NSO Handbook

New Student Orientation Handbook

Welcome from Whitten

Welcome to Indiana University and congratulations as you start your Hoosier experience!

As you embark on an exciting journey of learning and growth, you join in a long tradition of excellence and pride here at IU. You will quickly find that our faculty and staff are passionate about helping students achieve their hopes, dreams, and aspirations and are ready to help you make this experience the best it can be. IU is home to many world-class, unique, and sought-after programs, both in and out of the classroom. Now, it’s your home, too.

My advice to you? Explore the many opportunities that are here for you. Connect your academic pursuits with experiences that allow you to put what you learn into action. Find where you are comfortable—but remember to also seek new challenges and learn from others who have different perspectives. There is so much that you have access to, simply by being a Hoosier. Soak it in.

We are excited to have you as a member of the Indiana University community and we look forward to supporting you throughout your journey. On behalf of all our faculty, staff, and current students—welcome to the IU family.

Pamela Whitten
President, Indiana University

Campus Map

Find everything you're looking for on campus on the IU Mobile app or on our interactive campus map.

Stay On Task Checklist

During Orientation

Stay on track and ensure access to information you need with the following list, some of which you can also and in your FYE Checklist in Orientation Portal.

Before move-in

  • If you are living on campus, check the RPS Housing website at housing.indiana.edu for updated information about move-in.
  • Use the Move-In Guide to create a checklist with what you plan to bring.
  • Get to know your roommate in advance so there are less surprises.
  • Review information about IU Dining meal plans at dining.indiana.edu.
  • Review and complete all IU immunization requirements and policies at usss.iu.edu/student-records/immunization. International students must also plan for a TB test once in the states. See ois.iu.edu/admissions/prepare-first-year/.
  • Let us know if you have a COVID-19 vaccine at iu.edu/covid/prevention/covid-19-vaccine.html. All students attest to being vaccinated or not before coming to campus.
  • Before spending money on technology or software, check out the IU Computer Guide, IUware, and IUanyware for special student discounts and and free software at kb.iu.edu/d/antk.
  • Review information about parking and biking permits at parking.indiana.edu if you are planning to bring a car or bike to campus.
  • Explore beINvolved.indiana.edu for information and opportunities about student organizations and leadership opportunities.
  • Make sure you have completed all your NSO Canvas modules.

Before classes start

  • Connect to the eduroam Wi-Fi network—the secure network at IU—using your IU email address and passphrase. Learn more at wifi.iu.edu.
  • Meet your RA and attend floor meetings if you are living on campus.
  • Review and update your emergency notification settings in One.IU to receive IU-Notify immediate danger alerts.
  • Review your bursar bill, financial aid, and To Do List items through One.IU. Connect with Student Central if you have questions.
  • Download the IU Mobile app to access IU information on the go, including Welcome Week schedule info, support services, and tools you need.
  • Remember to check your IU email account daily.
  • Make a plan for Welcome Week. Some events are required, all are intended to help you have a great start. Find events on the IU Events Calendar at events.iu.edu/bloomington.

During the first month of classes

  • Continue creating your Hoosier Experience by staying connected, exploring, and engaging with people and events.
  • Create your Handshake account for access to career development activities. Learn more at go.iu.edu/4N4l.
  • Seek out opportunities for engaged learning including research, internships, creative activity, and global involvement at engagedlearning.indiana.edu.
  • Set up appointments with your academic advisor and career coach.
  • Download the BusGenius app for live campus and Bloomington bus tracking.
  • Get to know the IU Student Health Center at go.iu.edu/4NRv.
  • If you find yourself feeling stressed, anxious, homesick, or depressed, take some time to review our wellness resources at iu.edu/mental-health.
  • Download the Rave Guardian App to connect to safety resources.
  • Get to know 3 other people and share your name and contact info with them. Not only is this a great way to build your community, but it is also a good way to stay safe in a new place.
  • Try tutoring.indiana.edu to find tutoring and extra help sessions for all your classes, and consider a one-on-one coaching session with the Student Academic Center (sac.indiana.edu) to help you build a solid system for time management and studying.
  • Go to all classes, even those with no attendance policy. Class attendance is the best predictor of class grades and GPA and is one of the most important decisions you can make for your academic success.
  • Visit all your professors in office hours to introduce yourself, help them put a face to your name, and get to know them. This is how you find future mentors and recommenders. Come with a question about the class or just your curiosity about what they do and how they got into their field.

