Transfer Student Orientation
Welcome Transfer Buffs! Our team in New Student & Family Programs is excited to connect with you this summer as you make your transition to CU ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ÔÚÏß.
Orientation Overview
All transfer students who will be starting at CU in the fall semester are required to attend Transfer Student Orientation (TSO).
TSO is a one-day program, held in person on the CU ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ÔÚÏß campus. The program provides an opportunity for you to learn more about life as a CU student, connect with other new Transfer Buffs, hear from current students, meet with academic advisors and register for your fall classes.
TSO sessions are held throughout June and July. Session availability will vary by your academic college or major—not all sessions will be open to all majors—and space in each session is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Sessions will fill up, so we encourage you to register early.
Registration for TSO will open on MarchÌý[date].
Before you can sign up, you will need to
- Activate your IdentiKey and CU ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ÔÚÏß email
- Set up dual-factor authentication
- Pay your confirmation deposit
Once you have completed these steps, you will be able to sign up for TSO through the link in the New Student Welcome Card in your Buff Portal. In the TSO registration site, you will be able to see the dates that currently have available space based on your chosen major. You cannot register for a TSO session that is already full or in which your academic program is not participating, and we are not able to offer a waitlist for any full sessions, though you can check the registration site periodically and change your date if space becomes available. Be sure to also register any family members or other guests who will be attending TSO with you when you sign up.
If you are changing your major prior to TSO, including if you are currently admitted to the Program in Exploratory Studies and applying for admission to another college, school or program, we recommend waiting until the change has been processed before signing up for TSO. Your new academic program may not be participating in the same TSO sessions as your previous one, so you may need to re-register for a different TSO if you have already signed up.
TSO will focus on welcoming you to campus, ensuring you are prepared for the start of the semester, meeting with academic advisors and getting registered for your fall classes.ÌýBe sure to bring a laptop or tablet with you to TSO to use for class registration. Lunch will be provided during your TSO session.Ìý
If you have accessibility needs for any portion of the TSO program, please submit ourÌýaccessibility form. The deadline to complete the form is 2 weeks prior to the start of your TSO, though we recommend completing it as soon as possible so that we are best able to meet your needs.
All campus buildings have at least one accessible entrance. The dining halls we use for TSO are buffet-style and have options to suit a variety of dietary needs (vegetarian/vegan, gluten-free, etc.) and have allergen information readily available.
TSO isn’t only for students! We welcome families and other guests to attend TSO with you. The program will include information on how they can support you through your transition to CU ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ÔÚÏß.Ìý
Family and guest attendance is completely optional—no one is required to attend TSO with you. If you do have any family members or other guests who would like to attend this program, you can add them to your registration as a guest when you sign up for TSO. There is aÌý$30 fee per person, and you are limited to a maximum of two guests. Space for guests is limited and available first-come, first-served. We are not able to offer a waitlist for any full sessions, though you can check the registration site periodically and add guests to your registration if space becomes available for them.
Family members MUST be registered as a guest in advance in order to attend TSO with you. We are not able to accept drop-ins at check-in.
Check-in for TSO will be held fromÌý__ to __Ìýa.m., and the program runs until 5 p.m. You are required to attend the full duration of the program; skipping any portion of your TSO session, including leaving early, may prohibit you from registering for classes. If you are booking flights, we recommend choosing a return flight that leaves Denver no earlier than 7 p.m.
We do not have the ability to offer on-campus housing to anyone attending TSO. If you need overnight accommodations for your trip to ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ÔÚÏß, the ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ÔÚÏß Visitors Bureau maintainsÌý to help you find options; you may also want to check nearby areas like Superior, Louisville, Broomfield, Longmont, or Westminster.
When planning your travel, pay close attention to the date of your TSO! It is essential that you attend the correct session—we cannot take walk-in registrations for TSO if you arrive on a different date.
Getting to campus
Check-in will be held at the tent on the UMC South Terrace. You’ll receive reminder emails in the two weeks before your TSO with more information about check-in, including drop-off locations and parking instructions for those who plan to drive or use a ride-share option to get to campus.
If you are looking for public transit from Denver International Airport, the best way to reach campus is via RTD’sÌý, using the stop at Broadway & Regent Dr/20th St. The trip is a little over an hour, with an 8-minute walk through campus from the bus stop to your check-in location. Standard tickets are $10; those age 19 and under can ride for free through theÌý by showing a school or government-issued ID.
Looking for more ideas? The Denver International Airport website offers a variety of otherÌý.
Parking
Daily parking will be available for purchase at a special discounted rate to those attending TSO. You’ll receive instructions and a map in a reminder email in the two weeks before your TSO session.
Between when you sign up for TSO and the start of your chosen session, there are several tasks you will need to complete. You can sign in to your Buff Portal for a full checklist of everything you are required to complete before the semester begins, and check your CU email often for important reminders and updates. Several of these tasks should be completed prior to attending TSO in order to ensure that you can do everything you need to do during the program.
Complete the Online Experience
The Online Experience is a course in Canvas that includes modules about Community Accountability, Advising, Enrolling in Classes and Health, Wellness and Safety. Be sure that you have completed ALL of the modules in your Online Experience prior to NSO.
