First-year Orientation FAQs

All new students must participate in orientation prior to enrolling in classes at Northern Illinois University. The program is designed to be your first step toward student success at NIU.

In addition to offering an overview of the Huskie experience, orientation introduces the many academic resources and support services available to you. Through your virtual orientation experience, you will meet virtually with your academic advisor, register your first-semester classes, learn about campus tools and resources and connect with other new students.

NIU is offering orientation remotely for all new students. Although we will be supporting your through your transition virtually, you can still expect to hear about everything NIU has to offer and while participating in a live Huskie to Huskie chat with NIU’s student Orientation Leaders and other new Huskies like you.

During your advising appointment, you’ll meet virtually with your advisor, who will help you plan your first semester and prepare to register for classes. We encourage you to monitor your NIU email inbox for all you’ll need to know about completing this required program remotely.

Once you’ve confirmed your intent to enroll and paid your enrollment fee, you’ll be able to register for orientation. Sign up for an orientation date by logging into your MyNIU account using your Z-ID and password. From there, you will select the Undergraduate Orientation tile where you will be instructed to select a date.

You will also access NIU’s required Pre-Orientation Program (POP) in your Undergraduate Orientation Tile. You will find the link to POP in the upper left corner of the screen. Make sure to complete POP at least three days before your scheduled orientation day!

We don’t currently have an option to waive fees. Please contact our office at orientation@niu.edu if you need assistance paying your fee.

Families are encouraged to be involved in orientation with their future Huskies. You can access the Family Resource and Support Guide. This online module is available in English and Spanish.

The Family Resource and Support Guide will help guide you in supporting your student prepare for their advising appointment and  learn more about the resources and supports available to your student.

Contact Orientation and First Year Programs at orientation@niu.edu to reschedule.

We encourage you to keep your original advising date, as availability of appointments may depend upon your major. Please contact Orientation and First Year Programs at orientation@niu.edu if you need to reschedule.

Your virtual orientation experience will include your Pre-Orientation Program (POP), virtual meetings with an Orientation Leader and your peers during Session 0, and your initial advising and registration appointment with your academic advisor. After registering for an orientation date, you’ll receive an invitation to select when you’d like to complete your Session 0. An academic advisor from your college will contact you within the seven days leading up to your registered orientation advising date to provide you with your advising appointment time.

Don’t forget to complete POP three days before your scheduled orientation day—we recommend starting it at least two weeks before.

You’ll be invited to select your preferred date for completing Session 0, a required part the summer virtual orientation experience after you’ve registered for orientation. Session 0 will give you the opportunity to engage with other new students and get you connected within the Huskie Community.

In addition to getting to know your fellow Huskies, you’ll be introduced to important resources like the cultural resource centers, Housing and Residential Services, Campus Dining Services! You’ll also receive recommendations for how to prepare for your upcoming orientation advising appointment.

Math Placement

All students will be given an initial math placement level based on their ACT/SAT math scores and high school GPA. If you did not submit a high school GPA, you should register for the Accuplacer Math Exam (click on the “Test Registration” button at the bottom of the page to register for this exam).

Your placement results will be emailed from testing@niu.edu to your NIU email address.

If you wish to challenge your math placement result, you may also register for the Accuplacer Math Exam (click on the “Test Registration” button at the bottom of the page to register for this exam).

Please note, to take the Accuplacer Math Exam, you will need a computer with a webcam and microphone.

English Placement

If an English Placement Exam is required you will receive an e-mail to your NIU e-mail address from testing@niu.edu with instructions on how to register for this exam. Please note: not all students are required to take this exam.

Writing Composition Competency

If you do not receive an English Placement Exam e-mail and you would like to take a placement exam for English, you may consider registering for the optional Writing Composition Exam I. Please visit the Testing Services website to determine if you wish to take this exam. Note: you are not required to take this exam.

Literacy Placement

If literacy placement is required, you will receive an email to your NIU email address from testing@niu.edu, with your literacy placement results. Your placement results will be based on your ACT/SAT scores and high school GPA.

If you wish to challenge your placement results you may register for the Literacy Placement Exam (click on the “Test Registration” button at the bottom of the page to register for this exam). Please note: not all students will receive a literacy placement.

Foreign Language Placement

You can visit the Testing Services website to determine if a Foreign Language placement is needed. If so, you may register for the exam (click on the “Test Registration” button at the bottom of the page to register for this exam).

Chemistry Placement

You can visit the Testing Services website to determine if a Chemistry placement is needed for your major. Once the exam is available, you may register for the Chemistry Placement exam (click on the “Test Registration” button at the bottom of the page to register for this exam).

Additional Questions

If you have additional questions about placement, contact Testing Services at testing@niu.edu.

You’ll meet with your academic advisor during your registered orientation date. As your orientation date approaches, it’s important to begin monitor your NIU email account for a message from an academic advisor with details about your virtual advising appointment time. You can expect an email with information about your virtual advising appointment within the seven days leading up to your registered date.

Your advisor will schedule an appointment to help you plan for your first semester and prepare to register for classes. Some advising areas also will schedule a college meeting. Most advising appointments range between 30 minutes and one hour.

The family orientation program has been transitioned into a virtual format. In place of in-person sessions, families can access the Family Resource and Support Guide. This online module is available in English and Spanish.

First, double-check your NIU email and the email you gave on your application to NIU. Make sure to check your spam and junk folders, too. If it is not there, email us at orientation@niu.edu and we will resend your confirmation.

Please fill out our online form to request a change in your major.

We will contact you once you fill out the form if you need to change your orientation date.

When registering for your orientation date via MyNIU, fill out the Accommodations section to let us know what you will need. It is also highly recommended that you also contact us at least two weeks prior to your orientation program at orientation@niu.edu to confirm arrangements.

No, but students in University Honors will receive an opportunity to participate in a special online video session and chat about the program. These virtual presentations will be offered leading up to orientation. You will also be offered a virtual honors advising meeting on your chosen orientation date — meeting invitations will be sent to your student email account.

Yes, all new students are required to complete orientation prior to advising and registration.

Yes, all new students are required to take part in the virtual orientation experience.

Please contact your coach to discuss your orientation advising date options.