New Student Orientation for Community Colleges

Please Note: signing up for an early orientation date will give you a better chance to get into the classes you want to take!

Click On Your School to Find More Information

Chattanooga State Community College

Orientation is required for all new first-time degree seeking students. Dates run from:

  • June 4 through August 15 at the main campus
  • June 25 through August 6 at Kimball campus
  • June 18 through July 30 at the Dayton campus
  • Early Orientation: April 27 through May 23 (for incoming freshman who have completed an Early College course).

Students have to schedule their own orientation appointments and can only do so if their admissions file is complete. There is also an online orientation option. In order to make your orientation appointment, students should make sure their admissions file is complete, log into the online orientation portal and create a new account by clicking on the “CREATE NEW ACCOUNT” link. At the conclusion of the online orientation module, you will then RSVP for an in-person session where you will register for your classes. Email [email protected] with your name and student ID number (A number) if you have any problems logging into the online orientation.

Cleveland State Community College

This year, Cleveland State’s orientation will occur after students are enrolled/registered for classes. There are ten total orientation sessions, 7 at the Cleveland campus and 3 at the Athens campus, and all new students are required to attend an orientation in-person (there is no online option). Students must create a CougarNet account and complete all admissions and financial aid requirements before being able to sign up for an orientation date. They will also need their Student ID (N #), which is listed on their Cleveland State acceptance letter, to register for orientation. Student also must bring a photo ID to pick up their Student ID at orientation. Orientations are 3.5 hours at the Cleveland campus and 2.5 hours at the Athens location. In addition, students are assigned a Success Coach who is available as a resource throughout the registration process and will contact students upon their acceptance.

Columbia State Community College

Admitted students receive a letter from the Charger Center (a walk-in support/advising center for students) with instructions on how to schedule a meeting with an advisor to set up their classes. It is recommended that students schedule the advising appointment as soon as possible! A separate email is sent to students regarding signing up for new student orientation (dates are listed below); students reply with their top three orientation dates that they would like to attend and will coordinate w/Columbia State to confirm their choice. New student orientation is not required to be completed prior to registering for classes.

Clifton Campus- July 26th, 2019 (sign up here)

Columbia Campus- June 7th, 2019; July 19th, 2019; August 3rd, 2019; August 20th, 2019 (sign up here)

Lawrence Campus- August 8th, 2019 (sign up here)

Lewisburg Campus- August 5th, 2019 (sign up here)

Williamson Campus- June 21st, 2019; August 12th, 2019 (sign up here)

Dyersburg State Community College

Eight new student orientations are being held in-person between now and the start of the fall 2019 semester:

  • June 11, 2019 @ Dyersburg Campus Student Center, 4:00-6:00 p.m.
  • June 13, 2019 @ Jimmy Naifeh Center at Tipton County Baptist Memorial Health Care Academic Building Auditorium, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
  • July 16, 2019 @ Dyersburg Campus Student Center, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
  • July 18, 2019 @ Jimmy Naifeh Center at Tipton County Baptist Memorial Health Care Academic Building Auditorium, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
  • August 13, 2019 @ Dyersburg Campus Student Center, 4:00-6:00 p.m.
  • August 19, 2019 @ Gibson County Center Lobby, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
  • August 20, 2019 @ Jimmy Naifeh Center at Tipton County Baptist Memorial Health Care Academic Building Auditorium, 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Orientation is a requirement for students. Incoming freshman are encouraged to do the orientation on campus if possible, but there is also an online orientation available 24/7! Students need to login to MyDSCC, click on the Student tab and click on the link to access the online orientation. At the in-person orientation, students will meet with representatives from different departments at the college, get a tour of campus, go to a resource fair and often get a chance to meet with an advisor to learn more about registering for classes. The average orientation length is two hours long and a range of 70-150 students on average attend each orientation session.

Jackson State Community College

Jackson State will be holding 20-25 in-person orientation sessions starting in late May or early June. Orientations are required for new students. In order to sign up for orientation, students will need to activate their jweb portal and their Net Logon account. At orientation, students will meet with their advisor, a financial aid representative and be able to register for classes. Orientations last three hours and 60 students per session are allowed. Students should make sure to meet at the McWherter building at least 30 minutes before the orientation begins.

Motlow State Community College

Motlow State will be hosting over 40 orientations throughout the summer across all of their campuses. Orientations are all in-person, usually last between three and three and a half hours and first-time freshmen are required to attend. Ten to twenty students can attend each session, and there are between 3-5 sessions per orientation date for which students can sign up. Emails about new student orientations are sent out multiple times each week beginning in April to orientation eligible students. Eligible students have already completed their application and submitted all of their necessary admission requirements. Once students have completed their requirements, they should log into their myMotlow account, go to the students tab, click on the Orientation sign-up and choose from the available dates. Students should also sign up for orientation as early as they can so they have a better chance at getting into all of the classes they want to take.

Nashville State Community College

Nashville State requires orientation for all first-time freshmen. Students are invited via email once they are admitted into the school and they should receive one within a week of their acceptance. Four orientations will be offered in April and May; two orientations a month will be offered in June, July and August. There are no online orientations available for students. Students who are not attending the White Bridge campus can reserve spaces in orientations on their campuses online.

Northeast State Community College

Northeast State will be holding 19 orientations for fall classes from June through August. The school does not make dates available to students until they make a reservation for setting an orientation date, and students with incomplete admissions files cannot attend new student orientations (NSOs). Most NSOs are held at the Blountville campus, but some are held at the Kingsport, Johnson City and Elizabethton campuses. There is an online orientation that students must complete in addition to the in-person orientation and accepted students are automatically directed to the online orientation platform. The Blountville campus allows 120 students per session, 75 for Kingsport and 60 for Elizabethton and Johnson City. The orientations last 2-3 hours. Students also meet one-on-one with a new student advisor at the orientation.

