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Freshmen

Congratulations on your acceptance to UNC Asheville!

We've chosen you to be a part of our community because of your academic performance, civic engagement, and extra-curricular accomplishments. Now we look forward to you joining us in Fall 2012! To ensure you are prepared, complete the following items on the Orientation Checklist before your embark session.

Orientation Checklist
Submit your Enrollment Deposit Form. Return your Enrollment Deposit Form to Admissions by May 1, 2012.
Complete your FAFSA to apply for Financial Aid. If you wish to apply for Financial Assistance, the priority filing deadline is March 1, 2012. All UNC Asheville Financial Aid correspondence is done electronically; so you will need to check your UNC Asheville email account frequently to stay informed about Financial Aid Information.
RSVP for embark orientation. You need to join us for embark in June 2012. We have three different sessions for incoming freshmen to choose from (June 11-12, 14-15 or 18-19). Embarkis an essential component to preparing you for a successful academic career at UNC Asheville.
Register your parents or other guests for Orientation. If you want to bring any guest(s) with you to embark, submit an RSVP to make sure they are on the roster for the Parent Orientation (when you click on the RSVP link above, scroll to the bottom of the page and select the Parent Orientation session that coincides with your embark orientation session).
Complete your Housing Application. Your housing application and housing advanced payment must be submitted by May 15, 2012.
Send us your Immunization records. You need to submit this information by June 5, 2012. Your immunization information can come from military records, transcripts from previous schools or a signed letter from your physician to satisfy this requirement. Your records must be received and complete before you will be allowed to register for classes during Embark. If you have an immunization question, please contact our Immunization Coordinator at 828.350.4576.
Prepare to register for your Liberal Studies Introductory Colloquium (LSIC) Course duringEmbark. You need to complete an LSIC course during your first semester at UNC Asheville. Several LSIC courses are available for freshmen during the fall 2012 semester; those created specifically for freshmen are designated with the course number 179.
Log into OnePort to check your information. Enter your user name and UNC Asheville ID number, which are listed at the bottom of your your admission letter. Instructions for accessing OnePort are available. If you have lost your admission letter, you will need to contact the Admissions Office to receive this information.
Send all transcripts from your high school, AP or IB scores, or college credit to UNC Asheville. If you are currently enrolled at another school, request an updated transcript be sent to UNC Asheville at the end of this semester. This will help ensure we have all your transfer credits and will assist in your advising experience during embark. Check in OnePort to see which credits have already transferred.
Review Academic Planning Resources. Please review our Academic Planning Resources before you arrive at embark to better understand these requirements.
Review your Degree Progress Report (DegPAR). DegPAR will help you understand how the classes you are pre-registered to take in the Fall will help you satisfy our curricular requirements.
Prepare to pay your tuition and fees. You will need to pay for your Fall 2012 semester before school begins in August. You will have the opportunity to make any necessary adjustments to your schedule on the 2nd day of embark, as well as the schedule readjustment period later in the summer.
Make sure you're prepared to arrive at embark on time. Review directions to campus, the campus map and area accommodations for your guests as you make travel plans.

 Things to keep in mind in preparation for embark

After you submit your enrollment deposit, you will begin to receive more information about UNC Asheville via your UNC Asheville email account. Included with your admission letter is a list of "Next Steps" that includes everything you need to do and know now that you have decided to attend UNC Asheville.

It's important for you to begin your education learning as much as you can in preparation for starting your first semester at UNC Asheville. Review the information below, and if you still want more information about any of these topics, let us know-we're here to help!

 

 

What do I do after I've been admitted?

Your letter from Admissions will include a "Next Steps" list, which outlines what you need to do in preparation for embark orientation and your first semester at UNC Asheville. If you're sure you want to attend UNC Asheville, you will need to submit your Enrollment Deposit Form. If you're still unsure that UNC Asheville is the place for you, we encourage you to visit campus.

What do I need to do to apply for financial aid?

If you wish to apply for Financial Assistance, the priority filing deadline is March 1, 2012. The first step in applying for financial aid is completing your FAFSA. When completing your FAFSA, be sure to list UNC Asheville's school code: 002907. Your tuition deposit must be received and posted to your student account before your Financial Aid award will be granted.

All UNC Asheville Financial Aid correspondence is done electronically; please check your UNC Asheville email account frequently to stay informed about Financial Aid Information.

If you have additional questions about applying for or receiving Financial Aid, visit the Office of Financial Aid.

When will I get more information about living on campus, registering for classes, and campus life?

Once you have been admitted to UNC Asheville, you will receive a letter from the Residential Education and Housing Operations (REHO) Office to give you information about your housing options. All new freshmen are required to live on-campus. The application for on-campus housing is available via your OnePort account.

Which courses do freshmen take?

Freshmen take a variety of courses, but they are limited to those taught at the 100- or 200-levels.  Most of your first-year courses will satisfy requirements within the Integrative Liberal Studies program, which is a core group of courses all students are required to complete regardless of academic major.

All freshmen take an LSIC 179, which is an introductory course called Liberal Studies Introductory Colloquium (LSIC). This course is designed to introduce you to the liberal arts environment and assist you in adjusting to college life. Your LSIC instructor will also be your academic advisor until you declare your major. Additionally, many of these classes have an upperclassman serving as the class mentor. A listing of these courses are available at the ILS website.

Most freshmen take 4 or 5 classes during their first semester. Besides their LSIC course, they usually take one course in their intended major (or an area they would like to learn more about), and 2 or 3 courses that fulfill ILS requirements. You will learn more about all of these requirements at embark. For additional resources to help you plan your schedule and understand the ILS requirements, visit our Freshman Advising Resources.

How many hours should I register for?

