Arriving on Campus

When you arrive on campus, we will spend most of the first day taking care of your paperwork and moving you into your dorm. You cannot move into the dorms until you’ve gone through the Check-In process.

Check-In

This is the process by which we make sure you have your tuition bill cleared, your financial aid set up, your housing paperwork complete, your email verified, and your Student ID issued. Sounds like a lot, right? Well, the good news is that you can avoid a lot of waiting by completing these tasks and earning a Fast Pass in advance of your arrival. You can find the Fast Pass checklist just above this FAQ. Most of the tasks you must complete are outlined in the Attending AMU Welcome Course as well.

Again, any work done in advance will save you TONS of time at Check-In.

Move-In

Once you are all finished with the check-in process, you are free to head over to your dorm and get moved in! We will have our Orientation Team members directing you to where you need to go. After moving in, you’ll have time to get your room in order. You will receive a copy of your Orientation schedule which you can refer to for the rest of the details for the first day.

Where can I park during move in? 

Normally, vehicles are NOT allowed on the University pavers. Students and their families will be able to park on the pavers near the dorms only during move in day on Thursday August 18th. There will be signage directing move-in traffic, and Orientation Team members available to help unload vehicles. Plese be sure to follow posted signage to avoid congestion. 

Attending AMU Welcome Course

If you haven’t already, please be sure to complete all sections of the Attending AMU Welcome Course. If you haven’t yet received access to the course, please contact your Admissions Counselor.

Commuter Students

*NOTE FOR COMMUTERS:  All full-time undergraduate students are required to live on campus unless they are 23 or older, married or living with a parent/guardian within a 40-mile radius of campus.  If you meet any of these criteria, and plan to live off-campus, you must register as a commuter student. Contact Residence Life at residencelife@avemaria.edu to receive a separate Commuter Registration Form via email.

Contact Us

The new orientation information email is orientation@avemaria.edu.  Please use this email as your main source of communication with us.  As we prepare for your arrival, please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers, and we look forward to your entry into the AMU family!  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the Division of Student Affairs at (239) 280-2501.

How busy will I be during orientation?

You will be extremely busy. The purpose of orientation is to help you fully orient yourself towards your studies and the communal life of the University community.  This is a fully immersive experience that will consume your time during these few days, and your success here depends heavily on your full and undivided engagement during orientation.  There are many events, talks, and small group discussions throughout the weekend and participation is required at all mandatory orientation events.  Your attendance will be a graded component of your first-year course, FRES 101: Gaudium de Veritate.  You will also have several program and activity options to choose from what interests you and what you believe will best benefit you as you are oriented to Ave Maria University. After arrival, you will receive a full schedule of our Orientation programming.

Who is invited to New Student Orientation?

All incoming students are expected to participate in Orientation, including freshmen, transfer students, and commuter students. Parents and family members are welcome to help with check-in and move-in, and are also invited to attend the optional Parent Information session. Otherwise, all Orientation events are only open to the students.

What do I need to bring to Ave Maria?

As if enthusiasm, intelligence, and a bright future are not enough! We have compiled a list of essential and suggested items to bring or to get after you arrive. Please understand that no list can be comprehensive; many students are satisfied with much less, while others bring much more. Please see the “What to Bring” section for a complete detail.

Where do I go to get detergent/a bike/tape/toothpaste…?

The Ave Maria Bookstore, Ave Maria General Store, and Publix are located in the town center. The AMU Bookstore, Ave Maria General Store, and Publix will all be able to help you find many supplies that you are looking for. There are also many retail stores that are located within a few miles of campus. Stores found in nearby Naples include: Target, Wal-Mart, and much more. Should you have access to a car, the Office of Student Affairs can provide you with driving directions to some of the closest retail centers upon request.

What if I have questions about the freshman transportation policy?

Freshmen are allowed to have cars on campus. Students who intend to keep a car or bicycle on campus must be sure to obtain a permit from the Office of Campus Security before the end of the first week of school. See “Vehicle and Bicycle Registration” for further details.

Can I ship my belongings to campus?

New students traveling to campus by airplane often ship many of their belongings to avoid paying the fees that airlines charge for extra baggage. Keep in mind that it becomes very difficult to transport everything from the airport to campus.

