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Online Parent & Family Orientation

Parent & Family Orientation

Welcome to UL Lafayette! This online Parent & Family Orientation experience is designed to mimic the traditional in-person orientation. You will learn about your student's transition to college, academic success, financial aid and scholarship opportunities, how to pay tuition, campus support services, safety and prevention, important upcoming dates, and much more. 

Although not mandatory, we highly encourage all parents or guardians supporting new students to complete Parent & Family Orientation. Thank you for investing this time in supporting your student on their college journey!

This orientation is set up in a self-guided format. The drop-down menus below include a variety of videos, documents, and links for your reference. If you have any questions, email us at orientation@louisiana.edu and we will reply within 24 hours, Monday through Friday.

For information and details about the New Student Orientation requirements, click here.

Follow Us on Social Media 

For updates and information from the Office of Orientation, follow @ulstudentorientation on Instagram and UL Lafayette New Student Orientation on Facebook.

Parent & Family Orientation Modules

Getting Started

Thank you for participating in this online Parent & Family Orientation program! Orientation is an important first step in your journey as the parent or guardian of a college student. To make the most of your Orientation experience, follow our Orientation Tips.

 

Click here to access the 2024-2025 Parent & Family Guide*

 
 

The guide contains an overview of the following information:

  • Resources for Academic Success
  • Academic Colleges
  • Public Safety
  • Commonly Asked Academic Questions
  • Campus Services
  • Registration and Payment 
  • Important Dates
  • Academic Calendar
  • Campus Map
  • Housing Guide

 

 

Communication & Support

Parent & Family Communication

At UL Lafayette, we recognize the important contributions that parents and families play in student success. The Office of Orientation will continue to communicate with you throughout your student's freshman year and beyond!

 

Supporting Your First-Year College Student

Supporting your student as they transition to college life is a unique, and at times challenging, experience. View the PDF below to learn best practices for supporting first-year college students during their new stage in life. 

Click here to view the "Supporting Your Student" PDF presentation.

 

Academic & Extracurricular Success

Academic Success Center

studentsuccess.louisiana.edu | asc@louisiana.edu

The Academic Success Center (ASC) is your student's best resource for academic support services! Advisors in the ASC are here to help students who are looking for tutoring, advising, and information about changing majors. The PDF presentation below provides an overview of academic life at UL Lafayette including the advising process, our Academic Catalog, academic resources such as The Learning Center, and much more.

Click here to view the "Ragin' Cajun Classroom" PDF presentation.

 

Office of First-Year Experience

firstyear.louisiana.edu | ofye@louisiana.edu

The Office of First-Year Experience provides programs and support specifically for freshman students. Certain programs such as New Student Convocation, and UNIV 100, are required for all incoming first-year students. These programs have been established to enhance your student's first-year experience and ease their transition into college life.

Click here to view the "First-Year Experience" PDF Presentation.

 

Academic Colleges

academicaffairs.louisiana.edu | provost@louisiana.edu

UL Lafayette’s eight academic colleges offer a variety of programs that expand student learning and experiences, while promoting undergraduate research opportunities.

Learn more about our Academic Colleges:

 

Life Outside the Classroom

studentaffairs.louisiana.edu | studentaffairs@louisiana.edu

While academics will be your student's primary focus during their time at UL Lafayette, there's also so much more to college life! Student Affairs creates a nurturing, student-centered environment focused on helping your student succeed, connect to the UL Lafayette community, and prepare for life after college. The following information from our Dean of Students, Dr. Margarita Perez, explains the resources and services available to aid in your student's success outside the classroom.

Click here to view the "Life Outside the Classroom" PDF presentation.

Click here for an overview of our UL Lafayette Student Affairs resources.

Money Matters

Financial Aid

financialaid.louisiana.edu | finaid@louisiana.edu

The Financial Aid Office processes all financial aid and TOPS. If your student plans to receive financial assistance, we highly recommend that you review the documents and PDF presentation below. These resources will walk you through the processes that your student must take to secure and maintain their aid. 

Click here to view the "Money Matters - Financial Aid" PDF presentation.

Click here to access the 2024-2025 Estimated Costs Worksheet.

 

Scholarships

scholarship.louisiana.edu | scholars@louisiana.edu

The Scholarship Office handles all UL Lafayette Academic Scholarships and outside scholarships. Additional scholarship opportunities become available as your student progresses through their academic career. Review the information below for more information. 

Click here to view the "Scholarship Office" PDF presentation.

 

Student Cashier Center

bursar.louisiana.edu | bursar@louisiana.edu

The Student Cashier Center (also known as the Bursar's Office) manages tuition and fee assessment and payment. View the PDF presentation below to learn about our various payment options and how to become an Authorized User on your student's account.

Click here to view the "Money Matters - Student Cashier Center" PDF presentation.

Click here to access the Direct Deposit Form.

 

Essentials for Campus Life: Housing, Parking, & Dining

Housing & Residential Life

housing.louisiana.edu | oncampusliving@louisiana.edu

Is your student living on campus this semester? View the information below from the Office of University Housing & Residential Life to learn more about our various housing styles, the move-in day process, and the requirements and benefits of living on campus.

