Welcome to the UAB family! We recognize that you are an integral part of your student’s academic success. While participation in Parent & Family Orientation is optional, we strongly encourage you to take part in order to learn essential information you need to help your student transition successfully to UAB.
In order to maximize student learning for all participants at Blazer Beginnings, family members and guests will participate in the Parent & Family Track only and incoming students will participate in the Student Track only.
While we welcome parents and adult guardians, attending Orientation with family members younger than 16 is strongly discouraged. Please make alternative arrangements for younger siblings or children under 16 while you are attending Blazer Beginnings.
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Traditional Freshman
Parent & Family Orientation will be offered as live tracks during Blazer Beginnings.
- For freshmen attending a summer/fall orientation date, one family member is included with payment of the Freshman Enrollment Deposit and any additional family members may join for a $35 fee to cover the cost of meals and staffing.
- For freshmen attending a Spring orientation date, you should click on the “Transfer/Non-Traditional Freshman” tab on this page for details.
All family members have access to pre-recorded videos free of charge in a specially designed course in Canvas, UAB’s learning management system. Click the link below to get started!
Dates
Honors College— Summer/Fall Honors Freshmen Only
Students must formally accept their Honors College offer in order to make a reservation for an Honors College orientation date. Please note that each of these dates includes a mandatory honors session the evening of the first day of orientation. This will include honors advising and information as well as an honors family dinner with faculty, staff, and current students.
- Tuesday and Wednesday, June 3-4, 2025
- Thursday and Friday, June 5-6, 2025
- Monday and Tuesday, June 9-10, 2025
Summer/Fall Freshmen
- Wednesday and Thursday, May 28-29, 2025
Fall Freshmen
- Wednesday and Thursday, June 11-12, 2025
- Monday and Tuesday, June 16-17, 2025
- Friday and Saturday, June 20-21, 2025
- Monday and Tuesday, June 23-24, 2025
- Wednesday and Thursday, June 25-26, 2025
- Tuesday and Wednesday, July 15-16, 2025
- Thursday and Friday, July 17-18, 2025
- Monday and Tuesday, July 21-22, 2025
- Monday and Tuesday, July 28-29, 2025
International and Out-of-State Fall Freshmen
- Thursday and Friday, August 21-22, 2025
International/Out-of-State Fall Freshmen are also welcome to attend any of the above dates for Fall Freshmen.
Please make note of the Blazer Beginnings schedule before making travel arrangements – all portions of Blazer Beginnings are required for students unless specifically marked as optional. Parents and family members are encouraged, but not required, to attend.
Day 1
8:45-9:15 AM
Check-In, ONE Card Photos
Hill Student Center9:15-9:45 AM
Welcome and Morning Instructions
Hill Student Center9:45-11:45 AM
Student Track: Campus Tour, Blazer Talk
Depart from Hill Student CenterParent and Family Track: Making the Parent Transition, Family Engagement, Campus Dining
Hill Student Center11:50 AM-1:20 PM
Lunch
Hill Student CenterStudent Organizations and Services Expo
Campus Recreation Center1:20-2:35 PM
Student Track: Campus Dining, Blazer Culture
Hill Student CenterParent and Family Track: Information Technology, Academics, Parking and Transportation, Career Center
Hill Student Center2:35-3:35 PM
Breakout Sessions: Specialized Interest Information Sessions
Hill Student Center3:45-4:30 PM
Student Track: Paying for College
Hill Student CenterParent and Family Track: Paying for College
Hill Student CenterDay 2
Reminder: All sessions on Day 1 and Day 2 are required for students.
