SOAR For First-Year Students

UNCG is committed to student success and provides programs and services that will support students as they grow personally and academically. It is important that students be aware and take advantage of the services that UNCG has to offer. Some of the programs and services designed to assist students are listed below.

Few experiences in your academic career have as much potential for influencing your collegiate experience as academic advising.  Much more than getting your advising code and selecting courses, developing a professional relationship with your academic advisor will help you make informed choices and decisions about your education and career.  Academic advising for undergraduates at UNCG is coordinated within each of the University’s academic units.  You will be advised according to your selected academic major.  Advising centers are located in each of the 4 professional schools, the 3 Colleges, and within the Students First Office.

At UNCG, academic programs are organized under seven areas:

College of Arts and Sciences, Lloyd International Honors College, Bryan School of Business and Economics, School of Education, School of Health and Human Sciences, College of Visual & Performing Arts, and School of Nursing and, for Exploratory Students, the Students First Office will serve as your advising location.

Each academic department provides academic advising to meet the needs of its students.  Advising during the first year is much different from the SOAR advising experience.  Students are assigned to advisors or advising centers based on their majors during the first semester as advising models vary by department:

College of Arts and Sciences

The College of Arts and Sciences Advising Center (CASA) advises all first-year majors in the College of Arts and Sciences. When CASA advisees have earned at least 30 credit hours, they are assigned to faculty advisors in their majors.

Lloyd International Honors College

Lloyd International Honors College (LIHC) advises incoming first-year students at SOAR and during a dedicated Honors College orientation prior to the start of classes in August for the Global Honors Program. After SOAR, LIHC has two full-time Academic Advisors available to help students complete the Global and Disciplinary Honors Program. Additionally, LIHC provides advising for major national and international scholarships and fellowships, such as the Fulbright, Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, and Goldwater.

Bryan School of Business and Economics

The Undergraduate Student Services Office coordinates advising for all business majors in the Bryan School. All programs in the Bryan School are advised by advisors in the Bryan Undergraduate Student Services Office.

First Year transitions courses: BUS 115 from BUS 105

School of Education

The School of Education’s Office of Student Success advises all students majoring in IDEAS (formerly professions in deafness), elementary, middle grades, special education, special education: dual majors, and information science majors during SOAR. Students who are education majors in specific content areas (such as English, biology, music, etc.) receive advising from that content area during SOAR.

After SOAR, each student will be assigned an SOE advisor or SOE faculty advisor based on their major. Students work with their advisor each semester to meet degree and licensure requirements, understand academic options and resources available to them, and make educational plans to meet their goals and interests.

School of Health and Human Sciences

A team of faculty members and professional advisors in the School of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) advise undergraduate students during SOAR. Once registered, students are then assigned to the faculty member, professional advisor, or advising center based on their major.

Secondary admission application procedures are required for the Departments of (1) Communication Sciences and Disorders, (2) Human Development and Family Studies, (3) Kinesiology, (4) Public Health Education, and (5) Social Work. In these respective departments, students are prevented from progressing in their advanced curricula until formal acceptance into the department occurs.

College of Visual & Performing Arts

All first year students in the College of Visual & Performing Arts are advised by the CVPA Student Success Team. Once students have finished their first semester and have earned at least 30 hours, they will be advised by faculty members in their area.

School of Nursing

The School of Nursing’s Office of Undergraduate Advising provides academic advising to all freshmen pre-nursing majors during the first year. In the second year, students are assigned a dedicated faculty advisor.

Admission to the upper division Bachelor of Science in Nursing major is by application only (near the end of the sophomore year). Students must maintain minimum academic requirements to progress in this particular major. Admission to the program is academically competitive and students are encouraged to understand the academic requirements to be competitive for admission to the program. For more information please visit http://nursing.uncg.edu/Undergraduate/advising/.

