Please read through this section to find answers to the most commonly asked questions by new students regarding CSI’s New Student Orientation:
CSI’s New Student Orientation
New Student Orientation Degree Requirement & CLUE
Is NSO mandatory for all new students?
All incoming students with less than six transfer credits are required to attend one in-person NSO. College Now and AP credits do not count towards the six transfer credit transfer exemption. All segments of the NSO program are mandatory and attendance is taken at each segment of the program. Incoming students with more than six transfer credits and students participating in the Verrazzano School Honors Program, Macaulay Honors College, Teacher’s Academy, Student Veterans, and students enrolled through a Network Program (1199 union) are exempted from the NSO requirement, but may have to fulfill orientation requirements within their individual programs. Students participating in these programs should consult with their program advisors regarding their program requirement. ARC (Adults Returning to the Classroom) students have the option to participate in NSO. ARC students who do not participate in NSO must contact AdultLearner@csi.cuny.edu. NSO is part of the basic CSI degree requirements at the college and is satisfied in two components. One is completing NSO, and the second is explained to students as part of their first-year requirements during the NSO program.
Do I have to pay an orientation fee?
No. Currently, there is no fee to attend NSO.
Why is NSO mandatory?
The College of Staten Island strongly believes that orientation and acclimation to our university are important to new student success. The Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) has developed standards and guidelines for Student Orientation Programs (SOP) that are essential to student development. CSI is also required by the federal government and the City University of New York (CUNY) to provide new students with information regarding health, wellness, academic policies, and safety at CSI. Orientation is also a part of CSI’s basic degree requirements at the college as well.
What happens at NSO?
NSO is a comprehensive program that consists of multiple departments and offices on campus. Students will be formally welcomed to the College by the CSI Administration. The program also provides opportunities for students to become engaged and meet other students, staff, and New Student Orientation Leaders through team building activities. Students will also learn about co-curricular options and campus involvement from the Office of Student Life. The NSO program also provides students with the opportunity to learn about different student services, academic services, and athletics on campus through the “At Your Service” game show. Students will also receive important information about their rights and responsibilities as a CSI student, including Title IX, academic policies, and the University Code of Conduct. Furthermore, students learn about campus civility and diversity, and engage in an Orientation Leader led JAM (Just Ask Me) to learn about strategies for succeeding as a first-year student and understanding their first-year requirements.
How do I register for NSO?
In order to register for the mandatory NSO, students must have been accepted to the College and have submitted their Admission Response Form to the Office of Recruitment and Admissions and have satisfied the College’s Commitment Policy outlined on the Admission Response Form. All new students entering CSI must demonstrate proficiency in reading, writing, and mathematics. Students who are not proficient in one or more areas, may need to be enrolled in the immersion programs prior to starting CART depending on their remediation status. Once a student has fulfilled their admissions requirements, they will receive an invitation via email to complete CART and register to attend NSO.
When do I register for my courses?
Students will register for their courses during CART. During CART students will have the opportunity to claim their portal access, develop a class schedule, and register for classes. Students will be given a personalized Advisement Worksheet, the worksheet will designate required classes the students need to take based around their intended major choice. If you have any other questions about CART please contact the Center for Advising and Academic Success at FreshmanAdvisement@csi.cuny.edu or 718.982.2280.
What are the immersion programs?
The immersion programs are intensive workshops which provide an opportunity for students who need to demonstrate proficiency to receive tuition-free instruction in reading, writing, and mathematics during the summer and/or January intersession. Students are placed into the immersion programs based on CUNY’s Proficiency Index. Click here for more information. Students who have remedial needs are strongly encouraged to learn more about the immersion program by contacting the Office of Academic Support at academicsupport@csi.cuny.edu or 718.982.4074
Do I have to take a Foreign Language Placement Exam?