Packages sent to the university (no matter what the service) will be kept at the post office on campus for a limited time until you claim them. The Post Office will alert you when packages arrive by placing a slip in your mailbox. U.S. Postal Service shipping addresses should read:

[Your Name]
5050 Ave Maria Blvd.
Ave Maria FL 34142

In any case, you should arrange to ship packages so that they arrive after your move-in date. This will ensure that you are on campus to receive them.

I will be driving to Ave Maria. Will parking be an issue?

If you or your parents plan to have a car on campus during Orientation, there are a number of visitor parking spots next to the Ave Maria Parish Church. Students who intend to keep a car on campus after Orientation must be sure to obtain a parking permit from the Office of Security before the end of the first week of school.

What are the directions to campus?

Driving directions can usually be easily found using GPS or online direction sites using our address:

Ave Maria University
5050 Ave Maria University
Ave Maria, FL 34142

If you have any further question, feel free to call Student Affairs office at (239) 280-2501

When do I register for class?

As an incoming student, your class schedule will be created for you after you complete the Pre-Registration form and take the Math Placement test. If you have any questions about your schedule, you can contact the Office of Academic Records.
Office Phone: (239) 280-2565
Email: registrar@avemaria.edu

Whom do I contact with general academic questions?

Staff members in the Office of Academic Records can assist you regarding questions about academics.
Office Phone: (239) 280-2565
Email: registrar@avemaria.edu

Whom do I contact with questions about transfer credit for previous course work?

Incoming students with questions about transfer credit should contact the Office of Student Records at (239) 280-2565.

How do I get my textbooks?

Please click here to rent or purchase your textbooks: https://www.bkstr.com/amubookstore/shop/textbooks-and-course-materials

How can I access my class schedule?

By clicking here to access Self-Service (located at the top of the Ave website): https://selfservice.avemaria.edu/SelfService/Home.aspx

Do transfer students have their own Orientation?

Transfer students have the opportunity to participate in general Orientation activities, which are highly recommended!

Whom do I contact if I am a transfer student with general academic questions?

A transfer student may contact the Office of Student Records at (239) 280-2565 for their general questions and the Registrar will be able to assist with their needs.

What events are scheduled for my parents?

Parents are welcome to assist their students with Check-In/Move-In, and to attend the President’s Welcome the evening of Thursday, August 18. There will be an optional Parent Session the morning of Friday, August 19 that parents are also welcome to attend. Parents may choose to participate in some, all, or none of the aforementioned activities.

Where do my parents stay during Orientation?

For a list of nearby hotels, click here.

When should my parents plan to say goodbye?

All parents should plan to leave campus by 1 pm on Friday, August 19.

Do I need a permit to park my vehicle or bicycle on campus?

All vehicles and bicycles parked on campus must be registered with Campus Security. Vehicle registration is $75-150 for the year; bicycle registration is free. To register either, simply navigate to the Ave Maria Parking Policy page (found HERE) and select “Student Parking Registration” to follow the prompts to register your car or bicycle. After processing, Campus Security will issue a sticker for you to place in your windshield or on your bike. 

For the University’s full bicycle and vehicle policy, please contact SecurityAMU@avemaria.edu.

Are golf carts permitted on campus?

Not for students, as charging electric carts on campus is only allowed for University-owned vehicles.  

If you are a commuter student interested in using a golf cart to commute to campus, please contact SecurityAMU@avemaria.edu for directions on the rules surrounding student golf cart usage on campus.  

There is a Residence Director, a full-time, live-in professional staff member living in each Residence Hall, who oversees the operations of the building as well as tends to the needs of the students living within the hall. The Residence Directors are supervised by the Director of Residence Life and Housing.

Any questions regarding Residence Life may be directed to the Office of Residence Life and Housing:

Mailing Address:
Ave Maria University
Office of Residence Life and Housing
5050 Ave Maria Blvd.
Ave Maria, FL 34142
Phone: (239) 280-2501
Email: residencelife@avemaria.edu

Any orientation-related questions may be directed to Orientation@avemaria.edu.  

Office of Residence Life and Housing: (239) 280-2501
Office of Admissions: (239) 280-2556
Office of Financial Aid: (239) 280-1669
Office of Student Affairs: (239) 280-2501