Orientation
Blazer Beginnings: Bonus Days are optional half-day sessions offered throughout the summer that give you and one family member a chance to tour the campus, meet other students (current and new), and ask questions about what life will be like at UAB. Sign up early because limited space is available!
This completely optional (but very helpful!) half day will provide additional on-campus programming to supplement your 2-day virtual orientation experience and will help you become a successful and well-connected Blazer. There is no additional charge for this optional event. By registering for Bonus Days, you are signing up for a supplemental program that does NOT replace your virtual orientation requirement.
Sign up for Blazer Beginnings: Bonus Days
Overnight accommodations are not available as part of Blazer Beginnings: Bonus Days. If you need off-campus accommodations, Birmingham has plenty of hotels close to campus that, in some cases, offer a UAB discounted rate.
Bonus Days Schedule
All sessions will take place in the Hill Student Center.
UAB announced on July 28, 2021 that masks are required for everyone, regardless of vaccination status, while inside any UAB building. Please bring a mask with you and make sure to wear it while inside. Masks are not required when outdoors.
9:30 AM: Check-In
Receive your program for the day and get ready to meet other future Blazers!
10:00 AM: Welcome
Be welcomed by staff and learn about the agenda for the day!
10:15 AM: Campus Quest (Students)
How well do you know UAB’s campus? By the end of this, we bet you will be pretty familiar.
10:15 AM: Family Engagement (Family Members)
Hear from the area of Family Engagement about how to best support your student, get connected to the University, and the programs and services designed specifically for our family members.
11:15 AM: Lunch
Students and family members will eat together during this joint session.
12:00 PM: Breakout Sessions
Learn more about services provided by various offices from all across campus! Choose one session to attend for each 25-minute block—each session offered in Block A will repeat in Blocks B. We recommend students and family members participate in separate sessions to maximize your exposure to campus resources.
- 12:00—12:25 PM: Block A
- 12:30—12:55 PM: Block B
Session Options:
- Choirs
- Education Abroad
- ROTC
- Undergraduate Student Government Association
- Student Involvement and Leadership
- TRIO
- UABTeach
- University Recreation
- Wellness Promotion
1:10 PM: Quick Connections (Students)
Here is your chance to meet someone from your major, find a study buddy, or just meet more future Blazers!
1:10 PM: Student Panel (Family Members)
Ask current students what it’s really like to be a student at UAB!
1:40 PM: Small Group Q&A (Students)
Get all your last-minute questions answered from current UAB students.
1:40 PM: The Car Ride Home (Family Members)
Learn more about the student transition into college and meaningful conversations to have with your student.
2:00 PM Housing Tours
Take a guided walking tour of your soon-to-be residence hall home at UAB. Last tour leaves at 2:15 PM.
NOTE: Housing tours are not available on August 16.
Welcome to the UAB family! We recognize that you are an integral part of your student’s academic success. While participation in Parent & Family Orientation is optional, we strongly encourage you to take part in order to learn essential information you need to help your student transition successfully to UAB.
In order to maximize student learning for all participants at Blazer Beginnings, family members and guests will participate in the Parent & Family Track only and incoming students will participate in the Student Track only.
While we welcome parents and adult guardians, attending Orientation with family members younger than 16 is strongly discouraged. Please make alternative arrangements for younger siblings or children under 16 while you are attending Blazer Beginnings.
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Traditional Freshman
Parent & Family Orientation will be offered as live tracks during Blazer Beginnings.
- For freshmen attending a summer/fall orientation date, one family member is included with payment of the Freshman Enrollment Deposit and any additional family members may join for a $35 fee to cover the cost of meals and staffing.
- For freshmen attending a Spring orientation date, you should click on the “Transfer/Non-Traditional Freshman” tab on this page for details.
All family members have access to pre-recorded videos free of charge in a specially designed course in Canvas, UAB’s learning management system. Click the link below to get started!
Dates
Honors College— Summer/Fall Honors Freshmen Only
Students must formally accept their Honors College offer in order to make a reservation for an Honors College orientation date. Please note that each of these dates includes a mandatory honors session the evening of the first day of orientation. This will include honors advising and information as well as an honors family dinner with faculty, staff, and current students.
