Spring Orientation

We're so excited to see you on campus for spring orientation! Important dates and the orientation schedule are listed below.

Important Dates

January 5 – Course registration opens; students may register once they have completed all advising modules in the Pathway to Principia portal and have virtually met with their academic advisor.

January 8 – Housing Preference and Roommate Profile forms in Slate portal are due. These are optional, but required if students want their preferences to be considered during the Student Life house assignment process.

January 15 – Spring 2026 billing is added to student accounts. After this date, students can set up a monthly payment plan. For more information on how to access your PrinBill account, see the Billing Services section in your Pathway to Principia portal.

January 16 
– Housing assignment emails go out to students. 
– Student Life Health forms are due (see Student Life section in the Pathway to Principia portal). 

January 20 – Deadline to complete all tasks in Pathway to Principia portal. If not completed, students will be required to attend an in-person session during orientation week to finish all tasks.

January 21 – Arrival morning and New Student Orientation Day 1

Directions to campus can be found here. 

Arrival Time: Students can arrive as early as 9am, but should prioritize moving in no later than 3pm. Orientation events will start by 4pm. Arrivals coming after 3pm should inform the Student Life Office.

Your RC, RAs, Roommate, and Room Location: When you arrive at your assigned house you will be greeted by either your RC or and RA. They will show you the house room chart and help you access your room. If you have a roommate, you will meet them on arrival day.

January 21-23 – New Student Orientation

January 24-25 – Explore campus, meet returning students, and finish settling into your house.

January 26 – First day of Spring 2026 classes!

 

Spring 2026 New Student Orientation

WEDNESDAY, January 21

3:00 pm
Arrival and House Move-In 
New students arrive to campus. For directions to Principia and a campus map, go here. Students may arrive on campus before 3pm, but will not be able to access their rooms until this time (due to housecleaning schedule).

After you move into your house, complete the following:

• Head to Howard Center and visit the Campus Security Office (bottom level) to pick up your student ID card, and any bike or car decals if needed. Note: Security closes for lunch from 12-1pm.
   
• On the same level as security, stop by the mailroom to pick up any packages and/or learn about how students are notified for future pick-ups.
   
• On the main floor of Howard Center, which we call the Concourse, find your assigned student mailbox using the student directory.

5:30 pm
Dinner with members of Student Life Team
Location TBD

7:30 pm
Student Life Residential Program meeting led by your RC
Location: Your House living room

Thursday, January 22

7:30 - 9:00 am - Dining Hall open for breakfast

9:15 am - 10:15 am
Academic Dean’s Tour
Starting location: School of Government Lobby (Near Admissions)

10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Writing Baseline Sample
Location: Library, 3rd Floor, Room 333
(Bring a laptop, charging cable, and your Principia ID card)

12:00 - 1:00 pm - Dining Hall open for lunch

1:15 pm - 2:15 pm
Advising & Academic Success meetings 
Location: Advising Office - School of Government 264 (second floor)

2:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Careers and Internships meeting
Location: Career Center Office, School of Government 055 (bottom floor)

3:15 pm - 4:00 pm
Academic Tech
Location: School of Nations 101
(Bring a laptop, charging cable, and your Principia ID card)

4:00 - 5:00 pm
Transfer Credit Submission Process (optional)
Location: Registrar’s Office - School of Government 118

5:30 - 9:00pm  
Dinner & Activities with Student Life
Location: TBD

Friday, January 23

7:30 - 9:00 am - Dining Hall open for breakfast

9:15 -10:15 am
Registrar’s Office meeting
Registrar’s Office - School of Government 118

10:30 - 10:50 am 
Academic Integrity and AI with Dr. Matthew Cocks/Scholastic Committee  
Location: Marshall Brooks Library, 1st floor Lab

11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Intro to Library Resources meeting
Location: Marshall Brooks Library, 1st floor Lab

12:00 - 1:00 pm - Dining Hall open for breakfast

1:15 - 4:00 pm
Shopping Trip to Alton Target/Walmart
Location: Van shuttles depart outside School of Government entrance (near flagpole) 

5:00 - 6:30pm - Dining Hall open for breakfast
 

Saturday, January 24

7:30-9:00am - Dining hall open for breakfast

9:00 am - Returning students can move into houses (break housing students move in on Jan 23)

Starting at 11:30am for lunch, new students start using their ID card to pay for meals

11:30 am - 1:00 pm - Dining hall open for lunch

5:00 - 6:30pm - Dining hall open for dinner
 

SuNDAY, January 25

Returning students continue to move into houses.

7:30-9:00am - Dining hall open for breakfast

10:15 am - Elsah Church Sunday School Shuttle 
Location: Van shuttle departs outside School of Government entrance (near flagpole) 

10:30 - 11:30 am -  First Christian Science church service of the semester. All are welcome.
Location: Chapel

11:30 am - 1:00 pm - Dining hall open for lunch

5:00 - 6:30pm - Dining hall open for dinner

Monday, January 26

First day of classes!