Living On-Campus at JPCatholic Video Series

Topics include:

  • Cooking
  • Grocery Shopping
  • Cleaning
  • Budgeting
  • Health & Fitness
  • Spiritual Life
  • Time Management
  • Transportation
  • Furnishing & Decorating
  • Packing

Before your arrival to JPCatholic, we encourage you to watch this 10-part series from our Campus Life Team to prepare for the transition to college, and in particular JPCatholic’s unique housing model at Marlowe Palomar Heights Apartments. They give advice on time management, staying healthy, decorating your apartment, and what they wished they would have packed!

Watch Videos

Orientation Schedule

- Please note that details on this schedule are subject to change. We will continue to update this page with the latest information as Orientation gets closer.
- All listed times are Pacific Daylight Time

9:00am – 4:00pm: Orientation Check-in and Move-in

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students, Parents
Where: Academic Building (155 W Grand Ave, Escondido, CA)

In order to space out arrivals, you will be asked to pick a one-hour time slot for your arrival when you submit the Orientation RSVP. Please arrive any time during your check-in window.

All students must bring one of the following Photo ID’s for purposes of Check-In:

  • Driver’s License
  • State ID
  • Military ID
  • Passport
  • Visa

If you don’t have one of these, please contact your Admissions Representative.

Upon arrival, our staff will guide you through the check-in process below:

Expedited Check-in:
If you have already completed all items in your admissions and financial aid files, and have paid your Fall Quarter balance in full, then your check-in process will go much quicker at Orientation.

Step 1: Academic Building (155 W Grand Ave)

  • Students must first check-in at front entrance
  • Meet with Financial Aid staff if needed
  • Make tuition/housing payment if needed
  • Setup Student Email account if you haven't yet

Step 2: Student Life Center (200 W Grand Ave)

  • Take picture for Photo IDs
  • Residential student check-in (Receive keys, and parking permit if applicable)
  • Commuter student check-in (Receive parking permit)

Step 3: Marlowe Palomar Heights Apartments

  • Residential Students Move-in. Our friendly student RA’s will be on-site to help you find your unit and move-in your luggage!
  • Specific unloading directions will be given during check-in

5:00pm – 7:30pm: Student Dinner & Cruisin' Grand

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students
Where: Student Life Center (200 W Grand Ave, Escondido, CA)

Meet with your new classmates over dinner, chat with your small group, and explore Cruisin' Grand.

8:00am – 8:45am: Daily Mass at St. Mary Catholic Church (Optional)

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students, Parents
Where: St. Mary Catholic Church (1170 S Broadway, Escondido, CA)

Students and parents are invited to join Daily Mass in-person at our local parish in Escondido.

9:00am – 9:30am: Coffee and Donuts

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students, Parents
Where: The Ritz Theater (301 E Grand Ave, Escondido, CA)

9:30am – 11:45am: Orientation Talks

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students, Parents
Where: The Ritz Theater (301 E Grand Ave, Escondido, CA)

Schedule of Talks:

  • Welcome from President Derry Connolly
  • Student Formation and Campus Life
  • Student Council Introduction
  • Campus Safety
  • Mental Health and Academic Success
  • Career Services
  • Academic Policies and Registration
  • Finance and Financial Aid
  • Q&A Session

11:45am – 1:30pm: Break for Lunch

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students, Parents
Where: N/A

Families may choose from a variety of local options for lunch.

1:30pm – 2:30pm: President Connolly’s Address to Parents

Who: Parents
Where: The Ritz Theater (301 E Grand Ave, Escondido, CA)

Dr. Derry Connolly will speak to the parents of incoming students.

1:30pm – 2:30pm: Student Council Talks and Q&A

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students
Where: Student Life Center (200 W Grand Ave, Escondido, CA)

Get to know the student leadership team on campus and the ways they serve the student body.

2:30pm – 3:30pm: Open House + Merch Table (Optional)

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students, Parents
Where: Academic Building (155 W Grand Ave, Escondido, CA)

Feel free to come by the Academic Building to show yourself around campus. Admissions staff will be stationed at various locations throughout the buildings to chat and answer any questions.

