Via First-Year Orientation
Ready to join the SXU family?
We are so excited to welcome you to Saint Xavier University!
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- Math Placement
- Foreign Language Placement
- Opportunities for Bilingual Students
- Commonly Contacted Offices
Contact Us
- Phone: 773-298-3123
- Email: viaFREESXU
- Office: WAC L-103
- Hours: M-F: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
As an incoming new student, one of your next steps to secure your spot and enroll at Saint Xavier University is to register for our first-year orientation program called Via.
During Via, you will register for fall classes, learn ways to get involved on campus, gain tools for success, and meet members of the SXU community, including faculty, staff and students
Parents/guardians are also encouraged to attend and participate in Via for Families, an orientation experience for new SXU families.
At Via, students will:
- Meet current students, staff and faculty members
- Register for fall 2023 classes
- Take a campus tour and learn about resources at SXU
- Learn about campus involvement opportunities
- Meet other incoming students
- Tuesday, June 13, 2023
- Thursday, June 15, 2023
- Wednesday, June 21, 2023
- Wednesday, July 12, 2023
- Friday, July 14, 2023
Program sessions presented in Spanish for parents/guardians; all sessions offered in English. If your parent/guardian will be attending Via with you and would like to attend sessions in Spanish, please be sure to mark this on your registration form.
Secure Your Spot -- Via Registration and Tuition Deposit
To secure your spot at SXU, submit your tuition deposit and register for a Via session. You can complete both by logging into your Applicant Status Portal. Submitting your $100 tuition deposit and registering for Via confirms you will be attending Saint Xavier University. Your $100 deposit is not an additional fee, but rather a credit toward tuition charges and is refundable until May 1. Via dates for summer 2023 are listed above and registration will open January 2023 in your Applicant Status Portal.
Saint Xavier University believes that engaged families are one of the most important aspects to the success of our students. The purpose of the Via for Families program is to connect, educate and advocate for their new SXU Cougar. Via for Families happens alongside your student's Via session. The program welcomes families to the SXU community, provides relevant information, and connects you to resources available to your student's upcoming university experience.
At SXU, we recognize the belief of multi-dimensional families and embrace that family structures include families of origin and families of choice. We are here to serve all families including parents, guardians, grandparents, siblings and other supporters in the lives of our students.
Your session will include presentations from SXU faculty, staff, students and current SXU families! The presentations will feature information on academics, financial aid, available resources and services, how to support your SXU student, and general student life. The Via for Families program runs the same day as your student's session, but is primarily separate from the student programing. Some sessions do coincide, so please plan to attend the entire day.
Via for Families Registration
Registration for Via for Families takes place when your student registers themselves for Via. They will add you to their Via registration using your contact information. Students and families will attend Via together on the same day. There is no separate Via for Families registration you need to complete.
Find your SXU NetID and password
An SXU netID and password are automatically created for all admitted students and sent to them by U.S. Mail along with their admission decision letter. A day or so after you submit your Via registration, you'll receive an email sent to your personal account from clawsFREESXU that reminds you of your netID and temporary password. This communication will also include information on your new SXU email address.
A netID consists of a student's first and last initials followed by five digits (e.g., br99901). Be careful not to confuse the letter "l" and the number one, or the letter "o" and the number zero. Remember that the first two characters of your netID are letters and the last five characters are numbers.
Use your netID and password to access many SXU online tools, such as your new SXU email and the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS).
General Questions
Before Via First-Year Orientation
During Via First-Year Orientation
After Via First-Year Orientation: Cougar Trax
Academics and Campus Resources
Life at SXU
Meals will begin on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, for residential students.
If you are interested in living on campus, please submit a housing application through eRezLife.
You will log in using your SXU netID and password. You will first be prompted to confirm your profile. Under housing overview, you will begin the application by answering, "No, I do not live on campus at this time." Please be sure to submit all sections and note a "confirmed" status on your application page.
The University continues to receive and review information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) that will guide our ongoing planning for the fall 2023 semester.
We want to ensure that we set appropriate parameters according to guidelines for social distancing in classrooms and community living settings. At this time, specific guidelines for operations have not been established. While we don't have definitive timing on making decisions regarding the fall semester, please know that representatives from the following departments and offices are all actively exploring possible scenarios that would allow us to return to on-campus operations that are safe and realistic for our campus community: Academic Affairs, Facilities, Dining Services, Health Services, Athletics and Public Safety.
We understand that there are more questions than answers at this time and will do our best to provide students and families with information as decisions are made. Please stay safe and watch your SXU email for more information.
If you meet someone through Via that you would like to room with and have already submitted a housing application, you may change your roommate preference by updating or creating your roommate group in eRezLife. Please note that we do not guarantee specific roommate placement but will do our best to accommodate requests.
You may contact the Office of Residence Life at 773-298-3977 or reslifeFREESXU with any questions related to housing assignment and roommate requests.
If you are looking to get involved on campus, visit The Den, our student organization management system, to browse the various types of student organizations on campus. If no organization aligns with your interest, the Office of Campus Life can also help you start a new organization. Please visit us at the Student Organization Center, located in L-109B in the Warde Academic Center.
As a first-year student at Saint Xavier University, you will be exposed to several different celebrations and programs in your first semester. Some of the programs you can look forward to are Welcome Week, Spirit Week, Homecoming Weekend, Latinx Heritage Month, Black History Month, and many more.
It's the kickoff to the first 40 days of the semester! It is the students' first opportunity to get acclimated to Saint Xavier University by discovering opportunities to learn, connect and laugh through social, educational and cultural programs. The events are hosted by the Student Activities Board (SAB), registered student organizations (RSOs) and other campus departments.
