Your Comprehensive Guide to UTRGV Freshman Orientation

Welcome to the UTRGV family! As you embark on your journey as a new Vaquero, orientation is your first step towards a successful and fulfilling college experience. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of what to expect during freshman orientation, ensuring you're well-prepared to begin your academic career at UTRGV. We're thrilled to have you on board, as your involvement plays a crucial role in your student's success.

Discovering the Vaquero Spirit

Orientation is more than just administrative tasks; it's an introduction to the Vaquero culture and traditions. Get ready to discover Vaquero traditions, meet your academic advisor, register for classes, and learn all about the services and resources waiting for you. The real magic happens when you meet fellow Vaqueros who, just like you, are excited to kick off their UTRGV journey. You'll have the opportunity to connect with your peers, build relationships, and form lasting memories.

Mandatory Bacterial Meningitis Vaccination

All new students under the age of 22 must submit evidence of receiving the bacterial meningitis vaccination (administered within the past five years) before they can enroll. Students will not be allowed to register without providing proof of meningitis vaccination or exemption. UTRGV will have a limited number of vaccines available at each orientation session. To make your appointment smooth, remember to submit all important documents beforehand (like TSI scores, meningitis vaccine proof, AP Scores, or updated college transcripts). If you have have a meningitis hold or you are missing any section of the TSI Assessment, you will not be able to enroll in classes during your academic advising session. If either of these items are missing, please bring the physical documents with you to New Student Orientation to ensure you can enroll in classes.

Orientation Fee and Cancellation Policy

A $100.00 non-refundable, non-transferable orientation fee will be added to your student account 24 hours after your reservation. Students who can register for class, but do not attend an in-person orientation, will be assessed the $100 New Student Orientation fee and will be provided directions on how to complete their New Student Orientation requirements. Cancellation is required at least three days before your date, or you will be charged the orientation fee. Yes, it's $100 and non-refundable. Cancel 3 days before your orientation to avoid the fee. Students who cancel their new student orientation reservation at least three days before the orientation event will not incur the $100 fee. Students who NO SHOW or CANCEL less than three days before the event will incur the $100 orientation fee. If a student cancels their orientation in less than three days, the student will incur the $100 fee. Students may appeal the fee by completing an orientation fee appeals form.

Transfer Student Orientation (Starting Summer 2026)

Starting summer 2026, UTRGV is introducing a new three-part experience for transfer students that replaces traditional orientation and supports you through registration. Every new transfer student will have a Transfer Orientation hold (OT Hold). You must be admitted before signing up. Transfer Advising Days guarantee you an advising appointment and support with course registration. New transfer students can choose from available dates and times to meet with an advisor. Online orientation is automatically assigned to enrolled students with the OT Hold.

Family Orientation

Join us at Family Orientation, where you'll gain the skills and knowledge to assist your student during their transition. When your student signs up for orientation, they can add the names of two family members to join them. Please note that family members must attend on the same day the student registers. Attendance is free but limited to two family members per student. For a more focused experience, we recommend leaving small children at home. Students are welcome to bring a family member or support person with them as a guest, but guests will be attending Family Orientations.

Your First Year at UTRGV: Academic Advising and Support

Your first year at UTRGV is full of new experiences, great opportunities and amazing connections! As you begin your first year, our goal is to provide you a solid foundation in understanding and navigating academic policies and procedures, increase your knowledge of your degree pathway, provide you academic coaching to meet your goals and connect you to amazing resources to advance you on your course work.

The New Vaquero Advising Model

In your first year, you’ll meet with your academic advisor a minimum of four times. Your first contact with an advisor will be at New Student Orientation (NSO). During that time, you’ll connect with the First Year Advisor Team throughout the day. With your new peers and your advisors, you’ll be introduced to the Academic Advising Center’s services, review the first year advising model, and use advising tools to select courses for your fall term. In the afternoon, you’ll take your course list and register for your fall classes!

New Vaquero Session 1: Establishing Your Foundation

During your first New Vaquero session, you’ll meet with your academic advisor to establish your foundation at UTRGV. You’ll work together to learn the academic policies that impact your road to graduation, review your progression on your current course work, connect to academic resources designed to enhance your success and address your questions about your transition to UTRGV.

New Vaquero Session 2: Planning for the Spring Term

With your first session completed, we are ready to begin the academic planning process for your spring term. During your second session, you’ll collaborate with your advisor to review your academic progress, plan for the following semester, address any questions you may have about the term and remove your academic advising hold.