For students with prior knowledge of a language, we suggest the FAST TRACK to Language proficiency. With the Fast Track, students may finish the any language requirements more quickly, be exempt from foreign language, and/or enter more quickly into language minors and majors. Graduates of high school in a non-English-speaking country are exempt from the language requirement. The Fast Track placement exam is administered by the Modern Languages Media Center. Students will need their EMPLID in order to take the placement exam. If you do not know your EMPLID, please contact New Student Programs at 718.982.2529. For more information about FAST TRACK and the placement exam, please contact the Modern Languages Media Center in building 2S, room 114, or call 718.982.3711 or contact the Department of World Languages and Literatures in building 2s, room 109, or call 718.982.3700.
What are my required immunization records and why do I need them?
Students are required to hand in their immunization records in order to register for classes. Without these records, students will not be able to register for classes at their CART session. Students must provide proof of 2 doses of measles, 1 dose of mumps, 1 dose of rubella, and 1 dose of meningococcal vaccines. Students may opt to sign the meningitis refusal form instead of receiving the vaccination. Students should complete the Immunization Certification Form prior to their scheduled CART session in order to avoid any delays with their class registration. It is recommended that students submit their completed forms at least 72 hours prior to their scheduled session or earlier. Students under the age of 18 require a parent signature on the meningitis portion of the form. All completed forms need to be submitted to the Health and Wellness Center in building 1c, room 112, or faxed to 718.982.2966. Please be advised that students will be stopped from registering for classes until the Health and Wellness Center receives the immunization forms and has cleared the student to continue with the registration process. For additional questions regarding medical records, the immunization certification forms, or acceptable records to fulfill this requirement, please contact the Health and Wellness Center at 718.982.3045.
I am currently completing the CUNY Start Program, how do I register for NSO?
Students currently completing the CUNY Start Program are eligible to register for CART and NSO. Students who are finishing the CUNY Start Program will register for your CART session when you meet with your program advisor for your Phase 1 test results, if you have decided not to participate in the immersion programs, if applicable. If you have decided to participate in the immersion programs, you will register for CART at the time you register for the immersion program through the Office of Academic Support in building 1L, room 117. Please note, your participation in the CUNY Start program can impact your ability to enroll for CART and NSO. Students who do not complete the program in its entirety, or remain needing remediation in all three subjects at the end of the program are not eligible to enroll for NSO, and will need participate in and complete another remediation program.
I am registered through the Center for Student Accessibility do I need to attend NSO?
Yes. All incoming students who meet the incoming requirements of the college and NSO are required to participate in the program. Students registered through the Center for Student Accessibility may register for NSO with their academic counselors. In addition, students who are pre-registered for classes at the time of CART will have the option to sit through the OIT piece of the CART session to better understand how to utilize their on campus portals. Students registered through the Center for Student Accessibility, who may have been provided special accommodations for the NSO program, will follow the schedule that has been created by your academic counselor in conjunction with New Student Programs.
What happens if I do not complete NSO?
All-incoming students are required to attend NSO. Students who do not attend NSO could have a hold placed on their CUNYfirst account, which would suspend their ability to register for their second semester.
How do I pay my tuition bill and are there any services to help me pay my tuition?
Students must pay their tuition bill by the date indicated on your CUNY First account. We encourage you to visit the Bursar's Website to learn more about how to pay your tuition bill and the payment plan options available for students.
What should I do after completing NSO to ensure a smooth transition into my first semester at CSI?
You should also explore the resources you learned about during NSO to help support your individual and academic success. In addition, we strongly recommend you participate in the multitude of CLUE events offered throughout the semester to compliment your personal growth and co-curricular experience at the college (and to satisfy your CLUE requirement, if you have opted to fulfill part two of the new student degree requirement in this way), learn more about your academic major, and begin to develop your professional college network on campus. We also recommend connecting with a New Student Mentor in the New Student Mentoring Program, who can act as a source of support and guidance during your first semester. We encourage you to review our website page on the New Student Mentoring Program for more information. Lastly, it is important to know your class schedule, when the first day of your classes begin, and to locate where your classes are on campus. If you are ever having any difficulties, visit New Student Programs in building 2A, room 208 and speak with a New Student Mentor who can assist you with your questions.
