Orientation Program

• Academics: advising@desales.edu
• Accommodations: accessibility@desales.edu
• Admissions: admiss@desales.edu
• Billing: treasurer@desales.edu
• Clery: clery@desales.edu
• Counseling Center: counseling@desales.edu
• Dining Services: dining@desales.edu
• Financial Aid: finaid@desales.edu
• Health Center: healthcenter@desales.edu
• Housing: housing@desales.edu
• Information Technology: helpdesk@desales.edu
• Office of Civil Rights Compliance: ocr@desales.edu
• Orientation: dsuorientation@desales.edu
• Parking: parking.authority@desales.edu
• Registrar Office : registrar@desales.edu
• University Police: universitypolice@desales.edu

Orientation for the Class of 2029 will be from Sunday, August 17, 2025, to Tuesday, August 19, 2025, and the first day of classes will be Wednesday, August 20, 2025.  Opening Day for the Class of 2029 will be on Sunday, August 17, 2025, for all resident and commuter students.  

Opening Day Schedule - Sunday, August 17, 2025

All students should check in at the DeSales University Center at their designated time, as listed below:

Tocik Hall

• Tocik Floor 3: 8:00am-8:45am
• Tocik Floor 2: 8:45am-9:30am
• Tocik Floor 1: 9:30am-10:15am

Aviat Hall

• Aviat Floor 2: 8:00am – 8:45am
• Aviat Floor 1: 9:30am – 10:15am

Conmy Hall

• Conmy Floor 3: 10:30am-11:15am
• Conmy Floor 2 and 1 : 11:15am-12:00pm

Commuter Students

• All commuter students: 12:00pm-1:15pm

*Please note if you moved in early due to travel, athletics, the Salesian Honors program, Gateway to Success, or the Outreach DeSales service experience, you may pick up all your Orientation materials from 12:00pm – 1:15pm in the DeSales University Center.  Parents, families, and supporters of these groups are welcome back on campus for Opening Day!

Opening Day will include the following events for students, parents, families, and supporters:

• Lunch
• Mass for the Class of 2029
• Residence Life and Commuter Life meetings
• Welcome Ceremony from the DeSales Community

The Orientation program for the Class of 2029 will continue in the evening of August 17, Monday, August 18, beginning at 8:00 a.m., and Tuesday, August 19, beginning at 8:00 a.m.  A full schedule will be emailed to students in August 2025.

All events are subject to change.  Any questions please email us at dsuorientation@desales.edu 

For a look at the full university academic schedule please visit our Academic Calendars.

Driving Directions and Parking Information

DeSales University is located at 2755 Station Avenue in Center Valley, Pennsylvania: 1 mile south of Route 378; one mile from where Route 309 meets Route 378. At the intersection of Route 309 and Route 378, follow Route 378 North to Preston Lane. Make a right on campus via Preston Lane and follow the directions to the DeSales University Center (DUC).

We ask that you approach campus via Preston Lane at your designated move-in time. You will not be permitted to move in early. Vehicles will be routed by University Police and staff. All students are required to check in at the DeSales University Center prior to processing to their designated residence hall. After checking in at the DUC, you'll be directed to your residence hall. Please be prepared to unload your belongings as soon as you arrive at your assigned residence hall, as staff will assist with moving your belongings to your room. Once your vehicle is unloaded, you will be directed to a designated parking area.

Note: Please be sure all belongings are clearly labeled with your first name, last name, residence hall, and room number.

All members of the Class of 2029 and Transfer Students (Resident and Commuters) are required to have a health record completed by their family physician to be officially registered for classes. All health records are confidential and only health center staff have access to them. All forms must be uploaded via the DeSales University Medicat Connect Portal by Friday, August 8, 2025.

Forms must be downloaded and/or printed for completion. Once completed, you must submit them through the DeSales University Medicat Connect Portal.

Once logged into the DeSales University Medicat Connect Portal:

• Go to the Forms tab to view, print, and download documents to be completed by you and your healthcare provider.
• Go to the Uploads tab to submit the forms to the Health Center.
• Most importantly, after completing forms, go to the Immunizations tab to manually enter vaccine dates.

