What is the purpose of the New Freshman Orientation program?
New Freshman Orientation is a day long program that will better acquaint you with UWM, teach you what it takes to be successful in college, and register you for semester classes with academic advisors. You will be guided through the program by a Orientation Leader. Thus, you will have plenty of opportunity to get to know your campus, faculty, advisors and fellow classmates before classes even begin.

What are Orientation Leaders?
Orientation Leaders (OLs) are current UWM students that have been trained to guide new freshmen through the activities associated with the New Freshman Orientation program. Each OL is assigned to a group of 10-15 students for the duration of the program. If you would like to learn more about the role of OLs at the New Freshman Orientation program click here.

What steps do I need to complete before being invited to New Freshman Orientation?
To attend New Freshman Orientation, you must have taken your placement tests and have paid the $120 New Freshman Fee. Once we have received and processed this information, we will send you a New Freshman Orientation invitation letter in the mail. This letter will contain the directions for signing up for a New Freshman Orientation program.

What does the $120 New Freshman Fee* pay for?
The New Freshman Fee* covers your participation in the New Freshman Orientation program, PantherFest and the cost of your UWM student ID card. PantherFest is the university's beginning of the year welcome event. You will receive more information about this event at orientation. The New Freshman Fee* is a one-time fee that must be paid in full before you will receive an invitation to the New Freshman Orientation program.

Am I required to attend New Freshman Orientation?
Yes, all new freshmen are required to attend a New Freshman Orientation program.

What do I have to bring to the New Freshman Orientation program?
You will need your ePanther ID and Password to access the PAWS registration system. You should activate your ePanther account at epantherid.uwm.edu before coming to the program and be sure you are able to log in to PAWS. If you have difficulty activating your ePanther account, please call PAWS Assistance at 414-229-4040.

When will I get placement test results?
You will not be mailed placement test results in advance of your New Freshman Orientation program. These test results will be provided to the academic advisors prior to New Freshman Orientation. Advisors will use these scores to help you to select the appropriate courses.

Who is my academic advisor?
You are assigned an advisor based on the major we have on file for you.

Because advising at New Freshman Orientation is done in small group settings, you might not be able to meet with your ASSIGNED advisor at the program, but you will definitely be meeting with an advisor from your school/college. Rest assured, you will get knowledgeable answers to all of your questions. Keep in mind that once the semester begins, you can schedule an appointment to meet your assigned advisor and clear up any program questions you may have.

What if I want to change my major?
It is perfectly acceptable to change your major. You may change your major before or after the New Freshman Orientation program, but will NOT be able to do so the day of your program. To provide the best experience for all students, advisors from each school/college prepare files in advance for the students they will be meeting with at each New Freshman Orientation program. If you do intend to change your major from what we currently have on file, we encourage you to do so BEFORE signing up for your New Freshman Orientation date. You can request that your major be changed when signing up for New Freshman Orientation online. If you have any questions about your major change requests, you can call the New Freshman Orientation Office at 414-229-5842.

Note: Depending on the criteria under which you were admitted to the university, you may be not be able to change your major until after you have begun taking classes. If, when you arrive at the New Freshman Orientation program, you decide that you would like a different major, please tell your advisor during your advising session and he/she can help direct you on how to do so.

What if my major is listed as undecided?
Do not worry if your major is listed as undecided. Undecided students will meet with academic advisors in the College of Letters and Science who are experts in assisting students who are undecided about their program of study.

Do I have to know what classes I want to take before I come to New Freshman Orientation?
The purpose of the New Freshman Orientation program is to help you select your classes. However, you are encouraged to prepare for the program by considering your interests. For example, if you know that you are interested in psychology and history, you will be able to narrow down your class choices much easier than if you come to New Freshman Orientation with no idea of your interests.

Please remember that at UWM you will have a wide variety of courses from which to choose (more than what was offered in high school). So, please take some time to look at the online course descriptions in the Undergraduate Catalog.

Can I bring a parent with me to New Freshman Orientation?
YES! Your parents will join you in the opening session, but will not be with you while you meet with academic advisors to register for classes. As much as we would like to be able to invite your parents to join you in registering, we simply do not have the space in registration labs to accommodate them. So, we encourage parents to attend a concurrently run, Parent Orientation. This program addresses many of the specific questions parents usually have at this time of year.

Who do I contact if I have questions? You may contact the New Freshman Orientation office by calling (414) 229-5842 or e-mailing nforientation@uwm.edu.

* Information regarding the New Freshman Fee pertains to Spring 2009 entries. Please return to the website at a later date for Fall 2009 information.