One-Stop Student Checklist

Incoming Undergraduate Students Continuing Undergraduate Students Incoming Graduate Students Continuing Graduate Students

Incoming Undergraduate Students

  1. File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
    – The Indiana priority deadline is April 15. Be sure to include Valpo’s FAFSA code: 001842
    – Answers to FAFSA FAQs
  2. Complete your enrollment deposit
    – Completing your enrollment deposit is how you officially tell Valpo, “Yes! I’m going to be a Beacon!”
  3. Register for FOCUS New Student Orientation
    – Signing up for FOCUS orientation will trigger an email containing your Valpo log-in information. FOCUS is where you will register for classes
  4. Look for the “Your Valpo Accounts Have Been Created” email after you sign up for FOCUS and use the info in it to change your Valpo password in the Account Management System
  5. Download the Gmail app to any devices you use (or use gmail.com) and start checking your Valpo email daily
    – Be sure to set up multi-factor authentication on your Valpo Google account so you can easily log in when you are on campus
    – Review answers to IT FAQs
  6. Connect with new classmates in Valpo’s ZeeMee Community
  7. International students review your Office of International Programs checklist
  1. Complete the housing application if you will be living on campus
  2. Complete math and language placement at least one week prior to your FOCUS orientation session
  3. Complete the Accommodation Request Form if you had an IEP or disability accommodations at your previous school so the Access & Accommodations Resource Center staff may best serve you at Valpo
  4. When you receive email notice from the Student Health Center, complete your student health portal registration and form
  5. Obtain any required immunizations that are not already in your vaccination record and upload your immunization record to the Student Health Center
  6. Log into DataVU1 (datavu1.valpo.edu) – Financial Aid
    – Accept, change, or deny federal loan amounts
    – Accept your aid award
    – Complete any incomplete checklist items
    – Answers to Financial Aid FAQs and How To videos
  7. Make a plan to pay your bill; consider enrolling in a payment plan if you are not able to pay your bill in full by the due date (August 15 for Fall; January 5 for Spring)
    – Billing FAQs and Student Account Center How To videos
    – Meet with a Financial Aid Counselor if you need help making a plan
  8. Upload your OneCard ID photo at apps.valpo.edu/idExpress. Log in with your Valpo username and password and follow the instructions.
  9. Submit a final, official transcript from your last school to undergrad.admissions@valpo.edu
     First-year students:
    – Have your high school send this transcript after graduation
    –  Students who completed dual credit in high school must have the  college/university sponsoring the dual credit submit an official transcript to undergrad.admissions@valpo.edu for it to be reviewed for transfer credit equivalency.
    Transfer students:
    –     Have your last college/university send this after final grades are posted for  your last classes (this will be evaluated for transfer equivalency)
  1. Connect to secure campus wifi while at FOCUS (instructions here)
  2. Accept the required payment agreement in DataVU1 (datavu1.valpo.edu) – Student Planning
  3. Complete class registration with an academic advisor
    – This appointment will be arranged for you during your orientation session
    – Degree and program details are available in the General Catalog
  4. Enroll in Student Account Center to view semester charges as they post and make payments
    – Billing FAQs and Student Account Center How To videos
  5. Give access to 3rd party (proxy) users who will help with bills, financial aid award, grades, etc.
  6. Review technology recommendations and answers to frequently asked questions
  1. Domestic students: complete the health insurance waiver before the first day of classes if your current insurance meets the stated coverage in order to avoid additional charges
    – International student health insurance information is online here
  2. If accepting federal loans, log into DataVU1 (datavu1.valpo.edu) – Financial Aid and complete any incomplete checklist items including Entrance Counseling and the Master Promissory Note
  3. If you completed any credit by examination options (e.g. AP, IB, CLEP, Cambridge), submit those records to registrar@valpo.edu. Equivalency information is available in the General Catalog.
  4. Complete any required immunizations that are not already in your vaccination record and upload your records.
  5. Pay your semester bill (due August 15 for Fall; January 5 for Spring); If not able to pay the bill in full, consider signing up for a payment plan
    – Meet with a Financial Aid Counselor if you need help making a plan
  6. Apply for student employment if interested in earning work study
  7. Obtain books and other required course materials; log into DataVU1 (datavu1.valpo.edu) – Class Schedule, click on each class and look for the Bookstore Information link for details
  8. Download the Valpo Safe app for access to campus security resources and notifications
  9. Register for a parking permit if planning to bring a car to campus
  10.  Complete Gallup Strengths Assessment and other required online training when you receive email from New Student Programs to do so
  11. Familiarize yourself with meal plan options
  12.  Explore residential life move-in information and frequently asked questions
  13.  Commuter students, explore commuter programs resources
  14.  Explore MyValpo for info and opportunities about student organizations and campus events;
    – Download the Presence by Modern Campus app to access MyValpo from any device
  1. International students check in with the Office of International Programs upon arrival to campus
  2. Residential students meet your Resident Assistant (RA) and attend required floor meetings
  3. All students participate in as many Welcome Week events as possible
  4. Connect with cultural support resources & opportunities
  5. Log into Blackboard (blackboard.valpo.edu) and explore your course information and menu options;
    – Download the Blackboard Learn app to use Blackboard on your devices
  6. Download the Valpo Transit Tracker app to track the campus shuttle route
  7. Make note of important dates from the Registrar calendar for the term
  1. Connect with your academic advisor if you have questions or need to make changes regarding your class schedule
    – Log into DataVU1 (datavu1.valpo.edu) – Class Schedule – Advising tab to see your
    advisor’s name
  2. Continuing participating in campus events – Welcome Week and MyValpo
    – Follow valpostudentlife in Instagram for daily updates of campus events
  3. Visit your professors during office hours to introduce yourself and get to know each other better
  4. Connect with mental health resources available to you for free on campus
  5. Take advantage of free academic support resources as soon as you need them

