First Year Students
»
Frequently
Asked Questions
Below you will find some of our most frequently asked questions regarding summer orientation programs for new students to AU. If you cannot find an answer to your question, please call our office at 202-885-3303 or send us an email to orientation@american.edu we would be more than happy to assist you.
» How do I register for New Student Orientation (NSO) and Welcome Weeks?
» What are the fees associated with NSO and what specifically do they cover?
» What's the New Student Checklist?
» What should I bring with me to New Student Orientation (NSO)?
» Where do I send the photo for my AU ID card?
» When will I know my housing assignment?
» How can I get more information about meal plans and EagleBuck$?
» When should I move into the residence halls in August?
» How do I make arrangements if I need accommodations for placement exams during NSO?
»
How can I learn more about on-campus employment?
When
can I register for New Student Orientation and Welcome Weeks programs like
FSE or Discover DC?
Registration begins on the last Monday of March for New Student Orientation
and Welcome Weeks programs.
How
do I register for New Student Orientation (NSO) and Welcome Weeks?
If you've already activated your my.american.edu
portal account, simply log in using your user name and password and click
on the button marked Activities and Events on the right side of the screen.
Then click on Student Checklists and then New Student Checklist under Personalized
Links. Then scroll down to Registration for NSO, FSE, and Discover DC. Follow
the screen instructions to secure your space at one of this summer's orientation
programs and a Welcome Weeks program.
If you have not yet activated your account,
you'll need to visit https://my.american.edu/accounts. You'll be prompted
to enter your seven-digit AU ID number, which you received with your admittance
letter from the Admissions office. Follow the instructions to create your
account. Once you've completed the account creation process, you'll be returned
to the my.american.edu log-in screen, where you will key in your new user
name and password. Then click on Student Checklists and then New Student Checklist
under Personalized Links. Then scroll down to Registration for NSO, FSE, and
Discover DC. Follow the screen instructions to secure your space at one of
this summer's orientation programs and a Welcome Weeks program. If
you're having trouble activating your account or logging on to the portal,
call the Help Desk at 202-885-2550. A Help Desk staff member can also assist
you if you've forgotten your password.
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What
are the fees associated with New Student Orientation and what exactly do
they cover?
The student orientation fee covers residence hall accommodations for one
night, four meals, program materials, and activities. The fee for family
members covers four meals, program materials, and activities.
New Student Orientation Fees
| Student | $140.00 |
| Student Early Arrival | $60.00 |
| Late Registration (after June 2, 2008) | $20.00 |
Parent and Family Orientation Fees
| Family Members | $80.00 |
| Family Members under 12 years of age | $60.00 |
| On-campus accommodations (per person, per night) | $60.00 |
I
don't want to register for New Student Orientation using the my.american.edu
portal. Is there another way I can register?
It's very important that all new students activate
their my.american.edu portal account and use it to register for orientation
and Welcome Weeks programs. You will receive official information from AU
at your AU e-mail address, and you'll use the portal to view your student
accounts, pay tuition, add money to your EagleBuck$ account, and in the future,
even register for classes. The only way to get used to using the portal is
to use it!
If you're having trouble activating your account or logging on to the portal,
call the AU Help Desk at 202-885-2550. The Help Desk can also assist you if
you've forgotten your password. If you don't have access to the Internet,
please contact our office and we'll be happy assist you over the phone.
What
if I want to make changes to my registration for New Student Orientation or
Welcome Weeks programs?
You can make changes to your registration by sending
an e-mail with your request to orientation@american.edu. Once we have processed
the change to your registration, we will send an e-mail confirmation to your
AU e-mail address along with information about payment adjustments. Any changes
must be received at least 48 hours before the program for which you've been
confirmed.
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What
if I have to cancel my registration for New Student Orientation, Freshman
Service Experience, or Discover DC?
All
cancellations and refund requests must be made in writing or via e-mail
at orientation@american.edu and must be received at least 48 hours prior
to the program for which you've been confirmed.
FSE cancellations must be received in writing or via e-mail at fse@american.edu.
All refunds will be posted to the student’s American University student
account. Requests for refunds are handled on a case-by-case basis, and cancellations
made after the deadlines will not be entitled to a refund.
