Pre-Orientation
Welcome!
We look forward to you joining us at the University of South Alabama!
Orientation can be both exciting and overwhelming. To minimize problems and reduce confusion, we encourage you to take the following steps before you get to campus:
Admission
Orientation
- Register & pay for orientation.
Note: Apply early to assure your preferred Orientation Session
Housing
Financial Aid
Immunizations, Health Records, & Insurance
- Submit your immunization and health records to the Student Health Center before arriving on campus for orientation. Health Records Form.
- After you have submitted your health records, call the Student Health Center to confirm your records are complete and that health clearance has been granted. Immunizations inquiries can be made at (251) 460-7151.
- Check out USA Insurance, and make plans for how you will manage your health needs while at college. (See Insurance Information.)
Before Academic Advising at Orientation
- Inform the Office of Admissions of any possible college credit you may have earned before Orientation including: AP, IB, ACE, CLEP (official test scores); Dual enrollment (official college transcripts).
- Take all required placement exams.
Obtain your JAG#, PAWS, and Jaguar1 Email Account
- Your JAG number (located on your letter of acceptance) will be your source for logging into PAWS, as well as your Student Identification Number.
- PAWS is USA’s Personal Access Web System. PAWS is a web accessible, dynamic, and interactive computer system that provides services to students, faculty, and staff of USA based on their relationship to the University. Important changes and messages will be posted to this site weekly. Visit https://paws.usouthal.edu to log into your PAWS account.
- As a student, much of the business and communication you will conduct will be through your Jaguar1 Email. Faculty and staff, various groups and organizations, and students will all use email as their main source of communication and information. Information regarding setting up a Jaguar1 Email account or general FAQ can be found by visiting http://jagmail.usouthal.edu/.
- Jaguar1 Email accounts are available to all students, faculty, and staff at the University of South Alabama. A Jaguar1 email account is automatically created for new students when they are entered into the USA Student Information System.
- For students, there are three steps to start using your Jaguar1 email account.
- Go to the Student Account Setup page to find your email address and generate your initial password.
- Go to the Web Mail page (if you prefer to use another email client such as Outlook or Netscape, see "How Do I Read My Email?"
- Login with the user id and password generated in step 1 and start using your email.
Required Reading before Orientation
'The College Strategy Guide'
by Gabe Barrett
Expert and student advice about: roommates, relationships, classes, friends, finances, dorm life, sex, no sex, alcohol, Greek life, laundry and everything else that really matters in college…
In preparation for your Southbound Orientation session this summer, we ask that all new students become familiar with Gabe Barrett’s book 'The College Strategy Guide' prior to arriving on campus.
This book provides the foundation for small group discussions with your orientation leaders including: roommates, relationships, classes, finances, time management, dorm life, campus involvement, and everything else that really matters.
The College Strategy Guide retails for $13.95 + tax. To receive a discount, place your order with Manda Charest at the USA Bookstore – (251) 460-7012 or (888) 524-7724.
What to Bring to Orientation
- Photo Identification (so you can get your JAG Card)
- Pen & paper
- Umbrella
- Comfortable walking shoes!
