New Student CheckList

Please see your official acceptance letter from Graduate Admissions for instructions on how to respond to your offer of admission and establish your SU credentials.

No fee or deposit is required to confirm except for the MSBA and Early Career MBA programs. You must confirm your acceptance to establish your SU credentials and these credentials are vital to moving forward in the onboarding process.

This letter will be sent to the email address from which you applied approximately one quarter in advance of your start quarter. The Advisor Introduction Letter will:

1. Introduce you to your academic advisor & provide contact information.
2. Walk you through program-specific next steps.
3. Explain how to set up your initial 1:1 advising appointment with your academic advisor! You will be able to schedule this appointment for a time approximately four to ten weeks before your program start date. Recall that early applicants may experience a wait time before meeting with their advisor. We ask for your patience in the meantime and direct you to the self-paced resources offered in Step 3.

During the appointment, your academic advisor will help you determine your course registration options and ensure you understand the registration process. Do not attempt to register prior to this appointment, as an advising hold will prevent you from registering. We want to make sure you understand the program curriculum and have access to the latest updates before you attempt to register. Again, even though you may receive an automated message providing a registration appointment time, incoming students will not be able to register until they meet with their academic advisor.

While you wait to meet with your advisor, we recommend you familiarize yourself with the following resources:

1. The Center for Digital Learning offers short tutorials on several Digital Learning Tools used in Seattle University classrooms and offers an Orientation to Distance Learning that is frequently required by instructors.
2. The Academic Integrity Tutorial provides an eye-opening introduction to academic best practices. If it’s been a while since you last cited references for a term project or if you’re new to U.S. higher education, especially business schools and their emphasis on “teamwork” and “collaboration,” we recommend this low-stakes and informational tutorial “quiz.”
3. See what’s new at Lemieux Library, a campus hub offering comfortable and secure study spaces, various ways to access materials, academic support programs, and selected technology support.
4. Resources for Graduate and Adult Learners, including Commuter and Veteran students, are available through the MOSAIC Center.
5. New and Transfer International Students: Keep on top of International Student Center (ISC) protocols regarding required Welcome and Orientation workshops.
6. Graduate Admissions hosts a Graduate Student Welcome Event quarterly; all newly admitted Seattle University graduate students will be invited to the Welcome Event occurring immediately prior to their quarter of enrollment. Don’t confuse this optional event with the mandatory Albers New Graduate Student Orientation in Step 5. You are welcome to attend the Graduate Student Welcome Event but be aware it is optional.

Four to Ten Weeks before Program Start

During this 1:1 initial academic advising appointment, your advisor will walk you through the details of your program and course scheduling. Your advisor will make course recommendations and provide any program and curriculum updates. Your attendance at this meeting is what “lifts” the advising hold from your record and allows you to register. Please, do not attempt to register before this meeting and do not ask other offices to lift your registration hold. Unlike advising programs elsewhere, Albers Graduate Advising will ensure that incoming graduate students obtain a seat in the courses they need to take during their first quarter of study. Even though you may receive an automated message providing a registration appointment time, incoming students will not be able to register until they meet with their academic advisor.

One Week before Program Start

The Albers New Student Orientation typically occurs in the week immediately prior to your program start date. Invitations will be emailed within eight weeks of your initial quarter of enrollment. Consult the SU Academic Calendar if you are uncertain of your quarter start date. Attendance of the Albers New Student Orientation is required, whereas attendance of the Graduate Student Welcome Event (mentioned in Step 3 and hosted by Graduate Admissions) is optional. Don’t get confused between the two! If it helps, think of it like this: The Albers event is centered on Albers: You’ll meet your Program Director and fellow students plus get acquainted with Albers faculty, staff, and policies in a broad sense. In contrast, the Graduate Admissions Welcome Event introduces you to the university as a whole and incoming graduate students from all departments are invited. That’s why we say: Attend the Welcome if you wish but be sure to attend the Albers Orientation!

The start of your initial quarter marks the end of your onboarding process and the beginning of your true journey with us here at Albers. Here are some further tips for success:

1. Stay in touch with your advisor; reach out or book an appointment if you have questions.
2. Stay on top of important dates and administrative deadlines as outlined in the SU Academic Calendar; we recommend you bookmark this site for future reference. It’s important to know the deadlines for adding, dropping, and withdrawing from courses as well as any fee and reimbursement structure associated with those deadlines. The Calendar also provides future term registration dates and dates that grades and degrees are posted each quarter.
3. Remain open to co- and extra-curricular opportunities that promote student learning (Albers Career Center and wider Albers speaker events, opportunities like the Redhawk Fund or CFA Research Challenge, graduate student government opportunities).