Frequently Asked Questions for SOS

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, guests, and supporters are invited to tour the campus and attend a special Family and Supporter Orientation designed just for them. Family and Supporter registration fees vary depending on your campus and session.

Live virtual orientations do not currently offer a Family and Supporter orientation session. You are welcome to join your student during the live virtual orientation by watching from the same device. You can also complete our self-paced family and supporter orientation.

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.

Pricing

*All prices subject to change without prior notice.

You will be able to make a payment for a student orientation reservation once the reservation fee has been placed on your student invoice. The fee should populate within 24 to 48 hours. You can complete the payment once the fee has posed, or you can wait and pay the orientation fee as part of your full tuition and fee bill prior to the start of the semester. If you need to request a payment extension due to an extenuating circumstance please complete the Payment Extension Request Form.

View and Pay Your Student Invoice

Looking for Your Student Invoice?

1. Go to Banner login screen
2. Log in using your user id and password
3. Select the “Student” tab
4. Select the “Student Account“ link
5. Select the “Student Invoice” link
6. Click “Continue”
7. Select “Account Activity”
8. You will be able to view your charges, estimated financial aid, term balance, and term balance including estimated financial aid.
9. Click “Make a Payment” to pay online via web check or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover or Diner’s Club). 
   1. Web Checks are free
   2. Web Credit Card transactions incur a 2.95%* convenience fee based on the amount of the transaction ($3.00 minimum fee)

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 Family and Supporter 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 UNG Banner, going to the Orientation Reservation section and following the modification instructions. This will lead you through the steps to update your reservation. 

You can only update your reservation once on your own. If you need to update a reservation more than once, complete the Orientation Modification/Cancellation/Exemption Request Form.

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 campus and degree level changes. 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.