Frequently Asked Questions

Not at all! We welcome all newly admitted fall 2025 first-year, transfer and graduate students and their families and family supporters.

The event will be livestreamed on SDSU’s homepage for those who are not able to attend in person.

The livestream recording will be available after the event on SDSU’s Youtube account.

No, this event is not mandatory.

While there are no fees to attend this event, this process of claiming tickets will support students in creating their GoAztecs account which allows them to claim free student tickets to Basketball games, helps us identify NSFC attendees, while being able to collect data from students and families to continue to support student success at SDSU!

We kindly request that students claim tickets for themselves and their parents/family supporters to help us plan a successful ceremony. To claim tickets, students should access their SDSU Gmail and read the invitation email. 

There are no fees to attend this event, because NSFC is one of the events covered by SDSU’s First Year Experience Fee, which includes all SDSU-approved student activities that occur during a student’s first year at SDSU, regardless of whether they are a first-year, transfer or graduate student.

Please contact the Office of New Student and Parent Programs by phone at 619-594-1509 or by email at [email protected]

NSFC will have general admission seating within each college section. SDSU Ambassadors and faculty/staff volunteers will guide attendees to the appropriate college sections.

It is important to sit in the student’s college section because students will be “presented” to their college dean. Please disregard the seat number on the ticket.

Please contact the Office of New Student and Parent Programs by phone at 619-594-1509 or by email at [email protected]

We encourage use of the MTS trolley or bus to reach SDSU. SDSU is conveniently located on the MTS Green Line trolley and many MTS stations offer free parking. Google Maps and the Transit App provide directions to SDSU Station via transit. The Green Line Guide is designed to help you navigate public transportation to and from SDSU with ease. Carpooling is strongly encouraged for those that drive as campus parking is limited.

If you choose to drive, a paid valid parking permit is required on campus at all times. A 1-day parking permit for the P3 Parking Structure will be available for purchase through the “Know before you go” email. The digital permit will be valid during NSFC only and cannot be switched.

A valid parking permit is required on campus at all times. Regulations are enforced at all times. Do not park outside of the P3 Parking Structure or in any reserved, faculty-staff, or other specially marked space. Failure to obtain a valid parking permit may result in a citation.

To pay for additional parking, visitors are encouraged to use the PayByPhone app or a pay station. For more information about parking and transportation options, visit the Parking and Transportation website.

Hotel
If you need to make travel accommodations, special discounts can be found on the Bartell Hotels and SDSU page. Bartell Hotels offers eight unique hotels and you are encouraged to make reservations early. Ask for the “SDSU Friends and Family Rate.”

Air
We are excited to share that we have partnered with Alaska Airlines to offer Aztec students and families 50% off the first month of Alaska Flight Pass. Flight Pass is an annual subscription for frequent flights within California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah, all without breaking the bank. Visit the Alaska Flight Pass site to learn more (terms and conditions apply) and enter code AZTECS50OFF at checkout to save 50% on your first month's subscription.

We also offer Aztec Parents Association members a preferred discount of 10% on any Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air flight to San Diego, CA through December 31, 2025. View details on the Aztec Parents Association page.

We offer special travel discounts to Aztec Parents Association (APA) members. Check out the APA page for more details.

The ceremony time is assigned by college and will start promptly at the time listed. Plan to arrive early for our Pre-Show entertainment. Doors open at 8:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. Performances include, but are not limited to, SDSU’s nationally ranked all-girl & coed Cheerleaders, the Marching Aztecs, SDSU’s nationally ranked Dance Team and the first collegiate majorette team on the west coast, the SDSU Diamonds!

10-11 a.m.
Doors open at 8:45 a.m.
Fowler College of Business
College of Education
College of Engineering
College of Health and Human Services
SDSU Global Campus

2-3 p.m.
Doors open at 12:45 p.m.
College of Arts and Letters
College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts
College of Sciences
Undergraduate Studies (Undeclared)
SDSU Imperial Valley

The ceremony will be around 60 minutes, however, we request that families arrive 30 minutes earlier than the start time to be seated before the ceremony begins. At the end of the ceremony, students and guests will be dismissed in an orderly fashion.

New Student and Family Convocation is the official welcome for all new SDSU students and families. President Adela de la Torre, SDSU leaders, and parents give a special welcome to the newest members of the SDSU community. Students are presented to the dean of their college, and receive a pin signifying their new connection to SDSU. Parents and families will also be welcomed and will participate in a parent/family supporter pinning ceremony.

Dress is casual. Attendees are encouraged to wear SDSU apparel. One sealed water bottle per person is permitted. Adhere to Viejas Arena’s Clear Bag Policy.

Please refer to the “Prohibited Items” list under Viejas Arena’s A-Z Guide. Prohibited items include backpacks and luggage, reusable water bottles, pets (with the exception of service animals) and more. Please plan accordingly.

Guests needing to request disability-related accommodations should contact Student Disability Services by August 9, 2025. You may also review the accommodations offered by Viejas Arena.

ASL Interpreters will be available near the first rows of the designated floor seat sections in Viejas Arena. If needed, ask the Viejas Arena staff or SDSU student and staff volunteers for directions at the event. Live captioning will also be available on the Viejas Arena jumbotron and screens.

No, pets will not be permitted to enter Viejas Arena. The only exception is a service animal.