Get Connected
Orientation is not just about academics and administrative tasks. It is also about getting to know current Richmond students as well as other new students. We have provided opportunities to do this in a number of ways:
- Peer Mentor Groups
- Student Government Sessions
- Virtual Social Activities
- Outdoor Activities
- And more!
If you are interested in learning more about Richmond’s Clubs & Societies on campus, join us on the Friday of Orientation Week for our first Activity Fair of the year.
Have any questions?
Visit our FAQs section for more details about Fall 2022 Orientation.
Meet your Student Government
The Student Government Association is a student-run collective led by an Executive team of officers elected by students at Richmond. The SGA represents Richmond students in relation to the academic experience, social opportunities, and the student experience. SGA also arrange activities for the entire student body throughout the year, including: parties, trips, musical performances, competitions, charity events and more.
Bryan Cortright
President
International Business BA –
minors in Environmental Studies and Sustainability
United States of America
Sabrina Fielden
Communications Officer
International Relations BA –
minor in Environmental Studies
United States of America
Valeria Fioravanti
Executive Vice President for Academics
International Business BA – minor in Finance and Accounting
Italy
Vincenzo Miletto Merla
Co-Vice President
Art History and Visual Culture BA
Italy
Abby Hoose
Secretary
Business Management: International Business
– minor in Fashion Marketing
United States of America
Jennah Finnegan
Co-Events Coordinator
International Relations BA
United States of America
Marcin Stryjecki
Treasurer
Accounting & Finance BSC – minor in Mathematics
Poland
View the Constitution of RAIUL Student Government
Meet your Peer Mentors
During orientation undergraduates and visiting students will be connected with a Peer Mentor. This is a current Richmond student, who has been selected to help guide you through Orientation and beyond. In the first part of term, they will set up video calls with you as well as a small group of other new students. The Peer Mentor will highlight some initial important academic skills and resources you will need to succeed during your time at Richmond. But the groups are also supposed to be a fun and informal way to meet other new students!
Tatiana Carboni
Peer Mentor
Psychology BA –
minor in Mathematics
Italy
Sabrina Fielden
Peer Mentor
International Relations BA –
minor in Environmental Studies
United States of America
Serena Khan
Peer Mentor
Psychology BA –
minors in Mathematics and Marketing
United States of America
Meet your Residence Life Student Staff
Andrew Harford
Residential Director
Communications: Advertising & PR BA
United States of America
Devon Reese Roberts
Resident Director
Communications: Media Production BA
United States of America
Gwenyth Patterson
Resident Advisor
International Business
United States of America
Chelle Alonza
Resident Advisor
Entrepreneurship
United States of America
Help & Support
Our staff and student leaders are working hard behind the scenes to prepare for Virtual and Campus Orientation. If you have any questions before, during or after Orientation, below are a helpful list of contacts.
Prior to reaching submitting your enquiry, review the FAQs, as your question may already be answered there.
Admissions
admissions@richmond.ac.uk
Finance
fees@richmond.ac.uk
Academics
registryservices@richmond.ac.uk
Orientation, Student Life & Residence Life (Housing)
studentaffairs@richmond.ac.uk
Not sure who to contact? That’s ok!
If you email studentaffairs@richmond.ac.uk we can make sure your query reaches the right department.
FAQs
Our list frequently asked questions is intended to help students understand the Orientation process clearly. Having a virtual schedule this year is bound to complicate matters too. Just get in contact if we can’t answer your question below.
What steps do I need to take prior to Orientation?
As an incoming undergraduate student:
- Check your inbox regularly – over the summer, our admissions team will be sending you reminders to the personal email address you provided in your application, asking you to complete a number of administrative steps.
- In late December, we will send you an email explaining how to log into your university email. Once you have done so, you will be asked to complete a Pre-Orientation Checklist.
- Complete the Pre-Orientation Checklist so that you can be sure you have finished all the necessary administrative steps needed to take part in Orientation.
- If you submit the Pre-Orientation Checklist, but it is incomplete or a staff member contacts you for additional information based on your responses, those tasks need to be completed prior to receiving an invitation to Blackboard.
See the Orientation Step-by-Step Guide.
Why are there different orientations and dates on the calendar?
“Visiting students” are students attending Richmond as part of a short-term exchange or study abroad opportunity for a semester or year. For example, students here as part of a University of Southern California, Tulane University, Institut Supérieur de Gestion or Paris School of Business exchange would fall under this category.
“Undergraduate Degree students” are students who have enrolled with Richmond directly and intend to complete their full bachelor’s degree here.
