Orientation Update!

Hi %FIRSTNAME%, 

Despite the uncertainty we are currently navigating in the world, I hope that this message finds you and your loved ones healthy and safe! In recent weeks, we all have been impacted in some way and are now doing things a little different than before for the health and well-being of our communities. New Student Orientation is no exception and we are committed to doing our part to help ‘flatten the curve’ and slow the spread of the virus. 

Due to the ongoing concerns of COVID-19, we have decided it is in the best interest of our incoming students and their families to transition all New Student Orientation sessions (May through August 2020) from in-person experiences to an online format. Our students' safety and well-being are our main priority! 

Your orientation to UNM will still take place, but it will take on a new look. During Summer 2020 we will be offering NSO...To-Go!

What is NSO... To-Go!?

NSO... To-Go!  is not 'just' an online orientation! In a sense, each session is a virtual appointment that gets students connected to their peers, orientation leaders, and academic units. The current NSO dates will remain in place, but instead of joining us on campus, students will participate remotely from all around the world!

The week of your scheduled session you will have access to some online modules and will receive a detailed itinerary of any 'live/virtual' components that you will be expected to participate in. Making yourself completely available for the duration of your scheduled orientation as if you were participating in-person, will ensure that you have the best opportunity to interact with campus resources and receive critical information that will help make your transition to UNM as smooth as possible. 

NSO... To-Go! will consist of the following. 

• Online Orientation 
• Academic Advisement & Course Registration 
• Live & Virtual Campus Engagement
• Welcome to The Pack! (expanded programming in August)

Universal Design for Learning

As we switch to all-online orientation, we want to ensure our program meets the needs of all learners. If you anticipate ANY barriers, including access to technology or academic accessibility, please let us know so we can modify our delivery.

New Student Orientation, Accessibility Resource Center, Enrollment Management and the Office of Advising Strategies are working very closely together to meet the needs of all of our students. 

Please email Jose Villar, Director of New Student Orientation, directly via email (jvillar@unm.edu)with any questions or concerns about the transition from our in-person program. 

I have questions!

We deeply apologize if this decision creates an inconvenience and/or causes uncertainty. In addition, we anticipate that this change would lead to more questions, so we created a website that addresses some of the questions you might have. Please click on the link below to review. 

In the meantime, we will quickly answer some common questions here. 

Do I need to report to campus at all this summer for NSO? No! Your orientation, advisement & registration will take place remotely during your scheduled NSO... To-Go! session. 

Do I need to re-register for NSO? No! We are in the process of moving students from their current NSO session to the corresponding NSO... To-Go! session. You will receive an email confirmation by Wednesday, May 6th, 2020 reflecting this change.

Is there a price difference? Yes! The cost of NSO was reduced from $175 to $75. Students will receive a credit for the difference on their Bursar Account after their orientation session.  

Can I change my previously scheduled orientation? Yes! Login to our reservation portal, click on 'Dates', and select the NSO... To-Go! session that works best with your schedule. The new cost will be adjusted automatically when you select your new session. 

Again, these are just some of the more common questions that have surfaced. Please click the link below to explore our FAQs.

Additional Support

UNM is currently under Limited Operations until May 15th, 2020, but all offices are operating remotely and are available to assist you. If you need support signing up for orientation or would like to talk to someone from our staff, please reach out to us. At the moment, email is the quickest turn around time. We are in the process of offering alternative modes of communication and will implement those soon.

We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time of transition.

New Student Orientation
nso@unm.edu   

505.277.3096