Orientation is held during the summer months for students planning on starting at NC State in the Fall 2023 semester. Registration is available online through your student’s WolfPAW account.

• Attendance is mandatory for students and highly recommended for parents and family members. Family Orientation runs in conjunction with New Student Orientation and is designed to introduce families to the academic programs and services available at NC State.
• Orientation sessions are college/program-specific, so you and your student need to attend the appropriate session for the major/college in which your student is currently enrolled.
• Students should register themselves for an Orientation session, and during that process they can register up to two guests for Family Orientation.
• All students who have paid their deposit will receive an email from our office inviting them to register for Orientation.

Family Orientation is designed for those who will serve as a student’s primary support throughout their transition to the university. During the program, attendees will:

• Get better acquainted with the academic programs and campus services offered to your student.
• Gain insights into the potential adjustments your new college student and your family will face.
• Meet NC State staff, current students, and other Family Orientation attendees.

Can children or young adults attend the program? Children and young adults are welcome to attend Family Orientation, but the majority of the sessions are presented in a lecture format and may not be engaging for them. Please note: Children and young adults in attendance should be supervised at all times by their family members while on our campus for Family Orientation.

Will students and guests be together during the program? Guests should not expect to be with their student throughout the entire program. Some sessions of New Student and Family Orientation will overlap, but the majority of presentations and activities are separate.

The cost of attendance is included in the mandatory First-Year Student Fee charged to all new first-year students.

• This fee covers your student’s attendance and the attendance of up to two guests, which includes your materials and lunch tickets (up to two per family) for Fountain Dining Hall.
• This does not include overnight housing for family members. See the “Housing” section below for a list of options.
• No payment is due to New Student Programs. The First-Year Student Fee will be included in your student’s Fall tuition bill.

Registration for Family Orientation is tied to the student’s registration for orientation. Therefore, the student should register the family for Family Orientation at the same time that the student registers for New Student Orientation. They can find instructions on the Student Orientation webpage.

Once registered, a confirmation email will be sent to the student’s and family member’s email addresses. Please keep a copy of this email for your records.

Only students who have been accepted to NC State and have paid their advance enrollment deposit can register for orientation. Registration is now open, and all accepted students who have paid their deposit will receive an email inviting them to register. Students should expect to receive their invitation email within three days after submitting their deposit.

Summer Start Students

If your student is a confirmed participant in the Summer Start program, they will register for the Summer Start Orientation session, which will take place on Thursday, June 22, 2023 and Friday, June 23, 2023. If your student needs assistance registering for this session, please contact our office at new-students@ncsu.edu.

Family Orientation will run from 8:45 a.m. through 5:25 p.m. on Day 1 and from 8:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m on Day 2.

• Check-In is from 8:45 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at Lee Residence Hall.
• Once you arrive on campus using the directions provided below, Orientation signs will direct you to the parking lots where you are able to park throughout the program.
• The majority of the program will take place in Talley Student Union.
• Lunch for up to two Family Orientation guests on Day 1, at Fountain Dining Hall, is included in the New Student Orientation fee. Additional meals for family members are available for purchase throughout Orientation at respective dining locations. All student meals (lunch and dinner on the first day and breakfast on the second day) are included in the New Student Orientation fee.

Resources that will be covered at Family Orientation include…

• Dining, Bookstore, Student ID Card
• University Police
• Your Student’s College or Program
• Student Health
• Cashier’s Office
• Living at NC State

View the 2023 First-Year Family Orientation Schedule Here!

You have several options to consider when making overnight accommodations for Family Orientation. Housing for family members is NOT included in the First-Year Student fee. 

Option 1: Pay to stay on campus in North Hall. Reservations are required and must be made in advance using University Housing’s request form, and payment must be made no later than five days in advance of your arrival. Registration is open and is on a first-come, first-served basis, as space is limited.

Option 2: Make an off-campus reservation at a local hotel. Parents and Families Services provides a list of local hotels offering discounts to NC State families. Note: NC State does not endorse any particular entities that are not part of NC State. The University has no responsibility with respect to any entities, or the housing or services they offer. 

Student Housing: Learn more about student housing at Orientation on the Student Orientation webpage. Students staying on campus must provide their own linens (bedding, towels, etc.) when staying on campus.

Orientation participants may park on campus in the Lee Lot/West Lot areas located off of Sullivan Drive. The parking lot address is 2530 Sullivan Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607.

HOW TO GET TO NC STATE:

• Directions to Lee Parking Lot (2530 Sullivan Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607) can be found using this Waze link.
• Visit the University Transportation website for road construction updates/closings.
• Please do not try to enter campus via Dan Allen Drive from Hillsborough Street. The road is gated and not accessible to campus from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

ORIENTATION PARKING:

Students and families attending Orientation will use a free virtual parking permit that is validated using license plate recognition. The permit will be valid for the Lee Lot and West Lot from 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on both days of your session. Parking is free and open to the public after 5:00 p.m.

Register for your permit before arriving to Orientation (online form available in June), and note that you will need your license plate information to complete the online form. Speak with your student before obtaining your permit to ensure you are only completing this online registration process once for each vehicle that will need parking during Orientation.

How to Obtain Your Orientation Event Permit:

Do not complete this form until you receive your voucher code by email one week before your visit!

ORIENTATION PARKING:

1. Visit Go.ncsu.edu/EventParking
2. Ensure you are logged out of your parking account. 
3. Select “Purchase Event Permit” 
4. Agree to the Terms of Service
5. Select “Orientation”
6. Select *Summer Orientation that you are attending*.
7. When prompted, enter your Event Voucher Code. Select Confirm. (*Codes will be sent by email one week before your visit)
8. Select an available Permit Type
9. Select/Confirm your parking dates. Select Confirm.
10. Select Location
11. Select “Add Vehicle”. Enter vehicle license plate, state, year, make, and model. Review information entered for accuracy and select Add.
12. Enter client name and phone number. Select Confirm.
13. Select Continue.
14. Enter email address to receive confirmation of parking permit.
15. Review information. Select Checkout.

Important Virtual Permit Notes:

• This permit is free for guests, and you should not need to enter credit card information. If you use a credit card to purchase another permit in error, refunds are not available.
• If you registered for “Family Housing” at North Residence Hall, this permit covers the North Hall lot for both days of your session, and the night before you session (no earlier than 5:00 p.m.). You will need to move your car to Lee Lot or West Lot before Orientation Check-In at Lee Hall at 8:00 am the morning of your Orientation session.
• Accessible parking is available. It is only valid when a state-issued placard is displayed in your vehicle and you have registered for an accessible virtual Orientation permit through NC State (instructions above).
• If you change your Orientation session date or need to change which vehicle you are bringing, call the NC State Transportation office at 919.515.3424 to edit your permit.
• If you will be using a rental car, wait to register for a virtual permit once you have the vehicle and its license plate information.

In compliance with the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, NC State will honor requests for reasonable accommodations made by individuals with disabilities. If you are a person with a disability and need an accommodation to participate in the New Student and Family Orientation program, please contact Laila Mohamed at new-students@ncsu.edu or 919.515.1234 during business hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST as soon as possible or at least 10 working days prior to the event.