Policies

Please review the processes outlined below for assistance. For other accommodations or exemptions such as completing orientation, overnight stay, modality and others not included here, please email orientation@uh.edu. All requests must be received at least five business days before your orientation.

Exemptions from Completing Orientation

All incoming students to UH must attend an orientation session. Only students meeting one of the criteria below are eligible to request an exemption:

1. Student has paid for and attended a New Student Orientation within the last 13 months.
2. Student will be non-degree seeking AND is not planning to transition to a degree-seeking student.
3. Student has been admitted as a post-baccalaureate student in the College of Education or in Undergraduate Student Success.

Students who meet any of the above criteria can complete an exemption form. Staff will verify the exemption and, if the criteria is met, remove both holds within three business days. If exemption criteria is not met, the student will be notified within three business days.

Accommodation to Attend Online Orientation

All incoming students to UH must attend an in-person orientation session. However, if you meet one of the criteria below, you can receive an accommodation to attend a self-paced online orientation:

1. Student will be completing a UH Extend online-only degree program.*
2. Student is a post-baccalaureate student not in the College of Education or Undergraduate Student Success. (Post-baccalaureate students in these two colleges may submit an orientation exemption form.)*
3. Student will be pursuing and has been admitted into the Distance Education, B.A. or B.S. in Psychology degree plan and therefore is attempting to complete a Psychology degree online.
4. Student’s permanent address is more than 300+ miles from the UH main campus.*
5. Student will be traveling, studying abroad or participating in an official UH-required activity during the entirety of the offered orientation dates, which prevents them from attending any in-person orientation date. Official or compliance documentation with proof of travel or commitment will need to be uploaded. Examples may include international travel, a mission trip or other significant commitments such as internships, professional engagements and/or UH institutional requirements. 
         Acceptable forms of documentation include: a confirmed airline ticket, official       
        acceptance letter, official compliance letter, etc. spanning the dates of all orientation
        sessions.
6. Student is or will be serving military orders during the entirety of the offered orientation dates, which prevents them from attending any in-person orientation date. (Official documentation will need to be uploaded.)

Students who meet any of the above criteria can submit an Online Orientation Accommodation request form. UH reserves the right to deny a student’s request for Online Self-Paced Orientation without sufficient documentation of need.

*If you are a student completing any UH Extend degree or a post-baccalaureate student not in the College of Education or Undergraduate Student Success, you may move forward with registering for online orientation through your AccessUH account.

*If your permanent address is more than 300 miles from the UH main campus, you may move forward with registering for online orientation.

Fee Deferment

UH does not offer fee waivers for orientation, however, you may be eligible for a fee deferment. A fee deferment will add the orientation fee to your tuition and fee bill instead of requiring you to pay before registering for orientation. This allows you to pay for orientation once you receive your financial aid package by the tuition and fee bill deadline.

If you are eligible for a fee deferment, the orientation registration system will  automatically  defer payment to your first semester of enrollment.

Students who do not have a FAFSA on file cannot qualify for a fee deferment.

Payment is due by the tuition and fee bill deadline. This fee is  non-refundable  regardless of cancellation or if the student does not enroll in the University after attending orientation.  If payment is not made, a financial delinquency hold will be placed on the student’s account.  

Orientation Fees and Refunds

The orientation fee is due at the time of registration, before you can confirm an orientation date through the AccessUH portal in  myUH Self Service.

All orientation fees for both students and family and supporters are non-refundable, regardless of cancellation or failure to enroll in classes at UH. 

Accessibility

All videos are closed-captioned for students with accessibility needs. If you need further assistance or have questions about the orientation experience, don’t hesitate to contact us at orientation@uh.edu.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns related to orientation that weren't answered above, please contact us at orientation@uh.edu. We look forward to seeing you!