• The Orientation session for international students will take place Wednesday, August 5th and Friday, August 7th, 2020. Wednesday will be with the Office of International Services, and Friday will be with New Student Programs. You need to attend both days.
• You can participate virtually from your home or on-campus, depending on your fall arrival plans.

Note regarding Summer Start: If you are a Summer Start program participant, your orientation session will take place Thursday, June 18. You do not need to attend another session for your college/program.

New Student Programs recommends that all students register parents and family members for the concurrent Family Orientation program. This program, designed specifically to assist families with their transition to the Wolfpack, is optional but strongly encouraged. Learn more on the Family Orientation webpage.

If you registered for an orientation session before the announcement of a shift to virtual orientation, you do not need to re-register. You can confirm your registration by logging into the orientation registration portal; if you are registered, it will display your session. 

If you are not already registered or wish to potentially change dates, follow these steps:

• Log in to the orientation registration portal using the email address at which you received the invitation and your student ID number. You can find your student ID number in your wolfPAW account under “Account Information.” 
• Read the instructions, and select the international orientation session (it will be the only option listed).
• Click “Submit.” A confirmation email will be sent to the email you used to log in. Please keep a copy of this email for your records.
• Contact New Student Programs at new-students@ncsu.edu if you have a conflict with attending your designated Orientation session(s).

Only students who have been accepted to NC State and have paid their advance enrollment deposit ($300) can register for orientation. Registration for orientation 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
If you are a confirmed participant in the Summer Start program, New Student Programs will register you for the Summer Start Orientation session, which will take place on Thursday, June 18, 2020 (first-year) or Friday, June 19, 2020 (transfer). Once New Student Programs has completed your registration, you will receive a confirmation email and can then log into the registration system to add guests for Family Orientation.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5 with Office of International Services.
This program will take place from 1p.m. - 4p.m. EST virtually via Zoom.

You must submit this Zoom registration to receive access to the event by Monday, August 3rd at 5:00PM EDT. This Zoom access is through your NC State Unity ID account, and the registration is separate from the registration form above.

The OIS portion of Orientation will include both mandatory and optional sessions designed to address the unique experiences of international students. Join us to learn tips for navigating academic and cultural transitions while also connecting with fellow new students from across the globe and faculty/staff/senior student mentors who are here to support you at NC State!  More details, as well as the program schedule, will be posted here in July.  Learn more on the OIS website, and should you have questions before then, please don’t hesitate to contact us at ois@ncsu.edu.

*Please note: Only new students planning to physically attend NC State for the Fall 2020 semester should participate on this day of orientation.  If you are deciding to defer your admission or begin your studies online from your home country, you will go through international orientation for the semester you will physically arrive to campus (i.e. Spring 2021 or Fall 2021). 

FRIDAY, AUGUST 7 with New Student Programs
This program will take place from 1p.m. - 5p.m. EST virtually via Zoom.

During this part of the program, you will learn about the NC State academic experience, interact with other new students in group meetings led by an Orientation Leader, and hear from your academic college or program. Family members are also invited to attend the concurrent Family Orientation program. Registered students and families will receive Zoom links a few days prior to their session to use throughout the schedule.

1-1:30 p.m. EST Welcome

1:30-2 p.m. EST Academic Success 101
Learn about the nuts and bolts of academics at NC State, including the General Education Program, campus resources and the role of your academic advisor.

2:15-3 p.m. EST Small Group Meetings 
Orientation leaders will facilitate conversations about life at NC State and help you connect with other new students in your academic college or program.

3:15-5 p.m. EST College Welcome and Academic Information
College representatives will provide information on advising, course requirements and what you can expect from your new academic home.

Testing and Using Zoom

• Your orientation session will be hosted on Zoom. To ensure that your attendance at orientation is recorded properly, attend the session by using your NC State Zoom account that is tied to your Unity ID. 
• New Student Programs will email you Zoom links a few days before your session so you can access the webinars and meetings that will take place. 
• Visit our Zoom assistance webpage for detailed instructions on using Zoom and testing it before your session.
• Download orientation Zoom backgrounds to show your NC State pride!
• If you have concerns about accessing Zoom for your orientation session, visit the “Assistance” section of this webpage. 

Multiple Devices for Family Orientation

• Although students and families will attend some parts of the orientation session together, there will be instances when students and families are asked to join different Zoom webinars or meetings at the same time. This will require you to have two devices with Zoom capabilities (computer, tablet or smartphone). 
• If you only have one Zoom-enabled device in your household, we ask that you, the student, participate in the activities designated for you. We will email recorded Family Orientation content to all participants after the session.