Exploratory (Undecided) Majors

The Students First Office provides academic advising for all Exploratory (Undecided) Majors until they have declared and been officially admitted to a major. In SFO, academic advising is an educational process in which you and your advisor partner together in meeting established learning outcomes, working toward your academic success, and outlining steps you will take in achieving your personal, educational, and career goals. Students meet with their SFO advisor two times each semester, once during the first 6-8 weeks of the term and then again during the traditional advising & registration period. For more information on academic advising for Exploratory Majors, visit the “Exploratory Majors” information page on the Students First website, or call (336) 334-5730.

Students First Office (SFO)

The Students First Office coordinates intervention processes across different academic and administrative units in order to determine the best possible success strategies for students facing academic, social, or financial setbacks. In collaboration with other support services across campus, the office serves as an Academic One-Stop-Shop for assisting students with academic advising, academic appeals, course overload requests, and graduation plan completion. In addition, SFO also serves as the centralized academic advising center for all Exploratory (Undecided) Majors at UNCG. For more information, visit the Students First website or call or call (336) 334-5730.

First-Year Transition Courses

These courses, designed to help ensure a successful transition to UNCG, expose new students to academic tools, campus resources, personal development, and opportunities for campus and community involvement. Research indicates that UNCG students who take these courses achieve higher GPAs and are generally more successful than students who do not take a first-year experience course. While some majors have a dedicated first-year course as part of their curriculum, some courses like FYE 101: Succeed at the G are open to all first-year students and also fulfill the MAC Foundations competency, as part of UNCG’s Minerva’s Academic Curriculum.

Academic Achievement Center

The Academic Achievement Center (AAC) offers four academic support programs for UNCG students: course-based tutoring, academic success coaching, and Outreach Workshops on Learning Skills (OWLS).

• Tutoring is offered in many 100- and 200- level courses, on a weekly appointment and drop-in basis (depending on the course). Tutoring helps you address your questions and clarify points you’re confused about in the class.
• Academic success coaching assists with goal setting and skill development around areas such as time management, studying, reading, note-taking, and other general study skills.
• Outreach Workshops on Learning Skills (OWLS) are offered in classes, student group meetings, and around campus to give you the chance to learn a new skill or strategy to approach your studies.

All of the academic support services through the AAC are included in the cost of your tuition! More information about the Academic Achievement Center programs can be found at go.uncg.edu/aac. The AAC can be reached at aac@uncg.edu, or call (336) 334-3878.

Office of Accessibility Resources & Services (OARS)

The Office of Accessibility Resources and Services (OARS) supports students with disabilities. Contact OARS if you have a condition that impacts a major life activity for which you may need accommodations. For more information, please visit http://oars.uncg.edu/, or visit OARS in person in Suite 215, Elliott University Center.

Communication Lab

The Communication Lab focuses on both speaking and writing, and provides communication support through one-on-one and group sessions focusing on dialogic feedback. Consulting sessions focus on conversations about writing and speaking processes; these sessions promote a collaborative, non-hierarchal approach that sees consultants who work with writers and speakers as participants in a learner-centered exchange that values shared knowledge. The lab supports all projects regardless of how the writing or speaking will be composed/presented or which digital platforms are used.

For more information see go.uncg.edu/commlab or email commlab@uncg.edu

Career & Professional Development

The Career & Professional Development provides individual and group support to all levels of students in their career development process. Whether it is career and self-exploration, identifying and participating in experiential learning opportunities, the graduate school decision-making and application process, developing and maintaining professional networks, or preparing for the professional employment process, the CPD can equip students with the information and tools needed to make well-informed career decisions. To learn more about the CPD and its services, go tocpd.uncg.edu

Is SOAR mandatory?  Do I have to attend all sessions of the program?

Yes, SOAR is required for all new first-year students. All components of the orientation program are required. First-year students attend a 1.5-day program, you should plan to be on campus early morning on Day 1 through mid day on Day 2. An exact schedule with arrival and departure times will be emailed to you prior to SOAR. Participants should not plan for outside activities during the program. SOAR activities such as small groups, Academic Advising, etc. are not able to be requested, switched, or rescheduled. If you choose to miss any portion of SOAR you will not be able to register for fall courses until a later date in August, after all other students have already registered.

Is Orientation mandatory for parents/family/guests?

