Frequently Asked Questions

Saddle Up — Preparation Camp

Saddle Up is an immersive yet exciting experience that gives students the leg-up they need to successfully navigate their time at UW as a student and campus community member. All incoming first-time, full-time students will receive one credit hour toward their degree upon completion of this mandatory program.

Programs and events are customized to best prepare each student based on their selected college. Students will navigate the week of Saddle Up in a small group of students of similar majors to their own. The group is led by a mentor and called a Poke Pack. Students also meet and engage with faculty, staff, advisors, and fellow students within their college.

If a student changes their major prior to arrival, we can accommodate this change regarding Poke Pack placement until August 1, 2025.

WHAT TO EXPECT at Saddle Up

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Program details, benefits & costs

Two students looking across the distance at Saddle Up

In Saddle Up, students gain real-world exposure to the pace, cadence, and expectations of learning in a college classroom. Along with an understanding of the rapid tempo of daily course attendance and work, students also learn time-management skills, study tips and tricks, and receive feedback on how to improve their performance.


With a focus on academic readiness, Saddle Up walks students through experiential learning and research opportunities that can enhance their time at the university. In the end, students are equipped with the ability to manage their time and course loads, be active and engaged learners, and gain preparation skills that will benefit them over the next four years and beyond.

As an incoming UW student, you will:

  • Experience the demand and pace of a college course taught by UW faculty
  • Receive one (1) college credit hour toward your degree
  • Move into your dorm room early
  • Become familiar with the university campus, its resources, and the UW community
  • Get an experiential introduction to academic resources, such as Canvas, the STEP Tutoring Center, the Libraries, and the Writing Center Network with peers and faculty within your major
  • Be ready for UW classes on day one of the fall semester! 

UW's Saddle Up participants will be enrolled in the one-credit course by an advisor at New Student Days or during online summer advising appointments. In addition to fall tuition and mandatory student fees, students will be charged additional fees for meals and housing for the week of Saddle Up. Students living off-campus will be charged for meals during the week regardless of use. Both are applied to the fall semester payment. The one credit provided by this course applies to students' fall workloads for financial aid and block tuition purposes. All charges are due September 15, or students must enroll into the fall semester payment plan by this date.

 

View our costs page for more details! For additional questions about calculating tuition and fee costs or making payments, please contact Student Financial Services.

If you are experiencing financial hardship, please contact saddleup@uwyo.edu.

Move-In Day is August 15, 2025! On this same date, both on-campus and off-campus students will check into Saddle Up. Please refer to Residence Life & Dining's housing page for more details.

Saddle Up is required for all incoming first-time, full-time students regardless of academic credentials. You will be enrolled in the course by an advisor at New Student Days or during online summer advising appointments.

 

Specific programming throughout the week corresponds with your major. Changes in major prior to arrival will be accommodated until August 1, 2025. Exploratory Studies and Undeclared students will participate in programming relevant to their exploratory track.

If you cannot attend some or all Saddle Up programming, you must receive an approved waiver request form. Requests will be reviewed by the waiver committee on a case-by-case basis prior to reaching a decision. Please fill out the waiver request form to request a waiver, and include documentation related to your absence request. Waivers are only offered in extreme circumstances. Students receiving a formal waiver may be enrolled in the semester-long alternative course.


Important No-Show Information: Students will receive an unsatisfactory grade in the course for non-attendance if they do not receive a formal waiver prior to the start of Saddle Up.

Waiver requests MUST be submitted by August 1, 2025.

If a circumstance arises that may cause you to arive late to Saddle Up, please fill out the waiver request form to request approval and arrange accommodation. The waiver committee will review the request prior to a decision. Likewise, if urgent circumstances arise during the week, you should contact saddleup@uwyo.edu for accommodations. Waivers are only offered in extreme circumstances. A formal waiver, if approved, will mean you may be enrolled in an alternative course in the fall semester.

Waiver requests MUST be submitted by August 1, 2025.

Yes! As a transfer student, you are welcome to attend the full week-long program or an alternative experience designed for the specific needs of transfer students. The free, one-day, Transfer Saddle Up will be August 22, 2025. If you want to opt into the full week, please contact us at saddleup@uwyo.edu.

 

Please note that this program is not required for transfer students, but is strongly encouraged.

Saddle Up Housing Information

Saddle Up participants who sign a housing contract for the 2025-26 academic year will move in during their scheduled move-in date. Saddle Up participants who will not live in the residence halls are responsible for arranging their own housing during the program.

 

Saddle Up Meal Information

Saddle Up participants will be provided with meals and snacks for the duration of the program, included in the housing and dining fee. Off-campus students will be billed a lower fee for their meals and snacks throughout the week, regardless of use. Find more cost details here.

Saddle Up check-in will take place on Move-In Day, August 15. You'll want to attend August 16 and 17 to meet your Poke Pack and get set up for the week with an overview and campus tour specific to your semester schedule! The week of Saddle Up, August 18-22, will consist of a mix of required programming and coursework, as well as optional campus and community-based programming. Following Saddle Up, optional campus activities on August 23 and 24 will give students the chance to unwind before the start of the semester on August 25.

View the camp schedule for additional details.