Jumpstart UTulsa

What is Jumpstart UTulsa?

Jumpstart is a weeklong program designed to prepare students for university life prior to beginning their first year as a college student. The University of Tulsa is committed to providing the necessary preparation and skills for incoming students, and national research shows that students who are connected with peers, faculty and staff prior to beginning college are significantly more successful in transitioning to college.

How does it work?

The application deadline for Jumpstart Rome is April 1, 2026. Students have until April 15 to commit to the program after acceptance.

For all other programs, the deadline is May 1, 2026. Students selected for one of these programs will be notified of their status by May 8 and will receive detailed information about the program. They will have until May 15 to commit to the program after acceptance.

Jumpstart operates on a first-come, first-served basis, meaning that the earlier students apply, the greater their chances of securing their preferred location. Once a location’s capacity has been hit, students will be waitlisted or invited to participate in one of the other locations.

Students will be expected to complete some readings and exercises to prepare them for the weeklong experience. The application provides information on the process, deadlines and costs.

Who directs the program?

This program is organized by the Center for Global Engagement. The CGE team is experienced in student services and university life and are in contact with our partners in all locations. There will be UTulsa representatives with the students throughout the entire program.

How will the students get to the U.S. departure site?

UTulsa staffers work with each student to make sure the details are in place. We are currently in the process of making airline reservations and depending upon the demographics of the Jumpstart students, we may have multiple departure cities. Students will be responsible for travel to the designated departure site. Jumpstart students will be accompanied by UTulsa faculty and staff on site. More details will be included with registration.

Do students need to have a passport?

Yes. Passports can take six to eight weeks to process, so it is recommended that if students do not have a current passport, they begin the process now. The passport is good for 10 years, so it is well worth the investment whether or not the student travels on Jumpstart or not. You can get an expedited passport in approximately two weeks; however, it is more expensive. Most countries require that a passport have at least six months left prior to expiration. If the passport will expire within six months, we recommend you have it renewed now.

What is included in the program?

The program is designed to be a complete package, meaning students will be provided flights to and from Tulsa as well as transportation between the airport and the hotel. Transportation is provided throughout the week guided by our local experts and UTulsa faculty/staff. All entrance fees are taken care of, and the three-day field experience is guided by our local experts. Students should be prepared for $30-$50 (U.S.) per day for meals. Breakfasts are included as well as three dinners and a closing banquet.

Can current UTulsa students apply for Jumpstart?

Jumpstart is tailored specifically for incoming freshmen, so other students are not allowed to participate.

Where do students stay?

Students and staff stay at a hotel in the historical center of San Luis Potosí, a 40-block, well-conserved area that was declared a World Heritage site by the United Nations in 2018. It is a beautiful district full of Spanish colonial architecture and verdant parks.

Who are our Mexican partners?

The Jumpstart program in Mexico originated from the sister city relationship between Tulsa and San Luis Potosí. This relationship was established by former UTulsa students! Now, UTulsa has an exchange agreement with our partner university in San Luis Potosí. We have a number of local partners there, some of whom have longstanding relationships with Tulsa. Here are a few of them:

• Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí
• Instituto Temazcalli
• Espartec Manufacturing

What is San Luis Potosí like?

San Luis Potosí is a medium-sized city of about 2 million inhabitants. It is located eight hours south of the U.S. border and five hours north of Mexico City (driving time), just south of the Tropic of Cancer. Founded by the Spaniards as a mining town, San Luis Potosí is the capital of the state of the same name, located between the state’s northern desert and eastern rainforest regions.

Do students need any vaccines?

Please consult your health care provider to determine whether you need any vaccines. The itinerary is set to include a journey to the Huasteca area of eastern San Luis Potosí state, a region of dense tropical vegetation, rivers, and waterfalls.

Sample Itinerary

Mexico (8 Days)
Day 1: Arrival, city tour, university visit
Day 2: Sister City program, travel to Huasteca, cultural event
Day 3: Nature excursions (waterfalls), discussion on ecotourism
Day 4: Adventure activities (e.g., rappelling), return to city
Day 5: Cultural institute visits
Day 6: Company visits and group lunch
Day 7: Presentations, free time, farewell dinner
Day 8: Return home

Where do students stay?

Students will spend the week in the city of Siegen, a small university town situated in North Rhine-Westphalia, about 52 miles from Frankfurt. Students will stay near the University of Siegen campus in a local hotel with UTulsa staff and faculty. Students will also visit neighboring towns such as Bonn and Cologne.

Who are our German partners?

The University of Tulsa is proud to partner with the University of Siegen. The Jumpstart program in Germany started from our long-standing exchange partnership with the university.

Check out their website for more information:

• Universitat Siegen

What is Siegen like?

Siegen is a small German city home to historical palaces, churches, and museums. The Oberes Schloss and Unteres Schloss are two of the more notable sites in the town as around 80% of the town was destroyed during World War II. Siegen is also labeled the greenest German city with 60% of the land being wooded. Students will be able to enjoy both the more natural scenes in Siegen as well as the city life.

Do students need any vaccines?

Please consult your health care provider to determine whether you need any vaccines.

Sample Itinerary

Germany (9 Days)
Day 1: Travel to Frankfurt
Day 2: Transfer to Siegen, check-in, orientation, welcome dinner
Day 3: Day trip to Bonn (city tour, chocolate shops, Drachenfels visit)
Day 4: Siegen cultural visits (museum, park), group dinner
Day 5: Professional meetings, guided nature hike
Day 6: School visit, cultural exchange, free time
Day 7: University visit, museum, cultural walking tour
Day 8: Presentations, free time, farewell dinner
Day 9: Return home

Where do students stay?
Students and staff stay at the China University Petroleum located in Beijing (No.18, Fuxue Road, Changping District, Beijing 102249, China)

Who are our Chinese partners?
China University Petroleum Beijing (CUPB) is a top national public Chinese university. A group of students from UTulsa had the opportunity to stay at the university this summer. While abroad, the students engaged in lectures and dialogue with their Chinese peers on climate change and global solutions, providing a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the field of green energy. We have several local partners, some of whom have longstanding relationships with Tulsa.

What is Beijing like?
Beijing is the capital of China located in the Hebei province in northern China. It is a large city with about 22 million inhabitants and one of the oldest cities in the world. A city full of art, architecture, history, business, economics, politics, research, and more, every student will find something of interest there!

Do students need any vaccines?
Please consult your health care provider to determine whether you need any vaccines.

Sample Itinerary

China (11 Days)
Day 1–2: Travel and arrival in Beijing
Day 3: University visits and cultural learning
Day 4: City tour (Forbidden City, business district)
Day 5: Industry and research visits
Day 6: AI learning and cultural workshops
Day 7: Great Wall visit
Day 8: Free exploration day
Day 9: Company visits
Day 10: Presentations and farewell event
Day 11: Return home

Honors students have the option to participate in trips to Germany, Mexico, China or Rome. Please note that Jumpstart Rome will have an Honors focus but is not limited to Honors students.

Contact: Dave Kobel, david-kobel@utulsa.edu

Learn more about the Honors College.