In addition, we'll have some on-site inventory available to purchase from the JPCatholic Gift Store, along with some exclusive merch not available online!

Tours of the future Creative Arts Complex will begin at the 155 Maple Street lobby door at these times:

  • 2:45pm
  • 3:15pm

6:00pm – 8:00pm: Ice Cream Social

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students
Where: Student Life Center (200 W Grand Ave, Escondido, CA)

Get to know more of your new classmates at this casual social.

8:00am – 8:45am: Confessions (Optional)

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students
Where: Next to Chapel (155 W Grand Ave, Escondido, CA)

9:00am – 10:00am: Sunday Mass (Optional)

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students
Where: Soundstage (155 W Grand Ave, Escondido, CA)

First Sunday Mass of the school year at JPCatholic.

Additional mass available at nearby parishes:

After Mass on Sunday, many parents return home, since there are no more Orientation events for them.

1:00pm – 3:30pm: Hidden City Film Festival (Don't Get Eaten) (Optional)

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students
Where: Regal Cinemas (350 W Valley Pkwy, Escondido, CA)

JPCatholic is an official partner of the inaugural Hidden City Film Festival right here in Escondido! This is a great opportunity to see Profs. George and Melinda Simon's family zombie comedy Don't Get Eaten on the big screen. More info and tickets can be found here.

5:00pm – 10:00pm: Mafia Night

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students
Where: Student Life Center (200 W Grand Ave, Escondido, CA)

Join us for a fun night playing the classic social deduction game Mafia!

9:00am – 11:15am: Student Life Meeting

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students
Where: Soundstage (155 W Grand Ave, Escondido, CA)

Attendance is required for all students. This meeting will overview important information from the Student Handbook, JPCatholic's Honor Code, Title IX, My Success Plan, campus communications, campus events, and more!

11:15am – 11:30am: New Students Group Photo

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students
Where: Maple Street Plaza

Gather in Maple Street Plaza for a group photo of all new freshmen and transfer students!

11:30am – 1:00pm: Break for Lunch

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students
Where: N/A

Students may choose from a variety of local options for lunch.

1:00pm – 3:00pm: Orientation Mini-Retreat

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students
Where: Soundstage (155 W Grand Ave, Escondido, CA)

Required for all new Residential and Commuter students. Adoration and Daily Mass, among other spiritual events, will be present at this retreat.

9:00am – 10:00am: Faculty Introductions

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students
Where: Academic Building (155 W Grand Ave)

These sessions will give students the chance to hear from the faculty chair of their program's department. All students are required to attend the talk for their degree program:

  • Business (Prof. Joe Connolly): Classroom E
  • Film, Screenwriting, Cinematography, and Acting (Prof. Eleazar Palma): Soundstage/Equipment Room
  • Digital Music (Prof. Robert Giracello): Pelican Reef
  • Visual Arts (Prof. Max Hulburt): Classroom N (Media Lab)
  • Creative Writing (Prof. Megan Eccles): Classroom L
  • Fashion (Prof. Elena Chirkova): Classroom A/B
  • Theology & Philosophy (Prof. Justin Panlasigui): Classroom M

10:00am – 10:45am: eLearning Tutorial and Academic Minor Meeting

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students
Where: Soundstage (155 W Grand Ave, Escondido, CA)

Attendance required for all students.

JPCatholic uses an eLearning system called Moodle, which students use to access various class information and assignments. Please have your laptop and Student ID number ready at this session. Your Student ID number can be found on your personal class schedule.

The Registrar's office will overview important information and resources for any students interested in declaring a minor.

11:00am – 11:30am: Daily Mass

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students
Where: Classroom M (155 W Grand Ave, Escondido, CA)

Daily Mass at our regularly scheduled time. Come and build this habit now!

11:45am – 12:30pm: Lunch and ID Badge Pick Up

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students
Where: N/A

Your Student ID Badge should be ready for pickup at the reception desk, starting now. You may pick it up anytime during regular business hours.

