UC Riverside Bear Facts Orientation

Where can I find a copy of the Bear Facts New Student and Family Resource Guide?

• Once we finish updating the resource guide, we will post a PDF of it on this page.

What if I need to change my registration?

• A request to change a confirmed Orientation date must be received at least five business days prior to the confirmed Orientation date. If space on the new date allows for the change, a change fee of $25.00 will be added to the Orientation amount due.
• If you cancel your reservation prior to five business days before your assigned session date, you will be assessed a$25.00per person cancellation fee and you will be refunded any remaining amount after October 1, 2008. If you do not notify us of your cancellation at least five business days before your assigned session date, your payment will not be refunded.  A no-show on your confirmed Orientation date will result in loss of eligibility for any refund.If you register for a Bear Facts Orientation date or a Family Orientation session and do not cancel or send payment, you are still responsible for the cost of the program. Resources for the program are arranged in advance and are paid for in anticipation of your attendance; you are responsible for paying for these costs even if you do not attend the Orientation session you chose, or if you decide not to attend UCR. If you register for Bear Facts Orientation and you decide not to attend UCR or your admission is rescinded, you are responsible for notifying our office that you, and any registered family members, will not be attending Bear Facts Orientation. Failure to notify our office will result in loss of eligibility for any refund. All inquiries into Orientation-related bills and fees must be submitted before October 1, 2008. After this date, no adjustments to the amount due will be made.

What is included in the Orientation sessions?

• Take a tour of campus, and see all the University has to offer new students. Learn how to use the online GROWL registration system, UCR webmail and ILearn, which are essential instructional and communication tools for on-line learning. Register early for your fall quarter classes. Learn about classes in your major, study skills, and time management. Meet student leaders from over 200 UCR student organizations. Take your picture for your UCR (ID) Card. Your Student Identification Number is required for your picture to be taken. For more information, visit the UCR Card Web site at UCR Card Office Receive academic advising. Receive information about Housing Services, the Learning Center, and Library services. Experience life in our on-campus residence halls and find out what on-campus housing has to offer. Enjoy live entertainment and socialize with other new students.

Do I need to pay my full tuition at Orientation?

• You will not need to pay your tuition while you are at Orientation.  Fees and tuition are paid by mail, online using the GROWL website, or in person at the Cashier's Office (1127 Hinderaker Hall).  A monthly Statement of Account, which includes all fees due, is provided to students via online on the GROWL website.  Students will be notified via UCR Webmail when their statement of account is available online.  If you elected to have your student Orientation payment deferred, it will appear on your Statement of Account in August.  If you did not pay your $100 Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) deposit, you will have a hold on your registration which will prevent you from being able to enroll in classes at Orientation.  Once you pay the $100 deposit to the Cashier's Office, you can contact The Office of Undergraduate Admissions to have the hold released.

Which College am I in?

• The University’s departments and majors are structured into three Colleges; the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS): the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (CNAS); and the Bourns College of Engineering (BCOE). Your UCR application material will indicate which College holds your major. Please consult your UCR application material if you are unsure about the College into which you have been admitted.

Will attendance at Bear Facts Orientation increase my success as a UCR student?

• Bear Facts Orientation is now mandatory, and has always been strongly encouraged. During Bear Facts Orientation, you will be required to attend all programs and stay on campus in the residence halls overnight. New students who miss Orientation are at a disadvantage in numerous ways, including not being able to enroll in fall quarter classes until September when class availability is limited. (Students who somehow miss Bear Facts Orientation will register for fall quarter classes via the Internet in September. They will receive registration information and instructions in the mail in August).

Are family members required to attend?

• Family members are not required to attend; however, their attendance at Family Orientation can make your transition to college easier. More than half of incoming first-year students bring at least one adult family member to this informative program. Your family can learn more about UCR and gain a better understanding of what you will be experiencing as a first year college student. Although family members and students will follow different program tracks, you will check in together. Both the Student and Family Orientation programs begin with check in at 9:00 a.m. The family program ends on the first day of the student's two-day session with students and family members having dinner together, ending at 7:30 p.m. Registration for the Family Orientation program is done at the same time and in the same manner as registration for the Student Orientation program. Be sure to sit down and discuss Family Orientation options with your family prior to signing up for your Orientation date, but do so as soon as possible since space for each date is filled on a "first come, first served" basis. A Spanish Language Family Orientation session will be offered on July 12th. Brochures detailing the Family Orientation program, the Spanish Language Family Orientation session, and overnight accommodations for family members will be mailed separately.