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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

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

  • Take picture for Photo IDs
  • Set up Student Email and Moodle Account
  • Residential student check-in (Receive keys, and parking permit if applicable)
  • Commuter student check-in (Receive parking permit)

Step 3: Latitude 33 Apartments and Townhomes

  • 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 – 7:00pm: Small Group Meetings & Cruisin' Grand

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students
Where: Meet at Latitude 33

Meet your group leader at Latitude 33 (Escondido Blvd Gate) at 5pm. Groups will then walk to downtown Escondido to explore Cruisin' Grand.

7:00pm – 8:00pm: BBQ for Students

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students
Where: Latitude 33 (between Escondido Blvd and Alidade Glen town houses

Come eat dinner and meet your fellow classmates!

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

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students, Parents
Where: 1170 S Broadway, Escondido, CA 92025

Students and parents are invited to join Daily Mass in-person at our local parish in Escondido. Please see the parish website for their most up to date COVID-19 policies and information.

9:00am – 9:15am: Coffee and Donuts

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students, Parents
Where: St. Paul Pavilion (220 W Grand Ave, Escondido, CA 92025)

9:15am – 11:45am: Orientation Talks

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students, Online Students, Parents
Where: St. Paul Pavilion (220 W Grand Ave, Escondido, CA 92025) Available Online.

Schedule of Talks:

  • Welcome from President Derry Connolly
  • Student Formation and Campus Life
  • Theology and the JPCatholic Curriculum
  • Spiritual Life
  • Residential Life
  • Mental Health and Academic Success
  • Campus Safety
  • Career Services
  • Academic Policies and Registration
  • Finance and Financial Aid
  • Q&A Session

11:45am – 2:00pm: Break for Lunch

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

Families may choose from a variety of local options for lunch. Your folders include a brochure of local restaurants on Grand Ave.

12:30am – 2:00pm: Optional Open House

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students, Parents
Where: Academic Building

After you have finished lunch, feel free to come by the Academic Building to show yourself around campus. Admissions staff and faculty will be stationed at various locations throughout the buildings to chat and answer any questions.

2:00pm - 2:30pm: President Connolly’s Address to Parents

Who: Parents
Where: St. Paul Pavilion (220 W Grand Ave, Escondido, CA 92025) Available Online.

Dr. Derry Connolly will speak to the parents of incoming students. Parents will also be able to view online, and the streaming link for this event will be emailed out prior to Orientation.

2:00pm - 3:30pm: Small Group Meetings and Games

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students
Where: Grape Day Park (321 N Broadway, Escondido, CA 92025)

Students will meet in Grape Day Park and be led in activities by the student Resident Assistant team. This event is for both Residential and Commuter students!

10:30am - 11:30am: Sunday Mass at St. Mary Catholic Church (Optional)

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students, Parents
Where: 1170 S Broadway, Escondido, CA 92025

Students and parents are invited to join Mass in-person at our local parish in Escondido. A variety of other Mass times are also available in the local area - click through for the most up to date Mass Times and COVID-19 policies on their websites:

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

7:00pm – 8:00pm: Ice Cream Social

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students
Where: Student Life Center & The Harbor

Come by the Student Center for free ice cream and to meet more of your classmates! This event is both for new students and for upperclassmen.

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

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students, Online Students
Where: St. Paul Pavilion (220 W Grand Ave, Escondido, CA 92025) Available Online.

Attendance required for all students. Residential and Commuter students should attend in-person. A streaming link for this event will be emailed out prior to Orientation for Online Students.

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 - 12:15pm: Mass

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students
Where: The Harbor (200 W Grand Ave, Escondido, CA 92025)

12:15pm - 1:00pm: Break for Lunch

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

Students may choose from a variety of local options for lunch. Your folders include a brochure of local restaurants on Grand Ave.

1:00pm - 1:30pm: Meeting for Online Students

Who: Online Students
Where: Online

Students who are attending JPCatholic exclusively online for the Fall Quarter are required to attend this meeting. The Zoom link will be emailed to you. Parents of online students are also welcome to join.

1:00pm - 5:15pm: New Student Mini-Retreat

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students
Where: St. Paul Pavilion (220 W Grand Ave, Escondido, CA 92025)

Required for all new Residential and Commuter students.

9:00am - 10:00am: Media Facilities & Equipment Meeting

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students, Online Students
Where: St. Paul Pavilion (220 W Grand Ave, Escondido, CA 92025) Available Online.

All students in the following emphases are required to attend: Film Production & Directing, Screenwriting, Producing, Post-Production, Acting for Stage & Screen, Animation, Game Development, Graphic Design, Illustration, Musical Theatre.

