In response to COVID-19, Sam Houston State University has announced that all summer 2020 Bearkat Orientation sessions will be held online.

One of the main questions being asked is what the transition to online orientations will look like.

“Students will be encouraged to view an online orientation through Blackboard,” Director of Accepted Students & Bearkat Orientation Jesse Bernal said. “After viewing the virtual experience, orientation students and families would join orientation leaders and campus partners in virtual Q&A presentations on their scheduled orientation session date.”

Orientation will occur on the date that students initially chose, and their orientation leader will email them additional information a week prior to their orientation date.

“We hope that students and families are able to have conversations with the help of our orientation resource guide that will be offered in a digital format,” Bernal said. “In addition, with breakout rooms in Zoom and tools in the SHSU Guidebook app, students will have a great amount of interaction with their orientation leaders.”

Students who registered with more than one guest and would like a refund should have been contacted by April 24.

Bernal said that the support across campus has helped set summer orientation up for success.

“The great thing about being a part of the Sam Houston community is that everyone is willing to help,” Bernal said. “We have a great staff of orientation leaders, and our campus partners are willing to be flexible to ensure that students and families have a great experience.”

Further questions about orientation can be emailed to orientation@shsu.edu.