First-Year Students

Congratulations, and welcome to UCI! We are so excited to welcome you to UCI and have you start your journey as an Anteater at the Student Parent Orientation Program (SPOP). As an incoming student, we want you to be prepared for not only Fall Quarter, but the rest of your time at UCI.

All incoming first-year students are required to complete online orientation modules and attend a 2-day, 1-night orientation program:

Online Orientation

• Online Orientation is a series of Canvas Modules designed to introduce you to UCI resources to support your academic success, prioritize health and wellness, and find community and belonging. These are asynchronous modules, so you can work on them at your own pace.

• You do not need to do anything to sign up for Online Orientation. All incoming students will automatically be invited to access these modules in early summer. At this time, you will get an email to your UCI email address inviting you to join your assigned Canvas Group.

• There is no specific date by which you need to complete these modules. It can be helpful to complete Online Orientation prior to attending your in-person orientation. You will also continue to have access to these modules throughout your time at UCI, so you can refer back to these resources whenever you need them.

• You will also be receiving information from your Academic Unit regarding Pre-SPOP Advising modules you will need to complete before attending in-person orientation. Please note that Online Orientation and Pre-SPOP Advising are two separate sets of modules, and you will need to complete both. If you have questions about your Pre-SPOP Advising, please contact your Academic Unit for support.

In-Person Orientation

• In-Person Orientation, known as SPOP (Student Parent Orientation Program), is a 2-day, 1-night overnight program that takes place on campus. At SPOP, you will be receiving academic advising, signing up for Fall Quarter courses, attending workshops to learn about campus life, and making connections with current and fellow incoming students. All incoming students are expected to stay on campus for the entire duration SPOP, including overnight in their assigned rooms.

• You must make a reservation for the in-person orientation, or SPOP date, you want to attend. You are not assigned a SPOP date, and you must have a reservation in order to attend an in-person orientation.

• All incoming first-year students are assigned a Reservation Window, which is a 24-hour time period in which you will have access the SPOP reservation system. It is during your Reservation Window that you can go to the SPOP reservation system and reserve a space in the SPOP of your choice!
  • We will be releasing Reservation Window assignments on May 24, 2024 at 4:00 PM. Please note, Reservation Windows will not be opening on this date. Instead, you will learn when your window opens, so you have time to prepare and be ready to make your reservation.
  • If it is important for you to have a reservation in a specific SPOP, we highly encourage you to be ready to make your reservation right when your window opens. Please keep in mind that it is possible for programs to fill up quickly.

• Not all Academic Units will be present to provide academic advising or assist with course enrollment at every SPOP date. Because of this, not all SPOP dates may be available for you to attend. You must attend a SPOP where your Academic Unit will be present. A list of which Academic Units will be at which SPOPs will be available before Reservation Windows open.

• Please do not book any travel arrangements before making your SPOP reservation. We cannot guarantee your attendance at SPOP unless you have a reservation to attend that SPOP.

• If you are participating in any Freshman Summer Success Program (FSSP) or CAMP Summer Science Academy (CSSA), please refer to the FAQ page for more information about your specific orientation requirements.

• If you are in the Campuswide Honors Collegium (CHC) or in any other priority course registration group, please refer to the FAQ page for more information about your specific orientation requirements and information.

SPOP Fees

SPOP Fees will be available when Reservation Windows open. Please continue to check our website for updates.

All students are billed for orientation on their Fall Bill in their ZotAccount. No payment information is collected during the student reservation process, and no students pay for orientation before or during SPOP. A “SPOP Fee” will appear on your Fall ZotBill as its own line item, since this fee is separate and not covered by any other student fees. All students are responsible for paying for their orientation fee when it is billed to their ZotAccount.

SPOP Dates & Times

Check-in on Day 1 of SPOP begins at 7:30 AM, and we highly recommend that you arrive to check-in early.

Check-out on Day 2 is around 5:00 PM. Please anticipate traffic leaving the parking lot/pick-up area on Day 2.