New Student Orientation

Welcome to Bear Beginnings

At BSU our orientation process is called "Bear Beginnings." Orientation is not just a one-time event - it is an engaging process that begins from the moment a new to BSU student deposits to the end of their first semester!

Once you have deposited, we encourage you to visit your New Student Dashboard. The New Student Dashboard is a personalized, interactive onboarding checklist that new to BSU students have access to upon activating their BSU email. This tool allows students to track and complete time-sensitive enrollment tasks at their own pace leading up to the start of their first semester.

If you have any questions about the Bear Beginnings or your New Student Dashboard, please reach out to Orientation at 508.531.1840 or email orientation@bridgew.edu.

large light up capital letters that say GO BEARS in rainbow colors

Welcome Call

All students should review the powerpoint slides attached to their New Student Dashboard for an overview of your upcoming Bear Beginnings experience. If you have any questions or need support, please contact the Orientation Team (OTEAM) at orientation@bridgew.edu.

To stay on track, be sure to access your personalized New Student Dashboard. This is your step-by-step guide to complete time-sensitive items so we can make progress together towards your Fall 2026 semester.

4 BSU students smiling together on the BSU quad with other students sitting or walking behind them

Summer Crimson Orientation

Summer Crimson Orientation is a program designed to assist you in completing your time-sensitive items like placement testing, advising and registration, getting acclimated to campus culture and much more! This program is geared for you as an individual and offers the campus resources to help.

To stay on track, be sure to access your personalized New Student Dashboard. This is your step-by-step guide to complete time-sensitive items so we can make progress together towards your Fall 2026 semester.

*Family members and supporters are welcome to register for the “Family” portion of this program.

2 BSU first year students sitting next to each other at Crimson Days event. One, wearing a blue baseball cap, has his forehead resting on top of a small red and white inflatable ball while the second student with a black baseball cap worn backwards holds 3 small inflatable balls while looking at the first and laughing

Crimson Celebration

Your Crimson Experience continues with our annual 'Crimson Celebration' which is a campus tradition of welcoming all new to BSU Bears! All new to BSU students will be expected to attend this Fall Kick-Off event where we introduce you to time-honored traditions and come together to celebrate YOU becoming a BSU Bear. Save the date of Sunday, August 30, 2026 for your Crimson Celebration.

Starting on Monday, August 31, 2026 Fall Kick-Off starts with a few required events for incoming new to BSU students and then transitions to campus wide events for all BSU bears! Fall Kick-Off offers a variety of interactive and individualized sessions and touchpoints designed for new to BSU students to make connections, learn about BSU, and engage with the BSU community.

Orientation Leader helping new student on computer

Bear Connections

Participating in the Bear Connections program is the final step in your Crimson Experience. The Bear Connections is a multifaceted program that runs throughout your first semester and has three major components: a biweekly customized newsletter communication with important resources and reminders, a peer mentoring opportunity, and an EngageBSU checklist with various recommended and required action items designed to help you get the most out of your first semester.

a female student with long brown hair wearing glasses, a brown winter hat, headphones and green hoodie sits at a table and writes on paper while a laptop sits open in front of her

English Placement Testing

Students must submit their English essay to be eligible to meet with an advisor and choose classes. The submission form for Spring 2026 is now open and should be completed as soon as possible. First year students are required to submit an English essay prior to their scheduled math placement testing appointment. Visit our Placement Testing page to get started.

A student listens intently in class while taking notes

Math Placement Testing

Students must complete their Bridgewater Elementary Algebra Readiness (BEAR) Exam to choose classes and meet with an advisor in the Academic Achievement Center. Schedule your Math Placement Exam today to get access to the English prompt and essay submission link.

Sociology professor kneeling down and talking to a student who is sitting at a desk in class with an open laptop

Advising and Registration

Registering for your first-semester classes is a vital part of the orientation process. To get started, first complete the New Student Registration Survey to choose whether you would like an Academic Advisor to set up your schedule or if you would prefer to set up your schedule yourself. If you want to have an Academic Advisor make your schedule, you must also complete the Student Financial Responsibility Agreement (SFRA) before you can be registered. View SFRA instructions (BSU login required).

After your English and Math placement are complete and scored, check your BSU email for messages from NewStudentAdvising@bridgew.edu with more information about how to check your schedule or register for classes depending on your preference. In both cases, we have instructional videos you can watch to guide you through the process. Some students will then be required to meet with an Academic Advisor for review before the semester starts, but all students can always follow up with us if they have any questions or need support with the process.

Photo looking into Student Accessibility Services office from hallway in Rondileau Student Union

Accommodations and Accessibility

If you have a disability and need to request accommodations or campus mobility/access planning, please contact Student Accessibility Services at 508.531.2194 or SAS@bridgew.edu.

Welcome Back BBQ with students in foreground playing cornhole

Opening Day & Kick-Off

Are you ready to kick-off your journey at BSU? While there are so many opportunities to get involved on campus, we want YOU to take advantage of this opportunity before classes start in exploring what options might be right for you. During our Kick-Off and Opening Day, you’ll have the opportunity to meet with faculty and staff before connecting in the classroom, see what student organizations and activities you might want to get involved in, and even attend a Welcome BBQ at University Park that welcomes the entire BSU community.

Kick-Off then continues with a variety of other engaging programming and events throughout the first several weeks of the semester, which are designed to help you get a taste of all the opportunities open to you so you can jump in whenever and however is most comfortable for you! During this time, we hope you’ll attend some campus staples including Bingo hosted by Program Council or even attend a Student Government Association Meeting, where students help to advocate for YOUR student experience. Learn more about getting involved on campus and other BSU traditions here.

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Helpful Videos

View helpful how-to videos for new bears!