You can be sure you have completed all of the modules by checking yourÌý; if you still have a hold for the Online Experience, you haveÌýnot successfully completed all of the modules. (Please note that the hold can take up to 24 hours to clear after you finish the Online Experience. If you still have the hold after 24 hours, please contact NSFP for assistance.)
Complete your placement assessments
You are encouraged to complete placement assessments as soon as you can as results may impact your course registration.
Learn more and complete placement assessments
Complete the preregistration process
You need to complete preregistration before you're allowed to register for classes each semester. In order to ensure that you are able to register in a timely manner, we advise that you complete these steps before attending your NSO session.
Preregistration is a three-step process, which includes verifying your personal information, completing the tuition and fee agreement and authorizing/reviewing COF information (Colorado residents only).Ìý
Complete your preregistration items
View course plans for your major and put classes in your cart
Before you attend TSO, it will be helpful to think about the classes you want to take in your first semester. Advisors will work with you during TSO to build your fall schedule, but you can start thinking now about your options.
of degree programs, and then choose theÌýPlan(s) of Study tab to view the requirements and recommendations for your first semester.
Once you’ve viewed the course plan for your major, you can start adding classes to your cart in theÌý. Putting at least a few initial class sections in your cart before your TSO will make the registration process smoother and give you more time to plan out your potential fall schedule.
Download the CU ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ÔÚÏß Life app or bookmark the TSO schedule
The full, detailed TSO schedule will be available both on our website and in the CU ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ÔÚÏß Life app at least 2 weeks prior to the start of your TSO session. BookmarkÌý in your mobile browser orÌýdownload the app so that you will have easy access to the schedule at all times during your session.
Submit your Buff OneCard photo
Your Buff OneCard serves as your campus identification and therefore you must submit your Buff OneCard photo. Students who submit their photo at least _________ before theirÌýNSO will be able to pick up their card during their session.
Submit your Buff OneCard photo
Need a laptop?
The CU Book Store rents laptops to students attending Transfer Student Orientation to use for course registration. You can reserve your rental online in advance and then pick it up at the CU Book Store on the morning of your TSO.
- Chromebook: $10/day
- PC laptop: $20/day
You’ll receive rental information, including the link to the reservation form, in your confirmation email after signing up forÌý
TSO. Be sure to reserve your laptop early as rentals are subject to availability. If you have questions about laptop rentals, reach out to the CU Book Store atÌýorientationrental@cubookstore.com or 303-492-3431.
Your transition to CU doesn’t end at TSO, and neither does our support! If you have any questions about any of your remaining requirements, please reach out to NSFP for assistance.
Complete your remaining checklist items
Sign in to Buff Portal to see any remaining checklist items that you need to complete before the start of the semester. These may include health requirements, final transcripts and more. Be sure to complete these steps on time, as they may have holds that will prevent you from registering for future semesters until they are complete.
Make any needed changes to your class schedule
After your TSO ends, you will not immediately be able to change your schedule.ÌýChanges can only be made once the open enrollment period begins for everyone. At that time, you can check for available spaces in course sections and add/drop any courses necessary.
Check out the Fall Welcome schedule
Fall Welcome takes place throughout move-in and the first weeks of the semester and is a great way to meet other new Buffs and begin getting involved in campus life. We offer a variety of events both large and small to cater to many different interests and energy levels. Explore the Fall Welcome schedule and pick out a few events to attend.
View the Fall Welcome schedule
Register for Family Weekend
One of our favorite annual events is Family Weekend. This event is typically in October and offers events for you and your family to enjoy all throughout the weekend.
Registration for Family Weekend will open in May. Packages will sell out, so we recommend registering early if you are interested in attending.
We have a limited number of spaces available for students who cannot make it to campus for TSO to attend a virtual TSO program instead.Ìý
Virtual TSO is a one-day program and requires you to attend presentations and meetings via Zoom for the full duration of the program. While you can attend the program from anywhere, attendance atÌýall parts of the program is mandatory for those who sign up for this session—you should request the day off of work and reschedule any other responsibilities during the program so that you are available for the full time. You will also need a computer or tablet with reliable internet access for the duration of your virtual TSO session. We do not recommend trying to attend a virtual TSO from your phone.
You can sign up for a virtual TSO session using the same steps as the in-person TSO sessions and should complete all of the same requirements before attending. Please note that virtual TSO is only for students; your family or other guests are welcome to sit near you and listen to the content of the program, but they will not be able to register and receive their own link to sign in to the sessions.
TSO is required for all incoming transfer students, including international students. However, while we welcome any international students to attend TSO in-person if you want to do so, we do not expect you to travel to the U.S. solely for this program. If you cannot travel to campus, please select a virtual TSO session so that you can attend from home. Keep in mind that times for all programs will be listed in Mountain Daylight Time (UTC−06:00).
In addition to attending TSO, international students are also expected to attend International Student Orientation during Fall Welcome. These programs are not interchangeable—attendance at both TSO and International Student Orientation are required, as they each cover different content.