Frequently Asked Questions

All new first year, transfer, full time and part time students planning to enroll in courses.

• Re-entry students
• Post-baccalaureate students (new and returning)
• Guest Students attending SUMMER session only
• Graduate students (new and returning)
• RN to BSN online program
• Local corrections program
• Advanced law enforcement program
• Cosmetology instructor certification program
• Senior citizens
• Police academy, dual-enrolled and summer scholars high school students*
• Full time faculty and staff

* These students will have to attend orientation if/when they enter NMU in a degree-seeking program.

Orientation is where students are provided with information regarding academic requirements, meet with an academic adviser, schedule classes, meet faculty, staff and other students and begin to familiarize themselves with the university. Students learn how to be Northern students at orientation, because of this NMU requires that all students attend Orientation.

Information regarding how to sign up for orientation is included in the admissions welcome packet which informs students that they have been admitted into NMU; no separate packet will be mailed. Students can register for orientation by using the online reservation system. Students need to provide an e-mail address when registering for Orientation*. Two weeks before the registered orientation date, you will receive an e-mail with arrival information.

*Please note: High school emails are deactivated when a student graduates. If possible, use a non-school issued email account. 

Students will receive an immediate e-mail confirmation if they register using the online reservation system. Students using a registration method other than the online reservation system (e.g. paper packet, or phone) will receive confirmation within two weeks by mail or e-mail after registration.

The $126 (in person) and $75 (online transfer/Global Campus) student orientation fee pays for the entire program. The fee pays for professional and student staff, facilities, hand-outs, processing, and much more. Every dollar that a student pays goes right back into the program. Students may also pay an additional $50 for their Parent(s)/Guardian to attend a separate parent orientation. Only the student orientation is mandatory. More information here: Session Fees & Refund Policy

It depends on which orientation you are signing up for! Make sure to view the Accommodations page for additional information. 

If you have yet to set up your NMU user account, visit the Helpdesk website for instructions. You will need to have your first and last name, birth date, and NMU IN or SSN number to set up your account. The NMU Helpdesk is available for any technical solutions at (906) 227-2468.

Students will be able to pick up their Student ID Card when they arrive on campus. You will learn more about your student ID card during orientation.

Students will be able to pick-up their laptops once they arrive on campus. You will learn more about the laptop during orientation.

NMU works hard to place students in courses that are appropriate for their skill levels. Some decisions are based on admission data while others are based on test scores. Students will be placed into appropriate math and major courses based on their SAT or ACT math subscore. If a student has not submitted SAT or ACT scores, they will be contacted by their assigned academic adviser to complete further testing that will allow them to be in the courses that they need. More information about your specific placement or further testing will be provided during orientation. If you have questions about math placement, please contact the Academic and Career Advisement Center at 906-227-2971 or acac@nmu.edu. For more information on placement exams, visit nmu.edu/orientation/courseplacement.

The refund process for courses is regulated by the Registrar. You can find information on withdrawal deadlines and refund amounts on their website. If you have more questions, you can contact them at (906) 227-2258.

If you are concerned about your orientation refund, you can find more information on our orientation refund page, or by contacting the Orientation office at (906) 227-1707.

The Online-Transfer Orientation is only for students who have successfully transferred 12 post-high school college credits.  While the online orientation can be beneficial for students who are out of the area the online orientation is extremely independent. Only students who are comfortable with online learning, and making a phone appointment with their department should explore this option.

Transfer Orientation

There are free orientation sessions for parents and guests. You can find information on parent sessions on the Parent Orientation page.

All students are allowed to bring a car to campus with registration and purchase of a parking permit from Parking Services. Registration and fee information can be found on the Parking Services website.

If the student does not have or wish to bring a vehicle to campus, there are still many ways for them to get around town and visit home. There is public transportation to and from our campus. This includes a free Friday Shopping Shuttle to Meijer, Walmart, and Target.

Located near Flagstar Bank in the Northern Center is a Commuter Connection Board with tips for commuters, and a place to post and find rides. You can also use Amtrak, Greyhound, or Sawyer International Airport which provide transport from Marquette.

There are many jobs on- and off-campus available to students throughout the school year and summer months. Jobs are posted on NMU Career Service’s all-in-one web system, Handshake. More information on logging into Handshake can be found on the Career Services Website.

