Congratulations!
The School of Health Professions welcomes and congratulates you on your admission to the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
New Student Orientation (NSO) is a program aimed at providing you with an introduction to life on campus, in the classroom, and at UTMB. All new students are required to participate in NSO either onsite or if you are a distance student, the online orientation
program. A companion Proud Parent program is available for parents that will be traveling to Galveston with you for NSO.
New Student Orientation is designed to help answer questions you may have, and provide you with information about campus resources, programs and services. You will also get the opportunity to build a network of resources that can help you start your UTMB
journey on the right path.
First Day of Class
- 2023 Fall Semester - Monday, August 28, 2023
- 2024 Spring Semester - Thursday, January 4, 2024
- 2024 Summer Semester - Monday, May 6, 2024
What to expect at orientation
- Information about the University and the school will be provided.
- Key University and school officers will be introduced.
- Special attention will be given to the student’s academic program, including academic advisement.
- Information about various UTMB services will be provided. Representatives of the areas will be introduced, and they will provide information about the services offered.
- Representatives from the Student Health Service will discuss available health services and the health requirements that must be completed prior to registration.
- Students will have the opportunity to meet other new students, as well as faculty and staff in their areas of study.
University New Student Orientation Schedule
(on campus, held in the Fall)
Here is a general outline of events and information for new incoming students.
All Schools Orientation Day
All-School Orientation hosted by Student Services will be held on Monday, August 21, 2023
https://www.utmb.edu/studentlife/incoming-students/orientation
Welcome Back Week - Hosted by Student Life (held in the Fall)
- Community Fair - Tuesday, September 12; Time: TBA
- SGA Plaza Palooza - Thursday, September 14 ; Time: TBA
More details to follow by Student Life and/or Student Government Association (SGA)
University Online Orientation
Each new student is required to complete on-line orientation. The purpose of this required New Student Online Orientation program is to provide information and tools for each student’s success from the point of program entry to
degree completion. An email with instructions and the access link will be emailed to your UTMB student email account 2-3 weeks prior to the start of the semester. Students are encouraged to use this online orientation as a resource throughout your
career here at UTMB.
Online Orientation is mandatory and must be completed by the deadline provided in your email notification. Failure to do so will result in a hold on your account. (Please note: the hold can take up to 24 hours to be removed upon completion of the Online Orientation.)
School of Health Professions
New Student Orientation Schedule
Spring Semester – Students will receive program-specific schedules regarding orientation events directly from their departments and are highly encouraged to monitor their UTMB student email for communications and updates.
All incoming students are required to complete the mandatory University online orientation must be completed prior to the first day of class. An email with instructions and the access link will
be emailed to your UTMB student email account 2-3 weeks prior to the start of the semester.
Summer Semester – Students will receive program-specific schedules regarding orientation events directly from their departments and are highly encouraged to monitor their UTMB student email for communications and updates. All
incoming students are required to complete the mandatory University online orientation must be completed prior to the first day of class. An email with instructions and the access link will be emailed
to your UTMB student email account 2-3 weeks prior to the start of the semester.
Fall Semester
Monday, August 21, 2023
New Student Check-in with the SHP Office of Academic and Student Affairs
7:30 am - 8:50 am
Upon arrival to campus, students must report to the William C. Levin Hall Foyer.
All School Orientation (Hosted by the University Student Services)
8:50 am - 12:45 pm
All School Orientation Sessions will be held in the William C. Levin Hall Main Auditorium.
Download Full Schedule
School of Health Professions Orientation (Hosted by the SHP Office of Academic and Student Affairs)
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Check-in & Session in the William C. Levin Hall (South)
Download Full Schedule
Department Orientation Sessions
Tuesday, August 22, 2023 – Thursday, August 24, 2023
Download Full Schedule
Students will receive program-specific schedules regarding orientation sessions directly from their departments and are encouraged to continue to monitor their UTMB student email for updates.
Student ID Photos
Tuesday, August 22, 2023
William C. Levin Hall,
4th Floor Photo Studio, Room 4.444
Departments should report as scheduled below:
- 9:00 am Physical Therapy
- 9:45 am Occupational Therapy
- 10:45 am Clinical Lab Sciences
- 11:00 am Respiratory Care
- 11:30 amNUTR / MS & Dietetic Internship (MS/DI)
- N/AHealth Professions (Online)
Badge Distribution
Students will be notified by their departments
Student Parking Instructions, Shuttle Parking Lot and Shuttle Schedule
Parking will be available at a UTMB Free Shuttle Lot which is located at located at 706 Holiday Drive. Please note that this lot has a pay station, however students attending orientation
will not have to pay to park.
From there, the shuttle buses will transport students to campus where they should exit the shuttle at the 11th Street drop off near the Health Education Center and the SHP Building. Students utilizing the Shuttle Lot should
allow for extra time to reach campus. The buses will run in the afternoon to return students to their vehicles.
It is highly recommended that students who do not have student parking secured utilize the shuttle lot to avoid parking tickets.
Orientation Shuttle Schedule - The shuttles will run from the Shuttle Lot to the 11th Street Drop Off/Pick Up spot during the dates and times provided below. Please be sure to be back on the shuttles before the last run of the day.
- Monday, August 21, 2023
7:00 am - 9:00 am & 1:45 pm - 5:45 pm - Tuesday, August 22, 2023
7:00 am - 11:30 am & 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm - Wednesday, August 23, 2023
7:30 am - 9:30 am & 1:00 pm - 5:30 pm - Thursday, August 24, 2023
7:30 am - 8:00 am & 5:00 pm - 5:30 pm - Friday, August 25, 2023
No shuttles, no programs are scheduled for orientation sessions on this date.
Student Curbside Parking
For students who have pre-purchased a student parking student parking, there is curbside parking on campus reserved and you may park in those designated areas. Parking in the neighborhoods surrounding the UTMB Campus, as well as some spots located on city streets within campus, are restricted via the City of Galveston regulations. Regardless of where you park, please take notice of the signs whether posted by UTMB or the City of Galveston to avoid any frustration or parking citations.
UPDATE: UTMB Parking Operations is pleased to announce an improvement to the Student Curbside Parking Program. Starting with the Fall 2023 semester, hangtags will no longer be required. Instead, Parking Operations will utilize license plate recognition to monitor parking. That means that students no longer must pick up a hangtag when they register for Curbside Parking! The curbside parking program includes student street parking on the east and west ends of campus, as well as a number of surface lots. Parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis for these areas.
More information can be found at: Student Parking / UTMB Auxiliary Enterprises
Find more information about license plate recognition: License Plate Recognition / UTMB Auxiliary Enterprises
New Student Resources
Staying informed with Social Media
The SHP Office of Academic and Student Affairs is committed to making the best use of all available technology and innovation. This includes using social media to improve communication and interaction with the students we serve. We are working towards
minimizing the amount of emails students, faculty, and staff receive from our office. To meet that goal, we limit email announcements of non-essential and/or non-emergency content and use social media as another tool of communication.
To stay informed, follow us on the following social media forums
We have created a Facebook Group for New Students
https://www.facebook.com/groups/3025415804145277/
Become a member and start posting some new student discussions and make new friends before you arrive!
New Student Housing & Roomate Forum
Students have asked for an online platform to find housing opportunities in Galveston, and Student Life listened! We created a Student Housing & Roommate Forum for UTMB students seeking roommates and/or housing. It will act as an online bulletin board
for students to connect with each other, as well as find housing opportunities posted by the Galveston community. Feel free to join, post, and share with anyone that you think might benefit from the group.
Join the Student Housing & Roommate Forum Facebook Group today!