- Tuesday and Wednesday, June 2-3, 2026
- Thursday and Friday, June 4-5, 2026
- Tuesday and Wednesday, June 9-10, 2026
Summer/Fall Freshmen
- Wednesday and Thursday, May 27-28, 2026
Fall Freshmen
- Thursday and Friday, June 11-12, 2026
- Monday and Tuesday, June 15-16, 2026
- Wednesday and Thursday, June 17-18, 2026
- Tuesday and Wednesday, June 23-24, 2026
- Thursday and Friday, June 25-26, 2026
- Tuesday and Wednesday, July 14-15, 2026
- Thursday and Friday, July 16-17, 2026
- Wednesday and Thursday, July 22-23, 2026
- Friday and Saturday, July 24-25, 2026
International and Out-of-State Fall Freshmen
- Thursday and Friday, August 20-21, 2026
International/Out-of-State Fall Freshmen are also welcome to attend any of the above dates for Fall Freshmen.
Please make note of the Blazer Beginnings schedule before making travel arrangements – all portions of Blazer Beginnings are required for students unless specifically marked as optional. Parents and family members are encouraged, but not required, to attend.
Schedules for students entering in Summer and Fall 2026 will be announced at a later date. Programming is expected to last from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on both days.
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Transfer/Non-Traditional Freshman
When your student is selecting the date they will attend Blazer Beginnings, please note that some orientation sessions will be offered virtually and some will be offered on campus. Family members may attend an on-campus session by making a reservation and paying a $10 fee to cover the cost of meals and staffing. Parent and family tracks is not offered for virtual sessions.
A separate Parent & Family Orientation is also available for family members of incoming students as pre-recorded videos housed within a specially designed course in Canvas, UAB’s learning management system. There is no cost for family members to participate in the Canvas course.
Transfer/Non-Traditional Dates and Schedules
The Blazer Beginnings schedule is below. There are a variety of schedule options available depending on the type of session: on-campus or virtual, daytime or evening. Click on the dates below to determine which option works best for you.
Please note that attendance at ALL portions of orientation is required for students. Parents and family members are encouraged, but not required, to attend.
Schedules for students entering in Summer or Fall 2026 will be announced at a later date.
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On-Campus Schedule
3:00-4:15 PM (CT)
Campus Tours (optional)
Departing from Center Campus Visit Center (Hill Student Center, Second Floor)4:30-4:45 PM (CT)
Check-In, ONE Card Photos, Student Organizations and Services Expo
Hill Student Center4:45-5:10 PM (CT)
Specialized Interest Information Sessions
Hill Student Center5:15-5:30 PM (CT)
Welcome
Hill Student Center5:30-6:30 PM (CT)
Blazer Talk
Hill Student Center
Parent and Family Track
Hill Student Center6:45-8:15 PM (CT)
Academic Program Visit and Advisor Meeting
Various Locations
Parent and Family Track
Hill Student Center -
Parent & Family programming not available on virtual dates.
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On-Campus Schedule
REQUIRED SESSIONS:
8:30-9:00 AM (CT)
Check-In, ONE Card Photos, Student Organizations and Services Expo
Hill Student Center9:00-9:25 AM (CT)
Specialized Interest Information Sessions
Hill Student Center9:30-9:45 AM (CT)
Welcome
Hill Student Center9:45-10:45 AM (CT)
Blazer Talk
Hill Student Center
Parent and Family Track
Hill Student Center11:00 AM-12:30 PM (CT)
Academic Program Visit and Advisor Meeting
Various Locations
Parent and Family Track
Hill Student CenterOPTIONAL SESSIONS:
11:30 AM-1:00 PM (CT)
Lunch
Hill Student Center11:30 AM-1:00 PM (CT)
Meet and Treat – Opportunity to Meet Other New and Current Students
Off-Campus Student Lounge, Hill Student Center12:30-1:30 PM (CT) and 1:00-2:00 PM (CT)
Campus Tours
Depart from Off-Campus Student Lounge, Hill Student Center12:00-5:00 PM (CT)
Individual Financial Counseling and UAB Office Visits (optional)
Hill Student Center
Make the most of your time at UAB! You are welcome to visit the following locations before they close at 5:00 PM. Please note that students must be present for student-specific information to be discussed: One Stop (including representatives from financial aid, student accounting, and scholarships), Disability Support Services, TechConnect, Veteran Services, and UAB Bookstore.
