New Student Orientation (NSO)

Evidence suggests that students who participate in a New Student Orientation are more likely to be successful in college! As a result, the College requires most students to participate in a New Student Orientation prior to registering for classes.

The College’s New Student Orientation programs give new students the tools, advice, and information needed to make a successful transition to college life.

For example, the College’s New Student Orientation programs give new students the opportunity to:

Become familiar with the College’s resources and required technology
Learn what it means to be a college student and how to be successful
Become familiar with the College’s campuses and support services

Online Orientation

The College’s interactive Online Orientation can be completed anywhere you have internet access and provides you with information on each major area of the College. This orientation will help you develop a strong understanding of how to achieve academic success and complete your educational goals. Additionally, once you have completed the Online Orientation, you can revisit the information at any point during your time at the College.

To access the Online Orientation:

Visit orientation.dccc.edu
You will be prompted to log into your delaGATE account using your DCCC ID number (included in your admission letter and starts with P00). Your initial password will be your date of birth in the format MMDDYY (e.g., 122198).
Once logged in, follow the prompts to complete the modules.
Upon FULL completion of Online Orientation, you will receive a certificate of completion.
The following groups of students are encouraged, but not required to participate in a mandatory orientation:

Readmitted students
Students who earned a previous college degree

The following groups of students are exempt from participating in a mandatory orientation:

Visiting students (with appropriate documentation)
International students on an F-1 Visa (see information below on mandatory International Orientation)
Paramedic and Emergency Management and Planning majors

Online Orientation

In-Person Orientation

From First Flicker to Steady Blaze: The Phantom Experience is Coming!

New to DCCC? It’s time to ignite your journey. We are proud to introduce The Phantom Experience (formerly New Student Orientation or In-Person Orientation): a reimagined launchpad designed to help you Follow Your Flame.

Whether you are stepping onto campus for the first time or looking to master the digital tools of the trade, this is where your story as a Phantom truly begins.

When & Where

Dates: August 2026
Location: All DCCC Campuses
Duration: Approximately 2 hours of high-impact programming

The Game Plan (Agenda Highlights)

Spark Stations: Arrive 45 minutes early to explore social and learning opportunities.
The Ignition Point: A kickoff with Senior Leadership to officially start your journey.
Fuel the Flame: Demystify tuition, scholarships, and financial aid with the experts.
Phantom 101: A peer-panel “insider guide” to the DCCC community.
The Phantom Code: Pull back the curtain on faculty expectations and classroom success.
Follow the Digital Flame: Turn tech-tension into an advantage by mastering our digital platforms.
The Phantom’s Path: Your tactical “Must-Do” guide and campus tours to wrap up the day.

Keep an eye on your DCCC student email and this page for registration links and specific campus schedules!

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at orientation@dccc.edu.

International Orientation

The Office of International Student Services hosts three mandatory orientations per year (Fall, Spring & Summer) for new students who are on F1 Visas. During orientation, you will receive valuable information about the College, the surrounding community, and the United States. It is important for students to arrive on time for orientation.

Please visit the International Students page for International Orientation dates and bring the following items with you to your orientation as we will need to make copies of them:

I-20 with Signatures
Passport page with photo and Visa
I-94 (please go to the I-94 website and print a copy or save as a PDF and send it to our office as an attachment)