
Welcome to NC State!
The Office of New Student Programs welcomes you to NC State University, a community of achievers, rich in tradition and academic excellence. To assist you and your family as new members of this community, we invite you to attend a Family Orientation session. These sessions are designed specifically for parents and families of first-year students.
During the program, you will be able to:
- 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 parents and family members.
August Orientation is a make up session for students who cannot attend their college or program’s designated sessions in June/July. Review the information below to help prepare for your session, and contact New Student Programs at new-students@ncsu.edu or 919.515.1234 if you have questions.
Registering for Orientation
August Orientation for parents and family members of first-year students will take place Thursday, August 18, 2022 and Friday, August 19, 2022. Attendance is mandatory for students and highly recommended for parents and family members. Family Orientation runs in conjunction with the student program and is designed to introduce families to the academic programs and special services available at NC State.
Day 1: Thursday, August 18, 2022
- Family Orientation will be approximately 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Student Orientation will be 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Day 2: Friday, August 19
- Family and student programming will take place from 8:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m.
- Lunch will be provided for up to two guests attending Family 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. A comprehensive list of area hotels that offer discounts to NC State family members is available on the Parents & Families Services website.
- 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.

Preparing for Orientation
Check-In will take place at Talley Student Union and the days are as follows:
- Day 1 of the Orientation program will run from approximately 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Day 2 of the Orientation program will last from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Here are some resources you can expect to learn about while attending Family Orientation:
- University Dining
- University Police
- Your Student’s College or Program
- Student Health
- Cashier’s Office
- Living at NC State/Commuting to Campus
On-campus housing for families is not available during August Orientation. Instead, you can find a list of area hotels that offer discounts to NC State family members on the Parents & Families Services website. 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.
Learn more about student housing and the move-in process on the Student August Orientation webpage.
PARKING FOR UNIVERSITY HOUSING MOVE-IN (THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022)
Details coming soon
PARKING FOR ORIENTATION (THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022 – FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2022)
Orientation participants may park on campus in the Coliseum Parking Deck entering via Jensen Drive. The parking lot address is 201 Jensen Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606.
HOW TO GET TO NC STATE:
- Directions to the Coliseum Parking Deck (201 Jensen Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607) can be found using this Waze Link or on the NC State Campus Map interactive website.
- 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 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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 Coliseum Parking Deck 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 leaving for Orientation (sent 10 days prior to the orientation session), 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.
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.
- 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 need to change which vehicle you are bringing after registering, 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.
Need assistance?
If you have any questions throughout the summer about orientation or your transition to NC State, contact New Student Programs via:
- Text 833.712.1255 (Weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
- Email new-students@ncsu.edu
- Call 919.515.1234 (Weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
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 Sarah Shannon-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.
If you are a person requiring foreign language interpretation to participate in the New Student and Family Orientation program, please contact Sarah Shannon-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.