“Postgraduate Degree students” are students who have enrolled with Richmond directly and intend to complete their full postgraduate degree here. They are starting the semester later than Visiting Students.
Do I have to complete Orientation?
Yes. There are sessions that are mandatory for you to complete within Orientation. The live sessions and learning modules should not take you more than a couple hours to complete over the course of the week. We will be monitoring your engagement with them. If we have any live mandatory sessions and you cannot make the time it is offered, then we will record them and you can watch it later. Other sessions offered during the week are strongly encouraged and will set you up to be successful during your time at Richmond, but they are not mandatory. You can find out if a session is mandatory or not by clicking on the event description within the Orientation Schedule. We will also list out all mandatory sessions within your Blackboard Task List.
How can I best prepare for Orientation?
- Review the Virtual Orientation Schedule to get a sense of what is on offer. (Note, it is in draft form and timings/sessions may change. A final version will be posted the week before Orientation.)
- Check your email frequently, including your new Richmond email account (once you have access). Your Richmond email will become the main way faculty and staff will get in touch with you going forward. They will not be using your personal email account.
- Come up with a plan of where you be when you tune into Virtual Orientation. Do you have good access to wifi and a quiet corner at home? Do you need to go to a local library? We recommend using a PC or laptop to access Blackboard. Start to make a plan.
- Have any questions or concerns, check the rest of the FAQs or reach out to a member of staff. We are here to help you! studentaffairs@richmond.ac.uk
When do I get access to an IT account?
If you are an incoming undergraduate student, you will not receive access to your university email until you firmly accept your offer or pay our deposit (if applicable). You will be sent an email explaining how to log into your university email. Once you have done so, you will be asked to complete a Pre-Orientation Checklist, this is a brief online form that confirms your place at Richmond.
If the steps within the Pre-Orientation Checklist have been completed and we do not need any additional information from you, then in the week leading up to Orientation you will receive an email invitation to the university portal, Blackboard. This is where the majority of orientation will take place.
Keep an eye on your inbox!
If you submit the Pre-Orientation Checklist, but it is incomplete or a staff member contacts you for additional information based on your responses, those tasks need to be completed prior to receiving an invitation to Blackboard.
If you are having any trouble with this, please email itteam@richmond.ac.uk
See the Orientation Step-by-Step Guide.
When do I get my student ID?
You will get your student ID as part of arrival check-in process. To expedite this process, please submit your photo in advance (if you haven’t already). Here are directions on how to do so:
Richmond University requires a passport style photo of all new students in order to process their ID cards. Your photos must show a close-up of your full head and shoulders. It must be only of you with no other objects or people, facing forward and looking straight at the camera. The photo must meet our standards or your photo will be rejected and you will be required to resubmit a new image.
In order to avoid long waiting times on orientation day, please use the following web application to take a passport photo of yourself www.epassportphoto.com. Once your photos are ready, please save them as a JPG file with your full name and send them to admissions@richmond.ac.uk.
Will I get to meet students and staff during Orientation?
Yes. Our aim is to make the Orientation as interactive as possible. We will host live talks during the week, as well as Q&A sessions in order to give you the opportunity to speak directly with students and staff. There are also social events scheduled.
We will be connecting all new undergraduate and visiting students with a Peer Mentor. A Peer Mentor is a current Richmond student, who will help guide you through your first year. For now, get to know Richmond’s student leaders a bit more. Meet Your Student Leaders.
Are there any Covid-related restrictions?
At the time of writing, there are no legal restrictions relating to COVID-19. As a University, we encourage you to wear a mask on public transport or other crowded settings, and to rest at home if you feel unwell.
Who can help me with queries about disability, neurodiversity, mental health, or chronic illness?
Please email Student Affairs studentaffairs@richmond.ac.uk and we’ll be happy to talk about what support would help you achieve your potential.
Where can I get a letter confirming my enrolment? (e.g. for banking)
Please visit the myRichmond portal. This is available via https://my.richmond.ac.uk . On the left side, click on “New Letter Request”. Give our team 2 working days (we do not work on letters over the weekend) to complete the request. Currently, in most cases we will be able to send you a copy of your letter virtually.
How and when do I collect my Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) card?
Students attending Richmond on a visa, will need to collect their BRP cards as soon as possible. You will be sent a letter explaining what Post Office branch you should collect your card from.
Please pick up your BRP card as soon as possible, and bring it to Student Affairs so that we can make a copy. Bring your passport with you to collect your BRP.
