NSO

First-Time Freshmen Orientation

Spring 2024 New Student Orientation programs have concluded. If you missed your New Student Orientation, please visit or call our office at 818-677-2393.


Hello NEW MATADORS!

The New Student Orientation (NSO) experience is a required for all entering Freshman students and will occur over the summer leading up till the Fall semester. 

In keeping with the goal of New Student Orientation, we have designed this program to meet the needs of incoming first-time freshmen by:

  • Showcasing a welcoming environment that builds a sense of community
  • Providing an opportunity to gain knowledge and information on campus resources and services
  • Offering a framework that will allow students to make informed and appropriate academic plans and social choices
  • Encouraging connections among current and new students, faculty, and staff
  • Building awareness of campus locations/geography
  • Enhancing understanding of strategies for success
Registration for New Student Orientation

Emails with registration instructions are sent to new students about a month prior to programs taking place.  You can also visit this web-page for registration information as it becomes available. Click the drop down options below to learn more about DATES, NSO SCHEDULES and other important information.  

Registration for Freshmen students admitted in Fall 2024 will begin mid-June. All new students will receive emails to their CSUN email address signaling they can begin the NSO registration process. 

Use the drop tabs below to find more information.  

NSO Program Types for Freshmen

There are two program types available for first-time Freshmen to attend. Read more information below on the differences between the two available programs.

Available NSO Programs for First-time Freshmen Students
Program TypeProgram DescriptionGuests Allowed?Cost
Traditional Freshmen NSONew Student Orientation (NSO) is an engaging on-campus experience the university has created to prepare all its new students to integrate into the academic, cultural, and social context of California State University, Northridge. Throughout the orientation experience, new students will be advised on appropriate steps to take in order to achieve academic success in and out of the classroom. Students will also get a chance to meet their peers, both fellow new students and continuing CSUN students, who will offer help and suggestions to assist with a smooth transition.This program type is for students only; for student interested in having guests during attend Orientation, please register for a Dual-Program event.

$75


This Orientation fee will be automatically assessed to a student's account, regardless of attendance.

Dual-Program NSOA Dual-Program Orientation allows students and their parent/family member to attend an Orientation simultaneously; one track is a Traditional NSO program for the student and the other is designed specifically to meet the needs of parents/family members. Please note: This program type is only available in the summer, for new students entering in during the Fall semester.This program type allows up to 1 guest to attend the 'Parent/Family' track. Small children (under the age of 5) do not count toward overall guest attendance.

$75

Dual-Program Orientations fees are folded into your student’s Orientation fee; parents/family members will not have to pay any additional fees for attending this program type. 

This Orientation fee will be automatically assessed to a student's account, regardless of attendance.

NSO Fall 2024 Date

Orientation dates for Fall 2024 have yet to be determined. Please check back in June for updates. An email will be sent to incoming students when NSO Registration is made available.

NSO Tentative Agenda

The following agenda is an example of a typical Fall NSO program; students are required to attend the entire event.

NSO Example Agenda
Time:Component:
8:00 amCheck-In for Students (Breakfast & Refreshments Served)
9:00 amCampus Tours
10:15 amUniversity Welcome
10:50 amStudent Involvement & Information Technology
11:10 amSteps to Academic Success
12:00 pmLunch / Resources & Services Fair
1:40 pmClassrooms & Communities
3:00 pmTAKE Performance & Facilitation
5:30 pmNSO Concludes

NSO Components and Learning Outcomes

First Time Freshman
Components and Student Learning Outcomes

In keeping with the goal of New Student Orientation, we have designed this program to meet the needs of incoming first-time freshmen by:

  • Showcase a welcoming environment that builds a sense of community
  • Providing an opportunity to gain knowledge and information on campus resources and services
  • Offer a framework that will allow students to make informed and appropriate academic plans and social choices
  • Encourage connections among current and new students, faculty, and staff
  • Building awareness of campus locations/geography
  • Enhance understanding of strategies for success

Below are a listing of program components with their associated Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) which have been developed in collaboration with the Orientation Advisory Committee which represents 20+ departments from across the campus dedicated to student success as they transition into CSUN.

Component: University Welcome & Group Meetings
The University Welcome and Group Meetings convey the purpose of higher education and the mission of Cal State Northridge. These meetings will include icebreakers and activities that will allow students to feel more comfortable in their new surroundings and with their Orientation groups. Meetings will be designed with strategic probing questions in order to encourage interaction between students and orientation leaders.

Learning Outcomes:

  • New students will express familiarity with the purpose of higher education and begin to identify how it relates to their educational goals.

 Component: Group Meetings and Transitions

In these group meetings students will be provided with campus facts and information, lead to key locations students should be familiar with on campus, and informed of services/classes offered in the buildings pointed out. There will also be opportunities for students and group members to share informal information about college life and discuss any concerns that students may have. Orientation leaders will be prepared to answer any questions that students may have or provide guidance as to where a student can be better assisted. This group will allow students to develop an initial network of support at CSUN through interaction on the day of Orientation, during Welcome All Matadors Week and the Presidents Celebration, and will follow-up with contacts on emails and informal gatherings from orientation leaders/mentors.