11:30am – 1:00pm: Free Textbook Pickup

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students
Where: Library, Academic Building (155 W Grand Ave, Escondido, CA)

Librarian Melanie Quinn will be available in the JPCatholic library with many free textbooks that have been donated from previous classes. Stop by with your textbook list to see if you can score any of your required books for free! Limited copies available – first come, first served. To see the list in advance and request a book reservation, click here.

12:30pm – 2:30pm: Writing Proficiency Exam

Who: All students who have not yet taken the writing exam
Where: Classroom N Media Lab (155 W Grand Ave, Escondido, CA)

If you did not take the exam in advance on Zoom, you are required to take it during this time at Orientation. Please arrive 10 minutes early, and bring a fully charged laptop. Learn more about the writing exam

2:45pm – 4:00pm: Amazing Race - Escondido

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students
Where: Starting at Student Life Center (200 W Grand Ave, Escondido, CA)

Join your small group for a fun scavenger hunt across downtown Escondido!

7:00pm – 9:00pm: Karaoke Night

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students
Where: Student Life Center (200 W Grand Ave, Escondido, CA)

Come hang out at the SLC for karaoke, games, and snacks (singing not required)! 

8:00am: Classes Begin

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students
Where: Various

Please see your personal class schedule for more details. Please note that some students may not have a Wednesday class on their schedule.

11:00am – 11:30am: Daily Mass

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students
Where: Classroom M (155 W Grand Ave, Escondido, CA)

Meet up with a Student Council Member at the Marlowe Apartments Lobby at 10:45am if you wnat to walk as a group to go to Mass.

11:45am – 1:00pm: Club, Household, and Ministries Fair

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students
Where: Student Life Center (200 W Grand Ave, Escondido, CA)

Experience our variety of Clubs, Ministries, and Households on campus!

Orientation Map & Parking Info

Click to view full-size
Parking for Check-in:

Upon arrival on Friday, you will have multiple options for parking:

  • Ample street parking is available nearby; please pay attention to signs regarding time restrictions.
  • Several Public Parking Lots are also located nearby, such as this one at the corner of Maple Street Plaza and W. Valley Parkway.

After you park, please walk to the Academic Building to check in at the main entrance.

Parking for Marlowe:

More specific instructions on the unloading process will be provided during check-in.

Transportation from Airport

JPCatholic is about a 40-minute drive from the San Diego International Airport (SAN).

For students traveling with a parent:

Your family is encouraged to rent a car for your transportation during Orientation weekend. For more information, click here.

For students traveling alone:

JPCatholic can provide solutions for you to get from the Airport to Campus. Please notify us on your Orientation RSVP if you would like to take advantage of this service.

Local Hotels

Residential students may begin living in their unit at Marlowe Apartments beginning Friday, September 26th.

Family members are not allowed to stay overnight in student housing. There are many hotel options in the local area, and below are some options with a JPCatholic group or corporate rate:

Springhill Suites by Marriott (1 mi.)

200 La Terraza Boulevard,
Escondido, CA 92025
(442) 286-8100

Book using this link
Holiday Inn Express (1.4 mi.)

1250 West Valley Parkway,
Escondido, CA 92025
(760) 741-7117

Book using this link

Packing List & Technology Requirements

Packing List

In case you misplaced these resources, you can easily access them below.

The packing list details which items already come furnished in the units, and suggests items to bring or coordinate with your roommates.

Download here
Laptop

All JPCatholic students are required to have their own laptop and cell phone; click through for more details.

Learn more

Class Schedule & Textbooks

For your first quarter at JPCatholic, we help smooth the transition by automatically registering you for the classes you need. Your personal class schedule and book list will be emailed to you.

Some classes are divided into multiple sections (e.g. “ENTM101-2” stands for Section 2 of the ENTM101 class), and your personal schedule will indicate which section of a class you will attend. Once the textbook link is available(on Sep 17), you can click the link below.

JPCatholic's Library provides some resources to help students save money on textbook purchases.

