- When is student orientation?
- What if my student wants to meet classmates before Opening Days?
- When do fall classes start?
- When is the first tuition payment due?
- When will my student get a Willamette email account?
- How and when do students register? What about academic advising?
- When do students find out their residence hall and roommate?
- When do residence halls open?
- When are winter and spring breaks?
- When is Family Weekend?
- How can I stay updated on what’s happening at Willamette?
1. When is student orientation?
Opening Days, Willamette’s orientation program for all new students, begins in late August (check the OD website for specific dates). There are online orientation programs for parents and families offered over the summer. Check the Opening Days page for more details as the event approaches.
Opening Days is packed with activities to introduce students to academic and co-curricular life at Willamette and make their transition to college easier. We also have online summer programs designed specifically for parents and families — including advice about what kinds of communications to expect from your student and tips for how to minimize the inevitable sense of loss when you drive away from campus.
2. What if my student wants to meet classmates before Opening Days?
We offer Jump Start, a pre-orientation program that allows students to meet others in a smaller, more intimate setting before the orientation with all new students. Jump Start begins five days prior to Opening Days, and students can choose from one of three themes to explore: community outreach, multiculturalism and outdoor adventures. Jump Start programs cost extra and students must register in advance. Registration information is emailed to students in mid-June.
3. When do fall classes start?
The academic calendar lists all important dates for the academic year.
4. When is the first tuition payment due?
Payment for tuition and fees is typically due by the first day of class each semester. Willamette bills on a semester basis for tuition, fees, room and meal plan, and other incurred charges.
Initial billing statements for fall and spring semester are distributed in mid-July and mid-December, respectively. Subsequent statements are distributed monthly.
The first bill students receive is distributed via U.S. mail and through Bill+Payment, Willamette’s online billing and payment system. Thereafter, all billing is handled online. Please note that students need to set their parents up as authorized users in Bill+Payment in order to access the online billing system.
5. When will my student get a Willamette email account?
Students will receive information shortly after they deposit about how to set up their Willamette network account, which must be done on our website. It’s important that students set up their Willamette account as soon as possible, because they will need it to complete course registration information and to submit their College Colloquium preferences. Most of the communications they receive from Willamette during the summer will be sent to this email account.
6. How and when do students register? What about academic advising?
First, students need to set up their Willamette network account. Then they will be able to complete their online Advising and Course Registration Questionnaire, as well as their topic preferences for College Colloquium, a required course for all first-year students that introduces them to the academic environment of Willamette. Students will learn by the end of May to which Colloquium section they are assigned.
Starting in mid-May, we will begin contacting students who have submitted their surveys to schedule an advising and registration appointment for June or early July. To prepare for this appointment, students should identify several courses they might want to take — and review advice on registration for first-year students and course preferences. During their appointment, students will discuss these choices with an advising counselor and register for three courses in addition to their College Colloquium. Once classes begin, students’ College Colloquium professors will become their academic advisors until they declare a major.
7. When do students find out their residence hall and roommate?
Students receive information in late May about residence halls with instructions for how to indicate their preferences. Room assignments are announced in July and roommate assignments in early August. Both of these notifications will be sent to students’ Willamette email accounts.
8. When do residence halls open?
Check the Residence Life and Housing calendar for important dates as the school year approaches.
9. When are winter and spring breaks?
Check out the full academic calendar for important dates.
10. When is Family Weekend?
The Family Weekend website lists the dates for current and future programs. Willamette's Family Weekend schedule features activities designed for parents and families to learn more about our campus while enjoying the Willamette community alongside their students. Activities include arts events, mini-university sessions, sporting events and trips to local places of interest. You will receive registration information for Family Weekend in early August.
11. How can I stay updated on what’s happening at Willamette?
Be sure your contact information is current. This will ensure you receive regular relevant communications from Willamette.
You may also check out the news page, campus events calendar, and read Today@Willamette (the on-campus bulletin published daily at 6 a.m. during the school year).
We also invite you to visit our Parent Engagement page to learn more about volunteer opportunities for parents and to access university departments, programs, contacts and resources.