Plan to Engage

• To make the most of your orientation session, limit distractions during presentations as much as possible. Be ready to ask questions via the Q&A or chat features on Zoom. 
• There will be times during your small group meeting or college presentation when we will ask you to participate using an audio/video connection if you are able. 

• The requirements in the platform should take about five hours to complete. The platform also provides supplemental videos you can watch based on your interests or needs. 
• Students are expected to watch all of the required videos fully and to answer accompanying quiz questions on their own. 
• The deadline for most students to complete this requirement is July 31, 2020. If you cannot access it from home and need to wait and do it from campus, we recommend completing it by Monday, August 10, 2020.
• Summer Start students must complete this requirement by June 22, 2020.

• Visit https://ncstate.goorientation.com.
  To view the content on the platform you will need to use a web browser on a laptop or desktop computer, a tablet device or a smartphone.
• You will need to create an account as a Student. Students and family members (guests) will have different items, and you will not fulfill your requirement if you complete the platform as a guest.
• To create an account, you will need to:
  • Enter your first and last name.
  • Enter Student ID number. You can find your student ID number in your wolfPAW account under “Account Information.” 
  • Enter NC State email address.
  • Create a password. It is not recommended to use your Unity password for security purposes.
• Please Note: Your username for future logins will be your student ID number.
• Closed captioning is available for each video by clicking the “CC” in the bottom right corner of the video screen, while the platform is also ADA accessible by clicking “ADA Version” in the bottom right corner of the platform.
• If you have concerns about accessing the Online Orientation Platform, visit the “Assistance” section of this webpage.

Once you are logged into the platform, you will receive directions on how to utilize the platform.

Some notes for once you are in the platform:

• The online orientation is made up of modules accessible through the main menu items and the menu icon on the home screen. To begin, click the title of the module from either view.
• Each module is made up of a series of slides. To complete each module, click through the slides using the next and previous buttons.
• A module is complete when you view the last slide and you must complete each module in order, including quiz questions.
• You are able to “come and go” as you work through the presentations. When you log back into the platform, you will pick up where you left off. So, you do not need to complete the platform in one sitting.

After completing the online orientation platform, you will have access to the content for the remainder of the summer and are able to go back and review materials as needed.

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 virtual New Student and Family Orientation program, please contact Meredith Harms at new-students@ncsu.edu or 919.515.1234 during business hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST. Requests for real-time captioning should be made at least 15 business days prior to the event.

New Student Programs recognizes that students or family members may have questions or concerns about participating in an online orientation, having to do with issues such as internet connectivity or device availability. Our staff is committed to helping students and family members address these concerns and participate in our programs. 

Please review the frequently asked questions below to see if they can help you troubleshoot any technology concerns.

Frequently Asked Technology Questions

• What if I don’t have a microphone built into my computer? Can I still participate in Zoom meetings?
  • If you have a computer and can access Zoom visually via your computer, you can hear the meeting’s audio feed by phone. Zoom invitations will include instructions for participating by calling into meetings via traditional phone or smartphone. This two-pronged approach will allow you to see the visuals presented during the sessions while hearing the audio of the meeting simultaneously.
• What if I don’t have a webcam? Can I still participate in Zoom meetings?
  • Many of the live components of orientation will give you the opportunity to use video, but those capabilities are not required for participation. You will still be able to participate through the speaker and chat functions.
  • Alternatively, if you have a smartphone and are able to download the Zoom mobile app from your app store, you may participate visually that way. 
• What if I don't have a computer?
  • Both the Online Orientation Platform and the live sessions presented via Zoom are accessible via mobile device. Your phone will need a web browser to use the platform. If you have additional concerns, fill out the Orientation Technology Concerns Form to notify the New Student Programs staff of your concerns.
• What if I don’t have a reliable internet connection? 
  • Fill out the Orientation Technology Concerns Form, and our team will respond with alternative options for completing orientation.
• What if I don’t have multiple devices for my family members and me to access different parts of orientation simultaneously?
  • Family Orientation is supplemental to New Student Orientation, which is required for all new students. You should prioritize engaging with the student content, and fill out the Orientation Technology Concerns Form prior to participating so your family can access any family content they missed.

If you believe you may have technological challenges that may affect your participation and that were not addressed via the frequently asked questions above, please complete our Orientation Technology Concerns Form to help us learn more about your concerns. 

Please contact New Student Programs at new-students@ncsu.edu with any questions you may have after completing the form.