SOAR will be hosted in a virtual format, where you will meet other new students and learn about campus resources to help you feel prepared to make a successful transition to college. SOAR sessions are offered in June; all you’ll need is a computing device for Zoom and your smile! After you make your SOAR reservation, there are 4 phases in your onboarding to UNCG:
- BEFORE YOU SOAR
- Added to the SOAR Canvas Course
- Day of SOAR program (includes small groups on Zoom and a live campus resource fair and student organization fair)
- Live Q&A Sessions
Make your SOAR Reservation
- Log in to your SpartanLink account
- Click Steps to Enrolling
- Confirm your acceptance to UNCG
- Log in to the New Student Portal by clicking the banner below
- Sign in to the New Student Portal using your UNCG username and password. Your UNCG username and email address are very similar so they are easy to mix up. Here is an example:
Username: soar
Email: soar@uncg.edu
Be sure to use your username, not email, when logging in to the New Student Portal
- Complete the Class Schedule Interest (CSI) Survey
- Make your SOAR reservation and select the session you will be attending
Take Care of These Items
You need to access and be checking your UNCG email.
For more information about the types of accounts required and other IT information, visit The Information Technology and Services (ITS) website.
Apply for financial aid by filing your FAFSA. Our Financial Aid Office can provide more information about our process.
Get familiar with our housing options and review the housing application process through Housing and Residence Life.
Submit your SpartanCard Photo on-line using the SpartanCard Center website.
The UNCG Immunizations office is open Monday – Friday 8 am until 5 pm. The office is located on the second floor of the Anna M. Gove Student Health Center. Find immunization forms on the Student Health Center website. Immunization forms need to be submitted at or before your soar session.
Every student is required to complete a W9S Tax Form and submit to the Cashiers Office.
Verify with your high school and/or current college to confirm that an official copy of your academic transcript(s) has been sent to the UNCG Registrar’s Office.
If you are taking 6 or more campus credit hours, you must submit proof of creditable health insurance at: http://www.uncg.edu/shs/student-insurance.
SOAR Dates for First Year Students in the Fall
- Make sure you complete your SOAR reservation soon so that you find the best date that works for you and your family. In the reservation system, you’ll have the opportunity to make a reservation for yourself and any parent or family member.
- Students will make a SOAR reservation for one of the following dates: June 7, June 8, June 11, June 16, June 18, June 22, June 24, June 28 and will be available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on their SOAR date. The schedule for the program will be available closer to the date.
- We are tentatively planning to host Live Q&A Sessions on June 9, June 15, June 17, June 21, and June 25. More details will be available in the coming weeks.
SOAR Fees
New Student Fee: $254
The cost of a SOAR reservation is included in your student’s New Student fee. The New Student Fee covers many programs for new students, including SOAR, NAV1GATE, Rawkin' Welcome Week, Your First Year and more! Students do not pay their New Student Fee at SOAR. The new student fee is applied directly to the student account, and cannot be waived.
The New Student Fee is still applicable if you attend SOAR, yet decide not to attend UNCG.
The New Student Fee is still applicable if you don’t attend SOAR but do attend UNCG for the respective semester.
Day of SOAR
Schedule
If you have studied French, German, or Spanish in high school, please register for and complete the Additional Language Placement Diagnostic before your SOAR session.
After clicking on the link, you will need to:
- set up an account using your new UNCG student ID number, email address (preferably your UNCG email), and a password of your choosing
- Select the language you plan to study
- complete the pre-test survey
- then begin the test
The diagnostic is fully online, will take 15-30 minutes to complete, and is multiple choice (no listening or speaking involved).
Your advisor will help you understand what your score means, and how to use that information in shaping your Fall 2020 schedule. For more information on the value of studying a language and the purpose of the diagnostic, visit https://casa.uncg.edu/why-is-it-important-to-study-languages/.
MATH PLACEMENT
Depending on your major, you may need to take the UNCG Calculus Readiness Diagnostic. You have two attempts to complete the Diagnostic. You should take your first attempt as soon as possible (ideally before your SOAR session). The deadline to complete your second attempt is July 15, 2020.
You will need your iSpartan username and password to log into Canvas.uncg.edu. Once you are logged in, click on the Calculus Readiness Diagnostic, where you’ll find access resources to help you prepare as well as the link to take the Diagnostic.