8:45-9:00 AM
Check-In, ONE Card Pickup
Hill Student Center9:00-9:25 AM
Breakout Sessions: On-Campus and Off-Campus Housing Information
Hill Student Center9:25-9:45 AM
Q&A with Student Housing and Residence Life
Hill Student Center9:45 AM-12:20 PM
Student Track: Disability Support, Student Policies, Campus Safety, Professor Perspectives, UAB History & Traditions
Hill Student CenterParent and Family Track: Student Health, Professor Perspectives, Campus Safety, Current Student Panel Q&A
Hill Student Center11:30 AM-12:20 PM
Student Track: Lunch
Commons on the Green Dining HallParent and Family Track: Lunch
Hill Student Center12:30-1:50 PM
Student Track: Breakout Sessions: Student Success Workshops, Wrap-Up
Hill Student CenterParent and Family Track: Athletics, Buying Textbooks, Disability Support, Caring for Your Student
Hill Student Center1:50-4:15 PM
Student Track: Academic Program Visit and Advisor Meeting, Orientation Check-Out
Various LocationsParent and Family Track: Student Affairs Panel, The Car Ride Home, UAB Bookstore Reception
Hill Student Center3:00-4:30 PM
Student Health – Immunizations and Health Insurance Submission (optional)
Hill Student Center
If you need help submitting your proof of immunizations or health insurance, visit the Student Health table next to orientation check-out.Housing Tours (optional)
Depart from Hill Student Center
Plan to stay after orientation to tour on-campus housing if you plan to live on campus. This is your ONLY opportunity to see all 3 freshman residence halls. Last tour departs at 4:30 PM.3:00-5:00 PM
Individual Financial Counseling and UAB Office Visits (optional)
Hill Student Center
Make the most of your time at UAB! You are welcome to visit the following locations before they close at 5:00 PM. Please note that students must be present for student-specific information to be discussed: One Stop, Disability Support Services, TechConnect, Veteran Services, and UAB Bookstore. Sessions marked with this symbol may include enthusiastic cheering and/or potentially loud noise. -
Transfer/Non-Traditional Freshman
When your student is selecting the date they will attend Blazer Beginnings, please note that some orientation sessions will be offered virtually and some will be offered on campus. Family members may attend an on-campus session by making a reservation and paying a $10 fee to cover the cost of meals and staffing. Parent and family tracks is not offered for virtual sessions.
A separate Parent & Family Orientation is also available for family members of incoming students as pre-recorded videos housed within a specially designed course in Canvas, UAB’s learning management system. There is no cost for family members to participate in the Canvas course.
Transfer/Non-Traditional Dates and Schedules
The Blazer Beginnings schedule is below. There are a variety of schedule options available depending on the type of session: on-campus or virtual, daytime or evening. Click on the dates below to determine which option works best for you.
Please note that attendance at ALL portions of orientation is required for students. Parents and family members are encouraged, but not required, to attend.
Schedules for students entering in Spring 2026 will be announced at a later date.
- Monday, April 14, 2025 – Summer/Fall (Evening, On Campus)
- Friday, May 9, 2025 – Summer/Fall (Daytime, Virtual – Live on Zoom)
- Friday, May 30, 2025 – Summer/Fall (Daytime, On Campus)
- Friday, June 27, 2025 – Summer/Fall (Daytime, On Campus)
- Saturday, July 26, 2025 – Summer/Fall (Daytime, Virtual – Live on Zoom)
- Wednesday, August 20, 2025 – Summer/Fall (Daytime, On Campus)
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On-Campus Schedule
3:00-4:15 PM (CT)
Campus Tours (optional)
Departing from Center Campus Visit Center (Hill Student Center, Second Floor)4:30-4:45 PM (CT)
Check-In, ONE Card Photos, Student Organizations and Services Expo
Hill Student Center4:45-5:10 PM (CT)
Specialized Interest Information Sessions
Hill Student Center5:15-5:30 PM (CT)
Welcome
Hill Student Center5:30-6:30 PM (CT)
Blazer Talk
Hill Student Center
Parent and Family Track
Hill Student Center6:45-8:15 PM (CT)
Academic Program Visit and Advisor Meeting
Various Locations
Parent and Family Track
Hill Student Center -
Parent & Family programming not available on virtual dates.
