Welcome to The University of Texas Permian Basin! Now that you’re part of the Falcon Family, let’s go over what you need to do to prepare for your first semester as an online student and what you need to know to get the most out of your time at UT Permian Basin. We’re excited for you to experience everything our University has to offer, and we hope you are too!

Visit the Student Portal

The MyUTPB portal is a one-stop-shop for almost all the services you’ll rely on as a student. Here you’ll be able to register for classes, update your student information, and access library services, Office 365, and your university email. You’ll also access your courses through the student portal, or you can visit utpb.instructure.com to be taken directly to Canvas.

To access the student portal, you’ll need to claim your FalconID and create a password. Claim your FalconID by visiting this page and entering in your 10-digit StudentID, which you should have received when you applied. Your FalconID will be your username for logging into online resources at UT Permian Basin, so commit it to memory or keep it somewhere secure. With it, you’ll be able to log into the student portal and register for classes.

Connect With Your Academic Advisor

Consider your academic advisor your point of contact with the University. From enrollment to graduation, they’ll be here to answer your questions and help you make academic decisions. You can email onlineadvising@utpb.edu (or gradstudies@utpb.edu if you’re a graduate student) for assistance or schedule an academic advising appointment on our Online Academic Advising page.

UT Permian Basin’s advisors are here to support you throughout your academic journey, and we encourage you to reach out to them whenever you need help with:

  • Accessing tutoring services.
  • Adjusting your class schedule.
  • Changing your major/minor.
  • Submitting an academic appeal.
  • Taking time off from your program.

Register for Classes

Generally, you won’t be self-enrolling in courses; your advisor will do that for you. But we’ll give you a quick rundown of the process in case you do need to register for courses in a given semester.

After attending the online student orientation and signing the Student Financial Responsibility Agreement in the student portal, review current and upcoming semester schedules to learn more about your desired courses and gather their course numbers, as you’ll need these to register. Next, log into the MyUTPB portal and click Manage Classes. From here, you’ll be able to search for and enroll in your desired courses. Detailed instructions on how to register for courses can be found here.

Prepare for the First Day of Class

Now that you’ve registered for classes, got yourself some UT Permian Basin apparel, and set up a cozy at-home workspace, it’s time to prepare for your first day in our virtual classrooms.

Explore Canvas

Canvas is the learning management system (LMS) for all courses offered at UT Permian Basin. Courses you’re enrolled in will appear on the Canvas Dashboard, where you can access course syllabi, materials, assignments, quizzes, and tests—everything you need for a successful semester. Chances are you’ll be a pro at navigating Canvas by the end of your first semester, but you can always visit the Canvas Student Tutorial if you need help getting around.

Read the Syllabus

It’s imperative that you read the syllabus for each of your classes. Look for syllabi in the Start Here section under each class in Canvas. The syllabus will provide an overview of academic policies, instructions for completing assignments, and required materials, among other useful information. As you progress through a course, you’ll want to consult the syllabus first if you’re confused about an assignment. For now, make sure you have all required course materials and textbooks, which you should receive by the first week of class at the latest. Also check out the course calendar in Canvas to see assignment due dates and plan out your first week.

Welcome to the Falcon Family

UT Permian Basin may serve a diverse community of students from 47 countries around the world, but we still cater to the unique needs of every student.

Our mission is to help you achieve academic and professional success, but our hope is that you’ll come to truly see yourself as a part of the Falcon Family. Connect with your professors, reach out to your fellow students, and appreciate the college experience. Graduation day will come, but for now, you have your entire academic journey to look forward to.

Sources:

https://online.utpb.edu/online-student-checklist/