Begin Your First Year

Begin your first year as a Hoosier

You’ve completed the big steps—now it’s time to arrive, connect, and build your first-week rhythm. Use the items below to plan your first days on campus and keep your momentum going.

Hoosier Welcome

Explore on-campus welcome events.

Orientation Roadmap

Keep going with important tasks.

Canvas modules

Revisit Canvas to review important information.

Discover resources to support your first year

You’ll find endless opportunities and support at IU—and you don’t have to figure it out on your own. Explore the resources below to get connected, find community, and build your day-to-day toolkit as you begin your first year. This list is organized alphabetically and grouped into five categories:

Explore student organizations

With more than 900 student organizations to join—it’s easy to find your home at IU. Browse and connect with student organizations on campus with beINvolved—or start your own!

Arts, Sports, & Entertainment

African American Arts Institute

The African American Arts Institute (AAAI) offers three performing ensembles as credit-bearing courses through the Department of African American and African Diaspora Studies: the African American Choral Ensemble, the African American Dance Company, and the IU Soul Revue.

Eskenazi Museum of Art

The Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art encourages active learning through direct engagement with art from our wide-ranging collection, which spans nearly every art-producing culture throughout history. You can experience our collection in the galleries, at programming and events, and with a special viewing in one of our art study rooms.

IU Athletics

The official home of the Hoosiers, with 24 varsity teams, 25 national titles, scores of Big Ten and NCAA individual champions, and one of the greatest fan bases in the country. All sports except football and men's basketball offer free student admission.

IU Auditorium

IU Auditorium brings the very best of Broadway, comedians at the height of their careers, national touring artists and concerts, and performances at the cutting edge of live theatre.

IU Cinema

Located in the heart of campus, IU Cinema screens more than 200 films each year, hosts dozens of filmmakers, and offers transformative cinematic experiences to students, faculty, staff, and the Bloomington community. All are welcome!

IU Theatre & Dance

IU Theatre & Dance strives to advance the art, scholarship, and appreciation of theatre and dance and its place in society by offering majors, minors, electives, audition opportunities, and live performances for the IU community.

Musical Arts Center (MAC)

One of the grandest performance venues in the United States, the Musical Arts Center (MAC) seats 1,460. The MAC features acoustical design and technical capabilities that are among the best in the United States.

Welcome Week and First Year Programs

The Office of Student Life offers events, resources, and guidance to help new Hoosiers and their families transition into campus life. Discover opportunities to connect, learn, and thrive during your first year.

Culture Centers & Scholarship Programs

Adam W. Herbert Presidential Scholars Program

These four-year renewable scholarships help Indiana's top high school graduates meet their academic goals. The program also provides access to career mentoring, study abroad, and networking opportunities.

Asian Culture Center

Through advocacy, institutional resources, and cultural and educational support, the Asian Culture Center promotes awareness, understanding, and acceptance of Asian American and Pacific Islander cultures, history, and issues.

Community & School Partnerships

Community & School Partnerships increases opportunities for educational access, transforming the lives of students who face financial challenges or are first in their family to go to college.

First-Generation and Limited-Income Programs

The Office of Student Life provides support, community, and connection for students who are the first to attend college in their family or who display an exceptional financial need. Explore resources that will help you navigate your IU experience.

First Nations Educational & Cultural Center

The First Nations Educational & Cultural Center serves as a home away from home for IU's Native American student population, providing resources and support to inspire, encourage, and empower students for success.

Groups Scholars Program

The Groups Scholars Program provides academic, financial, and social support to selected underrepresented Indiana college students from enrollment to graduation and beyond.

Jewish Culture Center

The Jewish Culture Center helps students learn about and experience Jewish culture and enriches their college experience through academic programs, social events, and more.

Hudson & Holland Scholars Program

A scholarship and support program for high achieving students that provides funding to cover in-state tuition and mandatory fees. The program provides a variety of holistic support programs that enable students to be engage, persist, and advance.

IU Language Flagship Programs

The Language Flagship Programs provide students in any major or school a unique opportunity to learn critically important foreign languages through intensive classroom instruction, free tutoring with native speakers, study abroad, and international internships.

La Casa/Latino Cultural Center

La Casa/Latino Cultural Center provides a variety of social, academic, professional, and cultural programs to support students throughout their college journey. In addition, we also host various services to help students navigate and succeed in their educational goals such as tutoring, counseling services, and more.

LGBTQ+ Culture Center

The LGBTQ+ Culture Center offers a welcoming environment for students, as well as a resource and information hub for IU Bloomington's LGBTQ+ community and people who want to better understand specific LBGTQ+ issues and concerns.

Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center

The Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center connects IU Bloomington to black culture, promotes public awareness of the black experience, and celebrates students' academic and leadership achievements.

Health & Wellness

Atwater Eye Center/IU School of Optometry

Your campus source for all of your eye care needs including exams, glasses, and in-stock contact lenses.

Bias Incident Response

If you experience or witness an incident of bias, hate, harassment, or discrimination, submit a report so IU can support you, address the issue, and take steps to prevent future incidents.

Care Referral

In times of challenge and crisis, when a student is uncertain where to go first to help themselves or another, a Care Referral connects them with wide-ranging support.

Collegiate Recovery Community

A peer network that connects students with resources to offer support in starting or maintaining substance use recovery.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

Provides mental health services to students by trained professionals through one-on-one sessions, free workshops, group therapy, medication management, and 24/7 emergency services. All full-time students who paid the student health fee receive two free CAPS counseling visits each semester. Review our website to get information on how to schedule a first time appointment and access emergency services.

IUPD

The Indiana University Police Department is a full-service law enforcement agency that serves the safety needs of the IU campuses.

Protect IU

Protect IU makes it easy for you to find all the information you need to know about health, safety, security, and preparedness.

Recreational Sports

With two facilities that include 500+ pieces of strength and cardio equipment, 80+ group exercise sessions, 10+ basketball courts, 2 pools, racquetball and volleyball courts, indoor and outdoor tracks, and intramural sports, there's something for everyone!

Sexual Violence Prevention and Victim Advocacy

This office provides bystander intervention training, confidential support, and prevention resources for sexual violence and misconduct.

Student Health Center

A full-service medical clinic, the IU Student Health Center provides high-quality medical, mental health, and wellness services all in the heart of campus. Services include: primary care, pharmacy, genecology, lab tests, x-rays, allergy shots, immunizations, physical therapy, and acute eye care.

Substance Use Intervention Services

A safe, judgment-free alcohol and drug information and intervention center for students.

U Bring Change to Mind (UBC2M)

It empowers students to reduce stigma through campus- and community-based events and campaigns.

Student Services & Resources

21st Century Scholars

As IU Bloomington's largest need-based scholarship program, the 21st Century Scholars Program helps students make the most of their college experience with academic support, career planning and programming, mentoring through partnerships, and more.

Academic Support Center

In cooperation with many IU resources, the Academic Support Center (ASC) offers a range of free services to all students, including tutoring, advising, career counseling, workshops, and spaces for independent and group study, with locations in residence halls, campus offices, and online.

Accessible Educational Services

Accessible Educational Services for Students provides students with disabilities the resources and support to allow equal access and reasonable accommodations to fully participate in university life.

Arbutus Yearbook

Arbutus has been IU's yearbook since 1894. Visit the website to submit your photo and order your copy.

Campus Religious Leaders Association

CaRLA is a diverse group of religious leaders who respect one another and our respective faith traditions and who work to better our shared community.

Career Exploration & Student Employment

We are the gateway to career services on the Indiana University Bloomington campus, offering students a strong foundation for career development success.

Center for Veteran and Military Students

Find support, programming, and benefits for military-connected students who are veterans, current service members, or the spouse or child of a veteran or service-member.

Center of Excellence for Women & Technology

We encourage and empower women from all majors to build confidence and knowledge about technology, expand leadership skills, and leverage these skills to achieve academic and career success.

CrimsonCard

CrimsonCard is the official photo ID for Indiana University. It provides access to essential university services, including being used as a form of payment to make purchases on and off campus.

Crimson Cupboard

This on-campus food pantry offers free, healthy food and connections to other resources to IU Bloomington students who are struggling with food insecurity.

Culture of Care

This student-led, staff-supported initiative fosters Hoosier-to-Hoosier care in sexual well-being, mental health, and respect.

Friends of Art Bookshop

The Friends of Art Bookshop assists scholars in their research and creative activity, generates income for scholarships, develops community, and creates a warm and nourishing space for interaction, all in the heart of the Fine Arts Building.

Health Professions & Prelaw Advising (HPPLA)

HPPLA is dedicated to the success of IU students seeking admission into professional programs in law, medicine, and other health professions.

Indiana Daily Student (IDS)

IU's daily newspaper offers updates on university news and engaging stories of students and the community. Sign up for any or all of the headline email newsletters.

Indiana Memorial Union (IMU)

The IMU is the living room of campus, providing countless services and experiences such as entertainment, involvement opportunities, dining, meeting and study spaces, and more.

IU Bookstore

The IU Bookstore offers textbooks, apparel, gifts, accessories, electronics, and all the supplies you will need for classes and campus activities.

IU Dining

IU Dining offers innovative cuisine to a diverse university community in campus cafes, eateries, the IMU, campus stores, and food trucks.

