New Student Calendar 2024
Students starting in the fall 2024 semester can refer to this helpful calendar. A downloadable pdf version is available for printing.
All due dates are subject to change for health and safety reasons. Please refer to department or program websites for updates.
Find more information about orientation:
New Student Orientation page | Questions: orientat@cofc.edu
Family Orientation Information | Questions: parents@cofc.edu
last updated 3/4/2024
March 2024
- March 1
- Priority deadline for FAFSA (need-based financial aid). You can view instructions on the Financial Aid website.
- Priority deadline for FAFSA (need-based financial aid). You can view instructions on the Financial Aid website.
- March 6
- Orientation registration available for students who have paid their enrollment confirmation fee in MyPortal.
- Orientation registration available for students who have paid their enrollment confirmation fee in MyPortal.
- March 11
- Cougar Excursion application opens.
- Beginning of the Month
- Orientation Registration information mailed to all students who have paid their enrollment confirmation fee.
- Orientation Registration information mailed to all students who have paid their enrollment confirmation fee.
- All Month
- Register for Admitted Cougar Events (various dates February-March. 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. Make sure to review the picture requirements and deadlines before submitting your picture.
- Immunization online record forms 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. Instructions to access and complete the forms can be found on the Student Health website . Deadline is May 15, 2024.
- Register for Admitted Cougar Events (various dates February-March. Check the Next Steps page for Admitted Students for more information and to register)
April 2024
- April 1
- Application for Panhellenic (sorority) recruitment opens online. Information regarding recruitment can be found on the panhellenic recruitment website. Deadline is July 31 at 11:30 pm
- Application for Interfraternity Council (IFC) recruitment opens online. Information regarding recruitment can be found on the IFC recruitment website. Deadline is September 17 at 11:59 pm
- Students who have already completed their housing application can start forming (optional) roommate groups.
- Application for Panhellenic (sorority) recruitment opens online. Information regarding recruitment can be found on the panhellenic recruitment website. Deadline is July 31 at 11:30 pm
May 2024
- May 1
- Deadline to submit CofC enrollment deposit
Deadline for incoming, first-year students to complete CofC housing application (by 11:59 pm EST) for guaranteed housing for Fall 2024. Note: The housing application can only be completed 12 hours after making your enrollment deposit – you must first have your CofC email access in order to apply for housing. Plan ahead if you wish to apply for housing.
On-campus housing is no longer guaranteed after May 1. Students may add their name to a housing-application wait list through the MyHousing/Dining portal.
- Deadline to submit CofC enrollment deposit
- May 10
- Orientation registration deadline for freshmen
- Orientation registration deadline for freshmen
- May 15
- Immunization online record forms 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. Instructions to access and complete the forms can be found on the Student Health website . Deadline is May 15, 2024.
- Deadline to form a roommate group (optional) for students who completed their housing application by May 1
- Immunization online record forms 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. Instructions to access and complete the forms can be found on the Student Health website . Deadline is May 15, 2024.
- Mid Month
- Request to have official SAT/ACT scores sent to Office of Admissions if you
haven’t already done so (freshmen only) Scores will be used for placement purposes
- Request to have official SAT/ACT scores sent to Office of Admissions if you
June 2024
- June 1
- U.S. citizens who haven’t submitted the FAFSA must verify lawful presence before being permitted to register for classes during orientation.
- 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 their housing application.
- Students who completed the housing application begin room selection based on the date they completed their housing application.
- All Month
- Submit your official AP/IB/CLEP score information to the Office of Admissions
- On-campus housing is no longer guaranteed after May 1. Students may add their name to a housing-application wait list through the MyHousing/Dining portal.
- All students must review/accept the financial aid awarded to them for Fall 2024
- Submit your official AP/IB/CLEP score information to the Office of Admissions
July 2024
- July 5
- Billing begins for the Fall 2024 semester for students who have attended orientation
- Billing begins for the Fall 2024 semester for students who have attended orientation
- July 22
- Application for Panhellenic (sorority) recruitment due at 11:59 pm
- July 26
- Cougar Excursion Application Deadline
- Cougar Excursion Application Deadline
- 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.
- Submit official final high school transcript verifying high school graduation.
August 2024
- August 1
- Deadline for all new students missing official final high school/college transcripts to be submitted to the Office of Admissions
- Deadline for all new students missing official final high school/college transcripts to be submitted to the Office of Admissions
- 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.
- 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 14
- Deadline to make qualified meal plan changes within the MyHousing/Dining portal. Between August 15 and 26, changes can be made through Campus Services HQ.
- Deadline to make qualified meal plan changes within the MyHousing/Dining portal. Between August 15 and 26, changes can be made through Campus Services HQ.
- August 15
- Deadline to submit picture online for your Cougar Card (CofC ID). Make sure to check the picture requirements and deadlines.
- Deadline for the tuition and fees bill for students who attended the June and July orientation sessions.
- Deadline to submit picture online for your Cougar Card (CofC ID). Make sure to check the picture requirements and deadlines.
- August 15-25
- All eight panhellenic chapters will participate in the Primary Recruitment process. Early Move-In for participants is Wednesday, August 14th, 2024.
- All eight panhellenic chapters will participate in the Primary Recruitment process. Early Move-In for participants is Wednesday, August 14th, 2024.
- August 15-17
- Cougar Excursion (students who are registered to attend will move in on August 14)
- Cougar Excursion (students who are registered to attend will move in on August 14)
- August 16-18
- Move-in period for students living in campus housing. More information regarding sign-up for move-in will be provided later in the summer.
- August 19
- New Student Convocation
- NPHC/ Culturally Based Organizations Meet the Greeks Night - 6 pm – Rita Hollings Science Center, room 101
- New Student Convocation
- August 20
- Fall 2024 semester classes begin
- Fall 2024 semester classes begin
- August 26
- Deadline for the tuition and fees bill for students who attended the August orientation sessions.
- Deadline to make qualified meal plan changes at Campus Services HQ (by 5 p.m.)
- Deadline to verify course materials or opt out of Cougar Complete
- Deadline for the tuition and fees bill for students who attended the August orientation sessions.
- All Month
- Check online for Transfer Credit Awards (includes AP, IB, and college transfer credits) in Degree Works in MyPortal.
September 2024
- September 17
- Application for IFC (fraternity) recruitment due at 11:59 pm
To Do Monthly in March, April and May
- Check your College of Charleston email account weekly for important news for incoming students.
- Explore majors
- Check off items on pre orientation checklist
- Review the laptop requirement for students and check out computer and technology information.
- Review/Accept Financial Aid packages via MyPortal (under the Financial Aid Dashboard)
To Do in June, July and August
- Review advising website PRIOR to orientation. Check out the link at
- Check off items on pre orientation checklist at https://charleston.edu/orientation/checklist/index.php
- Check your CofC email account daily for important news for incoming students
- Set up authorized payer on Ebill. You can find the instructions on the Treasurer's Office website.
- Submit picture online for your Cougar Card – CofC ID card. Make sure to check the picture requirements and deadlines. (deadline is five days before your orientation or August 15, 2024, whichever is sooner)
- Review the laptop requirement for students and check out computer and technology information.
- Contact your roommates and suitemates to start to plan for your room
- Attend new student orientation