What if I have been accepted into the ASAP program?
If you have been accepted into the ASAP program you should not attend NSO. Students entering the ASAP program will attend orientation through the ASAP Institute. For more information regarding the ASAP program or the ASAP Institute, please contact the ASAP program at 718.982.2603; asap@csi.cuny.edu or visit building 5N, room 113.
Please read through this section to find answers to the most commonly asked questions by student regarding The New Student Orientation Degree Requirement and CLUE:
What is the New Student Orientation Degree Requirement?
Students who enter the College with fewer than six credits are required to complete the new student orientation degree requirement. To satisfy the degree requirement, students must attend an orientation program to fulfill part one of the requirement, and choose between two options to fulfill part two of the requirement listed below, which should be completed prior to the completion of 12 equated credits:
(A) Successfully complete a one-credit freshman orientation course
- SPD101: Issues in College Life (2 hours; 1 credit)
- SKO100: Freshman Orientation (2 hours; 1 credit) – SEEK Students ONLY
OR
(B) Attendance at four CLUE events (two Personal Growth Experiences and two Co-curricular Experiences)
Who is exempt from part one of the new student orientation degree requirement?
Please see the listing below of student populations exempted from part one of the new student orientation degree requirement, which is participation in a new student orientation program provided by New Student Programs:
- Any incoming student with more than six transfer credits (not including AP credits or College Now – six transfer credits from a previous college institution)
- Students enrolled in the Macaulay Honors College
- Students enrolled in the Teacher Education Honors Academy
- Students enrolled in a Network Program (1199 Union)
Students enrolled in the ARC (Adults Returning to the Classroom) are encouraged to participate in a new student orientation program. ARC students who opt out of participating in a new student orientation program must make an appointment to meet with an academic advisor in the Center for Advising and Academic Success in building 1A, room 101 to register for classes and review, satisfying your new student orientation degree requirements through the CLUE Program.
Who is exempt from part two of the new student orientation degree requirement?
Please see the listing below of student populations exempted from part two or the new student orientation degree requirement, which is enrollment in a freshman orientation course or participation in the CLUE Program:
- Any incoming student with more than six transfer credits (not including AP credits of College Now – six transfer credits from a previous college institution)
- Students enrolled in the Macaulay Honors College
- Students enrolled in the Teacher Education Honors Academy
- Students enrolled in a Network Program (1199 Union)
- Students who have transfer credits for an orientation course equivalent to SPD101
- Student Veterans
What is the CLUE Requirement?
The CLUE Program is a non-credit program designed to acclimate students to the college environment after completing orientation. CLUEs are college sponsored activities held outside of the classroom. CLUEs are categorized in two types, Personal Growth (PG) and Co-Curricular (CC). Whereas the purpose of orientation is to enhance retention efforts, the CLUE Program is designed to promote out-of-classroom intellectual, cultural, and social life activities on campus. As part of the new student orientation degree requirement, students who opt to fulfill part two of the requirement through the CLUE Program must complete a total of 4 CLUE units (2 PG CLUEs and 2 CC CLUEs) by the completion of 12 equated credits in order to avoid a registration hold on their CUNY First account until the basic degree requirement has been satisfied.
What is a Personal Growth (PG) CLUE?
These CLUE activities contribute to students’ self-development outside the regular curriculum. Included among PG CLUEs are career and study skills workshops, health and wellness programs, and recreational and social events.
What is a Co-Curricular (CC) CLUE?
These CLUE activities are intended to augment and/or complement some aspect of academic life at the college and focuses on scholarly, cultural, and civic development from academic areas, including humanities, social sciences, sciences, math, and technology, as well as, film screenings, and theatrical events.
How do I locate CLUEs on campus?