Click here to view the "Residential Student Life" PDF presentation.

 

Transportation Services

parking.louisiana.edu | parking@louisiana.edu

Whether your student is living on campus or commuting from home, it's important to understand the ins and outs of Transportation Services. View this PDF presentation for information about parking, our on-campus transit system, and more!

Click here to view the "Parking & Transit" Presentation.

 

Dining Services

dining.louisiana.edu | campusfoodservices@louisiana.edu

With a variety of dining options on campus, your student certainly will not go hungry while they're here! View these websites for details about our campus dining locations, meal plans, and more.

Health & Safety

Your student's health and safety is our top priority! View the presentation and links below to learn about health and safety resources on campus including Student Health Services, Counseling & Testing, Recreational Sports, and University Police.
 

Student Health Services

studenthealth.louisiana.edu | shs@louisiana.edu

Student Health Services has a caring staff of licensed professionals who are experienced with the practice of medicine in a college setting. This team of medical professionals is dedicated to providing UL Lafayette students with the best medical care possible.

Counseling & Testing Center

counselingandtesting.louisiana.edu | counseling@louisiana.edu

The Counseling and Testing Center provides personal counseling, crisis intervention, and short-term psychotherapy for individuals, couples, and groups. The Center offers an unlimited number of sessions, FREE-of-charge to University students.

Recreational Sports

recsports.louisiana.edu | recsports@louisiana.edu

Rec Sports supports students in all of their fitness and wellness pursuits. Through Rec Sports, students can find a number of ways to get and stay active from pick-up basketball to Group Exercise, as well as ways to relax and unwind by getting mindful through yoga or spending time by the pool.

University Police

police.louisiana.edu | ulpolice@louisiana.edu

The safety and well-being of the students, faculty, staff, and visitors are a top priority here at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Our UL Police Department (ULPD) provides a safe environment on campus 24 hours a day, every day throughout the year. For more information about campus safety, review the information below.

Click here to review important information about Education & Prevention.

  • Emergency Notification System (ENS) - Students can add up to 5 phone numbers in the ENS system. If you would like your student to add you to the Emergency Notification System, click here for instructions.​
  • Code Blue Emergency Call System - There are emergency phones throughout campus including main campus, Cajun Field, sorority row, fraternity row, and the parking garages. The phones are easy to recognize with a blue light on top and are activated by pushing an easily accessed call button which automatically connects with ULPD.
  • Rave Guardian Mobile App - The app enhances safety on campus through a virtual safety network of friends, family, and ULPD.

 

Support Services & Programs

Cajun Card Services

cajuncard.louisiana.edu | cajuncash@louisiana.edu

The Cajun Card, first and foremost, is your student's ID. It also serves as your student's free season pass to all Ragin' Cajuns® home games, admission to campus events, library card, meal card, building, lab, and parking pass, and much more!

 

Career Services and The Major & Career Exploration Center

career.louisiana.edu | careerservices@louisiana.edu

For students, deciding what you want to do for the rest of your life can be overwhelming. After all, there are so many majors and occupations. The professional career staff in the Major & Career Exploration Center helps students and alumni with discovering their major and career path. Additionally, the Office of Career Services is here to assist students and alumni with career planning, development, and job-seeking strategies. 

Click here to view the "Career Planning for Success" PDF presentation.

 

Disability Services

disability.louisiana.edu | ods@louisiana.edu

The Office of Disability Services (ODS) is dedicated to ensuring nondiscrimination and equal access to all programs, services, and activities for qualified students with disabilities. Any student with a diagnosed disability can receive accommodations during their time at the University. 

 

Honors Program

honors.louisiana.edu | honors@louisiana.edu

Incoming freshmen with an ACT composite score of at least 26 (or 1260 on the SAT) and Transfer students with a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or above are eligible to join the Honors Program. Students who participate in the Honors Program receive a variety of benefits. View the presentation below for more information. 

Click here to view the "University Honors Program" PDF presentation.

 

Office of Veteran and Military Student Services

veterans.louisiana.edu | veterans@louisiana.edu

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the Office of Veteran and Military Student Services proudly supports those who have served our country. Many of our service members, and their family members, qualify for educational benefits. The mission of this office is to help students obtain the benefits they need to reach their educational goals and offer guidance along the way. 

Click here to view the "Office of Veteran and Military Student Services" Presentation.
 

Additional Services & Programs

Virtual Campus Tour

Virtual Campus Tour

If you haven't had the chance to visit yet, we hope that you are able to visit explore our beautiful campus soon! In the meantime, you can tour campus virtually by watching the video below. This tour features the main academic campus as well as south campus - which includes Ragin' Cajuns Athletics, Research Park and Fraternity and Sorority Row.

Important Dates

The Academic Calendar lists the most important dates for each semester. We encourage you to bookmark this page so that you can access all future semester calendars.

Click here to access the official Academic Calendar.