There are plenty of resources for your child when they get sick at school. Students should communicate with their professors if they are going to miss any class sessions. It is important for students to stay up to date on their coursework even if they need to miss class.

For food, Dining Services provides a Sick Tray option. Simply fill out the online form and ask your roommate or another resident to pick up your meal at Northern Lights Dining.

If your student needs to visit a health clinic, there is one conveniently located on campus in Gries Hall. The on-campus health center is only open to current students, faculty, and staff. Call (906) 227-2355 to schedule an appointment, or visit nmu.edu/healthcenter for more information.

The Health Center does not participate with all insurance plans, but will submit claims to all insurance plans for which they have proper claim information on file. The Health Center will directly bill your insurance, and any copay or services not covered will be charged to your student’s e-bill. For specific questions about your coverage, it is best to contact the Customer Service number on the back of your card.

To ensure the clinic has complete and correct information, students should have their current insurance card(s) with them when arriving at the Health Center for care. If your student is covered under more than one health insurance plan, please have them bring all plan cards with them. We may also need the address, phone number and date of birth of the policy subscriber.

For more questions, call (906) 227-2355 or visit nmu.edu/healthcenter for more information.

Parents can deposit money into their student’s CatCash account through GET at NMU. You will need your student’s IN to deposit the money correctly. If your student does not know their NMUIN, they can find this information by logging in to their MyNMU account, clicking on their username in the upper right corner of the page, and it will be displayed on the next page.

Your student can also send you a request for money from their personal GET account. In order to access their account, they first log in to MyNMU, click on student services, and then click on “Wildcat Express/Dining Services” in the third column. They log in using their NMU username and password. Once logged in, there is an “Ask for Funds” card in the right column where they can send you a request for money via email.

CatCash never expires and students can use it at the following locations: Fieras, Cat Trax Convenience Store, Northern Lights Dining, the Wildcat Den, Starbucks, Smoothie King, Temaki, Sundre and Melted. Additionally, CatCa$h can be used at Harden Hall for printing, copying, and other needs.

For more questions, call (906) 227-2520 or visit the Wildcat Express Center for more information.

The best way to know how your student is doing is talking to them directly. The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA, regulates information the institution is allowed to share with individuals who are not the student. Therefore, professors and advisers will not release any information to a parent or guardian as it would be a violation of FERPA.

The best place to start if you are unable to get in touch with your student is the Dean of Students office. If your student lives on campus, they will be able to work with Housing and Residence Life to check-in with your student. If they live off-campus, the Dean of Students has an excellent relationship with community agencies, like the police, who can help make contact with your student. You can reach the Dean of Students office at (906) 227-1700.

An internet connection is required to complete your virtual orientation*. There are two specific online applications you will need throughout your orientation: 

• MyNMU
• Zoom

MyNMU can be accessed at mynmu.nmu.edu. If you have yet to set up your NMU user account, visit the Helpdesk website for instructions. If you have set up your NMU user account, simply log in using your username and password. 

You will also need to access Zoom, our video-conferencing application. From a laptop or desktop computer, simply visit join.zoom.us and enter the meeting ID provided by NMU. You do not need to download the Zoom application for this option. If you are joining from a mobile device or tablet, you will need to download the app in order to access the meeting. 

Android Application

iOS Application

If you have any more questions, you can contact the Helpdesk at (906) 227-2468, or visit Zoom’s website for further instructions on joining a meeting. 

*If you are concerned about having to access to technology or the internet to complete orientation, please give us a call at 906-227-1707 or email us at orient@nmu.edu. 

The NMU Helpdesk is available for any technical solutions. You can contact them Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through any of the following options: 

• (906) 227-2468
• helpdesk@nmu.edu
• Live chat during business hours

Reminder: Have your NMU IN or username ready for assistance. 

If you are concerned about having access to technology or the internet to complete orientation, please give us a call at 906-227-1707 or email us at orient@nmu.edu.

The NMU Helpdesk is available for any technical solutions. You can contact them Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through any of the following options: 

• (906) 227-2468
• helpdesk@nmu.edu
• Live chat during business hours

Reminder: Have your NMU IN or username ready for assistance.

Technical Assistance