Viterbo University
New International Student Orientation
Spring 2024

We look forward to welcoming you to Viterbo University during New International Student Orientation! Orientation begins at 8:30 am on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 in Reinhart 134.  

During this required orientation, you will

• receive your Viterbo student ID
• complete mandatory F-1 check in and training
• take language and math placement exams (if needed)
• meet your academic advisor and register for classes
• learn about US academic expectations for undergraduate and graduate students
• learn about life in the US, including health care, banking, cell phones, and more.

You will also have a chance to socialize with other Viterbo students as you learn about La Crosse and become familiar with your new home. Following New International Student Orientation, new undergraduate students will attend the full Viterbo University V-Hawk Orientation Days, Friday, January 12, 2024. 

 If you have any questions or need information prior to arriving in the US, please contact Melissa Giefer, International Program Coordinator, mkgiefer@viterbo.edu. 

New, first-year & second-year undergraduate students are required to live on campus.  Transfer students and graduate students may also live on campus, however, if you will be coming with a family or a spouse, you will need to secure your own housing off-campus as Viterbo does not currently have married/family housing available.  Please submit the housing agreement whether you plan to live on campus or not so that we are aware of your plans for accommodations.   You may find the housing agreement HERE.

• For those living on campus, you will need to pay a $200 USD housing & tuition deposit.  Payment of your deposit(s) may be made HERE.   

Living on-campus is the best way to meet people, make friends, and know what is happening on the campus. Viterbo offers both residence hall and apartment-style housing. The residence halls are primarily for freshmen, while the apartments are reserved for upper class students. Apartments have a kitchen and their own bathroom. Check out the information about housing options on campus.

For those planning to live off-campus, this is your responsibility to secure. We strongly recommend that you make arrangements for your off-campus housing before you arrive in La Crosse. A listing of potential rentals can be found online at sites such as https://couleeregion.apartmentconnextion.com, www.apartments.com, www.zillow.com, and/or www.homes.com. Viterbo also offers an Off-Campus Housing Resources page to assist with your housing decision. To help you find a place close to campus, our address is 900 Viterbo Drive, La Crosse, WI 54601. However, La Crosse does offer a great bus system that is free for Viterbo students. If you are living off-campus, you will still need to pay a $100 USD tuition deposit. You may pay via credit card HERE or by mailing a check made payable to “Viterbo University” to the following address:

Business Office
Viterbo University
900 Viterbo Drive
La Crosse, WI 54601
USA

Before you arrive in the United States, you must complete the Health Services Meningitis and Hepatitis Student Acknowledgement form and the Student Health and Immunization Record form. 

On-campus health care: Health Services provides care for minor illnesses or injuries, assesses health status, and makes referrals to health care providers as needed. 

Health Insurance: Health care insurance is required for all international students attending classes at Viterbo University. Students will need to show proof of their health insurance during New International Student Orientation, or students should bring a credit card and be prepared to enroll in a plan during orientation. 

Viterbo does not use or endorse a specific health insurance plan. International students are encouraged to browse options provided through companies such as International Student Insurance or LewerGlobal, or many others. 

International student athletes may have additional health insurance requirements and should contact their coaches for more information. 

Student billing information is accessible through a secure Self-Service account. Use your Viterbo username and password to log in and then click “Student Account Statement” under the Financial Information section of the Student Menu.  Student Account Statements include tuition, fees, room and board (meal plan) if you will live on campus.

All international students must pay their university bill in full by 8:00AM the Monday that classes begin for the first two terms they are enrolled. 

If international students experience unexpected financial hardship, they are encouraged to reach out to Kevin Ganther in the Business Office to review potential financial accommodations.  

Viterbo understands the limitations on luggage you have during your travels to campus. As such, we would like to offer the opportunity to have any items you need shipped to campus. For those living on campus, we will place any boxes you have shipped in your rooms so they are available upon your arrival. In order to help us, please ship items between July 15 and Aug. 15. Items that arrive during that one-month window will be placed in your room for your arrival. While we will make our best effort to place items that arrive after Aug. 15 in student rooms, you may need to pick those items up from the Student Union Front Desk (where the student mail room is located). A full list of what students should bring to campus can be found HERE. You may either ship items from home or order items through online vendors such as www.amazon.com.

Viterbo University offers complimentary shuttle service from the La Crosse Municipal Airport (Airport Code LSE), La Crosse Bus Depot, and the La Crosse Amtrak Train Station for all new International Students. To request pickup, you must provide your travel itinerary to Kenneth Felts at least five (5) business days prior to your arrival.

While you are welcome to arrive in the United States up to one month prior to Orientation, the earliest you may move into on-campus housing is Monday, August 21^st.  If students plan on moving into their on-campus residence before that date, they will need to contact Ms. Joann Stacey (jmstacey@viterbo.edu) as soon as possible.  There will be a $30 per-day early residency charge.  Please note that students who arrive on campus unannounced or with less than 48 hours notice will be billed a one-time $100 penalty in addition to the $30 per day early move-in rate.   Alternatively, you may make a hotel reservation until your move-in date on August 21^st.

Student Athletes may be able to move in early along with their team and should work with their coaches to determine when it is best to move into on-campus housing.