This is an unofficial guide based on student experiences. For the most authoritative, up-to-date information, see the official orientation website.
Check your class One Note (the tab on Microsoft Teams called FS Orientation Course April 2025) – Leave, Expectant Parents, and Lactating Employees Policies page for the most up-to-date information. You'll find the section under "Introduction to Orientation". The information we've provided below was true for the January 2025 class and will likely be similar for yours.
Absences will generally not be approved unless for illness, emergency, mandated court appearances, or religious accommodations as approved by Orientation staff. If you need to take leave, contact FSIOrientation@state.gov and your Mission Group leader for next steps. Make sure you use a clear subject line that includes your name and the reason you are contacting them.
We did not have to complete timesheets during the majority of orientation, but some offices may notify you of timecard requirements before orientation ends. Prior Department employees should notify their new timekeeper at FSI to ensure timesheets are transferred from their previous bureau. E-mail FSIStudentTimekeeper@state.gov for assistance.
Orientation staff and the Disability and Reasonable Accommodations Division in the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations, Bureau of Global Talent Management (GTM/OAA/DRAD) will work with you for any accommodation request from CART writers and screen readers to furniture requests.
If you need to know where the lactation rooms are at any facility, please reach out to orientation staff and they will direct you. At FSI they are in: F-1815 and B-2510. The latter is in the B Building, where you'll have most of your sessions, and has a refrigerator, microwave, and lockers.