Most students take around 15 semester hours each semester. To be a full-time student, you must take at least 12 semester hours. Unlike high school, college courses have semester credit hours associated with them. While most courses are three (3) credit hour courses, some courses, such as many of the Health and Fitness courses, carry one (1) semester hour credit, while others, such as science and math courses are 4 or 5 semester hours. The number of credit hours a course is worth is roughly the number of hours it meets each week. 

How will my credits transfer?

Credits earned through AP or IB tests fulfill requirements just like their UNC Asheville equivalents. For instance, all students are required to fulfill our Academic Writing requirement. At UNC Asheville, students take LANG 120 to fulfill this requirement. If you took the Language & Composition or Literature & Composition AP tests and scored a 5, you will receive credit for LANG 120. This means you have fulfilled the Academic Writing requirement in the same way as students who take LANG 120 here. You can find equivalency information about AP credit and IB credit in the UNC Asheville Catalog.

Which math course should I take?

Some majors require that you take a specific math course. You can find that information by looking at our ILS Advising Sheets by Major. If you are uncertain about your major, you may want to postpone taking your math course, especially if you are considering a major in the sciences. If your major doesn't require a specific math course, the Mathematics Department has online information about course selection and a placement test - check it out to help you decide!

Which foreign language course should I take?

UNC Asheville requires all students to demonstrate proficiency through the second introductory level of a foreign language. This can be done either through a placement exam, AP exam, or completion of the appropriate level course work. At UNC Asheville, students can choose from French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Latin, Portuguese and Spanish. Students who wish to use French, Spanish, or Latin to fulfill this requirement and have had previous exposure to their chosen language should take a Foreign Language Placement exam, which is offered through our Foreign Language Department. Students who have scores of 3 or higher on the Spanish, French, German or Latin AP exams do not have to take the foreign language exam unless they plan on continuing in that language.

Which writing course should I take?

Unless you have AP or college transfer credit, you will need to register for Language 120. You may take this during the Fall or Spring semester.

How do I register for classes?

We will pre-register you for 1 or 2 classes based upon your intended major (which is indicated on your embark RSVP submission). You will register for additional classes during Embark. We have set aside schedule readjustment periods for later in the summer to allow you to make adjustments as any AP/IB scores are reported. You will also be able to adjust your schedule when you arrive on campus for the beginning of the semester; this will last through the Drop/Add period, which ends on the 5th day of class in the semester.

How do I log into OnePort?

To log into OnePort, you will need to choose the "First Time Login" link (located underneath the OnePort Links heading in the top right corner) and enter the user name and UNC Asheville ID number from your admission letter. You will use OnePort to review your Financial Aid status and any transfer credit or test score information prior to embark, and you will receive more information at embark about how to register for classes.

Are courses "weighted" differently in my GPA like they are in high school?

College courses are not weighted by level of difficulty - like as Honors or AP classes in high school. They are, however, weighted by the semester hours credit associated with the course, and thus count differently in your GPA. For example, a 3-hour B+ will affect your GPA more than a 1-hour B+ will affect it.

The quality points earned for each course is multiplied by the semester hours credit. Your total quality points are divided by the total semester hours credit. For example, if you have an A in Econ 101 (3 semester hours) and a B in Astronomy 105 (5 semester hours), you would multiply 4 X 3 cr. hrs and 3 X 5 cr. hrs. for a quality point total of 27. Divide 27 by 8 to get 3.375 - your Grade Point Average (GPA). Please see the Academic Policies section of the UNC Asheville Catalog for more information.

Are there support services offered to help me with my classes if I need it?

Every faculty member has office hours when students can stop by for help in class or just to talk. If you find you need more assistance, you can contact Advising & Learning Support to learn more about the Peer Tutoring Program. Peer Tutors are UNC Asheville students who have been trained to work with students in particular courses. If you need assistance with a mathematics course, you should go by the Math Lab and if you need help with a writing project in any course, make an appointment at the Writing Center. Not only are these great resources to help you succeed, they're also free!

Who attends Embark?

All new freshmen and transfer students should attend embark. Embark is a necessary part of your transition to UNC Asheville and provide you with all the information you need to know to further your education at UNC Asheville. 

How long is Embark?

For Fall 2012, you need to plan to attend one of the embark sessions scheduled for June 2012. We offer 3 over-night embark orientation sessions for incoming freshmen (see below). You must submit your RSVP for embark to reserve a space for any of these sessions, which are open until filled.

June 11-12

June 14-15

June 18-19

Plan to spend the entire 2-day session with us - we have a lot to address as we work with you to prepare you for Fall 2012.

Do I have to sign up to come to embark?

In order to attend embark, you must RSVP. We need to know in advance if you plan to attend so we can make sure we can schedule you an appointment with an academic advisor. You must submit your RSVP for embark online. 

What if I can't come to embark?

You should know that attendance at embark is required for a successful transition to UNC Asheville.Please contact our Orientation Office at orient@unca.edu if you have concerns about your ability to attend embark.

Who lives in the residence halls and what is it like?

Students of all classifications may live on campus; freshmen are required to live on campus. Living on campus gives you more than just a room - it's convenient and provides you with a lot of activities and resources! For more information, click here.

Can I have a car on campus?

For the health of the environment and students' budgets, freshmen are not permitted to have cars on campus. For more information, please visit the Transportation website. 

How can I get involved in student organizations?

We are excited about your decision to join the UNC Asheville community and look forward to your campus involvement. There are academic, social, and special interest student organizations, on-campus jobs, service learning opportunities, and outdoor opportunities. For more information, visit the Student Affairs website.  

Are there on-campus jobs available?

The Career Center coordinates on-campus employment and can also help you find off-campus jobs and internships.