New to Blue:
Student Orientation

New to Blue: Student Orientation

Orientation for Students – Freshman

Starting off to college is a big step. It is an important time in your life, a time to develop new friendships, goals, and viewpoints. Pre-orientation is an orientation program carefully designed to help make the journey into this new world exciting and manageable. Orientation will provide valuable information as well as allow you to explore many campus departments and programs more in-depth at your own pace.  

The on campus portion of orientation will allow you to learn your way around campus, meet new people, gain academic advising, and register for your classes. Both parts of the program are important and designed to give you confidence and ensure your success at MTSU.

In order to register for classes Health Services must have proof of two doses of Varicella (chicken pox) and two doses of Measles, Mumps & Rubella (MMR). If you’re under the age of 18, you must complete the additional form found in the student portal or on the MTSU Health Services webpage. Students living on campus must have proof of Meningitis strains A, C, Y & W135 (either Menactra® or Menveo®). For more information, visit the Student Health Services website.

Orientations Sessions are offered for freshmen students who will be attending MTSU for the first time. New to Blue Orientation is offered on dates that are available to accommodate different schedules. Registration is required and costs for the orientation program apply. Online registration will be available in mid-April for orientation. Registration for Spring orientation will be available in November.

How is Freshman Orientation structured?

Freshman orientation will also include an online pre-orientation component to be completed PRIOR to your visit to campus. You will attend an on campus one day event that will include:

  • access to resources
  • learning your way around campus
  • meeting other students
  • getting information about your academic program and requirements for course registration
  • academic advising and assistance with course registration.  

Do You Need Disability Related Accommodations?

New to Blue Orientation is designed for all students. Special Interest Sessions will give you an opportunity to explore offices that address your individual needs or individual interests. Pre-orientation is ADA accessible.

What’s more, our student staff is representative of our diverse student population. If you would like to know more about services available to students, our staff will be on hand to point you in the right direction.

Sending your student off to college is a big step. It is an important time in a young person’s life, a time to develop new friendships, goals, and viewpoints. New to Blue Orientation is a program carefully designed to help make the journey into this new world informative and exciting. Freshman Orientation consists of two parts: an online Pre-Orientation and an on-campus experience.

Pre-Orientation

All incoming students are required to complete Pre-Orientation through our online learning platform, D2L (Desire2Learn), before attending their in-person Orientation session. This online module serves two key purposes:

  1. Introduction to D2L — Pre-Orientation helps students become familiar with the platform where many of their professors will post assignments, quizzes, discussions, and class materials.
  2. Academics, Campus Resources, and Student Support Services — Pre-Orientation also introduces students to the wide range of resources available at MTSU, including academic tools, campus resources, and student support services. Pre-Orientation helps students begin to understand what it means to be part of the Blue Raider community, offering insights into everything from academic advising and tutoring services to extracurricular activities and campus involvement.

Pre-Orientation is designed to set students up for success, giving them a head start on navigating college life before they ever step foot on campus. Students must complete Pre-Orientation at least four days prior to their scheduled Orientation session.

Since families do not have access to D2L, we’ve created a Family Orientation PDF. This document is designed to be viewed on an electronic device, as it contains clickable links to key resources and helpful information about college life.

On-Campus Orientation

We are excited to offer an on-campus orientation experience. We are asking students to bring only TWO GUESTS to campus for orientation. Any additional guests will not be able to participate. Please note that the New to Blue Orientation program is not designed for children under 12.

Resources

As you begin to prepare to come to campus for orientation, we want to provide you with resources that will help to make this a positive experience. Learn more about why parents should attend orientation and how to make the most of your orientation experience.

If you’ll be attending MTSU in the fall semester, for your convenience we have scheduled several different dates throughout the summer. You must select a date that your college is represented. This must also be a date that you will be available to attend the on campus orientation activities. The choice of the session is yours, but to receive the maximum benefits it is imperative that you are available to participate in these required activities.

Session dates will be assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis, so be sure to register as early as possible.

Freshman Sessions

Freshmen are encouraged to attend an orientation session before registering for classes. Sign up for the Fall sessions will begin in mid-March. Sign up for Spring sessions begins in October. Sessions are offered on the dates shown below. You can confirm the College your major is under by clicking the Programs of Study link at the bottom.

If you are unsure what college your major falls under use the Majors and Concentrations search to find out.

How is Freshman Orientation Structured?