IU Office of Parking Operations

Parking Operations governs the operation and parking of vehicles on campus. If you are an IU student who plans to park on the IU Bloomington campus, you will need to register your vehicle by purchasing a parking permit.

IU Outdoor Adventures

Outdoor Adventures provides opportunities to participate in outdoor academic courses, day trips, on-campus outdoor events, skills workshops, and other meaningful outdoor activities in Bloomington and beyond.

IU Press

As an academic press, our mandate is to serve the world of scholarship and culture as a professional, not-for-profit publisher.

Learning Commons at the IU Libraries

The Learning Commons at Wells Library supports and enhances student learning and research by providing state-of-the-art technology and resources in a collaborative academic environment.

Libraries

The IU Libraries support and strengthen teaching, learning, and research by providing the collections, services, and environments that lead to intellectual discovery.

Mentoring Services & Leadership Development

This program provides a comprehensive suite of mentoring initiatives designed to enhance leadership and communication skills, build confidence, and keep students on track to a degree.

Office of Financial Wellness & Education

Indiana University's Office of Financial Wellness & Education helps students make informed financial decisions before, during, and after college.

Office of International Services

The Office of International Services (OIS) assists international students in all areas related to international study, including admissions, visas, advising, student life, and employment.

Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life

This office provides support, training, and oversight for sororities and fraternities by promoting leadership development and good citizenship.

Office of Student Life

The Office of Student Life works behind the scenes to keep you safe, healthy, and prepared for whatever comes next. When you want to get involved, solve a problem, or connect to a resource to advance your IU experience, we are here for you.

Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education (OVPUE)

OVPUE oversees programs that support outstanding academic experiences; provides advising, testing, and enrichment resources; and leads initiatives that assess, support, and improve teaching and learning.

Education Abroad

The mission of Education Abroad is to promote study abroad by Indiana University students through participation in quality programs in a wide range of disciplines.

Parents Advisory Board

Parents of current IU students volunteer to strengthen the connection between students, families, and staff.

Social Security

The Social Security Administration is responsible for Social Security number assignment and maintenance including replacement cards, your first and continuous link with Social Security.

Student Academic Center (SAC)

The SAC helps all IU students reach their goals and build college success skills through classes you can take for credit, peer-assisted study sessions (PASS) for difficult courses, a video help series, and one-on-one academic coaching.

Student Advocates Office

This office helps students resolve personal and academic problems to maintain progress towards earning a degree.

Student Conduct

This office supports student learning, personal growth, and accountability through the student code of conduct, promoting campus safety for all.

Student Involvement and Leadership Center (SILC)

The Center’s advisors foster growth and learning by supporting inclusive and engaging experiences and provide meaningful opportunities for involvement and leadership.

Student Legal Services

This on-campus law office serves IU students with a staff of highly qualified attorneys and legal interns, paid for by the student activity fee.

Sustain IU

Sustain IU identifies and promotes sustainable solutions that reduce climate change impacts while supporting an equitable, resilient, and prosperous IU.

Transportation

IU offers green and safe ways to travel around campus including biking, walking, and riding the bus.

University Information Technology Services (UITS)

UITS offers the technology, tools, and services you need to succeed.

Visitor Information Center

The Visitor Information Center provides information and resources to help students and their families better acquaint themselves with the Bloomington campus and community.

Writing Tutorial Services (WTS)

WTS is staffed by graduate and undergraduate writing tutors who are trained to consult with students working on writing assignments for any IU class.

Volunteer & Community

Aerospace Studies Department

Aerospace Studies is the academic component of military training in the Air Force ROTC program. Coursework is designed to familiarize cadets with military concepts, teach them about the historical significance of airpower, and provide a comprehensive understanding of leadership theory.

Air Force ROTC

Air Force ROTC Detachment 215 at Indiana University is the place where driven students work together and challenge each other to become the world's next generation of leaders.

Army ROTC

Army ROTC is a college-based officer training program, which is an elective curriculum that students take along with required college classes. At end-state, students commission into the US Army (Active, National Guard or Reserves) as a second lieutenant.

Visit Bloomington

Visit Bloomington is the official source to explore the best of Bloomington, including Indiana University, Monroe Lake, hundreds of restaurants, attractions, and lodging you won't find anywhere else.

Stay informed

Visit our Resource Guide for answers to your questions now and throughout your first year.  And sign up for the IDS newsletter to stay in the know about events, resources, and opportunities at IU.

All first-year students are automatically subscribed to the newsletters. If your family wants to receive them, simply log in to Parent/Guardian Information in One.IU, select "Add a Parent/Guardian," and add their email address(es) under "Contact's Email Address."