For more information visit: https://mathstats.uncg.edu/undergraduate/placement/calculus-diagnostic-test/
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Virtual SOAR Frequently Asked Questions
UNC Greensboro’s orientation program was postponed and moved to a virtual format in June.
Explore our frequently asked questions below. Feel free to contact us at soar@uncg.edu
What is June virtual SOAR?
- June Virtual SOAR is the orientation program that will be conducted online that consists of required welcome sessions, student small groups, and panels for both students and families.
How do I sign-up for June virtual SOAR?
- You will sign up for June virtual SOAR at spartanlink.uncg.edu.
If I’ve already signed up for a June SOAR in-person session, do I need to sign-up for a June virtual SOAR session?
- Nope! If you’ve already signed up for a SOAR session, that is the date of your virtual SOAR session.
What is the June virtual SOAR schedule for the day?
- The June virtual SOAR schedule is as follows:
Is June virtual SOAR required?
- Yes, all incoming first-year and transfer undergraduate students are required to attend their June virtual SOAR session and complete their Canvas course. You must complete these two items to receive access to your course schedule.
How do I access the June virtual SOAR sessions?
- Students and families will receive URLs via email to access the YouTube Live Stream and student small groups on Zoom.
Is there a June virtual SOAR option for parents and families of incoming students?
- On the June virtual SOAR date, parents and families will attend the Welcome Session and the Get Involved panel with their students. We will host a Parent & Family only session at 1pm (EST) on the June virtual SOAR date.
If I already paid for my guest, will I get a refund?
- Yes, we are processing all of the guest refunds including additional guests and/or overnight accommodations.
What equipment do I need for June virtual SOAR?
- You will need a computer, tablet, or smartphone to access the June virtual SOAR sessions and the Canvas course.
What will June virtual SOAR cost?
- There is no additional cost to June virtual SOAR. The cost of SOAR is included in the New Student Fee. The New Student Fee is a one-time fee assessed to all new undergraduate students and is used to fund a series of services and programs to support students in the transition to and through the first year of college, such as SOAR, NAV1GATE, Rawkin’ Welcome Weeks, Your First Year, and peer mentor programs. The New Student Fee is applied to the student bill.
When is my Canvas course due?
- Your Canvas course is due two weeks after your June virtual SOAR date.
How do I get my class schedule?
- After attending your June virtual SOAR date and completing your Canvas course, you will receive an email to your UNCG account in late June or early July to access your course schedule and meet with your advisor if you would like to make changes.
Who are the Spartan Orientation Staff (SOS)?
- The Spartan Orientation Staff or SOS are current UNCG students that serve as orientation leaders. They will lead the small group sessions during June virtual SOAR and as a resource to answer questions as students transition to UNCG.
Will there be-in person sessions in August?
- If we are able to gather, we are planning to host in-person orientation programs prior to the first day of classes. We will follow CDC and mandated guidelines to ensure the safety of all students.
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After SOAR
Resources for Academic Success
Regardless of which SOAR you attend, you will need to prepare for Academic Success. UNCG has a strong commitment 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 students’ academic careers have as much potential for influencing their development as academic advising. Advisors help students understand how to develop sound academic and career goals, become successful learners, and understand their role in the academic community. Advising at UNCG may feel very different from advising in high school. In comparison, choosing classes in high school is relatively simple because there are fewer choices. At UNCG, there are over 100 different majors, providing students with a variety of choices when selecting courses.
In the New Student Portal, you will complete the Class Schedule Interest (CSI) Survey. Your academic advisor will use this information to register you for classes, and you will have an opportunity to finalize your schedule prior to the start of the Fall semester. You must complete this survey to sign up for an orientation session, so complete the survey as soon as possible. The preferred deadline is May 1.
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 most first-year majors in the College of Arts and Sciences. Only Biochemistry, Interior Architecture, Mathematics, Philosophy, and Physics majors are assigned to faculty advisors during their first year, rather than CASA. When CASA advisees have earned at least 24 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 International Honors Program. After SOAR, LIHC has two full-time Academic Advisors available to help students complete the International 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 Services advises all students majoring in professions in deafness, elementary, middle grades, special education, and dual majors’ combination of elementary education and special education 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 based on their last name. Students work with their advisor each semester to meet degree & licensure requirements, understand academic options & 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 undergraduate music majors are advised by the Director of Undergraduate Advising in the School of Music. Advising in the School of Theatre, the School of Dance, the School of Art and Arts Administration will be with faculty advisors.