The Freshman orientation schedule is structured to include 2 components:

  1. Pre-Orientation Online modules to be completed prior to your session date
  2. In person on campus orientation events including academic advising and registration

Dates for Fall 2026 Freshman Orientation

Freshmen entering MTSU in August 2026

1F          May 19 (T)                         ALL

2F          May 21 (TH)                     CBAS, CBUS, CLA, CME

3F          May 27 (W)                      CBAS, CBHS, UC

4F          June 2 (T)                           CBAS, NURS, CLA, CED, UC

5F          June 4 (TH)                       AERO, CBHS, CBUS, CME, UC

6F          June 13 (S)                       ALL

7F          June 16 (T)                        CBAS, CLA, CME, UC

8F          June 18 (TH)                    CBAS, CBHS, CLA, CME, UC

9F          June 26 (F)                        CBAS, CBHS, CBUS, CLA, CME

10F       July 8 (W)                          AERO, CBHS, CBUS, CED, UC

11F       July 10 (F)                          CBAS, CLA, CME, UC

12F       July 21 (T)                          CBAS, CBHS, CBUS, CED, UC

13F       July 23 (TH)                      CBAS, CBHS, CLA, CME

14F       July 30 (TH)                      ALL

COLLEGES:

CBAS – College of Basic and Applied Science

CBHS – College of Behavioral and Health Science

CBUS-  Jones College of Business

CED – College of Education

CLA – College of Liberal Arts

CME – Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment

UC – University College 

Fall 2026 Freshman Orientation

The New to Blue Orientation schedule is being planned. Please check back.

The cost for freshmen students attending New to Blue Orientation is $35. This fee allows access to the Pre-orientation program, on-campus orientation activities on the date selected, virtual academic advising, and course registration.

We encourage participation from the family members of freshman in orientation, and we continue to believe your involvement is crucial in this transition to the MTSU community. We are asking that each student limit to two guests in attendance at the on campus session. The fee for each guest to attend is $20. Please note that orientation is not designed for children under 12 years of age.

The fees do not include lunch during the program, but there will be several on campus dining locations available for you to experience our delicious MT Dining options during orientation. 

We are also unable to offer on campus housing accommodations. There are many hotels available in Murfreesboro, if you need over night accommodations.

Hotel Information

Parents have the opportunity to join the MTSU Parent Association online also.

Refunds

Once you send your registration and money in, you will be assigned to one of your four choices for the session. If for some reason you will not be able to attend the session assigned, you may request a refund up until the day of the session you are assigned begins. Once the session begins, no refunds will be given.

The FRESHMAN orientation sessions have concluded. Please follow these next steps to enroll in classes for Spring 2026:

You must first be admitted to begin this process.

FRESHMEN Admitted for  SPRING 2026:

1. Make an Appointment with your Advisor. Select the College of your current major—If you are not sure of the college, find your major here: https://mtsu.edu/programs/. This will indicate the College your major falls in.

2. Complete Pre-Orientation: This link will be sent to you by email after your advisor lists your advising appointment. 

3. Advising and registration for classes with academic advisor.

Sign-up for Summer 2026 Orientation will begin in March 2026.


If you have already earned a Bachelor’s Degree and are seeking an additional Bachelor’s degree with MTSU, select the college of your current major:

Going off to college can be an exciting yet confusing time. New to Blue Orientation is a summer orientation program for you and your family designed to help you make a smooth transition to life at Middle Tennessee State University.

Here are some of our most frequently asked questions to help you with your inquiry:

All students who apply for admission to the University will receive information about orientation through conventional mail. Once you are accepted you will be invited to register for a New to Blue Orientation session.

Yes, we are excited to offer a one day on campus component for freshman orientation. This compliments the Pre-Orientation modules that must be completed PRIOR to the date you select to come to campus. 

By participating in orientation, you’ll have the opportunity to register for classes. The schedule includes academic advising and course registration while you are here on campus that day.

Yes! We encourage freshman family members to attend. They have many questions and concerns which can be best answered at orientation. We ask that you limit to two guests per student. The fee for each guest is $20.

For your convenience, we have scheduled several different dates. You MUST come to a session that is scheduled for your particular college in order to receive correct advising. See the Program of Study web page to check the college that your major falls under.

The on-campus orientation experience is one day only and includes academic advising and course registration. Be sure to select a date that you can plan to spend the entire day on campus.

Yes, there is a fee to attend New to Blue Orientation.

We are unable to offer on campus housing as an option for orientation, since it is only a one-day on campus event. If you need to spend the night, there are many local hotels that can accommodate you. 

Yes, you will get to meet with the advising staff and Dean of your college while on campus for orientation. 

Yes, you have to complete the Pre-Orientation Online module component and attend the one day on campus orientation experience in order to register for classes. 

It should take about an hour and 30 minutes to complete the linear online orientation, but you can spend more time digging deeper into some of the areas that are most interesting to you. You can complete it at you own pace. If you leave the session, you will return to the point you left when you return to modules. 

Also, you can revisit the whole orientation any time when you have questions or want to review a specific section. 

Pre-Orientation

Orientation on campus will last one day. We will begin at 8:30 am and will have structured activities through 2:30 pm. We will also have many additional activities available until 4:00 pm for those that want to take care of any business on campus or find out more about campus life for our students.

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer on-campus housing this year. There are many hotels and other accommodations in Murfreesboro if you want to stay in Murfreesboro.

Get Assistance

Orientation
615.898.5533

Admissions
615.898.2111

Placement Test
615.898.2568

Immunization Questions 
615.898.2988