Your First Year

The Office of First Year Experience Programs (FYE) welcomes you to your new home at Indiana University. We are very excited to be the hub for you as you start your Hoosier Experience. Through FYE programs such as New Student Orientation, Welcome Week, and Hoosier Experience programming, we'll introduce you to IU traditions, connect you with events, people, services and opportunities—and help you live The Indiana Promise.

FYE is here to help. Reach out to us anytime at fye@iu.edu, 812-855-4357, our social media, or our office in Eigenmann Residence Center.

Congratulations—and welcome to the Hoosier family!

Welcome Week at IU

Step one of your Hoosier Experience: jump in as soon as you get here. Attend Welcome Week in August and Welcome Events in January. We can’t wait to welcome you to the Hoosier family—and to the beautiful IU campus. Exciting events and traditions will help you connect with other students and navigate campus. With big and small events, academic and social events, and events designed to help you start to experience all that IU has to offer—some required, all recommended—you will be glad you chose to become a Hoosier.

The Hoosier Experience

With the Hoosier Experience program, you’ll build your own journey and make your college experience everything you want it to be. You’ll have the opportunity to meet other Hoosiers, find exciting new activities and interests, and learn all about IU Bloomington.

You will also be able to explore, engage, and reflect with events and activities that will challenge you and teach you something new about:

  • Academics & Careers
  • Arts & Humanities
  • Equity & Inclusion
  • Health & Wellness
  • Leadership & Engagement
  • Tradition & Community

Have the chance to earn IU swag by attending and participating in featured Hoosier Experience events and receive the First-Year Hoosier Experience Achievement Award. Learn more at
fye.indiana.edu/hoosier-experience.

Watch this video to see how you can create your Hoosier Experience:

IU Mobile

Maps and directions, appointments and to-dos, classes and schedules, events and more—find it all on the IU Mobile app. No matter where you are, everything IU is at your fingertips. Download it today and log in for personalized information. Visit mobile.iu.edu to learn more.

Tips to help you keep your promise:

  • Connect with faculty. Go to your professor’s office hours to introduce yourself and get to know them and the course material. This is how you find future mentors and recommenders.
  • Know expectations. All communities need boundaries and rules. Be sure you know your rights as well as your responsibilities. Review the Code of Student Conduct. Read your syllabus. Ask questions if you have them.
  • Share and learn. Share your culture, your traditions, your beliefs with others. Ask them about theirs. Embrace the opportunity you have to explore the world right here—through museums, music, performances, culture centers, libraries, and more.
  • Be a part of this community in ways that connect you. Help one another—take care of yourself and of others. Do no harm. Challenge injustice, violence and ignorance. Challenge yourself to be better than you are now, and challenge others to do the same. It’s a Hoosier thing. It’s who we are.
  • Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Make good choices.

Academic Success

Academic planning

Own your educational experience. It's more than just going to class, doing homework, and taking tests. It's about using resources, planning ahead, and exploring options and technology—all of which you can access virtually. It also means making good choices both in and outside the classroom—your success is affected by both. Refer back to your NSO Canvas modules for more information.

Academic Advisors help you understand degree requirements, explore majors, choose courses, and find resources. You will meet with your academic advisor at least once each semester.

For students who will move from University Division into other schools, University Division provides tools and information for students in all majors to design their IU degree. Check out Explore Programs to find majors, minors, and certificates as well as recommended first courses for each academic program. Visit Choosing Courses to explore skill-building courses required for all majors, and watch videos about IU Bloomington General Education requirements. Explore these resources and more at ud.indiana.edu.

Hear advice from students on how to make the most of your advising and course registration:

If you’re a direct admit into a particular school, you can find out more about academic advising specific to your school at the following:

*The College of Arts and Sciences includes The Media School; Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design; and the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies.

