New Students

New Undergraduate Students

If you are a new USI student who has not previously attended the University, you must be admitted prior to enrolling in classes. The application for admission is available at www.usi.edu/admission. To make the registration process as easy as possible, you should complete your application for admission file by August 15, 2020. Completed application files must have a submitted online application, official transcripts, a $40 non-refundable application fee, and SAT or ACT scores. (If you have been out of high school for three or more years, contact an admission counselor to determine whether the SAT/ACT test is required). For questions regarding the application process, contact Undergraduate Admissions at 812-464-1765 or 800-467-1965 (option #1).

New Student Academic Placement and Testing

Placement into English, math, and reading courses are based on a student’s ACT/SAT scores and any transfer credit a student may have.  Students who don’t have scores, or who wish to try to improve their course placement, can take the Accuplacer placement test.

Academic Skills administers math, foreign language (French, German, and Spanish), reading, and writing placement tests. Students who wish to take Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Latin, should contact the Chair of World Languages and Cultures for information.  Any required placement testing must be completed at least two weeks prior to advising and registration.

These tests can be taken in a variety of ways: 

1. Visit the USI campus during normal business hours with no appointment necessary. Normal business hours are 8 a.m.– 4:30 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday. Walk-ins are welcome until 3 p.m.
2. Visit the USI campus during special testing sessions.
3. Arrange for testing at a testing center in your community. 
4. Take the test at home using BVirtual. This option requires the student to use a webcam and pay a $25 fee. 

You should complete the necessary tests at least two weeks prior to Orientation to enable course registration on the day of Orientation. Students with disabilities requesting special accommodations must be registered with Disability Resources at least two weeks in advance of scheduling an appointment for placement testing. Contact Disability Resources at 812-464-1961 for more information.

Math, reading, and writing placements are mandatory and GENS coursework should be completed by the end of the first year. Credit hours for all these courses count toward a student’s full-time status, but not all of the classes offer academic credits. However, these courses save time, academic standing, and financial aid, all of which can be jeopardized if students try to advance to courses for which they are not prepared. For additional information on placement and testing, visit https://www.usi.edu/university-division/academicskills/placement-testing/ or contact:

English: 812-465-7128 or mlee4@usi.edu
Mathematics: 812-465-1689 or rhudson@usi.edu
World Languages and Cultures: 812-461-5203 or sarode@usi.edu
Academic Skills (general questions): 812-464-1743 or nmyers@usi.edu

New Student Orientation and Registration

As a new freshman or transfer student, you are required to participate in a Screaming Eagles Orientation program to introduce you to life at USI. Participation is a prerequisite of registration. Through Orientation, you will become acquainted with the educational opportunities, facilities, and procedures at USI. During Orientation, you will work with an academic advisor who will assist you with course selection and registration for fall semester classes. Admitted students can participate in ONE of the following Orientation sessions: 

Transfer students who have completed 60 credit hours, adult students (25 years of age or older), and students taking all of their courses through online learning have the option of completing Online Orientation. Students can access online orientation at www.usi.edu/orientation beginning March 1, 2020. After completing online orientation, it is the student’s responsibility to contact the college of their major (or University Division for undecided majors) to schedule an appointment for advising and registration. 

To make a reservation for Orientation, complete Online Orientation, or to learn more about Screaming Eagles Orientation, visit www.usi.edu/orientation; email orientation@usi.edu; phone Student Development Programs at 812-465-7167 or 800-350-7830.

New Graduate Students

New graduate students must be deemed eligible by Graduate Studies and accepted for admission to a graduate program before enrolling in graduate courses (no later than the close of business on the Friday prior to the start of the term). The online application for admission to Graduate Studies and graduate program application information are available at www.usi.edu/graduatestudies. Completed application files must include the application for graduate admission form, official transcripts from all undergraduate/graduate institutions attended, and a $40 non-refundable application fee. International students may be required to submit additional information.

New graduate students are eligible to register during priority registration .

Students wishing to enroll in both graduate and undergraduate courses in the same term must complete an application for graduate admission. Once admitted, you should enroll in the graduate course(s) before the undergraduate course(s).

Graduate Studies is located on the first floor of the Robert D. Orr Center, Rm. 1060; phone 812-465-7015.

Immunization Notice

All students entering the University of Southern Indiana for the first time or living in University Housing must meet the immunization requirements of the University and Indiana Code 21-40-5 enacted by the 2007 Indiana General Assembly. Failure to meet the immunization policy may result in the student being administratively withdrawn from their current coursework, and will result in a hold being placed on the student’s account, which prevents future registration until immunization documentation is provided.

To comply with the requirements, students must provide current documentation of the following immunizations:

• MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella): The student must be immunized with two doses. First MMR must be given after 1957 and not before first birthday. Second dose must be given at least 30 days after the first. A physician’s written statement of immunity to measles and mumps due to having had the infection or proof of immunity through titers is acceptable. Students born before January 1, 1957, are exempt from the MMR requirement.
• Tetanus/diphtheria (TD booster/Tdap): Vaccination must have taken place within the past 10 years. A tetanus toxoid alone NOT ACCEPTABLE.
• Meningitis vaccine:  Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) two immunizations if given before 16^th birthday or one immunization if given on or after 16^th birthday.
• Tuberculosis (International Students Only):  All International students (those who are not Citizens or Permanent Residents of the United States) must provide documentation of TB testing prior to the start of their first semester of enrollment at USI. This testing must occur no earlier than 6 weeks before the start of the semester. This test may be done with a TB blood test or a TB skin test administered in the United States by a medical professional. Send medical documentation including your student ID number to the University Health Center (Contact information found below).

Acceptable documentation consists of one or more of the following:

• Copy of the student’s immunization records from high school or another postsecondary institution
• Physicians’ statement showing the month, day and year during which the vaccinations were administered or infection was experienced. 
• Completion of the USI Student Immunization form with doctor’s signature
• Personal record maintained by the student or the student’s family showing the month, day and year during which the vaccinations were administered.

A student may be granted an exemption from meeting state immunization requirements under certain conditions, such as a medical condition that contraindicates immunization, pregnancy or suspected pregnancy, religious objection, or participation in a current sequence of immunizations. The student must provide the University with a written statement signed by their physician before an exemption for medical reasons will be considered. Further information may be obtained by contacting the University Health Center at 812-465-1250 or in Room 0091 in the Health Professions Center. Follow this link to access the Request to be Exempt from Immunization Requirements Form

Appropriate documentation concerning the student’s request for exemption must be mailed, delivered or faxed to the University Health Center prior to the start of your first semester at USI. 

• Fax 812-465-7170;
• Email to immunizations@usi.edu;
• Brought to the University Health Center on the lower level of the HP building; or
• Mailed to University of Southern Indiana, Immunizations HP0091, 8600 University Blvd, Evansville, IN 47712