Congratulations!

Welcome and congratulations on your admission to the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston!

Our New Student Orientation (NSO) is designed to introduce you to life at UTMB, both on campus and in the classroom. Participation in NSO is mandatory for all new students, whether you join us in person or through our online program for distance learners.

NSO will answer your questions, provide essential information about campus resources, programs, and services, and help you build a supportive network. It’s your first step toward a successful journey at UTMB!

First Day of Class

• 2025 Fall Semester - Tuesday, September 2, 2025
  
• 2026 Spring Semester - Monday, January 5, 2026
  2026 Summer Semester - Monday, May 11, 2026

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-Schools Orientation Day hosted by Student Services will be held on TBD for FY2027

Welcome Back Week - Hosted by Student Life (held in the Fall)

• Community Fair - TBA
• SGA Plaza Palooza - TBA

More details to follow by Student Life and/or Student Government Association (SGA)

University Online Orientation

Each new student is required to complete online 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 their 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 25, 2025

New Student Check-in with the SHP Office of Academic and Student Affairs

7:30 am - 8:30 am
Upon arrival to campus, students must report to the William C. Levin Hall Foyer.

All School Orientation (Hosted by the University Student Services)

All School Orientation Sessions will be held in the William C. Levin Hall Main Auditorium.
Please check-in at the School of Health Professions table
2026 Schedule - Coming Soon

Department Orientation Sessions

Tuesday, August 26, 2025 – Friday, August 29, 2025

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

Please refer to your department for your programs scheduled time.
William C. Levin Hall, Foyer, 2nd floor
Check-in at the SHP desk first to pick up your name card
Photos will be taken in the 4th Floor Photo Studio, Room 4.444

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.

• Provided Monday through Thursday
  2026 Shuttle Schedule - Coming Soon
• Friday - No shuttles provided based on sessions.

Student Parking

UTMB Parking Operations
Email: Parking@utmb.edu
Phone: (409) 266-PARK (7275)
Location: John Sealy Campus Store, John Sealy Hospital (next to Starbucks)

Website: UTMB Parking Operations

Download: Sign up for Student Parking

New Student Resources

• Visit: New Student Website
• Print: Printable Galveston Campus Map
• Visit: SHP New Student Checklist
• Download: New Student Welcome Guide
• Join: SHP New Students Facebook Group

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

• SHP Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SHPUTMB
• SHP Twitter: https://twitter.com/SHPUTMB
• SHP Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shputmb
• UTMB Office of Student Life Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/utmbstudentlife/

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!