Find a complete list of academic units at go.iu.edu/1ADf

The Career Development Center is the gateway to career services on the Indiana University Bloomington campus, offering University Division students a strong foundation for career development success. You'll get help identifying who you are, what gifts you have, and how you use them. Visit a Career Coach to explore majors and careers, write a resume, and find part-time jobs. Check out the online Career Guides and Major Guides to learn about careers, interests, skills, and each industry’s preferred educational backgrounds and employment opportunities. Learn more at cdc.indiana.edu and visit career.indiana.edu/students for a full listing of all the different career services offices on the campus.

Academic assistance

Academic Support Center tutoring locations in Briscoe, Forest, and Teter provide workshops, study groups, and other academic support services. Visit academicsupport.indiana.edu for more information.

Student Academic Center resources help you develop learning strategies, perspectives, and behaviors for academic success. Services range from courses you can take for credit toward any degree—including those created just for first-year students—to free one-on-one academic coaching. Learn more at sac.indiana.edu.

Tutors are available in virtually every academic program. Visit tutoring.indiana.edu to get started.

Living at IU

Living on campus

New, first-year, undergraduate students at Indiana University Bloomington are required to live on campus. If you believe you qualify for an exemption, we prefer that you submit your request before applying for housing.

Find out more at https://housing.indiana.edu/housing.

We are committed to providing a safe move-in process and living environment for our residents and staff. Our move-in process and safety guidelines for fall 2023 are being developed and will be available online, as well as emailed to all residents during the summer. Find out more at https://housing.indiana.edu/events/directions.

Before you move to campus

Meal plans and dining

IU Dining provides a variety of healthy and nutritious foods to meet the preferences and dietary restrictions of each student. The online tool, NetNutrition®, is available at https://nutrition.dining.indiana.edu/NetNutrition/46 where students can check calories, allergens, and nutritional information. We also have a registered dietitian on staff who works with students to help them plan meals around their needs.

New first-time RPS residents may select one of three IU 7-Day meal plans or the IU 5-Day meal plan. All of these meal plans include Meal Scans at all-you-care-to-eat dining halls, Meal Exchanges to use at pay-as-you-go locations, and Dining Dollars to use at pay-as-you-go locations. Compare the plans at https://dining.indiana.edu/mealplans/compare-meal-plans.html.

We adjust our operations to provide a safe environment for our guests and staff. Visit the website at dining.indiana.edu for the most recent information.

CrimsonCard

You will use your CrimsonCard daily to access campus services and resources such as meal plans, printing, and your residence hall. You can also load funds to your CrimsonCard account and use it to make purchases both on and off-campus. Grubhub also accepts CrimsonCard, which gives you access to 300,000+ restaurants nationwide and you’ll be eligible to receive Grubhub+ for FREE, which means no delivery fees! Learn more at crimsoncard.iu.edu.

Getting around

With all of IU’s transportation options, it’s easy to get around campus or explore Bloomington.

Bloomington is like a mini world of its own.

Biking and walking are both great ways to get to class. Learn to be a safe and smart cyclist on campus by watching the videos at transportation.indiana.edu/bicycles/bicycle-videos. Don’t forget to register your bike with Parking Operations, use lights at night, and a U-lock.

Take the bus, with either the IU Campus Bus or Bloomington Transit—both free with your CrimsonCard. Track campus buses in real time through the IU Mobile app at iu.edu/mobile-app.

Bringing a car to campus is not recommended but is allowed. Visit parking.indiana.edu for information on parking fees and locations.

IU Ride offers safe evening and late night transportation around Bloomington. Find out more at iuride.indiana.edu.

Building Community

Create meaningful connections, build leadership skills, and make lifelong friends by getting involved outside of the classroom. Join a student organization, get a campus job, volunteer, perform, cheer on the Hoosiers, make connections through the Hoosier Experience program, and more. Make the most of your experience with these resources:

Get involved

There is always something going on around campus. Looking for something to do? Check out upcoming events at fye.indiana.edu/hoosier-experience.

