New Student Orientation and the Big Sky Experience

The University of Montana's New Student Orientation provides all the information you need to transition to campus. The orientation and transition experience extends beyond course registration; we deliver relevant and informative programming to prepare students for success.

New Student Orientation is a program for students who have already applied, been admitted and intend to enroll at either UM's Mountain Campus or Missoula College. All incoming first-year and transfer students are expected to complete an orientation program.  

No. 1

Voted Most Innovative Program by the National Association for Orientation, Transition and Retention in Higher Education for Region 1 in 2020.

+4%

Since redesigning our onboarding programs in fall 2019, including New Student Orientation and the Big Sky Experience, first-year student retention has steadily increased every single year - despite COVID-19 -  to the most recent figures from the 2020-2021 school year.

40+

More than 40 community businesses and organizations hosted students in 2022 during the third annual Big Sky Experience.

Events