Frequently Asked Questions for NEST

Yes, orientation is required for all degree seeking undergraduate students. The orientation format may vary based on campus, student type and time of year.

Of course! While students learn about life at the University of North Georgia, family members and guests are invited to tour the campus and attend a special Parent and Family Orientation designed just for them. Parent and guest registration fees vary depending on your campus and session.

The cost to participate in orientation varies based on your campus and session type. The orientation fee will be stated when you make your reservation.

The orientation fee will post to the student account in Banner within 24 hours of making the reservation, if payment is not made at the time of reservation. Requests for alternate payment arrangements should be submitted to the orientation office at the time of making your reservation by completing the Request for Alternate Payment Option form.

Pricing

*All prices subject to change without prior notice.

By Credit Card or Web Check

Payments may be made via the student's Banner account using Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, or a web check.

By Cash or Check

Payments can also be made via cash or check to any UNG Business Office. (There is not currently a Business Office in Blue Ridge.) 

By Mail

You may mail a personal check to the UNG Business Office at 82 College Circle, Dahlonega, GA, 30597. (Please be sure to note your student id number, 900xxxxxx, in the memo field.)

Payment Extension?

Payment is expected at the time of reservation, but extensions can be granted.

Requests for alternate payment arrangements should be submitted to the NEST office at the time of making your reservation by completing the Request for Payment Extension Form Spring 2023.

The orientation fee for both students and their guests for in-person sessions covers cost of printed materials, food, and other general expenses, such as orientation leader stipends. The fee for overnight orientation sessions also covers meals and housing for the students. Please note, the overnight Parent and Family Orientation fee does not cover lodging. The fees for sessions hosted online and via zoom support the technology and set up costs of these formats and the supplemental support provided.

If you need to change your orientation date, you must make the change prior to the cancellation date of your current reservation. You can make an orientation reservation change by logging back into your student banner account, going to the Orientation Reservation form on the student tab, and selecting the view orientation details option.

Once viewing your reservation details, scroll to the bottom of the page to click the modify reservation button. This will lead you through the steps to update your reservation. Please note you can only modify your reservation one time.

Yes, students are required to participate in the entire orientation program. We are committed to helping each new student make a successful transition to our university and attending orientation is an essential part of this process. During orientation we will cover a lot of important information that you need to know!

Orientation schedules will vary by start time, UNG campus, and student population. Below are examples of orientation schedules by campus and program type.

Students attending a two-day overnight session on the Dahlonega campus will need to pack additional items for the Residence Hall stay. Students will be staying overnight in The Commons.

Packing list Items

• Comfortable Clothes
• Comfortable Shoes
• Rain Jacket
• Sweatshirt
• Pillow and Blanket
• Sleeping Bag or Sheets for a Twin XL Mattress
• Bath Towel
• Toiletries
• Photo ID
• Cellphone and Charger 
• Water Bottle
• Sunscreen
• Spending Money 

In addition to the items on the packing list, we suggest students also bring an item they would like to use to take notes. This could be a computer, paper notebook, tablet, etc. 

Each room in the Residence Hall will have a shower and bathroom. Shower curtains and toilet paper will be provided. 

Meals and Snacks will be provided on both days; however, we encourage students to bring a reusable water bottle and additional spending money if they’d like to visit a vending machine or Starbucks.

Class registration procedures and the path to graduation will be reviewed in detail during orientation.  Prepare yourself for those important discussions by thinking through scheduling considerations and becoming familiar with important terms like academic advisor, core curriculum, and degree level change. Students should also familiarize themselves with the instructions for self-registration using BannerWeb in the event they need to make schedule changes.

You will have an opportunity during orientation to adjust your schedule based on your anticipated test scores. Please refer to the Credit by Examination policy webpage for more information.

Your classes will most likely be at the campus for which you submitted an enrollment confirmation. While at orientation, you are welcome to register for classes held at any of the four commuter campuses: Blue Ridge, Cumming, Gainesville, or Oconee (provided there are seats available). If you do schedule classes at more than one campus, be sure to include adequate travel and parking time. 

In general, students may change their schedules themselves using UNG BannerWeb, on and after their orientation day. In order to change your schedule, however, registration must be open. The Registration Dates determine your next opportunity for schedule adjustment. If you need a how-to register refresher, check out the Registration Instructions on the Registrar’s website.

Please keep in mind that changes to your schedule can affect your eligibility for financial aid and your progress towards graduation. Before changing your schedule, we strongly urge you to speak with a financial aid officer to ensure your financial aid award won’t be jeopardized by an increased or reduced course load. You should also speak with an academic advisor to review your program of study and make sure you’re still on track to graduate in your intended time-frame. 

Online courses are a great option for students who excel in self-moderated, online work, and/or who cannot find the in-person core curriculum class they need. UNG offers two types of online courses: 

• “UNG Online” classes are taught by UNG faculty on one of our five campuses and follow the standard UNG academic calendar. You don’t have to do anything special to be eligible to register for these classes, as long as you meet the class pre-requisites.    
• “eCore” classes are taught by other faculty within the University System of Georgia and have slightly different start/end dates than UNG classes. 

If you think you might take an online class, it’s very important that you read the information on the Distance Learning website. You must complete the eCore introduction quiz in order to be eligible to register for eCore classes. 

At this time, acceptance to UNG does not guarantee a class schedule at particular times or at the preferred campus. Although we will do our best to schedule classes that meet students’ scheduling preferences, please understand that some classes, particularly those held at peak times such as 9 a.m., 10 a.m., or 11 a.m., will already be filled to capacity by the time students attend orientation.

Flexibility while scheduling classes is key. There will be other open registration periods prior to the start of each term, during which students are welcome to change their schedule to better fit their needs. For example, the designated drop/add period at the beginning of each semester allows you to rearrange classes, provided seats are available. We will discuss open registration and drop/add in detail during orientation.

If you’re falling behind on your coursework or are having trouble understanding class material, please let your instructor know as soon as possible. Our goal is to help you be successful, but we can’t do that if we don’t know you’re struggling. Instructors are available during their offices hours (check your syllabus for those details) or by scheduled appointment. 

Each campus also has (free!) Tutoring Services with labs that are staffed by several professional and/or peer tutors in a variety of subjects.

• Cumming Campus
• Dahlonega Campus
• Gainesville Campus
• Oconee Campus

Academic dishonesty is a serious offense, and the University of North Georgia treats it as such. The Student Code of Conduct outlines the procedures after a violation and identifies the rights of accused students.