The following medical forms must be completed and returned to the Health Center:

1. Two-paged Medical History and Immunization/Physical Examination form signed by you and your health care provider. A physical exam may be used if it was performed within one calendar year from completion of the health forms. Know that this does not apply to student athletes.
2. Meningitis Immunization/Waiver form required by Pennsylvania State law.
3. Tuberculosis (TB) Risk Assessment form signed by your health care provider.
   TRANSFER STUDENTS: If you are transferring from another institution, you may submit a copy of your records from that institution as long as the three previously stated criteria are included.
4. Consent for Minor and Health Insurance Information.
5. Acknowledgement of Receipt Notice and Consent to Use and Disclose Health Information.
6. Patient Communication Form.

Please be sure all areas of the health forms are complete. Incomplete health forms will not be accepted, and you will be required to submit again.

Resident students will not be permitted to move in unless all health forms are complete.

Attention Class of 2029 and Transfer Student Athletes

Student athletes must complete additional health forms for the athletic department.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact the Health Center at 610.282.1100, ext. 1776, or healthcenter@desales.edu.

Login to the DeSales University Medicat Connect Portal

DeSales University Bark Student Engagement Portal

Here are the instructions for you to use to login into Bark, DeSales University’s Student Engagement Portal.  On Bark, you will find the academic survey, sign up for information sessions, and see what is happening on campus!  

Instructions for logging into Bark 

Academic Success Center First-Year Course Survey

All members of the Class of 2029 are required to complete the First-Year Course Survey by June 15, 2025.

All fall course schedules for the Class of 2029 will be created by the Academic Success Center (ASC) during the summer months. You will receive an email sometime in the beginning of August (at your MyDSU email account) to let you know your course schedule is ready to be viewed. Directions on how to find your schedule in your My DSU account will be provided in the email. Be sure that you can access your DSU account and check it regularly over the summer. Schedules will be released for viewing only on August 7th, 2025.

The information provided in this survey will assist the ASC staff in creating your fall class schedule. We try very hard to provide each student with a schedule based on the requirements of your major and the preferences you provide in the survey. The ASC staff has the final authority on course scheduling and will not be changing schedules for students during the summer months. Students will only be able to make adjustments to their schedule during the drop/add period (i.e., August 20th-29th), in consultation with their academic advisor. During this period, students are required to see their academic advisor for approval to make changes to a course schedule.

Your schedule cannot be processed until ASC receives your survey.

Included in this survey will be a Cultural Awareness questionnaire for placement into a language or Cultural Awareness course. If students choose to take Spanish as a language, they will be placed in a Spanish language course based on consideration of languages spoken in the home and the total number of years studying Spanish in high school. For students registered for a Spanish language course, additional evaluation will occur during the first week of class, with the potential for a schedule adjustment as needed. If a student believes they have been placed in a level of Spanish that does not match their current mastery of the language, please speak with the department chair, Dr. Angelica Silva, during the course drop/add period.

In addition, this survey will also include a questionnaire section for incoming Biology, Biochemistry-Molecular Biology, Chemistry, or Neuroscience majors for placement into a Chemistry and a Calculus course. For students registered in these majors, additional evaluation will occur during the first week of class, with the potential for a schedule adjustment as needed. If a student believes they have been placed in a level of Chemistry or Calculus that does not match their current mastery of the subject, please speak with the department representative, Dr. Julie Himmelberger, during the course drop/add period.

AP and dual enrollment credits are processed during the month of July. Until we receive an official copy of your AP score sheet (sent by the College Board) and/or college transcript(s) (sent from the Registrar of the university where the credits were completed, not your high school), we cannot assume you have this college credit. Please make arrangements to have these documents sent to DeSales in a timely manner to avoid delaying the completion of your schedule. Credits awarded will be announced via your DeSales email account. At that time, we will adjust your fall semester schedule accordingly. 

Based upon Verbal/Written SAT or ACT scores, you may be assigned to English 100, 103 or 104. The survey will ask that you complete a brief writing sample. During the first week of classes, first-year writing instructors will provide further assessment, and if faculty determine that a different English course is more appropriate for you, they will assist you with making this adjustment. 