Join the Conversation on Social Media!
#SXUVia #WeAreSXU #SXUBound
Math Placement
Once you have registered for Via, our first-year orientation, your next step is to take the required online Math Placement Exam.
We believe that accurate placement of students into courses appropriate for their skill levels is important for academic success at SXU. The results of the Math Placement Exam are for placement purposes only and will not impact your admission to Saint Xavier University. In some cases, the Math Placement Exam can be waived based on satisfactory SAT Math or ACT Math scores. See below for details.
Students must take the Math Placement Exam prior to attending their Via orientation session, so we encourage you to take the exam as soon as possible.
MyMathTest Placement Exam
MyMathTest is the math placement exam used to determine a student's placement into required Math courses. It is an online, computerized exam consisting of three assessments - Skills Assessment 1, Skills Assessment 2A, and Skills Assessment 2C. Students need to complete two of the three assessments. All students will complete Skills Assessment 1 composed of 20 questions. Students will then be directed to complete either Skills Assessment 2A (20 questions) or Skills Assessment 2C (30 questions).
Each skills assessment has a time limit of two hours. Once started, the time will begin to count down and the assessment must be completed and submitted in one sitting. You cannot access the assessment again at a later time. Students should complete the placement exam with the utmost academic integrity. Don't search the internet for answers or receive assistance from family or friends. You may wish to have pencil and paper for working out problems, but be sure to mark your final answer on the computer. You may use a basic four-function or scientific calculator to assist you. The Texas Instruments 83+ or 84+ graphing calculators are also permitted. If you do not have a calculator, an on-screen calculator will be available within the assessment.
Placement Levels
- MATH 095: Elementary Algebra
- MATH 099: Intermediate Algebra
- Math 100 Level
- Math 200 Level
Taking the Math Placement Exam
For instructions on how to create an account and take the exam, please watch the video below.
The exam can be accessed on the MyMathTest website using the following Program ID and Access Code:
- Program ID: XL46-E1VO-401Z-20W2
- Access Code: WSSMMT-QUAIL-HURRY-INLET-TRAWL-JUTES
If you are unable to take the online test at home due to issues with computer access, unreliable internet connection, or distractions, please contact the Office of Records and Registration at 773-298-3501 or academictestingFREESXUfor on-campus testing and other accommodation options.
Math Placement Exam Waiver
Students with SAT math scores of 530 or above or ACT math sub-scores of 21 or above qualify for a Math Placement Exam waiver and are not required to take the test. However, students who meet these scores may still take the exam if they wish to see if they can place into a higher level math course. If you meet these scores, please request your official scores be sent to Saint Xavier University's Office of Admission at least one month prior to your Via orientation session. SXU's SAT code is 1708 and ACT code is 1134. Not sure if we already have your scores? Contact the Office of Admission at 844-GOTO-SXU or admissionFREESXU.
Students with AP/dual credit must request an official transcript from College Board (AP) or the college issuing the college credit. When meeting with an academic advisor at Via, please indicate the AP/dual credit courses that you completed or are currently in progress to complete.
Math Placement Exam Preparation Resources
Saint Xavier University strongly encourages students to prepare for their placement exam. Please utilize the resources and sample test below which cover topics in basic and intermediate algebra.
Khan Academy
Math Help
For more specific topics, use Purple Math.
Access sample math placement exam questions through this Algebra Practice Test.
questions?
Contact the Office of Records and Registration at 773-298-3501 or academictestingFREESXU.
Students who are interested in taking Spanish courses or pursuing a Spanish major or minor at Saint Xavier University need to take a Foreign Language Placement Exam. (Students who are bilingual in Spanish are encouraged to take the exam and explore the possibility of receiving college credit for their Spanish language skills.) We also offer an Arabic exam for those interested in taking Arabic courses. All exams are available remotely. Please visit the Avant Language testing site using the appropriate test code and password below:
Spanish Placement Exam:
- Test Code: 16573b-pl-sp-1
- Password: 3896
Arabic Placement Exam:
- Test Code: 16573a-pl-ar-10
- Password: 6295
Please note: It is very important that you complete the Foreign Language Placement with the utmost academic integrity. Do not reference or use old textbooks or the internet in search of answers. Do not receive assistance from teachers, friends, family, etc. It is important that you complete the test on your own, without assistance. Engaging in academically dishonest behavior (a.k.a. cheating) could potentially place you into a course for which you are unprepared. Placement in a course for which a student is unprepared has resulted in a student receiving a failing grade for the course, delayed graduation as additional semesters may be needed to step-back and take a prerequisite course and or to repeat the failed course, additional costs/tuition dollars due to the repeated course(s), etc. We want you to be in a course in which you can continue to build a solid language foundation and succeed!
You will be given 48 hours to complete the exam. After this time the code will expire. Please allow 48 hours after your exam to receive your results. Foreign Language placement will be updated on your student record in Academic Planning notes once scores are received.
If you have any questions or concerns please contact academictestingFREESXU.
Opportunities for Bilingual Students
We celebrate the diversity of our students and the language skills that many have attained! Students who have prior knowledge of Spanish, whether acquired at home (heritage/bilingual speakers) or through previous studies, may benefit from taking a Foreign Language Placement Exam. Students who place higher than the Elementary I level can pursue retroactive credit for their Spanish speaking skills and associated placement. To take the Spanish Placement Exam, please see the instructions above.
*Note: Students can also earn foreign language credit through Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams, as well as proficiency demonstrated through the Illinois Seal of Biliteracy.
questions?
Contact the Office of Records and Registration at 773-298-3501 or academictestingFREESXU.