Here are 2025 dates you’ll want to acknowledge

We are incredibly excited you are Elon Bound! There are numerous tasks for you to complete so you are prepared to begin your Elon journey. Pay attention to these dates and be sure you’re fully prepared to be Elon Bound! Don’t forget to check your Elon email account regularly. All university communications will be sent to that address, including important information leading up to your arrival on Move-in Day!

For a personalized checklist login to your Acorn account!

Trying to figure out what to pack? Download a packing checklist.

Your Checklist

  • Stay Connected!
    • Stay connected and up-to-date on all things Elon by:
      • Checking your Elon email account for important updates regularly,
      • Follow:
        • @elonuniversity (FB, Twitter, & Insta)
        • @elon_studentlife (Insta)
        • @elon_healtheu (Insta)
        • @elonadmissions (FB, Twitter, Insta)
        • @elonresidencelife (Insta)
  • Pre-order the Commemorative Elon t-shirt and Purchase Family Send-off Picnic tickets by August 5
    • T-shirts are $10 and Family Send-off Picnic wristbands are $20 (students do not need a wristband). You will receive your orders on move-in day.
  • Submit any housing accommodations requests and requests for an emotional support animal by May 1 (if applicable)
  • Complete your housing application and apply for Living-Learning Communities by May 5
    • Students are assigned to spaces, using a random process. Roommates can be mutually requested on Self-Service or will be assigned by Residence Life using information submitted on the housing application.
      • Students will log onto the Self Service website using their Elon email username and password. Choose Applications on the top menu, then First-Year Housing Application. Transfers and readmitted students complete the Transfer/Readmit Application.
      • Students will complete the questions on the housing application.
      • Students will choose a food (meal) plan.
      • Students will indicate a roommate preference, if desired. After completing the housing application, students can match with a roommate by choosing Room Selection from the top menu, then Roommates/Suitemates. Students will then search for a roommate. The roommate will receive an email and must accept the request.
    • Please contact Residence Life at residencelife@elon.edu or
      (336) 278-7300 if you have any questions.
  • Sign up to take the World Language Assessment online by May 22
    • To take your first attempt at the language assessment online for French, German, Italian and/or Spanish, please click here and signup/log in with your @elon.edu email account.
      • Typically, the assessment takes about 30 minutes.
      • Since we need to assess what you currently know, based on your past experience, no external resources can be used to answer the assessment questions.
    • To take the assessment for Arabic, please contact selgamal@elon.edu. For Hebrew, please contact bkatz2@elon.edu. For Chinese, Latin and all other languages please contact languages@elon.edu.
    • Assessments must be completed by October 1 in order to place out of the world language requirement.
    • Once your assessment responses and high school transcripts have been reviewed, your placement(s) will be posted in your Acorn account.
  • Take the Mathematics and Statistics Placement Assessment by May 30
    • Use the link provided in your Acorn account to take the Mathematics and Statistics Placement Assessment.
  • University Health Insurance Requirement enrollment or waiver by June 2
    • All full-time students are required to maintain adequate medical insurance during their enrollment at Elon University. Having adequate insurance to cover medical emergencies and routine visits is an important aspect of the health and well-being of Elon students. Students may fulfill the requirement in several ways:
      • Coverage as the primary subscriber on an employer plan
      • Coverage as a qualified dependent on a parent/guardian/partner employer plan
      • Coverage through a plan in the United States health insurance marketplace
      • Enrollment in the Student Blue Plan for Elon students through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina
      • Elon offers a student health insurance policy for all full-time undergraduate, graduate and law students. Students may waive the Student Blue policy by providing proof of existing insurance coverage (including image of their insurance card) during the designated time frame each year (for spring enrollment the deadline to waive out of the Student Blue policy is December 1 or ten days after admission). International students on a “F” or “J” visa are required to enroll in the Student Blue plan.
      • Visit the Student Blue website to enroll or waive out by the due date. Questions about the student health insurance requirement may be directed to the Student Health Insurance Project Manager at healthinsurance@elon.edu or (336) 278-7276 during regular business hours.
  • Complete the Elon Bound virtual pre-orientation program (completing this program allows you to sign up for your small group advising appointment) by June 6
    • This required Elon Bound virtual pre-orientation program is for all new, first-year and transfer undergraduate students. Beginning in May students will access the program using their Elon username and password. Families can create a guest account and explore the virtual pre-orientation program for themselves. It includes a series of modules, videos, and quizzes to help prepare you for your Elon journey.
  • Sign up for and attend your Small Group Advising Session by June 6
    • After you complete the Elon Bound Virtual Pre-Orientation experience, you will have access to sign-up for an appointment in your Acorn Account once the link goes live (Note: It can sometimes take 24-48 hour for the system to update). Remember, in order to signup for a small group advising session, you must have completed the pre-orientation program.
  • Register for a First-Year Summer Experience (space is limited) by June 6
    • First-Year Summer Experience (FSE) programs are designed to help incoming students feel confident and prepared as they enroll at Elon. The FSE programs embrace the university’s commitment to experiential learning, and use this guiding philosophy to help students develop self-awareness, enhance relationships, and define community in preparation for their Elon experience. Register on the FSE website . (space is limited)
  • International students: Register for your International Student Orientation by June 20
    • International Students will participate in an orientation experience August 20-22, 2025. Directly following that experience, all international students will participate in New Student Orientation.
  • Prepare for Virtual Advising and Class Registration. Before you attend your virtual advising session, prepare by researching class options using the Guidebooks by Major and Fall Course Offerings posted on the Office of Academic Advising website as well as OnTrack. Plan classes of interest in OnTrack at least 24 hours in advance of your virtual registration advising session.. Due before your virtual advising session 
