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.
Schedules for students entering in Summer and Fall 2025 will be announced at a later date. Programming is expected to last from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on both days.
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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
Tracks for family members will be offered live during on-campus orientation dates and as pre-recorded videos in a specially designed online course. Get more information on the Parent & Family Orientation webpage.
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 Summer or Fall 2025 will be announced at a later date.
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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 Advising and Class Registration
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
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 Advising and Class Registration
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 Advising and Class Registration
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.
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