Pre-Arrival Information
Welcome. We are so glad you are considering Viterbo University for the next step in your education. Here are some items needing your attention as you plan your arrival in La Crosse.
Orientation
If you are enrolling at Viterbo for the first time, you are required to participate in an orientation program starting one week before the beginning of classes. You will be notified of the date for orientation when you receive your acceptance letter and I-20. Orientation will introduce you to the campus and surrounding community. It includes placement testing; campus and community tours; academic advising; visits to local businesses for necessities such as purchasing a phone, opening a bank account, and shopping for supplies; and social activities. It is extremely important that you arrive on time for orientation.
Fall 2021 New International Student Orientation Schedule
Housing
First-year and Second-year Viterbo undergraduate students are required to live on campus. Transfer students and graduate students may also live on campus if space is available. However, students coming with a spouse and/or other dependents will need to secure your own housing off-campus as Viterbo does not currently have married/family housing available.
For those living on campus, you will need to complete housing application form. In addition, you will need to pay a $200 USD housing & tuition deposit. You may pay via credit card through the online housing contract or by mailing a check made payable to "Viterbo University" to:
Business Office
Viterbo University
900 Viterbo Drive
La Crosse, WI 54601
USA
Living on-campus is the best way to meet people, make friends, and know what is happening on the campus. Viterbo offers both residence hall and apartment-style housing. The residence halls are primarily for freshmen, while the apartments are reserved for upper class students. Apartments have a kitchen and their own bathroom. Check out the information about housing options on campus.
For those planning to live off-campus, this is your responsibility to secure. We strongly recommend that you make arrangements for your off-campus housing before you arrive in La Crosse. A listing of potential rentals can be found online at sites such as https://couleeregion.apartmentconnextion.com, www.apartments.com, www.zillow.com, and/or www.homes.com. Viterbo also offers an Off-Campus Housing Resources page to assist with your housing decision. To help you find a place close to campus, our address is 900 Viterbo Drive, La Crosse, WI 54601. However, La Crosse does offer a great bus system that is free for Viterbo students. If you are living off-campus, you will still need to pay a $100 USD tuition deposit. You may pay via credit card HERE or by mailing a check made payable to “Viterbo University” to the following address:
Business Office
Viterbo University
900 Viterbo Drive
La Crosse, WI 54601
USA
Health Care and Insurance
The student health form giving evidence of your physical health and updated immunization record must be submitted on arrival or before.
Health Services provides care for minor illnesses or injuries, assesses health status, and makes referrals to health care providers as needed.
To protect yourself against the high cost of medical care in the U.S., Viterbo requires you to show proof of comprehensive medical insurance. Comprehensive medical insurance is for treatment by physicians and hospitals as a result of an accident or serious illness. Students who participate in the plan through Viterbo will be billed for the insurance by semester through the same student account on which you will be billed for classes and on-campus housing. Information on the plan may be found at https://www.lewermark.com/viterbo. Please direct any questions about international health insurance to Megan Pierce, Director of Multicultural Student Success and Global Engagement.
There are few exceptions for international students to not enroll in the provided Viterbo international student health insurance. To explore if you are eligible to enroll in a different international health insurance policy please contact Megan Pierce.
All international students must show proof of of insurance before you will be allowed to confirm your registration for classes.
Bill Payment
Student billing information is accessible through a secure VitNet account, accessed from the Viterbo homepage. Use your username and password to log in and then click “Student Account Statement” under the Financial Information section of the Student Menu. Student Account Statements include tuition, fees, room and board (meal plan) if you will live on campus, and a health insurance charge if you use the insurance plan purchased through Viterbo.
All international students must pay their university bill in full by 8:00AM the Monday that classes begin for each term they are enrolled.
If international students experience unexpected financial hardship, they are encouraged to reach out to Kevin Ganther in the Business Office to review potential financial accommodations.
Shipping of Items
Viterbo understands the limitations on luggage you have during your travels to campus. As such, we would like to offer the opportunity to have any items you need shipped to campus. For those living on campus, we will place any boxes you have shipped in your rooms so they are available upon your arrival. In order to help us, please ship items between July 15 and Aug. 15. Items that arrive during that one-month window will be placed in your room for your arrival. While we will make our best effort to place items that arrive after Aug. 15 in student rooms, you may need to pick those items up from the Student Union Front Desk (where the student mail room is located). A full list of what students should bring to campus can be found HERE. You may either ship items from home or order items through online vendors such as www.amazon.com.
Arrival to La Crosse
Viterbo University offers complimentary shuttle service from the La Crosse Municipal Airport (Airport Code LSE), La Crosse Bus Depot, and the La Crosse Amtrak Train Station for all new International Students. To request pickup, you must provide your travel itinerary to both Kenneth Felts and Megan Pierce at least five (5) business days prior to your arrival.
While you are welcome to arrive in the United States up to one month prior to Orientation, the earliest you may move into on-campus housing without paying an additional fee is the Sunday before classes begin. If you arrive to La Crosse prior to that, you will need to either make a hotel reservation until your move-in date or contact Residence Life to make arrangements for early move-in. There is a fee of $30 per day for early move-in. Dining Services are not provided until the beginning of international student orientation.