You will be assigned an academic advisor by August 7, 2025. Information will be sent with instructions for finding this person’s name, e-mail address and office location. 

If you have questions along the way, we are always happy to help. Please contact the Academic Success Center at advising@desales.edu. At peak times, when we are receiving a high volume of phone calls and e-mails, it may be difficult for us to reply as quickly as we would like. Rest assured; we will always get back to you while working to make this the best experience possible for everyone. 

Character U and Orientation Summer Information Sessions Registration  

The Character U and Orientation Team encourages you to attend one of the four Character U and Orientation Summer Information Sessions.  Sessions will be held on June 24, July 14, July 15, and July 17.

These sessions provide an opportunity for members of the Class of 2029, families, and supporters to visit campus and meet staff members from a variety of offices.

Please register on Bark

Academic Success Center Information Session

The Academic Success Center (ASC) will be hosting an information session on June 11, 2025, at 6PM on Zoom. Topics include course schedules, advising, AP and Dual Enrollment credit. 

Please join us for more information

Outreach DeSales Program

The Community Service and Multicultural Engagement office will be hosting its annual pre-orientation program, Outreach DeSales this August for the Class of 2029.

Outreach DeSales introduces first-year students to the university's campus and surrounding area through community service. During Outreach DeSales, students will participate in rewarding service projects, get to know the community, and meet other first-year students with similar interests.

Outreach DeSales is a program led by upper-class students who lead different service programs throughout the academic year. Both residents and commuters are welcome to participate.  The program allows students to feel comfortable on campus and join in great events each evening. Resident students who participate are eligible to move in early.  The cost of the program is $150.

First-year students who are residents, move onto campus, Wednesday, August 13, 2025, from 8:00am - 10:30am. Students will participate in all day community service activities from August 14-15th.  During the evenings there will be leadership/reflection discussion during dinner and social evening activities to get to know your new community better!  On Saturday, August 16, 2025, the group will travel to the Jim Thorpe area for a day of whitewater rafting with Jim Thorpe River Adventure.  Parents, families, and supporters may return to campus on Sunday, August 17th to participate in the Orientation program.

Taking part in pre-orientation is a great way to start your time at DeSales! Please contact Jaime Gerhart at jaime.gerhart@desales.edu with any questions.

The application form due date is June 30th at 11:45pm. Please apply online.

All events are subject to change.

Housing Tutorial 2025: How to Apply for Housing

• The Housing Portal opens May 16th and will close on June 5th
• Timeslots will be assigned to Applicants on June 9th
• Housing Portal will be open for any edits on June 16th
• Room Selection Day 1 – June 18th
• Room Selection Day 2 – June 19th

Here is how to fill out your housing application:

• Log into MyDSU - www.desales.edu/mydsu
• Click the link “housing@dsu”
• In the navy-blue banner near the top of the page, click “application”
• Check the only academic year available to you:  Academic Year 2025-2026
• Fill out the pages until you get to the page “Timeslot/Room Selection Information” 
• The Timeslot page will tell you that you don’t yet have a timeslot.  Do NOT go past this page
• If you go past this page, do NOT click “Save” on “Cancel Application.”  Doing so will cancel the application, and you will need to re-apply
• You can log out and back in again as many times as you need to, so no need to wait until you find a roommate to complete your application
• Your application is considered incomplete until you select a room in June; it will say “in progress” until that time
• If you experience any issues, email housing@desales.edu
• More emails will follow with information about roommate groups, timeslots, and more!
• If you received this email but plan to commute, please let me know by emailing housing@desales.edu

Dining

For information on Meal Plans and DeSales Dining, please visit the official website.

Parking on Campus

Parking regulations have been established to ensure fair and equitable access to parking by all members of the DeSales University community, including visitors.

All motor vehicles parked on campus must be registered and display the current year DSU registration permit. Permits must be clearly displayed so that it is visible.

Learn more about parking regulations and apply for your parking permit.

What to Bring to Campus

The below lists are suggested items to bring to campus if you are a resident student. Please review the list and coordinate with your roommate as there is no need to bring multiple appliances like refrigerators, microwaves, televisions, and coffee pots.

