Frequently Asked Questions

New Student Orientation is the program that facilitates your introduction to the U of A. We will discuss the policies and procedures necessary for all incoming students and walk through the enrollment process before your first semester of classes. For more information about the different sessions offered, visit our Orientation Sessions page.

Spring 2025 Incoming Students

A 1-day in-person orientation session will be hosted for all New Freshmen, Transfer Freshmen and Transfer Students on Monday, January 8 from 8 AM to 5 PM.

New Transfer and Transfer Freshmen are not required to attend orientation to enroll in spring classes. However, they will have the option to complete a self-paced virtual experience if they wish.

Fall 2025 Incoming Students

New Freshmen are required to attend a 1-day or 2-day session over the course of May, June, or August. Select dates are available for students eligible for or admitted to the Honors College as well.

1-day sessions will run from 8 AM to 5 PM, and 2-day sessions will run from 3 PM on Day 1 through approximately 5 PM on Day 2.

Transfer Freshmen and Transfer Students are not required to attend orientation to enroll in fall classes. You will have the option of either attending a 1-day session in August or completing self-paced virtual orientation modules.

1-day sessions are expected to run from 8 AM to 5 PM, and 2-day sessions will run from 3 PM on Day 1 through approximately 5 PM on Day 2.

End times are approximate. Your actual end time will vary on your academic college, enrollment needs, and which optional sessions you attend.

Complimentary overnight accommodations will be provided for students attending a 2-day session, but it is not required. Students will be emailed in early May asking them to reserve a spot to stay overnight.

On-campus accommodations will not be provided to students attending a 1-day session, or any parents or supporters who may be attending orientation alongside a registered student.

Parents and other supporters are encouraged to attend orientation alongside their student; however, it is not required. All parents and supporters who attend with their student will simply register during check-in at orientation. There is no need to preregister. Students can register their parents or supporters to receive our email communications during registration in their New Student Center portal.

No on-campus overnight accommodations are provided for parents or supporters of the registered student. To learn more about the supporter's role at orientation, where to find overnight accommodations, and the guest fee associated with attendance, please visit our Parents & Supporters page.

Students will receive email communications regarding orientation starting 2 weeks in advance of their session. These emails will note important arrival instructions and to do list items needed to be completed in order to have a productive orientation experience. Some items are only recommendations, and others will be required to enroll in fall classes. Please read emails carefully to ensure that you do not miss any pertinent information. Students can register their parents or supporters to receive our email communications during registration in their New Student Center.

There are 3 fees associated with orientation and enrollment. Each fee will be applied to the student's tuition and fees statement. Payment will not be required in advance or during orientation.

• Parent and Guest fee 
  For every person over the age of 12 who attends orientation with a registered student, a $50 fee will be applied to the student's statement. This fee supports Parent and Family Programs within the Office of Transition Programs and Initiatives. This office serves as the primary liaison between the University and Razorback families. They plan, develop, and implement specific events, resources, and services for families. By attending orientation as a parent or guest, you are considered a member of the Parent and Family Partnership Association.
• New Student Fee 
  A non-refundable $105 fee will be applied to the statement of any student who attends orientation and/or enrolls in classes.
• ID Card Fee 
  When a student uploads a photo for their ID card or has their photo taken at the Campus Card Office, a non-refundable $24 fee will be applied to their statement.

The online modules at nextsteps.uark.edu are a series of informational webpages that will walk students and their supporters through important processes, policies, and more as they prepare for their in-person orientation experience. The information within the modules will briefly be covered during orientation, but the modules contain the most in-depth information. As you go through the modules, take note of any questions you may have that can be asked during your orientation session or reach out to us at nso@uark.edu.

• Login to your New Student Center using the personal email address and password you used to create your account.
• Select "Register for New Student Orientation" under Next Steps orientation tab.
• View the list of available dates and select the session that best fits your summer schedule.
• Enter your necessary information for the session and click 'submit.'
• A registration confirmation will be sent to the email associated with your New Student Center login.

Register for any open session that fits your schedule. You will have an opportunity to register for honors classes and connect with Honors College representatives to get the support you need to be successful in the honors program regardless of the orientation you attend.

Each orientation session has a max capacity that we divide between our six academic colleges based on how many students they can academically advise each day. Being that each college (Walton, Fulbright, etc.) can only accommodate a certain number of students at each session, your college may be at capacity for a session.

We encourage you to register for any open session that fits your schedule. You are at no academic disadvantage for selecting one orientation date over another, because students are guaranteed classes that meet their degree requirements regardless of the session they select.

We do not maintain a waitlist. However, you can log into your New Student Center and follow the link "View List of Available Dates" under "Registered: New Student Orientation." If a date is available that works for you, return to your New Student Center and click "Manage Your Registration" to cancel your initial registration and once the page refreshes, return to your homepage to reschedule.

Log into your New Student Center and click "Manage Your Registration." On the next screen, click "Cancel Registration" and after that screen refreshes, follow the "Return to your New Student Center" link. It will now display a link to "Register for New Student Orientation" which you can follow to select a new orientation date based on current availability.

Contact the Office of New Student Orientation team as soon as possible. We can be reached at 479-575-4200 or nso@uark.edu.

The majors and programs students can choose to study at the U of A are divided among six colleges that exist within the university's campus and are separated based on general subject matter. Each major corresponds to a specific college, so what major you select indicates the college you are a part of on campus after admission.

Academic advising is the time each semester when you will meet with an advisor in your college to discuss your enrollment options for the following semester. Incoming Freshmen will meet with academic advisors and enroll in classes during orientation. Transfer Freshmen and Transfer students can schedule advising appointments before attending orientation.

Please reach out to your admissions counselor or the staff at New Student Orientation for questions about majors and programs. We are not academic advisors, but we will assist you as we are able in preparation for your enrollment.

All students are encouraged to use the MyMajors tool from the Office of Career Connections to explore as well.

During academic advising, as part of your orientation experience, you can tell your advisor that you would like to add an additional major or minor to your degree plan. Depending on the program and your academic college, an advisor may help you amend your class schedule at that time or instruct you to wait until you register for spring classes.

To change your major before orientation, you may log in to your New Student Center with the email and password used to create your admissions application. At the bottom of the main page is a link reading "Change of Major Form". You may follow this link to change you major before Orientation.

New Student Fee: A non-refundable $105 fee will be applied to the tuition and fees statement of any student who attends orientation and/or enrolls in classes.

Additional fees associated with enrollment information can be found on the Treasurer's Office website.

If the advisor you spoke with during New Student Orientation provided their direct contact information, reach out to them directly. If they did not, you can use the Advising website to locate the contact information for your academic college's advising office.

Students should refer to the Preparepage of the Orientation website for to-do list items after attending orientation. If more questions arise, they can contact their admission counselor or the NSO team at nso@uark.edu or 479-575-4200.Visit our Prepare page to review information covered during orientation. If you have additional questions, please let us know at nso@uark.ed u or 479-575-4200.

Students should reach out to the Office of Financial Aid and/or the Office of Academic Scholarships to see how withdrawing can impact their funding eligibility in the future. Student should also contact their academic advising office for instructions on how to withdraw from their classes. If you withdraw from your classes after enrolling, you are subject to the drop/withdraw dates and refunds noted in the Academic Semester Calendar for the term you are enrolled in.