We are excited you have chosen to become a Grizzly, and want to help you get off to a great start!
Register for Orientation
If you applied for admission online you will use that username to register for Orientation. If you did not apply for admission online you will need to create an account to apply—this is NOT your University of Montana NetID or StudentID login.
Please note that access to course registration for your major core courses will not be affected, regardless of which Orientation and Registration option you choose.
Register for a Summer or Fall Orientation
Orientation Options:
Summer Orientations, June 18-19, 2012 and June 28-29, 2012
Summer Orientations are designed to provide you with an early on-campus experience while interacting with your future classmates and experiencing campus life. Small group meetings with academic departments and workshops led by successful students allow you to complete your course registration for the fall semester.
GEAR Online Registration combined with Fall Orientation, August 23-24, 2012
GEAR Online Registration combined with Fall Orientation is designed for students who choose not to attend Summer Orientation. This allows students to get the same important transitional information, while making only one trip to Missoula right before classes begin. GEAR Online stands for General Education Advising & Registration. This program, which will occur mid-July, allows you to communicate electronically with an advisor about your schedule of classes. This way, students who choose not to attend a Summer Orientation are still able to register for all of their classes prior to attending Fall Orientation.
Non-Traditional Freshmen
The University of Montana recognizes that because you are not coming straight from high school, your transition may be different than the average 18-year old. We have designed some specific Orientation programming for our non-traditional students, and hope that you take advantage of these sessions as they are designed specifically to ensure that you are successful at UM from the very first day of classes.
Spring Orientation, 2013 Date TBD
Spring Orientation is for students who will begin attending UM in the Spring of 2013.
Optional Housing, Meals, Outdoor Recreation & Family Program
We have some optional choices for you during Summer Orientations.
Housing
- During Summer Orientations, we offer housing to freshmen, transfer students, and parents. On-campus housing is limited, so we encourage early reservations!
- Housing costs $18.50 per person, per night. Housing must be paid in advance with the online reservation form. Payment is non-refundable.
- All students will have one roommate; single rooms are not available. Each room is equipped with two, standard twin beds.
- Parents who attend with their spouses are housed together. Parents attending alone will be paired with a roommate of the same gender.
Meals
- We provide a free continental breakfast in the University Center during the Summer Orientations.
- Two meals are offered at Orientation for a fee.
- Choose one or both of the options offered by UM’s international award-winning University Dining Services.
Day One Lunch – Taste of the Food Zoo. The Food Zoo is located in the Lommasson Center. This all-you-care-to-eat buffet style restaurant is the main dining room for resident students. Here we are proud to offer an ever-changing choice of entrees, homemade soups, extensive salad bar, daily pastas, gourmet pizzas, and daily vegetarian selections including vegan options, fresh fruit and delicious desserts ($8.75)
Day One Dinner – Take the University’s free shuttle bus to explore downtown Missoula and dine in one of our amazing restaurants. Businesses who are members of the Missoula Downtown Association will be offering dining discounts for Orientation participants!
Day Two Lunch – UM Farm to College Luncheon. Come enjoy the fruits of University Dining Services’ Farm to College Program. This luncheon features a wide variety of fresh locally grown produce, dairy and meat products. Our chefs have prepared the Farm to College luncheon using recipes from our Fall 2011 menu. The UM Farm to College Program: Strengthen your economy, support your community and TASTE the difference ($8.75).
Outdoor Recreation-White Water Raft Trips!
UM’s Outdoor Programs provides an optional whitewater rafting trip on the days surrounding each Summer Orientation. We invite you to take this opportunity to sample the great outdoors that make Montana so amazing. Space is limited so sign up early online with your Orientation registration. The trips are $65 per person, which includes lunch.
Family Orientation Program
We are happy to offer an Orientation Family Program that runs concurrently with the new freshmen programs during both Summer and Fall Orientations.
Please visit the Family Orientation page for more information.
Steps Before Orientation
Manage Your UMConnect Email Account
Log into your UMConnect Student Email account, and check it regularly. UMConnect serves as the official means of communication between students and The University of Montana, including information about registration, tuition and fees notifications, urgent announcements, notices from President Engstrom and the UM administration. This is a very important step, as we will send you multiple significant emails throughout the pre-Orientation process. If you prefer to forward this email to your personal account, you have that option, as well. View instructions on how to forward your UMConnect email.
To log into your UMConnect account, you will need to use your NetID, which you can find by clicking the “What’s my NetID” link below the login. You initial password will be the last six digits of your Student ID Number (begins with 790, and located on your acceptance letter).
Clear Your Holds
Before you can register for classes you need to verify that there are no holds on your student account. To check your hold status:
- Log into your CyberBear account, using your NetID as your username. You can find your NetID using the online NetID lookup tool. If you have never logged in with your NetID, your initial password is the last six digits of your UM ID number (begins with 790).
- If you experience NetID login problems please contact the IT Central Help Desk at (406) 243-HELP (x4357) Mon – Fri 8 am – 5 pm MST.
- Next, click on the top link that says “Student Services” followed by “Student Records” and then “View Holds”.
The most common student account hold is a Health Hold. If you have a Health Hold the Curry Health Center needs a completed Pre-Registration Immunization form as well as verifiable documentations of your immunizations. If you have any questions please contact the Curry Health Center directly at medreception@mso.umt.edu or (406) 243-4330.
Refuse or Buy Health Insurance
The University of Montana requires all students (registered for four or more credits) to have and to maintain medical coverage while attending the University. UM offers an optional insurance plan through Blue Cross/Blue Shield if you are not covered under an existing insurance plan. For more information about the Blue Cross/Blue Shield plan offered through UM, please visit the Student Insurance Program website.
How to Refuse or Buy Health Insurance:
- You must be registered for Orientation before you can refuse or buy health insurance.
- If you are a transfer or COT student you are not required to complete this step at this time.
- Once your Orientation registration has been processed, you will see a message on your CyberBear home screen that instructs you to complete the Health Insurance option.
- Please log into your CyberBear account to either “Refuse” the UM Health Insurance (if you are already covered under another plan), or to “Buy” the UM Health Insurance (if you are not covered already).
Freshmen Course Registration/My Academics
As a new freshman you will be registered in a set of courses – what we call the “major core courses” – that have been prescribed by your major department for your fall semester. Students still considering their options will be registered for the courses that will help them decide on a major. You tell us your interests- we’ll tailor a program specific to your needs.
The “major core courses” registration takes place in early June, so regardless of which orientation you choose you will have a core courses schedule when you arrive on campus for Orientation or before GEAR Online Registration begins.
The email you receive confirming your orientation registration will also have instructions for accessing the freshman course registration portal called My Academics. Before the University can register you in any of your core courses, you must first complete all of the tasks listed on the portal. The deadline to complete the My Academics tasks is Thursday May 24th.
On the second day of summer or fall orientation you will meet with your department’s orientation advisor and then make changes and additions to your fall schedule if necessary. Some departments assign academic advisors during orientation; others defer the assignment until after classes start. In either case you’ll work with a professional advisor or faculty member who can advise you as a new freshman and answer any questions you may have about the major.