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We are excited to host you on campus for your overnight stay at Blazer Beginnings! On-campus housing is optional for orientation and costs $45 per person per night. Reservations can be made in the orientation reservation system when selecting your orientation date.
Details about on-campus accommodations are listed below:
- Check-in: 5:00 pm-midnight on day of arrival at the front desk of McMahon Hall. If you need a place to store your luggage before orientation begins, you can leave it at the residence hall, and they will store it for you until 5:00 pm.
- Check-out: 8:00 am - 8:30 am (we can hold your bags for you as late as 6:00 pm)
- Parking: 16th Street Parking Deck (1024 16th Street South). Park in the deck and carry your items to McMahon Hall for check-in. If you plan to park your vehicle in the 16th Street Parking Deck, it must fit under a 6'6 clearance.
- You are welcome to move your car to the 12th Street Parking Deck for a shorter walk to orientation programming. Please note: Orientation parking is available on the upper floors of the deck. Do not park on the first floor.
- Walk one block east (away from I-65) to check in for Blazer Beginnings in the Hill Student Center, located at 1400 University Blvd. on the corner of University Blvd. and 14th Street South.
- Items Provided: Towels, sheets, pillow, blanket, toilet paper
- Items Not Provided: Personal care items (soap, shampoo, toothpaste, etc.), hairdryer, iron, television, food (breakfast and dinner are not provided)
- Room Assignments: Students will share rooms with other students. Family members will be housed in their own rooms in a different part of the building. Siblings or guests must be at least 16 years of age in order to take advantage of the on-campus accommodations.
- Blazer Beginnings Social: Join other incoming students for a Blazer Beginnings Social! It starts at 7:00 pm in McMahon Hall.
- Questions: Please call 205-975-4586 if you have trouble finding housing or parking while on campus
If you have any family members attending orientation who do not plan to stay on campus, review the list of nearby hotels. When you make your reservation, please make sure you mention you are coming for a UAB-sponsored event as many area hotels will offer discounts.
If you’ve already made an orientation reservation and would like to add on-campus housing for yourself or any of your guests (16 years of age or older), please call us at (205) 975-7999. The cost is $40 per person per night.
Online Major Orientation will provide you with resources that will help you be successful at UAB and in an online environment. There is no fee for this online-only orientation program.
If you are admitted to an undergraduate 100% online degree program, you will not come to UAB for an on-campus orientation but will instead complete an online orientation in Canvas, the Learning Management System used by UAB. Online Major Orientation is required for all new online students, Freshman and Transfer, prior to registering for classes.
If you haven't already completed the online orientation, click on the link below to begin. You will need a BlazerID and password to log in. If you don't already have a BlazerID or if you've forgotten your password, visit uab.edu/blazerid.
Online Major Orientation will become available on the following dates. This is the earliest you can complete the course. After successfully completing the course and passing all of the quizzes with at least an 80%, your orientation hold will be removed within 48 hours allowing you to register for classes. You may also need to meet with an academic advisor before being cleared to register.
- Spring students: Canvas course will open on November 1
- Summer/Fall students: Canvas course will open on April 1
Please note: if you wish to take classes online due to concerns about COVID-19 but are not admitted to a 100% online degree program, you should instead visit the orientation pages for freshmen or transfer/non-traditional students.
Pre-Orientation Checklist
All students will register for classes before attending Blazer Beginnings. Complete the following checklist items to register for classes and fulfill your orientation requirement.
Admitted Student Checklists
Once you have been admitted to UAB, there are additional checklist items to complete for Freshman, Transfer/Non-Traditional, and Online-Only students.