Use beINvolved, IU’s student involvement platform, to find student organizations, student events, and related news. Log in to beINvolved.indiana.edu to get started.

Learn how Recreational Sports can help you lead an active, healthy lifestyle at recsports.indiana.edu.

Get outside with Outdoor Adventures. Lead an active lifestyle by participating in trips, workshops, and other activities that foster a love of the outdoors. Learn more at outdoors.indiana.edu.

Make a difference with IU Corps by honing your skills alongside professionals who work toward positive social change locally and globally. Learn more at iucorps.indiana.edu.

Check out Sorority and Fraternity Life to learn more about a sorority and fraternity community of more than 8,000. Learn more at go.iu.edu/OSFL.

Involvement Ambassadors can help you find something that sparks your interest and enhances your Hoosier Experience. Learn more by dropping into the Student Invovlement and Leadership Center in the Indiana Memorial Union or visiting studentaffairs.indiana.edu/get-involved.

Diversity. Equity. Inclusion.

Your IU education includes the time you spend learning with, from, and about others who are not like you. At IU, we denounce all forms of bigotry, hate, and racism. We believe strongly in a society that values the respect and dignity of life for all. Expand your ability to support diversity, equity, and inclusion by embracing the opportunities at IU:

  • Cultural and support centers
  • Festivals, celebrations, religious and cultural holidays, and traditions that are new to you
  • Courses and clubs exploring diversity, cultural engagement, self-discovery, and more
  • Bloomington’s diverse cultural offerings
  • Study abroad opportunities at overseas.iu.edu

For more from the Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, visit diversity.iu.edu.

Bloomington

When you come to IU you join more than just the university—you also become a member of the Bloomington community. It’s a college town that has so much to offer—over 100 downtown restaurants, local coffee shops, great music venues, art galleries, and more—all within walking distance of campus. Explore our many parks at bloomington.in.gov/parks. Find out all that Bloomington has to offer at visitbloomington.com and visitorcenter.indiana.edu.

For Families

Resources to share with your family

  • As a part of NSO, parents and supporters are able to learn about campus resources and how they can work with IU to help their student succeed. There are a ton of additional resources, including videos and our online Resource Center to explore on our website: fye.indiana.edu.
  • FYE emails a monthly parent newsletter, providing information of particular interest to families of first-year students. The Division of Student Affairs also sends a monthly newsletter to the families of all students. Sign up at https://studentaffairs.indiana.edu/communities/parents-and-families.
  • The Parents Advisory Board and the IU Foundation both eagerly seek parent involvement. Find out more at studentaffairs.indiana.edu/about/parents-and-families and iufoundation.iu.edu.
  • Under some circumstances, parents may receive information from the Division of Student Affairs about incidents involving alcohol or other controlled substances. Their office has staff dedicated to supporting parents and students.

Explore parent and supporter resources

Key Resources

First Year Experience Programs

fye.indiana.edu
At FYE, we’re here to help you make your first year amazing and help you truly become a Hoosier. If you have questions, reach out to us at fye@iu.edu or 812-855-4357.

IU Contact Center

For general questions, call 812-855-IUIU (4848).

Official IU Academic Calendar

Stay up to date about class schedules, midterms, finals, and holiday breaks at go.iu.edu/1AxK.

IU Cultural Centers and Institutes

Explore diversity, cultural awareness, and advocacy no matter your ethnicity, country of origin, sexual orientation, or gender at diversity.iu.edu/cultural-involvement.

Tentative 9-year calendar

Get a long-term jumpstart to planning your years at IU at go.iu.edu/1AxL.

Division of Student Affairs

Learn about support, care, getting involved, and being a responsible, active Hoosier at studentaffairs.indiana.edu.

Student Central

Monitor your finances at studentcentral.indiana.edu.

Residential Programs and Services

For all housing information, visit rps.indiana.edu.

Dining

For all dining information, visit dining.indiana.edu.

Indiana Daily Student

Visit IDSnews.com for news about IU from the award-winning student run newspaper.