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Welcome, Wildcats!

New Student Orientation (NSO) is an event for all new students preparing you to join our Wildcat community. Programming will include opportunities to meet other students, connect with academic advising, finalize payment plans, explore campus resources and more.

Home/ New Student Orientation

New Student Orientation (NSO) is an event for all new students preparing you to join our Wildcat community. Programming will include opportunities to meet other students, connect with academic advising, finalize payment plans, explore campus resources and more.

Main Content

Your Steps to NSO

  1. Pay Your Deposit. Your Enrollment Deposit must be submitted before you can register for NSO.
  2. Register for New Student Orientation.
  3. Complete Intro to ACU: An Online Orientation Class. In ACU 101, you will set your foundation as a part of the Wildcat family, discover housing and connect with resources that set you up for success. ACU 101 will open in April and is required to be completed before Move-in.
  4. Receive your class schedule. After you’ve registered, your academic advisor will begin preparing your personalized fall course schedule. Be on the lookout for it to arrive this summer. 
  5. View the New Student Orientation tentative schedule

New Student Reminders

Please make sure you take care of the following items when you arrive to campus:

  • Student ID: All students are required to have an ACU student ID. Submit your own photo online at acu.edu/myID. You will need your ID to swipe into your residence hall and access your meal plan. You can pick up your ID during Move-in. 
  • Parking on campus: If you are bringing a car with you to campus, you will be able to pick up your parking permit in the Campus Center at Wildcat Central during NSO.
  • Textbooks: Students can use their student account to purchase textbooks and school supplies through The Campus Store (both in store and online).

Placement Testing

Placement testing is required for specific majors. These tests are available during NSO and online. If you are eligible or require placement testing, you will be contacted prior to NSO. 

If you applied to ACU as test-optional and have not submitted a college entrance exam, you will be required to take a placement test before enrolling in fall classes. If you have any questions about placement testing, please contact the ACU Testing Center at acutesting@acu.edu or 325-674-2548.

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Important Dates

  • March 1
    NSO Registration Opens
  • April 1
    ACU 101 Opens
  • June 3, 4
    New Student Orientation Session I
  • June 6, 7 
    New Student Orientation Session II
  • June 24, 25
    New Student Orientation Session III
  • June 27, 28
    New Student Orientation Session IV

Frequently Asked Questions

New Student Orientation is required for every student as it is the final checkpoint before entering Abilene Christian University. Not only will you complete the final tasks that clear your way for Move-in, you will gain a vital understanding of what it means to be a Wildcat and a valued member of our honored Wildcat family.

Parents and guardians are more than welcome to attend New Student Orientation with you, but their presence is not required.

Advising is a central component of your ACU experience, because it promotes the achievement of your educational and personal goals. Within Online Orientation, you’ll learn about the Core Curriculum and specific majors, the roles of advisors and how advising works at ACU. Afterwards, you will be contacted by your academic advisor to set up an appointment to finalize your class schedule.

An updated copy of your immunization records must be submitted prior to the start of school. One of the required immunizations is a meningococcal vaccination for students under the age of 22. To be valid under Texas state law, the shot must have been administered between August 15, 2019 and August 15, 2024 (or file an exemption), to begin school.

To submit your immunization record, go to “Quicklinks” on myACU, choose “Medical Clinic Patient Portal” and complete the following steps:

  • Click on the Upload tab.
  • Follow the onscreen instructions to upload the documentation.
  • Click on the Immunization tab.
  • Click on the blue Immunizations bar.
  • Scroll to find the Meningococcal Meningitis Vaccine.
  • Enter the date you received the vaccine, and click submit.

All services for students with disabilities are coordinated through Alpha Scholars Program. ACU is committed to the full participation of parents or students with disabilities. If you have any disability-related needs for orientation, please contact the Admissions Office at 800-460-6228. Please contact an Alpha representative at 325-674-2699.

New Student Move-in is Tuesday, August 20 between 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

For details on what to bring, what to leave at home, decoration guidelines and more, please refer to our Housing FAQs.