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New Vaquero Session 3: Reflecting and Strategizing

With your first semester complete, you’ll start the New Year refreshed and prepared to embrace the new academic opportunities coming your way! Your third session will bring you and your advisor together to reflect upon your fall accomplishments, consider new learning strategies to take on the challenges of the spring term, calculate your GPA goals for the spring term and develop your academic skills in time management, self-motivation or life balance.

New Vaquero Session 4: Preparing for Your Second Year

Before you know it, you’ll be approaching the end of your first year at UTRGV! As you go into your final advising session, we are ready to begin the academic planning process for your summer/fall term. During your final session, you’ll once again collaborate with your advisor to review your academic progress, plan for the following semester, address any questions you may have about the term, remove your academic advising hold and review your advising connections for your Second Year and Beyond!

*Students must complete all New Vaquero sessions in sequence. Failure to do so may result in delayed registration and progress towards the completion of the first year.

Important Holds to Be Aware Of

Students that do not have any holds preventing them from registering will be able to meet with an academic advisor and get registered for their classes. That is why it is incredibly important to log into your ASSIST account and make sure you do not have any holds that will prevent you from enrolling in classes. If you have the TSI Deficient hold, you do not need to schedule an advising appointment.

The following reference guide contains the most common holds:

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D drop: This hold doesn’t prevent anything. We use this counter to let you know how many drops you have left.
Official Transcript: An Official transcript from the school indicated must be submitted to the office of Admissions. This hold does not prevent any processes.
Clicker Return: If a clicker was borrowed, return the clicker to the appropriate department.
Emergency Tuition Loan: This hold will prevent students from requesting the online Installment Plan. This hold does not prevent registration, grades or transcripts. The Emergency Tuition Loan hold will be automatically removed after account is paid in full.
Financial Responsibility Agreement (FRA): Please complete Financial Responsibility Agreement (FRA).
Graduate Academic Deficiency: This hold is placed when a graduate student does not meet specific academic requirements such as but not limited to; completing required appeal conditions, maintaining a certain GPA, or fulfilling thesis or dissertation requirements.
Installment Plan: This hold will prevent students from requesting the online Installment Plan. This hold does not prevent registration, grades or transcripts.
Missing Exit Counseling: Log in to studentaid.gov and complete the Exit Counseling session. This hold does not prevent registration, grades or transcripts.
New Student Orientation: Sign up for New Student Orientation through my.utrgv.edu.
Perkins Loan: Log in to complete the Perkins Loan exit counseling. This hold does not prevent registration, grades or transcripts.

Key Resources and Services

ASSIST: Provides a variety of online services to UTRGV students regarding registration, financial aid, payment, and grades.
Blackboard: Online education platform used at UTRGV. Blackboard can be accessed through MyUTRGV.
Fieldhouse: Home of Vaquero Basketball and Volleyball. The fieldhouse is on the northeast side of campus. Come cheer on our Vaqueros!
Course Drops: All students are allowed a maximum of 6-course drops after the census date.
SAB (Student Academic Business Services): UTRGV’s one-stop service center for student support, including Financial Aid, Registration, Admissions, and the Bursar’s Office.
The Rider: Free bus service to and from the Brownsville and Edinburg campuses. These buses are equipped with comfortable seats, A/C, and WIFI.
VOLT: Golf Carts are equipped with safety and security cameras, unlimited high-speed data streams, and GPS vehicle trackers via Ride Systems. VOLT was designed as a fast, zero-emissions intercampus transportation.
VLink: Search for student organizations to join, and events to attend, and keep track of your involvement on campus. UTRGV VLink.
Vs Up: When someone says, “Vs Up” Vaqueros are expected to raise their hands and make the UTRGV hand sign of a V.
Waitlist: You are on a list to add a course that is closed or at maximum capacity.
Course Retake: Undergraduate students may retake a course twice without paying additional tuition costs.
Syllabus: An outline of what you can expect to do in your class.

Tips for a Successful Orientation

Dress comfortably: Wear comfortable shoes! You will attend a variety of helpful information sessions and spend time getting to know your future classmates!
Come prepared: Important: To make your appointment smooth, remember to submit all important documents beforehand (like TSI scores, meningitis vaccine proof, AP Scores, or updated college transcripts).
Check for holds: Log into your ASSIST account to ensure you do not have any holds that will prevent you from enrolling in classes.
Attend the correct orientation: Please attend the New Student Orientation you are registered for. If you are not registered for a New Student Orientation date, please click the button below to get registered!
Engage and ask questions: Don't hesitate to ask questions and actively participate in the sessions. Orientation is designed to help you succeed, so make the most of it!

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