Fall 2026 New Student Calendar

This calendar has specific date deadlines as well as a to-do list for the spring and summer months. Please review all of it and check the webpage for updated items each month.

A printable pdf version of the calendar is available.  

updated 3/4/2026

March
March 11 
Cougar Excursion Application opens. 

March 31
Application for Panhellenic (sorority) recruitment opens online. Deadline is July 20 at 11:59 pm For more information regarding recruitment, go to the sorority recruitment website.  

All Month
  • Register for Admitted Cougar Events (various dates February, March and April). Check the Next Steps page for Admitted Students for more information and to register)
  • Submit picture online for your Cougar Card (CofC ID). The deadline is five business days before your scheduled orientation. View picture requirements and deadlines on the website. 
  • Student Health Requirement information must be submitted to Student Health Services via online system and be in compliance with immunization requirements or student will not be able to register for classes at orientation. Online forms can be found on their website. Deadline is May 15, 2026.

April

April 1
Students who have already completed their housing application can start forming (optional) roommate groups.

All Month

  • Submit picture online for your Cougar Card (CofC ID). The deadline is five business days before your scheduled orientation. View picture requirements and deadlines on the website. 
  • Student Health Requirement information must be submitted to Student Health Services via online system and be in compliance with immunization requirements or student will not be able to register for classes at orientation. Online forms can be found on their website. Deadline is May 15, 2026.

May

May 1
Deadline to submit CofC enrollment deposit

Deadline for incoming, first-year students to complete CofC housing application (by 11:59 pm ET) for guaranteed housing for Fall 2026. Note: The housing application can only be completed after making your enrollment deposit, which takes about 12 hours to process. Plan ahead if you wish to apply for housing.     

May 8
Orientation registration deadline for freshmen  

May 15
Student Health Requirement information must be submitted to Student Health Services via online system and be in compliance with immunization requirements or student will not be able to register for classes at orientation. Online forms can be found on their website. Deadline is May 15, 2026.

May 15
Deadline to form a roommate group (optional) for students who completed their housing application by May 1 

All Month
Submit picture online for your Cougar Card (CofC ID). The deadline is five business days before your scheduled orientation. View picture requirements and deadlines on the website. 

June

June 1 
U.S. citizens who haven’t submitted the FAFSA must verify lawful presence before being permitted to register for classes during orientation.  

Early to Mid-June
Students who completed the housing application begin room selection based on the date they completed it. 

All Month
  • Submit your official AP/IB/CLEP score information to the Office of Admissions
  • All students must review/accept the financial aid awarded to them for Fall 2026
  • Submit picture online for your Cougar Card (CofC ID). The deadline is five business days before your scheduled orientation. View picture requirements and deadlines on the website.  

July

July 20
Panhellenic Primary Recruitment Registration Deadline by 11:59 PM                              

July 26
Cougar Excursion Application Deadline

Early July
Billing begins for the Fall 2026 semester for students who have attended orientation

Mid-month

  • Submit official final high school transcript verifying high school graduation.
  • Students living on campus are emailed their CofC Complex mailing address along with detailed mailing/shipping instructions.

All Month
Submit picture online for your Cougar Card (CofC ID). The deadline is five business days before your scheduled orientation. View picture requirements and deadlines on the website. 

August

August 1              
Deadline for all new students missing official final high school/college transcripts to be submitted to the Office of Admissions

August 7
Deadline to submit picture online for your Cougar Card (CofC ID). View picture requirements and deadlines on the website.  

August 10
Financial aid for the fall semester credits to students' accounts. Automatic bank account deposits are available only AFTER the Treasurer's and Controller's Offices have produced them and students are notified via email.

August 10
Deadline to make qualified meal plan changes within the MyHousing/Dining portal. Between August 11 and 21 at 5 p.m., changes can be made through Campus Services HQ. 

August 12
Students should verify or opt out of Cougar Complete, the College’s course material program, if they haven’t already. Look for an email from Barnes & Noble (coursematerials@email.bncollege.com) to review and confirm your materials. 

August 13-15
Cougar Excursion (students who are registered to attend will move in on August 12)

August 13-23
All eight Panhellenic Chapters will participate in the Primary Recruitment process. Early move-in for participants is Wednesday, August 12, 2026.

August 14-15
Move-in period for students living in campus housing. Students must make an appointment to move in. More information will be provided later in the summer.

August 15
First Night Charleston

August 16-September 27
Fall 2026 Weeks of Welcome

August 16
New Student Convocation

August 17
Fall 2026 semester classes begin

August 18
NPHC/Culturally Based Organizations Meet the Greeks Night - 6 pm – Rita Hollings Science Center, Room 101 

August 21
Deadline to make qualified meal plan changes through Campus Services HQ (by 5 p.m.)

August 21
Deadline to verify course materials or opt out of Cougar Complete

All Month
Check online for Transfer Credit Awards (includes AP, IB, and college transfer credits) in Degree Works in MyPortal.

Dates to be announced later in the spring

  • Application for Interfraternity Council (IFC) recruitment opens online. 
  • Interfraternity Council (IFC) Week
  • Interfraternity Council (IFC)  Recruitment Registration Deadline by 11:59 PM
  • IFC Convocation and Open House
  • Deadline for the tuition and fees bill for students who attended the June and July orientation sessions. 
  • Deadline for the tuition and fees bill for students who attended the August orientation sessions. 

To Do Monthly in March, April and May

  • Check your College of Charleston email account weekly for important news for incoming students.

  • Explore majors  on the College of Charlesotn website 
  •  Review/Accept Financial Aid packages via MyPortal (under the Financial Aid Dashboard)
  • Check Holds in MyPortal on the My Holds tile.  Students will have an orientation hold on their account until they attend orientation.

  • Submit picture online for your Cougar Card (CofC ID). View picture requirements and deadlines (deadline is five days before your orientation or August 7, 2026, whichever is sooner)

To Do in June, July and August

  • Check your CofC email account daily for important news for incoming students

  • Set up an Authorized User on eBill. Tutorials can be found on the website/li>
  • Submit picture online for your Cougar Card (CofC ID). View picture requirements and deadlines (deadline is five days before your orientation or August 7, 2026, whichever is sooner)
  • Contact your roommates and suitemates to start to plan for your room

***All due dates are subject to change for health and safety reasons. Please refer to department or program websites for updates.

For more information about orientation, new students can visit the orientation website
Students with questions can email orientation@charleston.edu

For more information, family members can visit the parents and families website. 
Families with questions can email parents@charleston.edu