitting them as soon as possible ahead of your orientation date.
  • CSUSB Student Self-Attestation – found on your myCoyote, CSUSB needs you to complete this form prior to Orientation indicating your COVID vaccination status. You can view more information about this on the Return of the Pack webpage. You will have a hold on your student record until this is completed; this hold WILL prevent you from registering for courses or changing your class schedule.