See Required Textbooks See Library Resources

Please Note: For all future quarters after your first one, you will complete course registration yourself using an online link - the Registrar’s office will send you information on registering for your Winter Quarter courses in the middle of Fall Quarter.

Receiving Mail at JPCatholic

Your campus mailbox number will be emailed to you in mid-September. Please use the following formatting when sending mail to yourself at campus (example shown for someone named Jane Doe whose campus mailbox is #123):

Jane Doe #123
c/o JPCatholic
220 W Grand Ave
Escondido, CA 92025

It's important to use your Mailbox Number when sending packages to yourself at JPCatholic, or it will result in a lag time between delivery and your ability to pick up packages. Do not send packages or mail to your residential address at Marlowe (it will be returned to sender).

Package pickup: All deliveries (mail and packages) can normally be picked up at the Administrative Building (220 W Grand Ave., Escondido, CA) during regular business hours. For Orientation, packages that have arrived in advance will be delivered directly to students' units at Marlowe on Friday night and Saturday.

Student Email & eLearning Account

You can expect to receive an email before the quarter starts with instructions for setting up your account in our Student Email system. This same login will be used for your eLearning account in Moodle, which you will be able to access once the quarter begins.

Learn More

Career Services Meetings

Are you interested in meeting with Career Services for assistance in locating a part-time job?

Our Career Services Director is happy to meet with you and your family to explore job opportunities either on-campus or in the local community. You are welcome to schedule a Zoom call with her before Orientation and/or a meeting with her in-person once you arrive on campus.

  • If you select an appointment on Friday of Orientation, please ensure it is after your check-in time.
  • Please do not select a time slot on Monday or Tuesday of Orientation week, since you will be busy with mandatory Orientation events.

Please note: If you are planning to pursue a part-time job while a student here, you will need to bring Employment Verification ID’s. Some students choose to bring a driver’s license and social security card, a driver’s license and birth certificate or a current passport. All ID’s must be the original, not copies. Please see this link for a list of acceptable ID’s.

See Acceptable ID's
Set Up Appointment

Pay Your Bill in Advance

Billing at JPCatholic is done on a quarterly basis, and is always due Friday before the first day of classes for that quarter. Your Fall Quarter tuition/housing bill will be mailed out in early September. If you have any questions on your bill, please get in touch with our Financial Aid Department by calling 858-653-6740 ext. 1308.

The due date for Fall Quarter payments is Friday, September 26th, and we’ll have a station set up to take payments at Orientation.

However, please note that the line to meet with Financial Aid and Finance staff can be quite long at Orientation. If you want to avoid the wait, we recommend you pay your balance in advance using one of the methods below:

  • Pay by Online: An invoice link is emailed to your Pelican student email account.
  • Pay by Check: Please send a check to:
    Attn: Finance
    John Paul the Great Catholic University
    220 W Grand Ave
    Escondido, CA 92025

Upcoming Breaks

If you’re looking ahead to get flights for Thanksgiving and Christmas break, please see the dates below:

  • Thanksgiving Break: November 27 – November 28
  • Christmas Break: December 13 – January 4

Please note that students’ class schedules will vary, but all classes are finished by December 12th.

See Full Academic Calendar

Orientation FAQ

Are parents required to attend Orientation?

No. However, it is encouraged! Please note that the events meant for parents are on Friday and Saturday, so most parents leave Sunday sometime after Mass. The events on Monday and Tuesday are only for students.

How many family members can join me at Orientation?

We ask that you bring no more than two family members to Orientation.

Are family members allowed to help me move-in?

Yes. JPCatholic’s intervisitation policies normally don’t allow for members of the opposite sex to enter your apartment. However, Orientation is an exception to this, only for family members. This exception is valid Friday through Sunday. Family members may not stay overnight in student housing.

What if I can’t make the listed check-in time on Friday (9am-4pm)?

Please speak with your admissions representative if you have extraordinary circumstances preventing you from checking in during this window. Early arrival is not available. Please note that arrangements for late arrivals are subject to Student Life staff availability.

If you have any other questions please don’t hesitate to contact your admissions representative! Call us at 858-653-6740.

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