New Student Arrival and Orientation
We are a global community
Welcome to the family. We look forward to seeing you in Dayton!
This page is a starting point for arrival information. More detailed information can be found in our pre-arrival course and arrival emails.
International students should plan to arrive in Dayton before the start of orientation. IEP students beginning on a B term can find their timelines here.
The upcoming semesters’ orientation dates are listed below:
Summer 2023
May 9: University housing opens. If you are staying in university housing, this is the earliest you can move in.
May 10: Intensive English Program (IEP) Orientation. Required for all IEP students.
May 10-12: Bridges International Student Orientation. Required for all international students.
May 15: University and IEP classes begin.
Fall 2023
August 9: University housing opens. If you are staying in university housing, this is the earliest you can move in.
August 16: Intensive English Program (IEP) Orientation. Required for all IEP students.
August 16-18: Bridges International Student Orientation. Required for all international students.
August 21: University and IEP classes begin.
COMPLETE THE PRE-ORIENTATION COURSE
First, register yourself on the Homebase website using program code 145-54-41. A blue circle appears beside each section to mark your progress as you review each page. Please review every page and take the quiz to earn the certificate of completion, which will be sent to you by email.
ACTIVATE YOUR UD LOGIN
Check your personal email address for a message from UD Information Technology (UDit). They will send your official username and a link to activate your account with a password that meets the system criteria. Need help? Contact helpdesk@udayton.edu or call +1 (937) 229-3888.
SCHEDULE AIRPORT PICK UP
ISSS offers free transportation from Dayton International Airport to campus or neighboring cities. This service is provided 30 days prior to the start of orientation. Request this service at least 7 days in advance of your arrival.
SUBMIT HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FORM
All students at the university are required to submit evidence of immunizations and other medical requirements. Please complete the “Health Requirements Form” and submit this to healthcenter@udayton.edu before arriving to Dayton. Failure to complete this before arrival may result in charges to your student account for any necessary immunizations or tests upon arriving on campus.
SECURE HOUSING
If you wish to live in university housing, complete an application online at myhousing.udayton.edu.
ISSS does not arrange off-campus housing for students. Please review the details below in the Housing section for more information.
PURCHASE HEALTH INSURANCE
To protect your health, safety, and finances, the university requires international students to possess health insurance coverage for you and your family. Please review the details below in the Health Requirements & Insurance section for more information.
ATTEND BRIDGES ORIENTATION (REQUIRED)
Join the International Student and Scholar Services for a welcome and orientation. See the Orientation section below for more details.
REGISTER FOR CLASS
You will have time to speak with your academic department on the first day of Bridges. To view your schedule, visit porches.udayton.edu and log in. Then, click on Flyer Student Services in the left side menu. Scroll down to “My Resources” and click the link for “Student Schedule.”
PAY TUITION
To view your bill and make a payment, visit porches.udayton.edu and log in. Then, click on Flyer Student Services in the right side menu. Scroll down to “My Awards and Payments” and click the link for “My Payment Center.” You can pay with a credit card or use our partner, Flywire, to initiate a wire transfer. Note: please do not bring large amounts of cash to pay in person.
GET YOUR STUDENT ID CARD
Visit Campus Card Services’ website to schedule an appointment and upload your photo. The ID card is necessary to access campus academic and residential buildings, and other important services.
FINISH IMMIGRATION CHECK-IN
After you arrive on campus, log into Porches and use the Health and Safety Requirements guide to complete all the action items shown. Contact isss@udayton.edu if you need help.
COMPLETE THE BRIDGES ORIENTATION REVIEW ISIDORE COURSE
You will complete the Bridges Orientation Review course on Isidore as a way to build on the knowledge you will learn during orientation. More information will be sent to you based on your academic level
ACTIVATE YOUR CELL PHONE
Representatives from local cell phone companies will be at orientation. You can view the popular options on the pre-orientation course.