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 (FYE 101, BUS 105, NUR 110, HHS125)
These courses, designed to help ensure a successful transition to UNCG, expose new students to academic tools, campus resources, and opportunities for campus and community involvement. FYE 101: Succeed at the G is open to all first-year students. BUS 105 is specifically for freshmen with majors in the Bryan School of Business and Economics. NUR 110 is specifically designed for students planning to major in Nursing. HHS125 is designed for students exploring health majors.
Academic Achievement Center
The Academic Achievement Center (AAC) offers 3 academic support programs for UNCG students: Course-based Tutoring, Academic Skills, and Supplemental Instruction (SI).
- 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 Skills services support you as a learner in general, and assists with skill development around time management, studying, reading, note-taking, and other general student skills.
- The Supplemental Instruction (SI) provides discussion and review forums designed to help you achieve success in courses that have been designated as historically difficult.
All of the academic support services through the AAC are FREE! More information about the Academic Achievement Center programs can be found at go.uncg.edu/aac and students can request assistance directly at go.uncg.edu/aac_request.
Office of Accessibility Resources & Services (OARS)
The Office of Accessibility Resources (OARS) provides support for students with a variety of disabilities and diagnosed learning differences. Students should contact this office to determine if they qualify for assistance. For more information, please refer to the OARS section of this publication or to their webpage: http://ods.uncg.edu/.
University Writing Center
The University Writing Center strives to enhance the confidence and competence of student writers by providing free, individual assistance at any stage of a writing project. Staff consultants are experienced writers and alert readers, prepared to offer feedback and suggestions on drafts of papers, help students find answers to their questions about writing, and provide one-on-one instruction as needed. More information about the University Writing Center is available at http://writingcenter.uncg.edu/.
University Speaking Center
The University Speaking Center provides consultation support and instructional workshop services for UNCG students, faculty, employees, and members of the Greensboro community. Our support is designed to help speakers further develop their own oral communication confidence and competence. We provide peer-to-peer feedback, guidance, and other support in the areas of public speaking preparation and delivery, interpersonal communication, and group or team communication.
The Speaking Center is located along with the Writing Center in 3211 MHRA. We are on the third floor. MHRA is on the corner of Forest and Spring Garden – diagonally across the street from the Mossman Building. http://speakingcenter.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 to cpd.uncg.edu
Should my student register for a first-year experience course?
We encourage all new students to take a first-year experience course such as FYE 101, BUS 105A, NUR 110, or HES 110 to maximize their success while transitioning to a new learning environment. These courses equip and empower new students to develop and achieve their academic and personal goals. 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. Encourage your student to register for one of these courses.
When does a student need to declare a major?
New students often arrive without having declared a specific major. With assistance from their advisor in the Students First Office, many students use their first two or three semesters to explore majors by sampling courses across the curriculum that meet their General Education Core (GEC) requirements. For many students, choosing a major is a learning and exploration process. It is important to encourage students to reflect on their interests and strengths while searching for a major. The Students First Office and the CSC can help students uncover and build upon their interests and strengths to help narrow their search. While there is not a designated semester in which a student must declare a major, a selection is recommended by the time he or she has accumulated 45 hours of course credit. In addition, certain majors do require an early commitment by students who plan to graduate in four years. Special admission requirements for specific majors such as GPA, course prerequisites, auditions, applications, and/or interviews are described in the Undergraduate Bulletin.
What are Freshman Seminar courses?
Freshman Seminar courses give students the opportunity to study a topic in depth while earning credit in the General Education Core (GEC) or to fulfill the College Additional Requirements (CAR). The seminars are small discussion classes taught by faculty selected for their commitment and interest in undergraduate teaching and are available for freshmen only. The seminars have no prerequisites and do not presume any special knowledge about the topics to be covered.
Do you have any tips for first-year success that I can share with my student?
We encourage students to:
- Vist Your First Year website for tips and resources at newstudents.uncg.edu/yfy.
- Create a balanced schedule with a variety of courses planned for every day of the week.
- Register for a first-year experience course.
- 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!