New Student Checklist

• Non-U.S. citizens and permanent residents must submit a Statement of Financial Resources (SOFR) to be issued an I-20/DS-2019 for visa eligibility.
• Students should visit the Office of International Services website for the steps to complete the SOFR, be issued an I-20/DS-2019, and receive their visa.

• Once your financial aid package is available you will be able to access it in Workday External Site/Howard Undergraduate Financial Aid Portal.
• If you have action items from your award letter (Loan Entrance Counseling, Loan Master Promissory Note) those can be completed at Federal Student Loan Entrance Counseling and Federal Student Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN). Do not click on the link in the notification email titled BP Complete an Action Item.
• Once these have been completed, they will remain in your inbox until we receive the data from the Department of Education.
• There is no need to worry or to contact various offices regarding these two action items. Rest assured they will be removed/updated in due time.

• Check your personal email for a welcome email with your bison email address beginning May 6.
• Activate your Multi Factor Authentication to access your Bison email account and BisonHub.
• Ensure that you have Office 365 set-up to receive and send emails. Please refer to the Office365 reference guide.

• Once you have received your bison email address you can log into BisonHub (via AccessHU) to view your Student ID on your student profile (under your name).
• You will complete onboarding tasks in BisonHub after receiving your bison email address.
• You should not click on the link in the emails you received with the individual onboarding action items. Instead, please view your inbox in BisonHub.

• After you have set-up your email and MFA, submit your immunization documentation to the Student Health Portal by July 1.
• You can find out our immunization requirements by visiting the Howard University Student Health Center website.

• Complete the housing application on StarRez beginning May 15.
• Additional information will be provided on May 14 about the housing application process.

Register for Bison Prep beginning the week of May 19.

Log into Canvas (Via AccessHU) beginning the week of May 19 to complete Bison Learn prior to attending Bison Prep and prior to completing fall course registration.

After completing Bison Learn, submit the course completion form.

• Complete the ALEKS Math Placement Exam beginning the week of May 19 by logging into AccessHU.
• After authenticating using single sign-on you will automatically be taken to the ALEKS math placement exam. Please follow the instructions for the ALEKS Math Placement Exam.

• Complete the English placement exam beginning the week of May 19. Students will be auto enrolled in the exam and will receive an exam voucher.
• The voucher and exam instructions will be emailed to your Bison email and will be sent from Accuplacer. Check your junk/spam folder if you did not receive the voucher in your inbox.
• If you intend to use SAT/ACT scores, you must have the official scores sent directly from the testing agency (College Board or ACT). Please visit their respective websites for score sending instructions:
  • College Board
  • ACT
• Official scores received by Howard are available for viewing in BisonHub in the external records section, contact ACELearningsupport@howard.edu.

• Complete the language placement exam beginning the week of May 19 if you intend to take a language in the fall for incoming First Time in College students.
• Instructions are provided at the link labeled Language Placement Exam.

Beginning the week of June 8, register for fall 2025 courses in BisonHub after completing the Bison Learn modules and any necessary placement exams.

After receiving your housing assignment in late June, submit the $500 housing deposit to retain your housing assignment.

• Have your counselor submit your official final high school transcript with graduation date by August 1.
• If you completed college courses visit the Registrar's Office website of the college where you completed the coursework and submit a request for your official college transcript(s) by August 1.
• Electronic submissions (via Common App, SCOIR, Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse, etc.) are strongly preferred. Email transcripts are not accepted.
• Hard copy transcripts can be sent to: Office of Undergraduate Admissions, 2400 6th Street NW, Washington, DC 20059.
• Please check your enrolling student checklist to determine whether Howard has received your official final high school transcript and official college transcript (if applicable).

• Submit a recent photo (no more than 30 days old) for your BisonOne Card by August 1 at noon.
• Click on Bison One Card requests (yellow button) and submit the form.

Submit any required financial aid documents once available by August 15.

Ensure you are registered full-time via BisonHub prior to your move-in date.

Check the Fall Move-in Schedule for your assigned move-in date and time once housing assignments have been provided.

Visit the Solution Hub if you need additional enrollment or BisonHub support.

Participate in Bison Week activities, August 11-15.