First year, transfer and international students and families get together for New Student Orientation (NSO) lunch and resource fair at Trabant on February 7th, 2020. Orientation Leaders and families enjoyed UDairy Creamery ice cream and learned about campus life.

New Student Orientation Leaders gather for University of Delaware Winter NSO 2020 in a photo taken before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic necessitated social distancing and the wearing of masks.

Welcoming new Blue Hens

Article by Heather Kovanic Photo by Kevin Quinlan July 07, 2020

Virtual New Student Orientation kicks off

With summer underway, the University of Delaware Office of Orientation and Transition Programs (OTP) has begun welcoming our newest Blue Hens and their families. New students and families will experience New Student Orientation (NSO) through virtual programming, complete with all the information they need to know to be successful Blue Hens.

NSO is a self-paced, online experience that will give students an opportunity to learn and explore, while accomplishing important tasks to ensure they’re prepared for their first year. Participants will also be able to take advantage of live information sessions and virtual experiences with a student Orientation Leader (OL) and other new Blue Hens to begin making connections and new friends. Key components of virtual NSO include meeting with an academic adviser to select fall courses and engaging in an online orientation course facilitated through Canvas.

The online orientation course is divided into six modules, which students began completing this June and will continue through early August leading up to fall semester. These modules cover information about the student’s academic college, involvement opportunities, campus resources, health and well-being, and much more. Each module includes interactive videos, assignments and activities, as well as materials to read through and learn from. OLs will help students navigate through the course.

OTP also hosts an orientation just for families, offered in the new Blue Hen Family Hub. Family Orientation is designed to enable new families to be partners in their students' success at UD and feel welcomed to our campus community, and answer their questions. As part of Family Orientation, families will receive weekly emails, directing them to review posts and watch videos about a variety of campus resources and news. Families will also be able to sign up for live sessions around a variety of topics, such as health and well-being, financial services, dining and more.

Questions about virtual NSO? Contact the Office of Orientation and Transition Programs at otp@udel.edu or visit their website at udel.edu/studentlife/otp.