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New Student Programs

About New Student Programs

New Student Programs (NSP) has responsibility for the coordination of multiple university-wide programs, including: New Student and Family Orientation, Summer Start, Welcome Weeks, the Common Experience, and ongoing transition programming.

Our Mission

New Student Programs addresses the holistic needs of each new NC State student to create a foundation of success through:

  • Cultivating strategic partnerships across the university
  • Promoting an environment of personal responsibility
  • Fostering belonging through a shared campus identity
  • Partnering with parents and families
  • Preparing and empowering student leaders to serve the campus
  • Striving to be innovative in meeting the needs of our community

Meet the Team

View Staff

History

The Office of New Student Programs was formed in 2014 after moving to the Division of Academic and Student Affairs. Previously the Office of New Student Orientation, this unit has coordinated NC State’s New Student Orientation programs for over two decades. With the formation of New Student Programs, this unit has responsibility for the coordination of multiple university-wide programs, including: New Student and Family Orientation, Summer Start, Welcome Weeks, the Common Reading Program, and ongoing transition programming. New Student Programs focuses on assisting students throughout their transition to the university with an emphasis on the academic success and connection of students to campus during their first year at NC State.

Assisting students throughout
their transition to the university

Our Objectives/Outcomes

Objective 1: Academic Success

Outcome 1a: Identify skills, university and college resources, and policies that promote academic success and engagement in co-curricular learning experiences

Objective 2: Connection to Campus

Outcome 2a: Develop a sense of community with fellow students, faculty, and staff by engaging in shared experiences

Objective 3:
Community Expectations

Outcome 3a: Examine the role of personal responsibility as it applies to the university’s academic and behavioral expectations and policies

Outcomes 3b: Identify behaviors and resources that promote personal and community well-being and safety 

Objective 4:
Transition to the University Environment

Outcome 4a: Demonstrate the ability to navigate the day-to-day functions of collegiate life by utilizing the available resources

Objective 5:
Student Leader Development

Outcome 5a: Apply effective leadership skills in interactions with students, families, New Student Programs staff, and campus partners

Outcome 5b: Utilize knowledge of campus to address the transitional needs of new students and families

Activities

  • New Student and Family Orientation Programs: Transitional success programs for incoming first-year and transfer students and their families aimed at creating a sense of community with NC State, building peer support networks, introducing academic and co-curricular resources, and assisting participants in understanding the expectations of the NC State community.
  • Summer Start: Summer Start is a unique opportunity for first-year and transfer students (including international students) to jump start their NC State experience. Through this residential opportunity, occurring during NC State’s summer session II, students enroll in classes towards their degree, get to know campus and faculty, and meet other incoming and upper-level students.
  • Welcome Weeks: Wolfpack Welcome Weeks and Winter Welcome Week are university-wide series of programs at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters to welcome incoming and returning students back to campus. These events strive to connect students to campus, promote the skills and resources to thrive in the classroom, and help students understand university expectations. Events range in focus from health and wellness and social connection to academic engagement and arts and culture.
  • Common Experience: CliftonStrengths for Students: The Common Experience: CliftonStrengths for Students is a shared experience for all incoming first-year students, supported by the university community, that aims to increase student connection to peers and the institution.
  • On-going transition programming focused on supporting on first-year, transfer, and second-year students continues after Welcome Weeks to support students through various programs throughout the fall and spring semesters. These events vary and attempt to cover various facets of a student’s experience and the university resources available to assist in their success in their first two years on campus.
  • Student Leadership Development: New Student Programs offers undergraduate and graduate students multiple leadership opportunities through its programs that seek to develop a student’s leadership skills in interactions with students, families, New Student Programs staff, and campus partners while utilizing their knowledge of campus to address the transitional needs of new students and families.