Information about campus activities that have been included in the CLUE Program are gathered by the Office of Student Life and compiled in CLUE News on the web-based involvement system, CSI Campus Connection. To access the CLUE News on CSI’s Campus Connection, students should view the instructions on the CLUE section of Student Life's website. Students can view all CLUE events occurring on campus throughout the semester, which are categorized into PG and CC CLUEs. At the end of each CLUE event title, it will identify if the specific event is a PG CLUE or CC CLUE in parenthesis. Students are encouraged to find CLUEs that interest them. The CLUE News is constantly being updated with new CLUE events, so if you do not see anything you like or if the events listed do not fit your schedule, students are encouraged to continuously check the CLUE News for updated events. CLUE events are offered various dates and times to accommodate most student schedules. Not all events on campus are CLUEs. Therefore, students are strongly encouraged to check that events are listed in the CLUE News to ensure it will count towards fulfilling your CLUE requirement. If you need assistance locating CLUE events or verifying if an event is a CLUE event, students can contact the Office of Student Life at 718.982.3088, or visit building 1C, room 201.
How do I get a CLUE on my record?
Fulfilling the CLUE requirement is simple! After students have located CLUE events on the CLUE News that interest them, students must attend the CLUE event in its entirety in order to receive a CLUE for completing the event. After completing the event, students must sign the YELLOW CLUE attendance sheet. This is the verification that is used to ensure you have completed the CLUE event. On the CLUE attendance sheet, you will be asked to include your full name, D.O.B., email address, and EMPLID—the rest is handled by Student Life. At the completion of the event, the CLUE facilitator will submit the CLUE attendance sheet to Student Life, and students’ records are updated accordingly. If you would like to verify if you received credit for a CLUE event or check the number of CLUEs you have completed, students can contact the Office of Student Life at studentlife@csi.cuny.edu or 718.982.3088.
What happens if I do not complete the CLUE requirement by my 12 equated credits?
Students who do not complete the CLUE requirement by their 12 equated credits will receive a CLUE hold on their CUNY First account in the following semester, which will prevent enrollment until the requirement has been met.
I have an orientation hold on my CUNY First account, but I attended orientation?
In most cases, continuing students who have an orientation hold on their CUNY First account have this hold because they did not fulfill part two of the orientation requirement. The orientation hold does not necessarily mean you did not complete orientation, part one of the requirement. Students are encouraged to contact Student Life for more information or click on the hold and read the comments area, which explains the reason for the hold.
What if I need more time to finish the CLUE requirement?
Students can receive a one-time extension from the Office of Student Life. This one-time extension will remove your CLUE hold temporarily for one semester, granting you permission to register for classes, and will remain off if the requirement gets completed in the time granted. Students will have one extra semester to finish the remainder of their CLUE requirement. If students remain incompliant with the CLUE requirement at the end of their extension period, the CLUE hold will be reapplied to their CUNY First account and cannot be removed until the requirement has been met.
I received notification that I am missing CLUEs, but I completed everything. What do I do?
Student records are constantly being updated to reflect the most up-to-date information regarding your CLUE status. If you have attended a CLUE event very recently, it may take some time before it is updated in the CLUE system. Students are encouraged to contact the Office of Student Life at 718.982.3088 if they are missing a CLUE and have attended an event recently to verify the status of that pending CLUE. If you are missing CLUEs on your record, and have not attended something recently and believe you have fulfilled your requirement, students should contact Student Life to inquire about their status. Student Life keeps records of all CLUE events and CLUE attendance sheets from events that can be used to back track and verify your attendance at an event. However, students will have to provide some basic information regarding the event, and the timeframe of the event. If our records indicate that your name was on the CLUE attendance sheet, the CLUE will be added to your record.
What if I attended a CLUE event, but forgot to sign the CLUE attendance sheet?
Mistakes can happen! If you attended a CLUE event, but forgot to sign the CLUE attendance sheet, you must visit Student Life in building 1C, room 201. If you can provide proof of attendance at the event, such as providing materials from the event or having the facilitator provide proof of your attendance at the event, and it is deemed valid, the CLUE will be added to your record.
If you have any additional questions, please contact:
Office of Student Life
studentlife@csi.cuny.edu