Other students are also welcome to attend. This meeting will overview important policies and information regarding access to and use of all school owned media equipment, editing facilities, sound stage, and class-created content. If you plan to ever use the school’s media labs, soundstage, or media equipment during your time at JPCatholic, you are responsible for the information given in this meeting and are encouraged to attend.

The streaming link for this event will be emailed out prior to Orientation.

10:00am - 12:15pm: Job Fair + Lunch Break

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students
Where: Student Life Center

Students may choose from a variety of local options for lunch. Your folders include a brochure of local restaurants on Grand Ave.

Come by the Student Life Center anytime during your lunch break to explore part-time job opportunities and meet with local employers. Business casual attire recommended.

12:15pm - 12:30pm: eLearning Tutorial

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students, Online Students
Where: St. Paul Pavilion (220 W Grand Ave, Escondido, CA 92025) Available Online.

Attendance required for all students. Residential and Commuter students should attend in-person. A streaming link for this event will be emailed out prior to Orientation for Online Students.

JPCatholic uses an eLearning system called Moodle, which all students (in-person and online) will 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.

12:30pm - 2:30pm: Writing Proficiency Assessment

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students, Online Students
Where: St. Paul Pavilion (220 W Grand Ave, Escondido, CA 92025) Available Online.

Required for all students who have not yet taken the exam.

All new JPCatholic students are required to take the Writing Proficiency Assessment. The results of this exam allow us to identify which students will take our freshman-level College Writing 1 course and which students may skip this course and take on more advanced instruction.

The exam itself lasts 1.5 hours. The exam is taken in one sitting and is comprised of a single essay prompt. No previous study is required. The student is not permitted to use any notes, books, phone, or electronic tablet in the exam room. A computer with an Internet connection is permitted solely for the purpose of taking and submitting the exam.

Please remember to bring your (fully charged) laptop!

Your laptop should have:

  • Up-to-date browser, preferably Chrome or Safari. The latest version should be downloaded on the computer before the day of the exam.
  • Word processing software: application of your choosing, as long as you have the ability to write papers. All papers, however, should be submitted in a .doc or .pdf file.

Online students: Your exam will be proctored during this time via Zoom. The link for the exam will be made available in your Moodle account on the day of the exam.

3:00pm: Amazing Race – Escondido!

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students
Where: Starting Location TBD

The student-led Campus Life Team will provide more details about this fun event closer to the date.

8:00am – 9:20pm: Classes Begin

Who: Residential Students, Commuter Students, Online 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.

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.
  • Additional parking is available in our future expansion lot at 131 S Broadway.

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

Parking for Latitude 33:

Please note that there are not many visitors parking spots available within Latitude 33. Unless actively unloading, parents should park their cars across the street in the northwest corner of the Center for the Performing Arts parking lot, as shown on the map. 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 Latitude 33 beginning Friday, September 24th.

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

For your first quarter at JPCatholic, we help smooth the transition by automatically registering you for the classes you need. Your personal class schedule will be emailed to you by the Registrar’s office in early September (unless your admissions or financial aid file is missing items). Once you receive your personal class schedule, you will be able to reference the page below for your book list.

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.

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.

See Fall 2021 Class Schedule

Receiving Mail at JPCatholic

Your campus mailbox number was emailed to you in mid-September - if you did not receive it please contact your Admissions Representative. Please use the following formatting when sending mail to yourself at campus (example shown for someone named Jane Doe whose campus mailbox is #12345678):

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

All deliveries (mail and packages) can be picked up at the Administrative Building (220 W Grand Ave., Escondido, CA) during regular business hours.

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. Also, please don't mail packages to your unit at Latitude 33 apartments (it will be returned to sender).

Career Services Meetings

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

David Zumaya, 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 him before Orientation and/or a meeting with him 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.

Schedule Zoom Appointment
Schedule In-Person Appointment
See the list of acceptable ID's

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 late August. 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 24th, 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 Phone: Please call (858) 653-6740 and ask for Annette Brown (abrown@jpcatholic.edu) or Joan Meziere (jmeziere@jpcatholic.edu) to pay securely with your card.
  • 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 24 – 26
  • Christmas Break: December 11 – January 2

Please note that students’ class schedules will vary, but all classes are finished by December 11th.

See Full Academic Calendar

Orientation FAQ

Are parents required to attend Orientation?

No. However, it is encouraged, and we hope that offering the Saturday Orientation sessions online will enable more family members to tune in from wherever they are!

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 or townhome. 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.

If I’m an Online Only student, how will I get my Student Email and Moodle account setup?

You will receive an email during Orientation week with the information to set up your accounts.

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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