NSO Components and Learning Outcomes

Freshman New Student Orientation – Program Components & Student Learning Outcomes

Program Goal

The goal of New Student Orientation (NSO) is to support the continuous process of integrating new students into the academic, cultural, and social context of California State University, Northridge.

In support of this goal, Freshman New Student Orientation is designed to:

  • Increase students’ knowledge of campus resources and services.
  • Introduce strategies, tools, and resources that support academic success and progress toward graduation.
  • Support students in understanding the expectations and responsibilities associated with university life.
  • Encourage interaction among new and continuing students to support a successful transition to CSUN.
  • Create opportunities for connection with university administrators, faculty, staff, and peers.
  • Introduce opportunities for involvement, leadership, employment, service, and engagement within the CSUN community.
  • Encourage students to make informed choices that contribute to their academic, personal, and social success.

Component: Resource Fair

The Resource Fair provides new students with direct access to departments, programs, and service areas from across the university. Campus partners share information about resources designed to support students’ academic, social, cultural, and personal success. Students are encouraged to explore the fair, engage directly with campus representatives, ask questions, and identify resources that may support their individual needs throughout their CSUN experience.

Learning Outcomes

Through this component, new students will:

  • Identify campus departments, programs, and services available to support their academic, social, cultural, and personal success.
  • Describe services or forms of support available through participating campus resource areas.
  • Recognize campus resources that may be appropriate for their individual needs and circumstances.
  • Engage with campus representatives to ask questions and gather information about available programs, services, and opportunities.
  • Identify how to access campus resources when assistance or support is needed.

Component: Group Meetings & Campus Tour

Group Meetings & the Campus Tour help new students become familiar with the physical, academic, and social environment of CSUN while developing initial connections with peers and Orientation Leaders. Through guided campus exploration and group interaction, students are introduced to key buildings, services, and resources while having opportunities to ask questions and discuss their transition to university life. Orientation Leaders serve as an initial peer support system and help students begin developing a sense of connection to the CSUN community.

Learning Outcomes

Through this component, new students will:

  • Identify key campus buildings, academic locations, parking areas, and student service locations.
  • Recognize major campus resources and where they are located.
  • Develop at least one interpersonal connection with another student during Orientation.
  • Identify peers and Orientation Leaders who can serve as sources of information, connection, and support.
  • Demonstrate increased familiarity with the physical layout of the CSUN campus.

Component: University Welcome

The University Welcome formally introduces new students to the CSUN community through messages from university leadership and New Student Orientation staff. The session establishes expectations for the university experience and encourages students to recognize the choices they will make as active participants in their education. Students are introduced to the academic, social, and cultural dimensions of university life and encouraged to make use of resources, become involved, and develop a sense of connection and Matador pride.

Learning Outcomes

Through this component, new students will:

  • Recognize themselves as members of the CSUN academic and campus community.
  • Identify academic, social, and cultural dimensions of the university experience.
  • Recognize the importance of personal choices and active participation in shaping their CSUN experience.
  • Identify the value of utilizing university resources and becoming engaged with the campus community.
  • Connect their transition to CSUN with the broader goal of progressing toward graduation.

Component: Student Life & Involvement

Student Life & Involvement introduces new students to opportunities for engagement beyond the classroom and emphasizes the role involvement can play in developing belonging, leadership, experience, and connection at CSUN. Students learn that involvement can include student organizations, leadership and service, academic internships, on-campus employment, event volunteering, recreation, and other opportunities offered throughout the university.

Learning Outcomes

Through this component, new students will:

  • Identify opportunities for involvement, leadership, service, employment, and engagement at CSUN.
  • Recognize that student involvement extends beyond participation in clubs and organizations.
  • Describe ways involvement can contribute to belonging, leadership development, applicable experience, and connection to the university.
  • Identify campus programs and areas that can help them explore involvement opportunities.
  • Recognize the value of becoming an active participant in the CSUN community.

Component: Steps to Academic Success

Steps to Academic Success introduces new students to the academic structures, resources, and support systems that can help them successfully navigate their CSUN experience. The component develops students’ understanding of their college identity and emphasizes academic advisement and planning, degree-planning tools, tutoring, and broader campus resources. Students are encouraged to take an active role in their education by understanding where to seek assistance, monitoring progress toward graduation, and accessing support before challenges become barriers to their success.

Learning Outcomes

Through this component, new students will:

  • Identify their academic college and recognize key people, departments, services, buildings, and resources associated with their academic experience at CSUN.
  • Explain the role of academic advisement and identify when and how to seek support from academic advisors, faculty, staff, and Student Services Centers.
  • Recognize academic planning tools and resources available to help them understand degree requirements, plan coursework, and monitor progress toward graduation.
  • Identify tutoring, health and wellness, career, and involvement resources that can support their academic and personal success.
  • Describe their responsibility for maintaining satisfactory academic progress and taking an active role in decisions and behaviors that contribute to their continued academic success.

Component: Classrooms & Community

Classrooms & Community introduces new students to the academic expectations, community standards, and responsibilities associated with university life at CSUN. Facilitated by faculty, staff, and student leaders, the session explores classroom expectations, academic success strategies, appropriate use of technology, academic integrity, and respectful conduct. Students are also introduced to university policies, resources, and procedures related to student rights, safety, privacy, and well-being, including Title IX, sexual misconduct, FERPA, hazing, alcohol and substance use, and emergency preparedness.

Learning Outcomes

Through this component, new students will:

  • Identify behaviors and practices that contribute to respectful and successful participation in the university classroom.
  • Describe academic success strategies, including appropriate use of faculty office hours, study groups, time management, course syllabi, and technology.
  • Recognize CSUN’s expectations regarding academic integrity and the potential consequences associated with cheating and plagiarism.
  • Identify university policies and resources related to student rights, privacy, safety, and well-being, including Title IX, FERPA, hazing, and alcohol and substance use.
  • Describe appropriate actions and resources available when confronted with a campus emergency or safety concern.
  • Identify technology resources and services available to support their academic experience.
  • Recognize where to seek assistance when academic, personal, safety, or community concerns arise.

Component: TAKE Performance & Small Group Discussions

TAKE is a live peer-education performance designed to introduce new students to challenging social and personal issues they may encounter during their college experience. CSUN student peer educators write, produce, and perform skits exploring issues such as relationships, prejudice, transition, body abuse, and other challenges relevant to college students.

Following the performance, students participate in small-group discussions facilitated by specially trained Orientation Leaders in partnership with members of the TAKE cast. These conversations allow students to further explore the situations presented, consider different perspectives, ask questions, and identify campus resources and support services available when they or their peers encounter challenges.

Learning Outcomes

Through this component, new students will:

  • Recognize social, cultural, interpersonal, and transitional challenges that may arise during the college experience.
  • Describe how personal choices, relationships, and interactions with others can affect individual and community well-being.
  • Consider perspectives and experiences that may differ from their own when discussing challenging issues affecting college students.
  • Identify strategies for responding to or seeking assistance with academic, cultural, social, or personal challenges.
  • Identify campus resources and support services available when they or their peers encounter challenges.
  • Recognize the value of seeking assistance and connecting themselves or others with appropriate resources.