OPEN A BANK ACCOUNT
Students often open an account at one of the banks near campus. You can view the popular options on the pre-orientation course.
Transportation Options
LYFT
From now until August 22nd), new international students receive a $5 discount on rides in the Dayton area. Trips must begin and end within a 10 mile radius of campus between 6:00am and 9:00pm. Our offices will cover $5 per ride (ride = one way). Limited to two rides per week.
DAYTON RTA
The Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority (RTA) runs 31 public bus routes throughout the Dayton metro area seven days a week, 21 hours a day, including the free The Flyer bus to get to and from downtown.
LINK BIKE SHARE
Dayton’s bike share program, Link, has stations around the city, including several on the University of Dayton campus. Link has flexible payment options—sign up for 24 hours, or a whole year— at reasonable prices.
ZIPCAR
Zipcar is a car-sharing company that has a location on the University of Dayton campus and lets approved members use cars for an hour, a day or even a week at student rates. You’ll need a U.S. driver’s license.
SATURDAY SHUTTLE TO WALMART
UD offers a Saturday shopping shuttle which provides free transports to students from 11:15 am to 4:00 pm. The shuttle operates only in the fall and spring semester.
Immigration regulations require that new students attend orientation. If you miss orientation, you risk violating your status.
Students in the Intensive English Program will attend an orientation designed specifically for them. All other students will attend Bridges International Student Orientation. Topics covered at Bridges include:
- Immigration regulations
- U.S., UD, and local culture
- Introduction to university computer networks and technologies
- Strategies and resources to be a successful student
- Important health and safety information
Other highlights:
- Meet with representatives from your academic unit
- Receive specialized orientations from peers from your own countries
- Learn how to find and prepare for a job in the U.S. and abroad
- Tour campus
- Make friends with new and returning students
Students will receive more information about orientation, including detailed schedules, as the date approaches.
ISSS does not arrange housing for students, and the University does not offer temporary housing. Make housing arrangements before you arrive.
If you wish to live in university housing, complete an application online at myhousing.udayton.edu.
Here are some resources for finding housing off campus:
Nearby hotels:
Marriott at the University of Dayton
To protect the health of everyone on campus, the University requires students to provide immunization information. The form to fulfill this requirement can be downloaded here (Arabic, Chinese, Spanish versions). Information must be verified by a physician, and must be submitted by orientation. The form must be filled out and signed by the student’s physician and returned by fax or email. If not completed beforehand, the University will require you to submit the signed form or have the vaccinations and TB test performed here at your expense.
Health Insurance
To protect your health, safety, and finances, the university requires international students to possess health insurance coverage for you and your family. Coverage must meet university standards, be active while you are enrolled (including vacations), and be verified every semester.
Your health insurance must meet these standards:
- Cover at least a minimum of $250,000 per condition.
- Have a deductible of $500 or less per individual.
- Provide $50,000 or more for medical evacuation to your home country.
- Provide $25,000 or more for repatriation (removal of remains after death) to your home country.
- Be in effect for the entire time I am enrolled at UD, including vacations, for myself and dependents.
Some popular international student health insurance providers among UD international students:
- ISO Insurance
- Visit Insurance
- Compass Insurance
- PSI Health Insurance
- PGH Global
- International Student Insurance
The list is provided as a courtesy and are in no way endorsements. Students are free to choose a health insurance plan that best suits their needs and meets the requirements above.
Things to Consider Before Purchasing a Plan:
- Access to doctors
- Access to specialists
- Pre-existing conditions coverage
- Emergency and hospital care coverage
- Regular physicals and healthcare screenings coverage
- Prescription drug coverage
- Obstetrician-Gynecologist (OB-GYN) access
- Additional benefits
- Cost
The US healthcare system is one of the best in the world but it is also one of the most complex and expensive too. Protect your health and finances -- purchase a health insurance plan!
Visit our Stay Informed page for the latest news and information regarding travel, vaccine, quarantine, and immigration requirements.