Personal

• Clothing appropriate for the season
• Identification (license/photo ID)
• Checkbook/debit/credit card
• Insurance card
• Room safe
• Sports equipment/bicycle/bike lock

Academic (All items available in campus store)

• Notebooks
• Binder
• Folder
• Pens/pencils
• Highlighters/markers
• Scissors
• Tape
• Stapler
• Planner/calendar
• Dictionary/Thesaurus

Bedding & Bath

• Pillows/pillowcases
• XL twin sheets
• Comforter
• Egg crate or mattress pad
• Blanket
• Bath towels
• Washcloths
• Shower caddy
• Flip-flops
• Bathrobe
• First-aid kit/medication
• Hygiene products as needed

Household

• Flashlight/batteries
• Erasable message board
• Desk lamp or approved torch lamp
• Reusable dishes (microwave safe), glassware, utensils, storage containers
• Refillable water filter pitcher
• Can opener
• Dishwashing liquid/sponge
• Cleaning supplies
• Paper towels/napkins
• Trash can/Recycle can
• Fan
• Umbrella
• Storage crates
• Area rug (6' x 9' or 8' x 10' suggested)
• Coffee pot (single brew w/ auto-shutoff only)
• Refrigerator (4.7 cubic feet or less)**
• Microwave (700 watts or less)**
• Collapsible snow shovel and window scraper (if bringing a vehicle)

** Energy efficient combination microwave/refrigerator units can be rented at mymicrofridge.com.

Laundry

• Laundry bag/hamper
• Detergent/fabric softener
• Drying rack
• Clothes hangers
• Iron w/ auto-shutoff (used only in laundry room)

Electronics

• Computer, charger, laptop lock (Please review the minimum technology requirements for online learning)
• Ethernet cable (min. 25' in length)
• Music player/speakers (Stereo/MP3)
• TV/coaxial cable (min. 10' in length)
• DVD/Blu-ray player
• Video game system
• Camera
• Alarm clock
• Cell phone/charger
• Power strip(s) with surge protection
• UL approved extension cord(s)

Decorations

• Photos/pictures/posters
• Removable hanging strips/hooks (3M)
• Blue painter's tape
• Poster tack putty (White only)***

*** Nails, thumb tacks, hooks, and duct tape are discouraged. Students are responsible for holes/marks on walls at end of the year.

PLEASE LEAVE AT HOME

• Pets (other than fish in 10-gallon or smaller tanks)
• candles, incense, halogen lamps
• hot plates, Foreman grills, toasters
• space heaters, or any other appliances with exposed heating elements
• bed risers, over-the-door hangers
• alcohol and drugs
• guns, weapons
• drones, hoverboards
• personal bathroom wipes (even if branded "flushable")

Dining

For information on Meal Plans and DeSales Dining, please visit the official website.

Parking on Campus

Parking regulations have been established to ensure fair and equitable access to parking by all members of the DeSales University community, including visitors.

All motor vehicles parked on campus must be registered and display the current year DSU registration permit. Permits must be clearly displayed so that it is visible.

Learn more about parking regulations and apply for your parking permit.

More info for transfer students coming soon.

Parents, family, and friends, thank you for supporting our Bulldogs as they venture into the next chapter of their lives. Below, you will find some important links. Know what's going on at DeSales through these groups designed specifically for parents. Check back regularly for updates, events, and important information. We look forward to you visiting us!

Important Links

• Career Development Center (CDC) - Learn how DeSales can help your student get a job
• DeSales University Bookstore
• DeSales Bulldogs Athletics Live Videos
• DeSales Act 1 Performing Arts Ticket Sales
• Discover Lehigh Valley

Hotels

See a list below of hotels near DeSales University. Rooms are subject to availability.

Hyatt Place Allentown - Lehigh Valley
621 Grange Road
Allentown, PA 18106
610-387-1000

SpringHill Suites by Marriott
3800 West Drive
Center Valley, PA 18034
610-709-9797

Homewood Suites by Hilton
3350 Center Valley Parkway
Center Valley, PA 18034
610-351-6400

Join DeSales Alumni and Friends on Facebook and Instagram.