Continuing Undergraduate Students

  1. Continuing checking your Valpo email daily to stay on top of school-related information and items to do
  2. Connect with mental health resources available to you for free on campus
  3. Take advantage of free academic support resources as soon as you need them; utilize professor office hours for extra help when needed
  4. Work on getting your red registration holds removed and register for classes in DataVU1 – Student Planning
    – Common restrictions and contacts for removal
    – Connect with your academic advisor to verify a course plan for the next term
    – Log into DataVU1 – Class Schedule –   Advising tab to see your advisor’s name
    – Degree and program details are available in the General Catalog
  5. Make a plan to pay your spring semester bill; consider enrolling in a payment plan if you are not able to pay your bill in full by the due date (August 15 for Fall; January 5 for Spring)
    – Billing FAQs and Student Account Center How To videos
    – Meet with a Financial Aid Counselor if you need help making a plan
  1. Pay your semester bill (due January 5 for Spring); If not able to pay the bill in full, consider signing up for a payment plan
    – Meet with a Financial Aid Counselor if you need help making a plan
  2. Obtain books and other required course materials; log into DataVU1 – Class Schedule, click on each class and look for the Bookstore Information link for details
  3. Renew the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – The Indiana priority deadline is April 15. – Be sure to include Valpo’s FAFSA code: 001842. Answers to FAFSA FAQs
  1. Continuing checking your Valpo email daily to stay on top of school-related information and items to do
  2. Visit your professors during office hours to introduce yourself and get to know each other better
  3. Connect with mental health resources available to you for free on campus
  4. Take advantage of free academic support resources as soon as you need them; utilize professor office hours for extra help when needed
  5. Complete the housing application if you will be living on campus next year
  6. Work on getting your red registration holds removed and register for classes in DataVU1 – Student Planning
    – Common restrictions and contacts for removal
    – Accept the required payment agreement
    – Connect with your academic advisor to verify a course plan for the next term
    – Log into DataVU1 – Class Schedule –   Advising tab to see your advisor’s name
    – Degree and program details are available in the General Catalog
  7. Review your access to 3rd party (proxy) users who will help with bills, financial aid award, grades, etc. and update if needed
  8. Connect with the Center for Career and Professional Development if you need help creating or updating a resumé or cover letter, looking for summer internship opportunities, etc.
  9. When you receive notice that your financial aid award for the coming year is ready, log into DataVU1 – Financial Aid
    – Accept, change, or deny federal loan amounts
    – Accept your aid award
    – Complete any incomplete checklist items
    – Answers to Financial Aid FAQs and How To videos
  1. Continuing checking your Valpo email regularly to stay on top of school-related information and items to do
  2. Make a plan to pay your fall semester bill; consider enrolling in a payment plan if you are not able to pay your bill in full by the due date (August 15 for Fall; January 5 for Spring)
    – Billing FAQs and Student Account Center How To videos
    – Meet with a Financial Aid Counselor if you need help making a plan
  3. Domestic students: complete the annual health insurance waiver if your current insurance meets the stated coverage in order to avoid additional charges
    – International student health insurance information is online here
  4. Register for a parking permit if planning to bring a car to campus
  5. Review move-in information if you are living on campus; Review commuter student resources if you are commuting
  6. Familiarize yourself with meal plan options
  1. Obtain books and other required course materials; log into DataVU1 – Class Schedule, click on each class and look for the Bookstore Information link for details
  2. Residential students meet your Resident Assistant (RA) and attend required floor meetings
  3. Log into Blackboard (blackboard.valpo.edu) and explore your course information and menu options;
    – Download the Blackboard Learn app to use Blackboard on your devices
  4. Make note of important dates from the Registrar calendar for the term
  5. Connect with your academic advisor if you have questions or need to make changes regarding your class schedule
  6. Continuing participating in campus events – Welcome Week and MyValpo; follow valpostudentlife in Instagram for daily updates of campus events
  7. Visit your professors during office hours to introduce yourself and get to know each other better
  8. Connect with cultural support resources & opportunities, mental health resources, and academic support resources as desired or needed

