Welcome, Class of 2028!

Congratulations on your acceptance to Washington University in St. Louis! As you prepare for your transition to WashU, Student Transitions & Family Programs is here to help you throughout the process.

The Bear Bulletin is a monthly newsletter sent to all first-year students. It contains important information about dates and deadlines, Bear Beginnings: Fall Welcome, important events, and more. Please note that future editions of the Bear Bulletin will be sent only to your WashU email account. Check this account regularly throughout the summer.

Check out this month's Bear Bulletin below to learn more!

-Student Transitions & Family Programs

Who Are We?

Student Transitions & Family Programs supports new students through their academic and social transition into the WashU community.

Current WashU students work in our office and will support you in your first-year journey. This group will host programs and events, train and supervise your WUSAs (WashU Student Associates), and more! 

Follow us on Instagram to connect with your peers and the WashU community!

Important Dates/Deadlines

Summer 2024

• July 9-11: Course registration

Fall 2024

• August 16 and 17*: Class of 2028 move-in
• August 17-24: Fall Welcome
• August 26: First day of classes
• September 2: Labor Day (No classes)
• October 5-8: Fall Break (No classes)
• November 27-December 1: Thanksgiving Break (No classes)
• December 6: Last day of classes
• December 9-18: Reading period and finals

* International students and fall varsity athletes have different arrival dates. Please see the "Move-In Day & Fall Welcome" section below for more details.

Navigating the New Students Website

Need help finding information about your transition to WashU? The New Students website is a great place to start. You can find:

• Checklists of items you need to complete before arriving on campus
• Placement exam information
• Details about registering for classes
• A packing list
• And much more!

May & June 2024 Checklist

You will need to complete important items each month this summer to ensure you are as prepared for your first year. Items on the May and June checklists include:

• Activating your WashU email account.
• Requesting that your high school submit your final transcripts.
• Reviewing and updating your WebSTAC user profile.
• Taking any necessary online placement and diagnostic exams.
• Connecting with Disability Resources if you require accommodations due to an identified disability or have questions about specific disability-related concerns.
• Complete Get Your Bearings by Sunday, June 30, 2024.
• Complete the International Student FYI registration form by Monday, July 1, 2024. (For international students only)

What To Expect This Month

If you have a U.S. address, the following items will be mailed to you this month. If you live outside the U.S., you can review the information online.

1) Bear Essentials for Students

• Bear Essentials for Students is a publication that briefly overviews important to-do items for you to complete over the summer and key resources that will aid you in your success at WashU.

2) June Before You Arrive Checklist

• The June Before You Arrive Checklist contains action items that should be completed this month.

You will need to complete the following item this month:

3) Bear Beginnings: Get Your Bearings online orientation

• This month, you will use an orientation portal to complete modules on several key topics for student success at WashU. This online orientation must be completed by Sunday, June 30, 2024. To access this platform:

1. Go to orientation.wustl.edu
2. Select "Student Login" and sign in using your WUSTL Key.
3. Answer the member profile questions. Please select "first-year undergraduate." International students are defined as students attending WashU on non-immigrant visas.
4. Complete the modules. Throughout the modules, you will be asked to choose a track for your academic division. Please complete the academic division for which you are currently enrolled. Beyond Boundaries students should select the academic division to which their four-year adviser belongs.

Move-In Day & Fall Welcome

We're excited to welcome you to campus in August! Move-In Day will be on Friday, August 16 and Saturday, August 17*. You will select your assigned move-in date and time after your housing assignment is released in early July.

Bear Beginnings: Fall Welcome will take place Saturday, August 17 through Saturday, August 24. Learn more about Bear Beginnings: Fall Welcome schedule, the early arrival process, and family programming.

* Move-In Day for international students attending WashU on a visa is Wednesday, August 14. International students should complete the First-Year Undergraduate International Student Arrival form by Monday, July 1. To complete this form, you will need to know all logistics concerning your arrival to St. Louis, including your flight information.

Fall sport varsity athletes have different arrival dates; please check with your head coach for more information.

Communication from Academic Divisions

Check your WashU email account several times weekly for important messages from your academic division. You will receive details about course registration, how to connect with your academic adviser, and important forms you may need to complete early this month.

Course Registration

Registration for fall 2024 courses will take place via WebSTAC between July 9-11 during your assigned registration time.

Your adviser will reach out to schedule a virtual advising meeting by mid-June. You must have your WUSTL Key and WashU email established to communicate with your adviser. Check your WashU email at least two times a week to have the most up-to-date information! 

Bearprints for Success and Dialogue Across Difference (DxD)

Bearprints for Success L43 1100

This one-credit, seven-week course is designed to help new students make a successful transition to WashU, both academically and personally. In Bearprints, students will engage in collaborative real-time learning with academic readings and data-driven strategies grounded in the five core anchors of WashU Student Affairs: Healthy Excellence; Leadership; Career Development; Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion; and Student Engagement & Belonging. The course also introduces students to valuable learning resources for academic success and campus staff who will support their growth at the university. Each course section is limited to 15 students to ensure small-group discussion and engagement.

Taylor Family Center for Student Success students (TRIO students, Taylor STARS, and Kessler Scholars) in Art & Sciences, Olin, and Sam Fox will be required to take Bearprints in fall 2024. McKelvey School of Engineering students should take ENGR 120 First Year Foundations. A special section of Bearprints has been set aside for Kessler Scholars and they will be added to the class directly by the Arts & Sciences registrar. TRIO and Taylor STARS students should select the Bearprints section that works best with their course schedule.

Dialogue Across Difference (DxD) L43 2321, 2322, 2323, 2324

Dialogue across Difference (DxD) are one-credit, eight-week courses teaching students how to dialogue across difficult topics such as politics, religion, race, and gender identity in a positive and productive way. Learn more about the program.

Health and Well-being Updates

All WashU students must complete the following health and wellness requirements:

• Submit your immunization record and health history form. Students who have not completed this requirement before move-in will not be allowed to enter their residence hall.
• Choose a health insurance option. Students with personal or family health insurance coverage may waive out of the university's plan. Waiver requests will become available on July 1 and must be submitted by September 5.
• Complete the Year One College Behavior Profile by August 17th. All incoming students must complete this profile, which is designed to give personalized feedback and risk-reduction information regarding alcohol and cannabis/marijuana use.
• Transfer prescriptions to the Quadrangle Pharmacy, which is located on campus in the Habif Health and Wellness Center.
• Discuss plans to continue mental health support/counseling, if appropriate. Review the Counseling and Psychological Services' Scope of Services.

Update Your Family's Email Address

To ensure your family members receive university announcements, including our family-specific e-newsletter, Family Ties, make sure a parent or family email is linked to your student record in WebSTAC. Complete a family member email address update form if you'd like to make a change to your record.

Summer Webinar Series

Our Summer Webinar Series was designed to answer student, parent, and family members' questions about WashU. Recordings of past webinars can be viewed online.

Consider viewing our pre-recorded webinar, A Conversation about Health & Well-being.

Register for and find more information about upcoming live webinars below.

• Tuesday, July 16 at 5:30 PM CDT: A Conversation about Student Financial Services
• Tuesday, August 6 at 5:30 PM CDT: A Conversation about Move-In and Fall Welcome