The Orientation Checklist
This checklist is a guide for several of the things you should do before attending orientation. Keep in mind that this list is not all-inclusive, but it does organize some of the foundations tasks that will help you prepare for orientation and registration. It is also important that you carefully read all materials you receive from UNI. If you would like a PDF version of this checklist to print and save for later, click here.
What to do before orientation
Activate your MyUniverse account
When admitted, you received a letter from the Office of Admissions that included your Cat ID and student number. This information will allow you to access your MyUniverse account, a personalized web portal. In order to activate your account, visit the UNI web site at www.uni.edu, click on the MyUniverse link at the top of the page, enter your Cat ID, and follow the directions listed under the "New User" information link.Special Accommodations for Orientation Programs
Special accommodations for students and family members with disabilities will be provided upon request. Please notify us of your needs at least two weeks prior to your arrival. This can be done online as you complete your reservation, by emailing kristin.woods@uni.edu, or by calling 319-273-2332.Foreign Language Placement Tests (if applicable)
Students who plan to continue study in a foreign language (French, Spanish, German, or Russian) should complete an online foreign language placement test. Visit http://www.uni.edu/modlangs/main/placemnt.shtml for more information and a link to the test. Bring a copy of your results (score and recommended course placement) with you to orientation. You will not be allowed to register for any foreign language classes if you have not completed this placement exam.Immunization records (if you haven't yet sent them in) and your health and pharmacy insurance cards
Students should have received the Immunization Requirement Form with their acceptance letter from the Office of Admissions. If you have not turned this form in, bring it with you to orientation. The Student Health Clinic will collect copies of immunization records and also scan copies of your health and pharmacy insurance cards at the Student Services Fair on day two of orientation.Financial Aid Tasks
1) Review your Online Award Notification, available through MyUniverse within
the "My Personal Records" section. Paper award letters are no longer mailed to students;
all initial award notifications are available on MyUniverse. Grants, UNI scholarships, and
work study are automatically accepted for students. Loans require acceptance via the Online
Award Notification.
If choosing to accept a loan, students and parents can complete separate electronic promissory notes
at www.dlenote.ed.gov. Your 4-digit federal PIN is required to accept these loans. If you've forgotten
or lost your PIN, visit www.pin.ed.gov. Please read the materials that accompany the award
notification for more information on loans and other forms of financial aid.
2) Report all off-campus/hometown scholarships to the UNI Financial Aid Office. This
can be done via the Online Award Notification by emailing additional.aid@uni.edu or
by phone at (319) 273-2700.
3) View the UNI Online Job Board at www.uni.edu/finaid. Click on the "Student
Employment" link to learn more about on-campus employment and to search for jobs.
On-campus employers may be accessible during orientation or could be contacted prior
to the start of the semester.
4) Complete Direct Loan Entrance Counseling at www.dl.ed.gov.
Entrance counseling is required prior to any disbursement of loans to the university. We encourage all students to
complete this process if they ever plan to borrow during their collegiate career.
Notify UNI of Earned College Credits
Make arrangements to have a transcript sent to UNI prior to attending orientation for any college credit earned by:Advanced Placement exams:
(http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/exgrd.html)
College Coursework:
Ask the college granting you credit to send a transcript to UNI, including any courses that you are currently taking.
Ask the college granting you credit to send a transcript to UNI, including any courses that you are currently taking.
If you are not able to have this information to UNI by your orientation date, please bring appropriate information / documentation of your earned college credits to be used in your academic advising session at orientation.
*Please note that you must have a transcript sent directly to UNI for earned college credits from other sources to be entered in your official UNI records.*
What to bring to orientation
CatID for MyUniverse login
College Transcripts
You will need to have all of your previous colleges send official transcripts to the Office of Admissions as soon as possible. If UNI has not received all of your transcripts yet, including for courses in which you are currently enrolled, bring information about those courses with you to orientation. Your academic advisors will need to know about all of your previous college course work in order to help you select the correct courses for the fall semester.Financial Aid materials
1) A complete listing and the amounts of your hometown
scholarships can be reported during orientation. Hometown scholarship checks can be submitted
during orientation.
2) Your Federal PIN number. This is the same PIN that
parents and students used to electronically submit the FAFSA.
3) Parent PLUS disbursement Agreements: Parents wanting
to accept the Parent PLUS Loan should bring their disbursement agreement for submission.
This disbursement agreement would have been mailed upon initially accepting the Parent PLUS Loan
on the Online Award Notification.