Summer Orientation (SumO)

The Welcome Portal helps you step-by-step  to complete the necessary information: Vehicle registration; understanding Financial Aid; Medical forms; Tuition plan contract; Housing application; Class preferences; and more.

You can work on it when it’s convenient for you by stopping and saving your work along the way. Students have access to the Welcome Portal as soon as your PurplePass is activated. 

You can sign up for orientation in the Welcome Portal beginning on April 1st. Orientation sign up is the last item to complete in the portal. You must complete the other forms to reach the registration page.

Your responses to the Academic form is necessary to build your fall schedule.

To ensure your fall schedule and orientation materials will be ready for you at orientation, register before June 19th.

Niagara University’s Summer Orientation program helps new students and their families make a seamless transition into university life by exploring key academic, co-curricular, and support services before the fall semester begins.

No.

You will be sent information for your specific day. If you need to change sessions, please call 716-286-8510 to find out if alternatives are available.

Yes.

However, waiting until your SumO session will cause a delay in your class registration. It is strongly recommended that students change their majors before Summer Orientation by calling the Admissions Office at 716.286.8716 or via the Welcome Portal on the Major Verification Form. If you request a major change, this will be forwarded to the Admissions Office for approval. You will remain in your current major until notified. Not all major changes are approved. You must meet certain requirements before being approved for a major change.

Students register their car through the Welcome Portal.  Students will pick up decals at the Campus Safety Office.

Contact Campus Safety at 716.286.8111 for more information.

Please call the Athletics Department at 716.286.8600 and/or speak with your coach if you have any questions.

Niagara University offers a convenient payment plan options. To access your account, enroll in the payment plan, pay your bill, and see due dates log into Touchnet.

• Comfortable clothing and shoes
• Sunscreen
• Phone charger

Needed for Staying Overnight

• Pillow(s)
• Bedding (Twin size)
• Toiletries
• A fan

Your fall course schedule will be determined based on the information you entered in the Academic Forms in the Welcome Portal. Schedules will be provided to students during the college meetings at orientation.  Students who do not attend the college meeting at orientation will receive their schedule after summer orientation. Please check your Niagara University student email for communications from your College.

First-semester freshmen typically take fifteen credits, or five classes. Total credit hours vary by major as some majors have required labs or four-credit hour courses. You will receive more detailed information when you receive your schedule.

Ideally, your official transcript should be submitted to the Admissions Office no later than July 1st. This includes AP scores, grades from other colleges, IB credit, CLEP scores and military transcripts.

All NUSTEP courses taken will automatically appear in your transcript.

NOTE: It is mandatory that NU receive your official transcript prior to the start of classes on August 31st.

• Information on transfer credit placement

Yes, please contact your Dean’s office, or the Academic Career Exploration Program via email or phone (or as directed at your summer orientation college meeting) to set up a meeting to discuss your schedule concerns.

College of Arts and Sciences

Phone: 716-286-8060

Holzschuh College of Business Administration

Phone: 716-286-8050

College of Education

Phone: 716-286-8233

College of Hospitality, Sport and Tourism Management

Phone: 716.286.8281

College of Nursing

Phone: 716-286-7358

Academic and Career Exploration (ACEP)

Phone: 716-286-8203

You can change your major by completing the Change of Major Form in the Welcome Portal or by contacting the Office of Admissions at 716.286.8700.

Students are not required to take a foreign language, but we do offer a language track. If students choose the language track, they can complete a sequence of two courses in the same language to fulfill their oral communication and global engagement or social justice requirements (depending on which language they choose).

A math or quantitative reasoning course is required for ALL majors as specified by department.  Additional math courses are required for some majors.

Placement into math or writing courses is determined by your high school grades and scores on standardized exams (if applicable).  Some students may be required to take a writing or math assessment in order to better determine their placement in regular or developmental math and Writing and Rhetoric or Critical Literacy.

• More Information on Writing and Math Course Placement

The Academic Success Center provides free support to students, and houses Tutorial Services, Writing Center, Instructional Services, Academic Coaching, and Accessibility Services.  Students can receive free tutoring for most 100-level courses and some 200-level courses. The Writing Center provides support for papers and projects. Skills specialists are available to help students improve their study skills, time management, college-level reading, note-taking, and more.

Please contact Accessibility Services by email or phone 716.286.8072.

• Accessibility Services

The Academic Coaching Program provides incoming students with individualized mentoring and support. NU’s academic coaches are full-time professionals committed to assist students in achieving their academic goals and success in college.

Students are automatically enrolled in the First Day Book Program, which includes all required course materials, with a few exceptions, such as lab coats, select school supplies, etc.

• First Day Book Program

For more information, please visit the Honors Website.

Rising sophomores who have achieved a 3.5 overall GPA and completed 48 credit hours or less will be invited to apply to the Honors Program during the summer after their first year.

Please speak to your advisor about declaring a double major. Your second major can be added to your academic plan when you arrive in the fall.

After consultation with your major advisor, you can declare a minor in myNU. Typically, minors are 5-6 courses and you’ll work with your advisor to find space within your major and general education curriculum to fit these courses.  Minors are not required for graduation, but are a nice addition to your resume!

• View the Listing of Minors

Yes! Attendance at summer orientation is encouraged for parents and guardians, but not required. There is specific programming designed to introduce parents/guardians to financial aid, student support, transitioning to college life and much more. If a family member wishes to accompany you to SumO the first guest is not charged. Additional guests will have to pay a registration fee. Family participation free or charged does not include an overnight stay.