NEIU students posing for a selfie

Orientation

New Student Orientation

Northeastern Illinois University wants to help you succeed both academically and socially in pursuit of your dreams. You are required and encouraged to participate in New Student Orientation to acclimate yourself to Northeastern, its resources, and to college life. Orientation is the beginning of your journey here at NEIU and your introduction to all of the resources available to assist you!

If you are an incoming first-year college student, or a transfer student with less than 30 credit hours, you are expected to attend a Virtual Orientation Session so that you become familiar with NEIU academic and student life, and meet current students as well as other incoming students. Please note: You will be assigned to a Virtual Orientation Session only after you have registered for classes.

We've been working hard to determine how to best deliver (in a virtual environment) all the important info you need to transition to NEIU (taking into account the effect a COVID landscape could have on your studies) and are now ready to give you an update about what Orientation will look like this year.

In order to keep you on track to feel prepared come the start of the semester, we want to get you into a Virtual Orientation Session as soon as we can. Shortly after you have registered for your classes, you will be emailed the date to which you’ve been assigned for your Virtual Orientation Session. Shortly after you receive that email, you will receive a confirmation from us through our VisitDays platform with more details and instructions on how to log on for our session.

Need to reschedule? 

If you cannot attend your assigned date and time, please email orientation@neiu.edu to request to be reassigned to another date/time that better fits your schedule. Please use the format "Your Name - Orientation Reschedule" for your email subject.

What to Expect during the Virtual Orientation Session

We want to be respectful of your time, and therefore your Virtual Orientation Session will last about 75 minutes. This session will be live via Zoom and you will have the opportunity to:

  • hear from our University President, Dr. Gloria Gibson and Student Government President, Angel Diaz
  • discover how much you are in the same boat as many of your future peers
  • learn the biggest tips and changes to look out for regarding academics, seeking out help, getting involved, and personal wellness
  • hear from our Dean of Students, Matt Specht, regarding being a good NEIU community member
  • learn of any other virtual events going on filled with opportunities to meet others and get connected to NEIU
  • participate in small-group breakout sessions where you will meet other incoming students and learn about the transitions of current NEIU students, including their biggest insider tips and advice

We have also assembled a Campus Resource Guide (with an addendum), featuring key information from over 25 offices/departments on campus which are designed to serve and help you throughout your time at NEIU. Please review this document before Orientation and bring any questions you have with you on your Orientation Day.

2020 Virtual Orientation Session Dates

Orientation Dates for students starting in Spring 2021 have yet to be scheduled. They will take place either late November or December 2020.

Finally, a brief update about Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 classes: Northeastern will keep the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters' face-to-face interaction to a minimum in accordance with federal, state and local guidelines. Instruction will be comprised of courses offered in remote, online, hybrid and, in very few instances, face-to-face formats with appropriate safety precautions. To put this in perspective, only about 9% of all courses offered will have a face-to-face component. Please feel free to check NEIU's Coronavirus Response webpage for more information and any updates as they are posted.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as the climate is changing rapidly and as we do our best to adjust. We want to provide you a program that is informative, helpful, and tailored to your experience in this climate specifically.