International Student Orientation

Three students walking through campus on the first day of classes at Colorado State University

Spring 2026 International Student Orientation

Optional Sessions Begin January 12, 2026

Mandatory Sessions Begin Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Orientation for all new, incoming international students is required. Orientation consists of in-person and virtual sessions.

Tuesday, January 13 (in person) is mandatory for all international students. Please plan to arrive by the weekend of January 10-11 to allow yourself enough time to settle in and attend optional events designed to help you become familiar with campus and Fort Collins. Optional events will begin on Monday, January 12.

Undergraduate and graduate orientation require separate reservations. However, many of the sessions will feature content for all new international students regardless of level. Using your NetID, please register for the appropriate orientation and see additional information below:

Undergraduate International Student Orientation Registration

First-Year, Transfer, and Second Bachelor’s students register for mandatory on-campus orientation sessions here!

Graduate International Student Orientation Registration

Master’s, Professional Master’s, and Ph.D. students register for mandatory on-campus orientation sessions here!

Spring 2026 International Orientation Schedule: Coming soon!

Monday, January 12			Location
12 – 4pm	Optional First National Bank	Open a bank account with First National Bank. Bring your passport, I-20, CSU ID number/email, and US address.	Lory Student Center Room 322
1 – 1:40pm	Optional CSU Library Tour and Info	Learn how to navigate American libraries, understand academic integrity, manage citations, and access resources like the Writing Center.	Morgan Library, 175
2pm	Optional Shopping Trip	Head to Target with us to pick up some essentials to help you get settled!	Meet at Laurel Hall
4 – 6pm	Optional Paint and Sip	Unleash your creativity, enjoy a relaxed atmosphere, sip on your favorite beverages, have some snacks, and connect with fellow students. All materials will be provided—just bring your enthusiasm!	Laurel Hall

Tuesday, January 13			Location
8am – 8:45am	MANDATORY Check-in and resource fair	Check-in and explore on campus resources. Offices who will be present at the resource fair include: CSU Police Department, SAFE Center, Off-Campus Life, CSU Health Network, The Office for Basic Needs, Student Legal Services, Housing and Dining Services, Writing Center, Career Center, SLiCE, Orientation & Transition Programs, FCIC, CSU Transportation, Rec Center, and Education Abroad	Lory Student Center Theater
8:45am – 9:30am	MANDATORY Welcome	Opening remarks, icebreaker activity, and brief welcome from ISSS staff.	Lory Student Center Theater
9:30am – 10:30am	MANDATORY Immigration Q&A	Review common immigration questions and concerns with ISSS immigration advisor	Lory Student Center Theater
10:30am – 5 p.m.	MANDATORY Additional Required Sessions		Lory Student Center Theater

Wednesday, January 14			Location
2 – 3pm	REQUIRED FOR SPONSORED STUDENTS Sponsored Student Orientation	Review sponsored student information with ISSS Associate Director, Christy Eylar.	Laurel Hall Commons Room, 103
9:30 – 10:00am	Optional CSU Transportation Workshop	Learn about transportation in Fort Collins as well as the SkiSU Bus for those wanting to experience winter in Colorado.	Guggenheim Building, Room 107
10:30 – 11:30am	Optional RAH Pantry Tour & Campus Tour	Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at the Rams Against Hunger Pantry and a guided tour of CSU’s main campus! Learn about essential student resources, grab what you need from the pantry (don’t forget your student ID and a bag!), and enjoy a walk through key campus locations— campus tour weather permitting	Meet at Laurel Hall
11:30am – 12:30pm	Optional SAFE Closet Tour	Get ready for winter with a special visit to the SAFE Clothing Closet, where you can pick up free, gently used coats, winter gloves, hats, and seasonal gear. This event offers a chance to explore the closet, grab what you need, and stay warm. All at no cost!	Student Services Building, Room 112
1 – 4pm	Optional Game Cafe	Come unwind at our Game Café — a chill hangout with board games, card games, warm drinks, tasty treats, and awesome giveaways to kick off your semester.	Meet at Laurel Hall

Orientation Overview

As part of orientation, you will:
-Learn about the many resources and services on campus, such as the Health Network, CSUPD, and more.
-Meet the international student advisors, who will help you understand how to remain in a legal immigration status.
-Understand CSU academic expectations and learn classroom success strategies.
-Build relationships and make friendships with other new international and domestic CSU students.
-Learn about Fort Collins International Center, a community non-profit working with our office to help you feel welcome and get involved both on campus and in the community.
-Have your questions and concerns answered by a network of people who are here to support you.

