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Online Orientation

Online Education

Online Orientation for Distance Education Students 

The Office of Distance Education and eLearning manages the required online orientation for all new UNCW distance education undergraduate students.  

This self-paced orientation will help you successfully transition to UNCW and prepare for your academic experience.  

Who Needs to Complete Orientation  

  • RN to BSN (OAP) students:

Must complete orientation before the start of the term 

  • Flight Path (OAP) students: 

Must complete orientation before meeting with a Success Coach 

  • All other Distance Education (DE Ext) students: 

Must complete orientation before meeting with an advisor and registering for classes 

Note: Instructions, payment link, and orientation registration access are available in your Application Status Portal.

Orientation Modules

The required orientation includes eight self-paced modules that cover the following topics:

  • Welcome  
  • Academics  
  • Student Resources  
  • Financial Aid & Billing 
  • Policies  
  • Tech Resources  
  • E-Learning  
  • Next Steps  

Please review the "Steps to Complete" section below. 

Steps to Complete

Log in to the Application Status Portal and click the box “First Time Logging In?” 

  • Use your full UNCW email address 
  • Follow password setup instructions carefully! 

If you experience any technical issues with your UNCW account/email, please contact UNCW’s Technology Assistance Center (TAC) 

Pay online through your Application Status Portal. 

  • Your account may take up to 24 hours to activate after viewing your decision letter before moving to the next step. 

Pay the $20 orientation fee online through your Application Status Portal. 

  • For students who are required to pay, return to the portal after paying to register for orientation.   
  • Flight Path students will see their registration link in the Enrollment Checklist without this step.  

Select “Register for your Required Online Orientation” from your Enrollment Checklist in the portal. 

  • Confirm your information (check the box) 
  • Submit the form
  • Return to the portal

Select “Complete your Online Orientation” from your Enrollment Checklist in the portal. The link to the orientation modules is sent to your personal and UNCW email addresses as well. The link takes you to the orientation landing page. The orientation takes less than an hour to complete.

  • Choose “I’m A UNCW Student”
  • Complete the orientation modules at your own pace.
  • Return at any time using the “Returning” section on the landing page.

RN to BSN (OAP) students: 

  • If you haven’t already, please use Starfish to schedule an initial appointment with your Student Success Advisor. If you have already scheduled or completed this appointment, monitor your UNCW inbox for any further instructions. You can direct any questions to your student success advisor. 

Flight Path (OAP) students: 

  • Your Success Coach will contact you and register you for your courses. 

All other Distance Education (DE Ext) students: 

  • Your advisor will contact you to schedule a meeting to discuss course registration. Your advisor will provide a Time Ticket and PIN at your meeting for you to register for your classes. 

For questions or issues related to online orientation, please contact the Office of Distance Education and eLearning at elearning@uncw.edu.

Important Notes

You will see a completion slide when you reach the end of the eighth module. Links for “more information” that you requested during the orientation will be listed after the completion slide.  
Returning/re-enrolling students do not need to complete orientation. Visit the Student Info webpage to find resources that may be useful to you.
Communication is sent to your UNCW email. UNCW credentials refer to your 850#. Include your 850# in your communications.

Email elearning@uncw.edu  to request an orientation fee refund.