Incoming Graduate Students

  1. File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
    – The Indiana priority deadline is April 15. Be sure to include Valpo’s FAFSA code: 001842.
    – Answers to FAFSA FAQs
  2. Confirm your intent to enroll
  3. Look for the “Your Valpo login credentials” email after you complete your intent to enroll and use the info in it to change your Valpo password in the Account Management System
  4. Download the Gmail app to any devices you use (or use gmail.com) and use it to start checking your Valpo email daily.
    – Be sure to set up multi-factor authentication on your Valpo Google account so you can easily log in when you arrive at orientation.
    – Review answers to IT FAQs
  5. Register for New Graduate Student Orientation
  6. International students review your Office of International Programs checklist
  1. International graduate students should obtain any required immunizations that are not already in your vaccination record and upload your immunization record to the Student Health Center
  2. Log into DataVU1 (datavu1.valpo.edu) – Financial Aid
    – Accept, change, or deny federal loan amounts
    – Accept your aid award
    – Complete any incomplete checklist items
    – Answers to Financial Aid FAQs and How To videos
  3. Contact your program director/advisor to complete class registration in DataVU1 (datavu1.valpo.edu) – Student Planning
    – Accept the required payment agreement
    – Degree and program details are available in the Graduate Catalog
  4. Explore housing options via Residential Life’s Graduate Student Housing site
  5. Enroll in Student Account Center to view semester charges as they post and make payments
    – Make a plan to pay your bill
    – Meet with a Financial Aid Counselor if you need help making a plan
    – Consider enrolling in a payment plan if you are not able to pay your bill in full by the due date (August 15 for Fall; January 5 for Spring
    – Give access to 3rd party (proxy) users who will help with bills, financial aid award, grades, etc.
    – Billing FAQs and Student Account Center How To videos
  6. Domestic students: complete the health insurance waiver before the first day of classes if your current insurance meets the stated coverage in order to avoid additional charges
    International student health insurance information is online here
  7. Complete the Accommodation Request Form if you have previously had disability accommodations so the Access & Accommodations Resource Center staff may best serve you at Valpo
  8. Upload your OneCard ID photo at apps.valpo.edu/idExpress. Log in with your Valpo username and password and follow the instructions
  9. Download the Valpo Safe app for access to campus security resources and notifications
  10.  Review technology recommendations and answers to frequently asked questions
  11.  If you were completing coursework elsewhere when admitted to Valpo, submit your final, official transcript with final grades to transcripts@valpo.edu
  1. International students check in with the Office of International Programs upon arrival to campus
  2. Log into Blackboard (blackboard.valpo.edu) and explore your course information and menu options;
    – Download the Blackboard Learn app to use Blackboard on your devices
  3. Download the Valpo Transit Tracker app to track the campus shuttle route if you will be on campus
  4. Make note of important dates from the Registrar calendar for the term
  1. Obtain books and other required course materials; log into DataVU1 (datavu1.valpo.edu) – Class Schedule, click on each class and look for the Bookstore Information link for details
  2. Connect to secure campus wifi if you are on campus (instructions here)
  3. Register for a parking permit if planning to bring a car to campus
  4. Familiarize yourself with meal plan options and dining locations if you will be on campus
  5. Explore MyValpo for info and opportunities about student organizations and campus events if you will be on campus; Download the Presence by Modern Campus app to access MyValpo from any device
  1. Connect with your academic advisor if you have questions or need to make changes regarding your class schedule
    – Log into DataVU1 (datavu1.valpo.edu) – Class Schedule – Advising tab to see your advisor’s name
  2. Connect with professors during  office hours to introduce yourself and get to know each other better
  3. Connect with mental health resources, academic support resources, and cultural support resources & opportunities as needed or desired
  4. Take advantage of free academic support resources as needed