Pellissippi State Community College

Pellissippi State:

Orientation Dates for TN Promise Students:

  • Blount County:
    • Thursday, June 20 @ 5:30-8:30 p.m.
    • Monday, June 24 @ 1-4 p.m.
    • Thursday, June 27 @ 9 a.m.-Noon
  • Division Street:
    • Friday, June 21 @ 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
    • Tuesday, June 25 @ 5-9 p.m.
  • Hardin Valley:
    • Tuesday, June 11 @ 5-9 p.m.
    • Tuesday, June 18 @ 5-9 p.m.
    • Friday, June 21 @ 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
    • Tuesday, June 25 @ 5-9 p.m.
    • Friday, June 28 @ 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
  • Magnolia Avenue:
    • Monday, June 17 @ 5-8:30 p.m.
  • Strawberry Plains:
    • Wednesday, June 12 @ 1-4:30 p.m.
    • Thursday, June 13 @ 5-8:30 p.m.

Online orientations are available for students pursuing online degrees, but all other students must attend in-person. Students can sign up for orientation through their myPellissippi accounts or by calling their information center at 865.694.6400.

Roane State Community College

Fourteen New Student Orientation dates, times and locations:

  • June 13: Cumberland County Campus 9:00 am - 1:00 pm (Central Time): Attendees report to the Community Room
  • June 18: Oak Ridge Campus 9:00 am - 1:00 pm: Attendees report to Room 107 in the Goff Building
  • June 20: Roane County Campus 9:00 am - 1:00 pm: Attendees report to the Jake and Rubye K. Vann Student Center in the Dunbar Building
  • July 16: Oak Ridge Campus 9:00 am - 1:00 pm: Attendees report to Room 107 in the Goff Building
  • July 16: Cumberland County Campus 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Central Time): Attendees report to the Community Room
  • July 18: Roane County Campus 9:00 am - 1:00 pm: Attendees report to the Jake and Rubye K. Vann Student Center in the Dunbar Building
  • July 23: Oak Ridge Campus 9:00 am - 1:00 pm: Attendees report to Room 107 in the Goff Building
  • July 23: Roane County Campus 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm: Attendees report to the Jake and Rubye K. Vann Student Center in the Dunbar Building
  • July 25: Roane County Campus 9:00 am - 1:00 pm: Attendees report to the Jake and Rubye K. Vann Student Center in the Dunbar Building
  • July 30: Oak Ridge Campus 9:00 am - 1:00 pm: Attendees report to Room 107 in the Goff Building
  • July 30: Oak Ridge Campus 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm: Attendees report to Room 107 in the Goff Building
  • August 1: Cumberland County Campus 9:00 am - 1:00 pm (Central Time): Attendees report to the Community Room
  • August 6: Cumberland County Campus 10:00 am - 2:00 pm (Central Time): Attendees report to the Community Room
  • August 13: Roane County Campus 9:00 am - 1:00 pm: Attendees report to the O'Brien Theatre in the O'Brien Building

Students sign up for orientation on Roane State’s website and need their R# to register. There are no online orientations offered, but there is a separate adult learner orientation for those who are 25 and older.

Southwest Tennessee Community College

Ten orientation dates will be held over the summer:

  • June 14 at the Union, TNP campuses
  • June 18 at Center, Whitehaven campuses
  • June 22 at Macon, TNP & TNR campuses
  • June 28 at Macon campus
  • July 12 at Union campus
  • July 16 at Center, MSC
  • July 20 at Macon, CNR
  • July 26 at Union (Reserved for Summer Bridge students in the afternoon)
  • July 30 at Macon
  • August 2 at Union

Students can access the online option through their My.Southwest portal. It is not a live orientation, but there are slides students have to go through and they need to answer questions about them at the end.

Volunteer State Community College

Orientation is required for all new first-time freshman at Vol State.

  • There are sessions offered by each campus:
    • Gallatin (main campus) – 6 sessions
    • Highland Crest – 3 sessions
    • Livingston – 3 sessions
    • Cookeville – 6 sessions

The sessions begin in June and end the last week of July. About 50 students are allowed per session at any of the non-main campuses, and 300 total are allowed at the main campus (50 per program of study). Vol State does not post the dates of their Campus Connect orientations for anyone to see externally. Students must engage with the college BEFORE June to ensure they are completing necessary paperwork for Financial Aid and other offices on campus. Vol State will email invitations to students who are invited to attend Campus Connect.  These emails are sent to the student’s Vol State student email address. The email address of the student is school issued and marked on the student’s Welcome Letter from the college.

Walters State Community College

Thirty orientation dates are held over the summer at all campus locations with various time offerings. Students can sign up on Walters State's website once they create a My WS account. There is an online orientation that students must complete prior to attending in-person orientations on campus. At the in-person orientations, students will have to check in, attend the hour-long orientation session, and then register for classes and meet with their academic advisor. Each campus allows 100 students for each orientation session except the Greeneville campus, which allows a maximum of 75 students.

Sevier Campus:

  • July 9 at 1:00 p.m.

Claiborne Campus:

  • June 13th at 1:00 p.m.

Greeneville/Greene County Center:

  • June 6th at 1:00 p.m.
  • June 24th at 1:00 p.m.

Morristown Campus:

  • June 20th at 1:00 p.m.
  • June 22nd at 9:00 a.m.
  • July 11th at 1:00 p.m.
  • July 15th at 5:00 p.m.