  • Submit health and immunization forms by July 1
    • The state of North Carolina law requires college students to receive certain vaccines and immunizations prior to attendance. To be fully protected from vaccine-preventable diseases, students should receive all age-appropriate immunizations unless there are viable medical or religious contraindications. Immunization records must be submitted by students via their Immunization Compliance Verification Portal before July 1 (fall enrollment) or January 15 (spring enrollment) or within seven days of admission (if after the due date).
    • For the most up-to-date vaccination requirements and policies, email immunizations@elon.edu or visit the Campus Recreation and Wellness website. These are due July 1 (or 7 days after admission if after the due date). These due dates are for undergraduate students only.
  • Read the Elon Common Reading by August 26
    • Access the Intro to the Common Reading course and your Common Reading! The 2025-2026 Common Reading is First Gen: A Memoir by Alejandra Campoverdi. First Gen is for anyone who finds themselves the “first and only” in academic, professional, and personal spaces. As a global citizens and a student who will experience a transformative learning experience at Elon, you have been or will soon be a trailblazer who could use a travel guide like this book and a role model like Alejandra Campoverdi. Alejandra Campoverdi is a nationally recognized advocate for educational opportunity and women’s health, a bestselling author, founder, and former White House aide to President Obama.
    • The Common Reading is your first academic experience as a new Elon student. Make sure you read the book before the first day of classes. Information about what to expect from the book and exercises to prepare you to engage with it in your first-year courses is available in the Introduction to the Common Reading course on Moodle. Information about how to access the Moodle course and the book will be sent to you in early summer.
  • Check your roommate and housing assignment! On July 10 log into the housing self-service portal at www.elon.edu/myhousing, or access it through OnTrack, to find your housing location and roommate information.
  • Check your move-in time! On July 10, log into your Acorn Account to check what time you should arrive at the Schar Center on Friday, August 22 to check-in and then proceed to your move-in location. All students must come through the Schar Center first to receive their new student packet.
  • Complete three online programs (made available on July 15): Alcohol Edu, Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergraduates, and Diversity Edu (instructions will be emailed to your Elon email account) by August 15
    • You will be emailed information regarding completing the three required online education programs:
      • Alcohol education
      • Sexual assault prevention education
      • Diversity, inclusion, and belonging for student
  • Submit a photo for your Phoenix Card by August 1
    • Submit a photo for your Phoenix Card! Submitting your photo by August 1 will ensure you receive your Phoenix Card on move-in day.
    • If you have trouble submitting your photo online, you can email it to phoenixcard@elon.edu with your name and student ID number.
  • View your fall tuition bills via Elon’s ebill website and submit your payment by August 1
  • Complete the Wellness Information Form by August 1. This short information form is used to provide you with additional resources and support as needed throughout your time at Elon. The information you share is maintained by the Office ofthe Dean of Students and can only be disclosed according to federal FERPA privacy regulations. In most cases, we use this information to provide you with important Elon resources related to some of the needs you share.
  • Parking – Register your vehicle and purchase a parking permit (if applicable) by August 1
    • If you plan to bring a vehicle to campus, register it and purchase a parking permit online. Complete by August 1st to ensure your permit is included in your new student packet on move-in day.
  • Order textbooks by August 18
  • Register to vote! Check out the New Student Resources from Elon Votes! by August 22
    • Be ready to cast your ballot in the next election. Elon Votes! is a nonpartisan campus initiative created to provide students with the necessary resources to register to vote and cast their ballots in upcoming elections.
  • Request final high school transcripts be sent to the Office of Admissions by August 1
    • Request final high school, college, or community college transcripts be sent to the Office of Admissions.
    • Send any transfer credit, dual enrollment credit, Advanced Placement scores and/or International Baccalaureate scores to Elon University by August 1
  • Update/Confirm Your Emergency Contact by August 15
    • Step 1: Navigate to OnTrack using the link below.
    • Step 2: Click on “Add new contact” and complete all fields.
    • Step 3: Click the blue “Confirm” button to update your student record. (Note: Your Acorn Account will not show completion until you have updated information and clicked the “Confirm” button.)
  • Set up an account on PhoenixConnect and explore Elon’s student organization by January 28
  • A benefit for Elon students is access to the on campus Student Health Services. In order to visit Student Health Services students MUST have a physical health insurance card (copies will not suffice). So don’t forget to bring your health insurance card to campus with you! *For any physical or travel preparation visit, you will also need your immunization record.
  • For students interested in campus employment, once hired by the university you will need to complete an I-9 form.Below is a quick list of what you need to bring to campus for the I-9 form process:
    • List A: U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport Card
    • OR List B + List C
      • List B (choose one): Driver’s license/ID card | School ID card with photograph
      • List C (choose one): Social Security Account Number card | Original birth certificate

These are common examples of documents for this form, but other forms of identification may be accepted.

  • Print Your Dashboard Sign by August 21
    • Print the dashboard sign from your Acorn Account and have it displayed in the dash of your vehicle(s) upon arriving at the Schar Center for your move-in time. This has your housing assignment and will help our team direct you to the right check-in line.
  • Move to Elon August 22!
    • Be sure to head to central check-in at the Schar Center first. Refer to these driving directions – Elon Bound Driving Directions & Map . If you pre-ordered your textbooks from Barnes and Noble at Elon don’t forget to pick them up!
  • New Student Orientation August 22-25!
    • New Student Orientation begins after move-in on Friday, August 22, 2025 and ends in the afternoon on Monday, August 25, 2025. It is required for all new students, both first-years and transfers.
  • First day of classes August 26