Orientation Badge Guide

When you check in at orientation, you'll get a name badge. It does more than say hello. It's personalized to you, with flags and reminders that point you to the right people, places, and to-dos for the day. Here's how to read it.

A sample badge, front and back. Yours will list your own name, cluster, and any flags that apply to you.

Jump to: Reading your badge Your CAPE cluster Badge flags Action steps

How to read your badge

Your badge is a folded name tent with two sides.

• The front shows your name, your CAPE cluster number, your college and major, your hometown, and a space for your Orientation Leader's name.
• The back shows your flags (the colored labels that describe your background) and your action steps: what to resolve and who to see before you head home.

Your CAPE cluster

The number on your badge (CAPE 1, 2, or 3) is your academic pathway. CAPE stands for Career, Academic & Professional Engagement. Augusta advises incoming students in three clusters that group related majors, so your advisor, your campus, and the resources you connect with all line up with where you're headed.

• Cluster 1, Health-aligned pathways: Science, Math, Pre-Nursing, and Pre-Allied Health, hosted on the Health Sciences Campus.
• Cluster 2, Business, computing, and education: Business, Computer & Cyber Sciences, and Education & Human Development.
• Cluster 3, Arts, humanities, and social sciences: Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences.

Badge flags: what the colors mean

Colored flags describe your background and connect you to support built for your situation. You may have more than one, or none. They don't require anything of you; they're how we make sure you meet the right people.

Color	Flag	What it means
Dark blue	First-Generation Student	Neither of your parents or guardians completed a four-year (bachelor's) degree. You're the first in your family to pursue a college degree, and there are people and programs here just for you.
Green	Military-Affiliated Student	You have a connection to the military: active duty, reserves, National Guard, a veteran, or a military spouse or dependent. Military & Veteran Services is your starting point for benefits and support.
Purple	Transfer Student	You enrolled at Augusta after attending another college or university and are bringing transfer credit with you. Advising will help map how that credit fits your pathway.
Orange	Local Student	Your home county is local to the main campus: Aiken and Edgefield (SC), or Burke, Columbia, Richmond, McDuffie, and Lincoln (GA).

Action steps: resolve before you leave

If one of these is printed on your badge, take care of it before you head home. Not every badge shows every item, so just do the ones on yours.

• JagCard photo: Upload your photo so your JagCard (your student ID) is ready before you head home.
• Immunization hold: Submit your immunization records to Student Health to clear the hold.
• Orientation fee due: If a fee is shown on your badge, you may pay it through your enrollment portal or at check-in. The amount shown is specific to you. An unpaid orientation fee creates a hold on your account and may affect class registration until the fee is satisfied.
• Financial aid questions: Financial aid counselors are available at the end of the day, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Stop by before you leave.
• See Military & Veteran Services: If your badge flags you as military-affiliated, check in about your benefits before you go.

Not sure about something on your badge? Ask your Orientation Leader or anyone at the front desk. That's what we're here for.