Learning Outcomes:
New students will:

  • Establish at least one interpersonal connection with a peer of sufficient depth.
  • Identify at least one peer who could serve as a resource and support that would continue after New Student Orientation.
  • Express familiarity with the physical layout of the campus.
  • Identify the location of campus buildings, parking structures and lots, and more specifically where their classes will be held.
  • Identify location of business resources on campus and other major resource areas such as the Klotz Student Health Center (SHC), the Oviatt Library, the University Student Union (USU), and the Student Services Building.
  • Identify their new orientation leaders as support systems within the university.

Component: Steps to Academic Success
This component will be presented by staff members from a college advising center. A template will be created to provide basic information and follow-up reinforcement of the student's academic advisement. The template will then be personalized to incorporate specific college information, including students' major/program/option of interest. Key components will include a refresher introduction to the college structure and build awareness around tools and resources that will allow students to take control over one’s own education.

Learning Outcomes
New students will:

  • Be able to identify the college in which their major exists.
  • Develop a familiarity with the utility EOP Satellite Centers.
  • Develop a familiarity with the utility of online services such as the University Catalog and “How To” guides.
  • Become familiar with requirements/components in obtaining a degree.
  • Develop a familiarity with basic academic policies

Component: Campus Tour and Resources/Services Fair
Occurring at separate times throughout the event, these components introduce new students to key service areas of the campus promoting resources designed to support academic, social, and cultural needs to enable success. Location, hours of operation, and accessibility are also covered. The tour component allows students to familiarize themselves with the physical layout of campus. Departments/Service areas will directly interface with new students during a Resource/Services Fair.  These components supplement each other to maximize differing learning styles.

Learning Outcomes:
New students will:

  • Express familiarity with key campus services and resources that are available to them.
  • Identify areas and be able to state services available within these areas.

Component: Classrooms & Community
This interactive presentation is facilitated by a member of CSUN's faculty along with NSO student leaders and focuses on the university classroom, including differences between high school and college, appropriate classroom conduct, meeting faculty expectations, ethical and lawful issues relating to the student code of conduct (i.e. cheating, plagiarism including using the internet resources for cheating), and campus community standards. Additionally, the discussion covers campus, local, state, and federal laws as they relate to student safety and well-being – including sections on Title IX, sexual assault, Violence Against Women Act, student records, and FERPA rights, and credit card information.

Learning Outcomes:
New students will:

  • Be able to identify some differences between the high school classroom, university classroom
  • Become aware of appropriate classroom conduct.
  • Become aware of university academic expectations as it relates to the student conduct code, and its references to cheating and plagiarism.
  • Become aware of the university’s services, resources, and responses surrounding various laws, policies, and executive orders promoting student safety and education (incl. AB 1088, EO 1098 - Title IX, Sexual Assault, Violence Against Women Act, FERPA, etc.)
  • Become familiar with adult responsibilities as they relate to credit card information.

Component: TAKE Performance & TAKE Small Group Discussions

TAKE is an interactive stage performance. CSUN student peer educators write, produce and perform skits surrounding challenging social issues that college students may face today, including body abuse, relationships, prejudice and transition. A facilitated discussion with small groups will occur immediately afterwards.

The TAKE small group discussions are facilitated by specially trained student orientation leaders in tandem with a member of the TAKE cast. Students have the opportunity to further explore the issues presented in TAKE in a more intimate environment. With the help of the facilitator, more in depth discussion and further questions and probing will occur.

Learning Outcomes:

  • New students will develop a basic understanding of some of the issues they may face as developing adults in a college environment.
  • New students will be able to understand and identify various resources on and off campus that can assist in overcoming academic, cultural, and social issues/problems prevalent in a college student's life.

 

Resources

MATERIALS PROVIDED AT ORIENTATION

OTHER IMPORTANT RESOURCES

 

Extended programming beyond NSO

Identity Resource Centers in the University Student Union (USU)

There are various entities on campus that provide additional programming for interested students which typically occur after NSO. Feel free to contact these departments for additional information:

USU Identity Resource Centers
Student PopulationResource Center NameMore information:
Veteran Students USU Veterans Resource Centerwww.csun.edu/vrc/events
LGBTQ+USU Pride Centerwww.csun.edu/pride/events
DACA/Dream ActEOP Dream Centerbit.ly/undocu-studentorientation

Available Cultural Welcomes

Additionally, please look into these various Cultural Welcomes offered for new students:

Spring 2024 Cultural Welcomes - TBD

 

 

FAQs

Please visit our FAQs page to better prepare you for your orientation experience. 


Disclaimer: The New Student Orientation website contains information authorized and available at the time of publication. Its content, including dates and fee amounts, is subject to change without prior notice or obligation.