1. Mandatory Events
—Graduate and undergraduate international students: Tuesday, January 13 (in-person) is mandatory. Please arrive prior to this date.
—Sponsored international students: An additional, mandatory immigration session for sponsored students will take place on Wednesday, January 14. Additional information will be sent as the date gets closer.

2. Optional Events
Additional events will begin on Monday, January 12 and continue throughout the remainder of the week.

Optional in-person events will include optional, but very useful, sessions such as a transportation workshop, opportunities to connect with other students, and more.

Airport Arrivals and Transportation Information

The CSU Office of International Programs will be on site at Denver International Airport (DEN) on Friday, August 15 and Saturday, August 16. Our team will be stationed in the main terminal of the airport to welcome you with friendly faces as you arrive, answer your questions, guide you toward the shuttles, and hand out CSU swag!

We will not be providing transportation to campus from the airport, but we can help you navigate to the ground transportation area, where you can board the shuttle directly to campus. Be sure to book your shuttle ahead of time using one of these two options:
Landline — Denver International Airport (DEN) to Fort Collins – CSU Transit Center (CSU)

Groome Transportation — Denver International Airport to FC – CSU Transit Center
While you’re not required to be on campus until Tuesday, August 19, we recommend arriving early in order to ensure you have everything in order for your successful transition to CSU.

Move-in and Housing Information

On-Campus Housing
While official move-in begins on January 16, students who are living in an on-campus residence hall or apartment may be able to arrive early. Please note that there may be additional fees associated with moving in early. Additional information can be found on the housing website.

Off Campus Housing
Students living off-campus will need to arrange move-in with their respective apartment or housing complex. For students needing temporary housing prior to moving into their place of residence, the Office of International Programs can help connect you with resources.

PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE ARRANGED HOUSING PRIOR TO ARRIVING IN FORT COLLINS.

Activate CSU Email

If you haven’t already, make sure you have activated and are checking your official CSU email address. Helpful information about the process can be found below:

1. Enroll in Duo Two-Factor Authentication
Once you have your NetID, your next step is to enroll in Duo. Duo is a tool that provides two-factor authentication to better protect your account by requiring an additional piece of information beyond your username and password. When you access certain CSU online services (e.g. Microsoft 365, Teams, email, etc.), you will be required to use a device that you have to provide an additional layer of security to your account.

Need help enrolling in Duo?
CSU Information Technology Support Helpdesk
Phone: (970) 491-7276
Email: [email protected]

2. Activate your CSU Email
After you activate your NetID, you should also establish your university email account (using Office 365). Your email address is formatted with your first name and last name, followed by @colostate.edu. For example: [email protected]. This is referred to as your “alias” and is the public address you supply when someone wants to email you. Your CSU email account stays with you throughout your CSU experience.

Once you have been admitted, CSU staff and faculty will use your CSU email account for information including financial aid, housing, orientation, academic courses, transfer evaluations and more. Check your CSU email regularly once you have been admitted. You are responsible for the information sent to your CSU email account.

To log in to your CSU email account:
1. Go to the Office365 login page
2. In the sign-in box, enter your NetID as the username in the format [email protected]
3. Enter your NetID password
4. Once logged in, click on “Outlook”

Note: there might be a delay of up to two hours between when you create your NetID and when your email account is ready to use.

Immigration Document Review

All new CSU international students must complete a mandatory Immigration Document Review. This includes students who have transferred to CSU from another school and PLACE-to-CSU change of level students. Failure to complete this requirement will result in serious immigration consequences and will result in a hold being placed on your account. Students must be in the United States before completing the Immigration Document Review.
Please do not fill out this eForm until after you have arrived in the United States.
Contact [email protected] if you are in the United States and would like to complete your IDR prior to orientation.

Intensive English Program Orientation

Students who are starting in the Intensive English Program, including conditionally admitted students, should follow the pre-arrival instructions provided by PLACE. 

International Student Pre-arrival guide

View the full pre-arrival guide for more helpful information and a checklist of items to complete before orientation.

PRE-ARRIVAL GUIDE

International Activities

On-Campus Initiatives

Resources