Continuing Graduate Students

  1. Continuing checking your Valpo email daily to stay on top of school-related information and items to do
  2. Work on getting your red registration holds removed and register for classes in DataVU1 – Student Planning
    – Common restrictions and contacts for removal
    – Connect with your academic advisor to verify a course plan for the next term
    – Log into DataVU1 – Class Schedule – Advising tab to see your advisor’s name
    – Degree and program details are available in the Graduate Catalog
  3. Make a plan to pay your spring semester bill; consider enrolling in a payment plan if you are not able to pay your bill in full by the due date (August 15 for Fall; January 5 for Spring)
    – Billing FAQs and Student Account Center How To videos
    – Meet with a Financial Aid Counselor if you need help making a plan
  1. Pay your semester bill (due January 5 for Spring); If not able to pay the bill in full, consider signing up for a payment plan
    – Meet with a Financial Aid Counselor if you need help making a plan
  2. Obtain books and other required course materials; log into DataVU1 – Class Schedule, click on each class and look for the Bookstore Information link for details
  3. Renew the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – The Indiana priority deadline is April 15. – Be sure to include Valpo’s FAFSA code: 001842.
    – Answers to FAFSA FAQs
  1. Continuing checking your Valpo email daily to stay on top of school-related information and items to do
  2. Work on getting your red registration holds removed and register for classes in DataVU1 – Student Planning
    – Common restrictions and contacts for removal
    – Accept the required payment agreement
    – Connect with your academic advisor to verify a course plan for the next term
    – Log into DataVU1 – Class Schedule – Advising tab to see your advisor’s name
    – Degree and program details are available in the Graduate Catalog
  3. Review your access to 3rd party (proxy) users who will help with bills, financial aid award, grades, etc. and update if needed
  4. Connect with the Center for Career and Professional Development if you need help creating or updating a resumé or cover letter, looking for summer internship opportunities, etc.
  5. When you receive notice that your financial aid award for the coming year is ready, log into DataVU1 – Financial Aid
    – Accept, change, or deny federal loan amounts
    – Accept your aid award
    – Complete any incomplete checklist items
    – Answers to Financial Aid FAQs and How To videos
  1. Continuing checking your Valpo email regularly to stay on top of school-related information and items to do
  2. Make a plan to pay your fall semester bill; consider enrolling in a payment plan if you are not able to pay your bill in full by the due date (August 15 for Fall; January 5 for Spring)
    – Billing FAQs and Student Account Center How To videos
    – Meet with a Financial Aid Counselor if you need help making a plan
  3. Domestic students: complete the annual health insurance waiver if your current insurance meets the stated coverage in order to avoid additional charges
    – International student health insurance information is online here
  4. Register for a parking permit if planning to bring a car to campus
  1. Obtain books and other required course materials; log into DataVU1 – Class Schedule, click on each class and look for the Bookstore Information link for details
  2. Log into Blackboard (blackboard.valpo.edu) and explore your course information and menu options; Download the Blackboard Learn app to use Blackboard on your devices
  3. Make note of important dates from the Registrar calendar for the term
  4. Connect with your academic advisor if you have questions or need to make changes regarding your class schedule