While SOAR is optional for parents/family/guests, all new parents and families are invited and strongly encouraged to attend SOAR. In a concurrent Family & Supporter SOAR program, guests will hear from numerous staff, university administrators, and deans about how to partner with the University to support students toward graduation. We welcome and encourage family members and guests to attend SOAR and learn about how to get involved as a UNCG family member and supporter to maximize the UNCG experience.

How long is Orientation?

First-year students attend a 1.5-day program, you should plan to be on campus early morning on Day 1 through mid day on Day 2. An exact schedule with arrival and departure times will be emailed to you prior to SOAR.

Should I register for a MAC Foundations course?

All first-year students are required to take a MAC Foundations course during their first 30 hours on campus. These courses are intended to maximize students’ success as they transition to a new learning environment. These courses provide a structured way for students to connect with campus, learn about the many support resources available, and build the habits they need to make the most of their education. If you want to register for a Foundations course, make sure you talk to your advisor at SOAR.

When does a student need to declare a major?

By University policy, students must declare a major by the time they have earned 60 credit hours. Students are strongly encouraged to make a selection by the time they have earned 45 credit hours, while declaration by 30 credit hours is ideal. These benchmarks are intended to minimize delays to degree completion. Keep in mind, there are several majors at UNCG that require a much earlier commitment to ensure timely degree completion, as outlined in the University Catalog.

Students who have not yet selected a major will work with an academic advisor in the Students First Office until a major is declared. In collaboration with their academic advisor, students will select courses that allow exploration of areas of interest while simultaneously satisfying UNCG’s general education requirements (known as MAC). The Students First Office and Career & Professional Development can assist students with self, major, and career exploration to narrow their search and identify their best fit major.

Do you have any tips for first-year success?

We encourage students to:

• Follow YFY social media, and visit the Your First Year website for tips and resources.
• Attend all the Your First Year Success Series programs and use your YFY Success Planner.
• Create a balanced schedule with a variety of courses planned for every day of the week.
• Register for a Foundations course such as FYE 101: Succeed at the G by emailing FYE101@uncg.edu.
• Maintain balance between academics and employment.
• Get involved on campus through Campus Activities & Programs.
• Go to class.
• Build relationships with faculty, staff, and students.
• Take advantage of campus resources.
• Explore different majors, especially if you are an Exploratory (Undecided) Major.
• Ask for help at any time!

Where will I stay during my June Orientation session? What should I bring?

First Year Students will stay in one of our Residence Halls during June SOAR. Residence hall accommodations are not provided during January and August Orientation. Linens are NOT provided in any student rooms.  Rooms are double occupancy rooms; each room is air-conditioned and has two twin xl beds.  Participants should bring their own blanket, bed linens, and towels. In a suite-style double room, the bathroom consists of one toilet, one shower and two sinks. Students will be pre-assigned a roommate for Orientation.

Families should arrange off-campus accommodations.

Can I request my roommate at Orientation?

Roommates will be assigned prior to checking-in on site. You are not able to request a specific roommate for your Orientation session.

My guest (or student) requires accessibility resources/services.  How can I request those?

If a student or guest require accessibility services such as a sign language interpreter, dietary needs, housing accommodations, or additional resources please be sure to indicate the needs in the appropriate fields during their SOAR reservation application. Any accommodation requests for SOAR need to be included on SOAR Reservation submissions. Any additional requests after this must be communicated at least 15 business days prior to the session and cannot be guaranteed. Students wishing to identify with the Office of Accessibility Resources & Services (OARS) may also do so at  https://oars.uncg.edu/

Parking Arrangements

Free parking will be provided to all SOAR participants. Exact parking locations will be emailed to you prior to SOAR.

In case of a University delay or closure due to inclement weather, Spartan Orientation Advising and Registration (SOAR) will be moved to a virtual format. In place of in-person SOAR, we will host live information sessions via Teams. This condensed program will feature representatives from across campus to share important information and answer questions to guide you to appropriate resources. 

As soon as the University makes a call, we will send all SOAR participants an email announcement and meeting links. We encourage you to stay tuned to Greensboro weather and your email.