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What's
the New Student Checklist?
The New Student Checklist is a Web-based tool on your my.american.edu
portal that you can use to keep track of all the tasks you need to accomplish
before you begin classes in the fall, such as selecting a meal plan or completing
your health insurance waiver. You can access the checklist by signing into
the my.american.edu portal and then clicking on Activities and Events in
the gray bar on the right side of your screen. Under Personalized Links
you'll see a link to Student Checklists. When you click on New Student Checklist,
you'll be directed to your own personalized information and will be able
to complete tasks directly through the portal. Once you've completed a task,
you can place a check mark next to it to indicate that it's been completed.
What
should I bring with me to New Student Orientation (NSO)?
Please bring:
1. Your NSO Folder (mailed to you)
2. Your Freshman Guide to Academic Programs and Registration (mailed or emailed to students in mid-May)
3. Photo ID-you'll need to show a valid photo ID to get your AU ID card
4. Alarm clock-alarm clocks are not provided in the residence halls
5. Comfortable walking shoes
6. Casual and warm-weather attire, as well as a sweatshirt or light sweater for air-conditioned rooms
7.
Umbrella
Where
do I send the photo for my AU ID card?
You can submit your own electronic photo for your student
ID card using the New Student Checklist on the my.american.edu portal. In
order for us to have your ID card ready at New Student Orientation, we must
receive your photo at least three business days before your orientation session.
To send us your photo, log on to the my.american.edu student portal, click
on Activities and Events, then click on "Student Checklists" under
Personalized Links. Click on New Student Checklist and then on Submit a photo
electronically for your AU Student ID card and follow the instructions. If
you do not submit your photo prior to New Student Orientation, we still encourage
you to do so. Even though you won't get your ID card at Orientation, we will
have it ready for you in August when you move in. Submitting your picture
electronically will save you the time and inconvenience of standing in line
to get your picture taken on campus. Please contact Housing and Dining Programs
at 202 885 3370 with any questions.
When
will I know my housing assignment?
Housing assignments will be sent to each student's AU e-mail address
in late June. The name of your roommate will be included in that correspondence.
You can reach Housing and Dining Programs by phone at 202-885-3370 or by e-mail
at housinganddiningprograms@american.edu. You can also look up your housing
assignment on the my.american.edu portal by logging in and clicking on Life
@ AU and then on University Housing Assignment under the personalized links.
How
can I get more information about meal plans and EagleBuck$?
If you are a first-year student living in the residence halls, you
will be automatically enrolled in the 150-block plan unless you select one
of the other plans available to new students. You'll find out how to select
or change your plan during orientation. Information regarding all available
plans is on the Housing and Dining Programs Web site at www.american.edu/ocl/housing.
You may change your meal plan in person within 15 days of the start of the
semester. If you have further questions about Dining Services at AU, check
out the Web site at www.american.edu/ocl/housing or call 202-885-3370.
When
should I move into the residence halls in August?
AU's residence halls open for the fall semester at 9:00
a.m. on Saturday, August 15, 2009. Please note that AU does not have an "official"
move in day for new students. You may choose to move in anytime after 9:00
a.m. on Saturday, August 15. We strongly suggest that you be moved in and
settled prior to the Welcome Week program you will be participating in. For
example:
If you will be participating in First Year Fundamentals or FSE,
please move in by the evening of Sunday, August 16.
If you are participating in Discover DC, please move in by
the evening of Monday, August 17.
If you are not participating in any
Welcome Week program, you must be on campus by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, August
20 for a mandatory floor meeting in your Residence Hall.
There are also required programs you must attend on Friday,
August 21.
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If you need accommodations for taking the math or foreign language placement exam during orientation, contact one of the following offices prior to your arrival on campus:
Disability Support Services | 202.885.3315
Academic Support Center| 202.885.3360
TTY relay service | 202.885.1234
You may request:
-
testing accommodations ahead of time
How
can learn more about on-campus employment?
If
you have questions about campus employment or college work-study programs
that you would like answered prior to arriving in the fall, please
contact Human Resources.
Human Resources | 202.885.2591