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 11, 2023. Completed application files must have a submitted online application, official transcripts and a $40 non-refundable application fee. SAT and/or ACT test scores are not required unless you indicate you would like scores to be considered on your admission application, you are homeschooled or attend a high school that does not provide traditional grades. 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 did not submit standardized test scores for admission can still submit scores for placement purposes. Without scores, students may need to take a placement test to determine appropriate placement. Students who wish to try to improve their course placement can also take a placement test.

Students who have taken French, German, or Spanish classes in high school and want to continue study of that language at USI will be placed according to number of years they have studied the language. Placement tests are available in French, German and Spanish in certain circumstances by appointment. Students who took Arabic, Chinese, Japanese or Latin in high school should contact the World Languages and Cultures department at 812-465-7026 to schedule an interview.

For those students who require testing to determine placement, Academic Skills administers math, reading, and writing placement tests. These tests can be taken in a variety of ways:

1. On-campus testing is available by appointment Mondays through Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (Central Time), unless the University is closed.
2. Students unable to come to campus may take their tests online with a virtual remote proctor. This option allows the student to test at home using their own computer. It requires a high-speed internet connection and a webcam. Contact Academic Skills for more information.
3. Arrange for testing at a testing center in your community. 
4. Take the test at home using Examity. This option requires the student to use a webcam and pay a $25 fee. 

You should complete the necessary tests two weeks prior to your Advising and Registration appointment. 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/academic-skills/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 dhitchcoc@usi.edu
Academic Skills (general questions): 812-464-1743 or placement.test@usi.edu

New Student Orientation and Registration

New freshman and transfer students are required to participate in a Screaming Eagles Orientation program to introduce you to life at USI. Through Orientation, you will become acquainted with the educational opportunities, resources, and procedures at USI. Prior to orientation, you will have an academic advising and course registration appointment. At this appointment you will work with an advisor on course selection and registration for fall semester classes. Orientation will be completed by completing the pre-orientation (online) and attending an orientation session. Pre-orientation is available beginning March 1, 2023 at USI.edu/orientation. 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 an online orientation, instead of attending in-person. Students can access online orientation at www.usi.edu/orientation beginning March 1, 2023. 

To complete Online Orientation or to learn more about Screaming Eagles Orientation, visit www.usi.edu/orientation; email new.student@usi.edu; phone New Student and Transitional Programs at 812-465-7167 or 800-350-7830. To make a reservation for orientation click on the Admitted Student Tasklist icon in myUSI. You will receive an email when this is available. 

New Graduate Students

New graduate students must be deemed eligible by the School of 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 the School of 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 .

The School of 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