Academic Support and Advising

Frequently Asked Questions

I've been admitted for Spring 2009. What do I do now?

Freshmen are required to attend our one day Spring orientation session. Please click here to get information about Spring orientation.

Transfer students are not requried to attend the Spring orientation session. Please click here to get information about advising and registration.

Am I required to attend New Student Orientation?

All new freshmen are expected to participate in New Student Orientation. Attendance for the entire session is the only way to register for classes for your first semester.

What happens if I cannot attend both days of my Orientation session?

Please choose a session that you can attend in its entirety. Attendance for the entire session is the only way to register for classes for your first semester.

When will I sign up for classes?

To ensure students register for the required course load for a declared major, the University of Northern Colorado allows priority selection and registration of fall classes at the time of the orientation reservation process.  If you did not select a Learning Community when you signed up for your orientation date, please do so now by accessing the reservation system (https://apps.unco.edu/nso/) and entering your bear number and birth date.  You will be taken to your confirmation page, where you can make your selection.  Upon attending your New Student Orientation session, your faculty advisor will help you select classes that complement the Learning Community you selected.  Typically, freshmen take 13-16 credits, about half of which will be your Learning Community.    Students who sign up by July 1 will receive priority status.

Do my parents have to attend Orientation with me?

Parents are not required to attend orientation. Typically, a little more than half the students attending bring a parent or guest with them.

I am out of town this summer, what should I do?

There is a final orientation session offered right before classes begin for students who are unable to attend in the summer. Please call Orientation at 970-351-4626 for more details.

My first choice of orientation session is already full. Can I get on a waiting list?

Due to the numbers of students attending New Student Orientation, we do not have a waiting list. Please select another date that will work for you and reserve your spot as soon as possible.

Do I have to attend an orientation designated for my major?

Yes. Students need to attend the orientation session that corresponds with their major. This is the best way to ensure you are advised and register for classes appropriately. Certain classes will only be available for registration on certain orientation days for certain majors. Limited accommodations will be made for students who are unable to attend any of the sessions designated for their major.

I have taken Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exams. How will I receive college credit at UNC?

Students may or may not already be aware of the scores they received on tests they have taken. If you already know your score, please plan to bring that with you to orientation. If you are unaware of your scores, please plan to tell your advisor you have taken certain exams. You will want to make sure your official scores have been sent to UNC to receive credit. The scores accepted by UNC will vary by discipline.

I took college courses concurrently while I was in high school. How will I receive college credit at UNC?

Students will need to contact the institution they earned credit from for their courses and submit an official transcript to the University of Northern Colorado Admissions Office. Concurrent courses ARE NOT included on a student’s high school transcript. It is best to get this taken care of as soon as possible to ensure appropriate academic advisement at New Student Orientation.

I have other transfer credit. What do I do?

Students graduating from high school Spring 2007 are required to attend the two-day orientation session. Prior to attending New Student Orientation, you will need to contact the institution where you took courses and submit an official transcript to the University of Northern Colorado Admissions Office. During advising at orientation, tell your advisor you have transfer credit so you are properly advised.

What Do I Need to Bring to Orientation?

See the Orientation Checklist and our What to Bring Section

How Do I Know What College My Major Is In?

Please see this list of UNC Majors

What is a Non-Traditional Student?

A non-traditional student is defined as a student who has multiple responsibilities (parent, spouse, etc.) or a student who is attending UNC after taking a significant amount of time out of school.  Non-traditional students have the following options for registering for Fall classes:

  • Attend a two-day New Student Orientation program as described on this website
  • Attend an orientation session established for transfer students, please call Academic Support and Advising for more information at 970-351-1391. 

    Please note: students who attend transfer student orientation must contact their advisors on their own and set a separate appointment for advising.

If I need to arrive on campus in advance or stay after orientation is over, where can I stay?

Students who arrive early or need to stay after orientation has ended are eligible to stay in the University's Short Term Housing and can be arranged by Conference Services at http://www.unco.edu/summerconf/Register/short-term.html

What if I am not a Colorado Resident?

There is a special orientation date just for you, August 21-22! Many out of state students find it difficult to come to campus multiple times before fall semester. For this reason, we offer an orientation session right before classes begin!

Preparing for Course Registration Information

Every student will leave New Student Orientation with their Fall Semester schedule of classes! While at orientation, you will learn about the requirements to graduate from UNC, the course requirements for your major, and the course requirements for the Liberal Arts Core. If you would like to look at these requirements prior to orientation, please see Prepare for Advising and Course Registration. 

While there are hundreds of courses to choose from at Northern Colorado, you will be taking courses offered through the Liberal Arts Core curriculum program and possibly a specific class required for your major. Students are encouraged to take 14-16 credits, which is 4 or 5 classes in their first semester at UNC. You will have the opportunity to take classes that are familiar to you as well as some classes you may have never even heard of! Students will work with a combination of faculty, professional, and peer advisors to help with course selection and registration while at orientation.

Attendance at the entire orientation session is required in order to register for classes. Please plan accordingly.

I have a summer job and am unable to attend the entire 2-day session?

There is a final orientation session offered right before classes begin for students who are unable to attend in the summer. Please call Orientation at 970-351-4626 for more details. Limited accommodations will be made due to capacity.

How do I buy my textbooks?

At orientation, you will register for classes. Once you have your class schedule, you can order books through UNC's Barnes and Noble Bookstore.

How do I get to Greeley?

Please see our Getting Here section

Where Can I Park for Free?

Please See our Parking section

What does a typical college student schedule look like?

Typically students enroll for 14-16 credits, which means about 4 or 5 classes. Students must have at least 12 credits to be considered full-time for financial aid. Students cannot go above 18 credits without receiving special permission.

Most college courses will meet either 3 days a week for one hour or 2 days a week for an hour and a half. There are some exceptions to this, however, which you will learn about at New Student Orientation.

You could be taking a class as early as 7:30am or as late as 10pm. You will most likely have breaks in the middle of the day.

Other things to think about:

  • At what time during the day are you at your best for learning?
  • What classes have been challenging for you in the past?
  • What extracurricular activities were you a part of in high school? Are you hoping to continue that activity at UNC?

    • Still Have More Questions?

    Feel free to Contact Us