Your Elon Bound Checklist

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)
  • Submit any housing accommodations requests and requests for an emotional support animal by November 3 (if applicable)
  • Complete your housing application by January 1
    • Students are assigned to spaces, using a random process. Roommates can be mutually requested on the housing application or will be assigned by Residence Life using roommate matching information submitted on the housing application.
      • Students will log onto the PortalX website using their Elon email username and password. Choose the correct Application in the menu.
      • Students will complete the questions on the housing application.
      • Students will choose a food (meal) plan.
      • Students will indicate a roommate preference, if desired.
    • 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 December 15
    • 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 December 15
    • Use the link provided in your Acorn account to take the Mathematics and Statistics Placement Assessment.
  • University Health Insurance Requirement enrollment or waiver by November 17
    • 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.
  • Sign-up for and Attend Your Advising Session by January 7
    • 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, to sign-up for an advising session, you must have completed the pre-orientation program.
  • Complete the Elon Bound virtual pre-orientation program by January 7
    • This required Elon Bound virtual pre-orientation program is for all new, first-year and transfer undergraduate students. Beginning in November 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.
  • International students: Register for your International Student Orientation by January 14
  • Submit health and immunization forms by December 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 December 1 (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. These are due December 1 (or 7 days after admission if after the due date). These due dates are for undergraduate students only.
  • Check your roommate and housing assignment! On January 9 log into the housing self-service PortalX or access it through OnTrack, to find your housing location and roommate information.
  • Complete three online programs (made available in December): Alcohol Edu, Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergraduates, and Diversity Edu (instructions will be emailed to your Elon email account) by January 14
    • 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 January 7
    • Submit a photo for your Phoenix Card! 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 spring tuition bills via Elon’s ebill website and submit your payment by January 1
  • Complete the Wellness Information Form by January 7. 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 January 21
    • If you plan to bring a vehicle to campus, register it and purchase a parking permit online. Complete by January 21 to ensure your permit is included in your new student packet on move-in day.
  • Order textbooks by January 21
  • Register to vote! Check out the New Student Resources from Elon Votes! by January 27
    • 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 January 15
    • 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 November 15 or as soon as you have the scores available
  • Update/Confirm Your Emergency Contact by January 21
    • 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.)
  • Log into PhoenixConnect and explore all of Elon’s student organizations by January 27
  • 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.

    • Move to Elon January 27
    • New Student Orientation January 27-28!
      • New Student Orientation begins after move-in on Tuesday, January 27, 2026 and ends in the afternoon on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. It is required for all new students, both first-years and transfers.
    • First day of classes January 29