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On-Campus Schedule
REQUIRED SESSIONS:
8:30-9:00 AM (CT)
Check-In, ONE Card Photos, Student Organizations and Services Expo
Hill Student Center9:00-9:25 AM (CT)
Specialized Interest Information Sessions
Hill Student Center9:30-9:45 AM (CT)
Welcome
Hill Student Center9:45-10:45 AM (CT)
Blazer Talk
Hill Student Center
Parent and Family Track
Hill Student Center11:00 AM-12:30 PM (CT)
Academic Program Visit and Advisor Meeting
Various Locations
Parent and Family Track
Hill Student CenterOPTIONAL SESSIONS:
11:30 AM-1:00 PM (CT)
Lunch
Hill Student Center11:30 AM-1:00 PM (CT)
Meet and Treat – Opportunity to Meet Other New and Current Students
Off-Campus Student Lounge, Hill Student Center12:30-1:30 PM (CT) and 1:00-2:00 PM (CT)
Campus Tours
Depart from Off-Campus Student Lounge, Hill Student Center12:00-5:00 PM (CT)
Individual Financial Counseling and UAB Office Visits (optional)
Hill Student Center
Make the most of your time at UAB! You are welcome to visit the following locations before they close at 5:00 PM. Please note that students must be present for student-specific information to be discussed: One Stop (including representatives from financial aid, student accounting, and scholarships), Disability Support Services, TechConnect, Veteran Services, and UAB Bookstore. -
On-Campus Schedule
REQUIRED SESSIONS:
8:30-9:00 AM (CT)
Check-In, ONE Card Photos, Student Organizations and Services Expo
Hill Student Center9:00-9:25 AM (CT)
Specialized Interest Information Sessions
Hill Student Center9:30-9:45 AM (CT)
Welcome
Hill Student Center9:45-10:45 AM (CT)
Blazer Talk
Hill Student Center
Parent and Family Track
Hill Student Center11:00 AM-12:30 PM (CT)
Academic Program Visit and Advisor Meeting
Various Locations
Parent and Family Track
Hill Student CenterOPTIONAL SESSIONS:
11:30 AM-1:00 PM (CT)
Lunch
Hill Student Center11:30 AM-1:00 PM (CT)
Meet and Treat – Opportunity to Meet Other New and Current Students
Off-Campus Student Lounge, Hill Student Center12:30-1:30 PM (CT) and 1:00-2:00 PM (CT)
Campus Tours
Depart from Off-Campus Student Lounge, Hill Student Center12:00-5:00 PM (CT)
Individual Financial Counseling and UAB Office Visits (optional)
Hill Student Center
Make the most of your time at UAB! You are welcome to visit the following locations before they close at 5:00 PM. Please note that students must be present for student-specific information to be discussed: One Stop (including representatives from financial aid, student accounting, and scholarships), Disability Support Services, TechConnect, Veteran Services, and UAB Bookstore. -
Parent & Family programming not available on virtual dates.
-
On-Campus Schedule
REQUIRED SESSIONS:
8:30-9:00 AM (CT)
Check-In, ONE Card Photos, Student Organizations and Services Expo
Hill Student Center9:00-9:25 AM (CT)
Specialized Interest Information Sessions
Hill Student Center9:30-9:45 AM (CT)
Welcome
Hill Student Center9:45-10:45 AM (CT)
Blazer Talk
Hill Student Center
Parent and Family Track
Hill Student Center11:00 AM-12:30 PM (CT)
Academic Program Visit and Advisor Meeting
Various Locations
Parent and Family Track
Hill Student CenterOPTIONAL SESSIONS:
11:30 AM-1:00 PM (CT)
Lunch
Hill Student Center11:30 AM-1:00 PM (CT)
Meet and Treat – Opportunity to Meet Other New and Current Students
Off-Campus Student Lounge, Hill Student Center12:30-1:30 PM (CT) and 1:00-2:00 PM (CT)
Campus Tours
Depart from Off-Campus Student Lounge, Hill Student Center12:00-5:00 PM (CT)
Individual Financial Counseling and UAB Office Visits (optional)
Hill Student Center
Make the most of your time at UAB! You are welcome to visit the following locations before they close at 5:00 PM. Please note that students must be present for student-specific information to be discussed: One Stop (including representatives from financial aid, student accounting, and scholarships), Disability Support Services, TechConnect, Veteran Services, and UAB Bookstore.