First STEP FAQs

You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers! Here is everything you need to know for your First STEP Orientation.

Orientation Checklist

Prior to Your Face-To-Face Orientation Event:

Watch your Southeast email!
Confirmation of your registration will be sent there, as well as updates about your date status.

Day of Event:

Dress casually and wear comfortable shoes.
Display your parking permit clearly when you park on campus.
Check-in during the designated window (7:45 - 8:55 am).
Have your transcript (unofficial is okay) of any currently enrolled high school courses, or transfer, AP, or dual enrollment credit you have earned or are currently enrolled in to assist during advising. 
Submit all official test scores directly from the testing agency or include them on the official high school transcript by June 1 for the summer/fall term and December 1 for the spring term. 
Arriving late or leaving early may delay or postpone your enrollment.

Frequently Asked Questions

First STEP is required for all incoming students coming directly from high school or with under 24 transferrable hours. It is an enjoyable day packed with information about classes, housing, college life, and a multitude of other topics regarding your time at Southeast. If a student has 24 credit hours or more, they have the option of signing up for one of our Transfer Orientation sessions.

Students who are completing their degree completely online in an eligible major or attending a regional campus location (Kennett, Sikeston, or Poplar Bluff) do not need to attend First STEP Orientation. Contact New Student Programs for assistance.  

Graduate and returning students should contact their advisors directly. 

It is very easy to sign up for First STEP! Register and find out more information about First STEP. Once you register for First STEP, a confirmation will be sent to your Southeast e-mail address. You will receive a confirmation email with an agenda of the day, a printable parking permit, and other important materials approximately two weeks before your scheduled First STEP date. If you need to change your First STEP date or make other edits to your responses, you can access and modify your reservation and responses through the registration page until the Monday prior to your event, or contact our office at (573) 651-5166 or nsp@semo.edu.

All new, first-time undergraduate domestic students (not exclusively at a regional campus or in a fully online degree program) will be charged a $150 enrollment fee on their first full semester bill to Southeast. There is no separate charge for First STEP Orientation.

All the new transfer undergraduate domestic students (not exclusively at a regional campus or in a fully online degree program) will be charged a $100 enrollment fee on their first full semester bill to Southeast. There is no separate charge for Transfer Orientation or the online Transfer Orientation Canvas course.

During First STEP, you are welcome to wear comfortable clothes. Most of the day is spent in the University Center and Academic Hall. There are campus tours available to families wishing to get a more personalized glimpse of the campus. Depending on the weather conditions, you may want to dress accordingly (e.g. an umbrella is always a good idea on those rainy days). We want your experience at First STEP to be both enjoyable and comfortable. If you often get cold, you may want to bring a light jacket or sweater in case rooms are chilly. 

Orientation events take place in the University Center on the corner of Henderson St. and Normal Ave. and parking is provided at the designated orientation parking lot at the corner of Henderson St. and Broadway. Additionally, there is very limited parking in a visitor parking lot right across from the University Center, but that space usually fills up quickly. Make sure to display the provided permit! If you did not receive it, a copy is attached to your final emailed confirmation.

If you are already on campus, see the Orientation Parking Attendant, or any Orientation Leader for a replacement pass. If for some reason you receive a university-issued parking ticket during the day of First STEP, simply notify a member of the Orientation Staff and provide them a few details and a copy of the ticket. We will be more than happy to take care of it for you. 

Advisors use all the information we know about you to build a tentative schedule for you in advance of your orientation day. We review prior college credit, academic plans, test scores, GPA, and indicated areas of interest and activities to build the best possible schedule for the first semester on campus.

On the day of your orientation, you will review this schedule and note any questions, concerns, or changes needed on the applicable form. Advisors use these responses to guide the advising process and enrollment process, where any necessary changes to the tentative schedule can be made. 

By the end of the day, you will have a finalized class schedule in your hands! You will also hear valuable information during our academics and advising session: learn about the general education system, class requirements, and other useful information about a first-semester schedule and planning for the future! 

It is difficult to predict which classes will be available during your First STEP visit, but there are a variety of courses from which you can choose. Departments may open new class sections if they see an overwhelming demand for certain classes. While there may be a greater range of class options and flexibility regarding class times at earlier sessions, you will still be allowed the chance to develop a schedule that meets your needs.

Our advisors will consider any earned college credit from high school or any other institution when you are creating your schedule. To ensure the advisors have the information they need, it is important to report all credit you will have during the registration process, provide updates to our office as needed, and bring a copy of your transcript(s) to First STEP. Doing so will ensure the advisors can help place you in the appropriate classes. First and foremost, you should have earned credit transferred to Southeast as soon as possible. If you have a question about what a course may transfer to at Southeast, you can go to our Transfer Course Conversion Page.

There are several different resources available to you. Of course, you can always speak with the staff in New Student Programs! 

When Kids Go to College: A Parent's Guide to Changing Relationships by Newman
Letting Go: A Parents' Guide to Today's College Experience by Coburn and Treeger
Don't Tell Me What to Do, Just Send Money: The Essential Parenting Guide to the College Years by Johnson and Schelhas-Miller
How to Survive in an Empty Nest: Reclaiming Your Life When Your Children Have Grown by Lauer
Almost Grown: Launching Your Child from High School to College by Pasick
Empty Nest, Full Heart: The Journey from Home to College by Van Steenhouse and Parker

For more resources, check out our Families Page!

New Student Programs

Phone

(573) 651-5166

nsp@semo.edu

Location

Office

Academic Hall 100D

Mailing Address

One University Plaza, MS 3550
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701

First STEP FAQs

Orientation Checklist

Prior to Your Face-To-Face Orientation Event:

Day of Event:

Frequently Asked Questions

Is First STEP orientation required for all incoming students?

How do I sign up for First STEP?

How much does First STEP cost?

What do I wear to First STEP?

Where do I park?

How long does First STEP last?

Are there any meals or snacks provided during First STEP?

Will I have a class schedule by the end of the day?

Will I have a good schedule of classes if I come to one of the later First STEP sessions?

If I already have college credit from high school or another institution, will the advisors consider that when I select my classes?

Will I still get classes if I enroll during the summer months?

Where might family members get information on how to cope with their child leaving home?

What if I plan to attend a regional campus?