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ACCESS

The first year of college is the foundation upon which the entire academic experience is built.  Norfolk State University views the first year of college as an essential time to help students build a solid foundation for life-long academic, personal, and career success.  For this reason, the Office of the First Year Experience  was established to assist students in making the transition to college, to work as advocates for first-year students, to provide academic support services to first-year students, to work with faculty to increase student retention and persistence to graduation, and to serve as a resource to all university units in serving the needs of first-year students. 

• Assist students in making the transition to college
• Address the needs of first-time freshmen and transfer students
• Work with faculty to increase student persistence to graduation
• Work with faculty to ensure students achieve general education goals
• Serve as a resource to faculty advisors

The Academy for Collegiate Excellence and Student Success (ACCESS ) Program is a multi-faceted comprehensive program designed to facilitate   and improve student success, retention and graduation rates.  Emphasis is on intrusive academic advising, which involves selecting courses, strengthening basic skills, reinforcing classroom instruction, and enhancing overall student academic, personal, and career development.      

ACCESS serves as an advocate for students and provides academic support services to all students.  As advocates for students, ACCESS collaborates with all units in an effort to increase student retention and to produce academically prepared professionals who are ready to contribute to their communities.  For additional information, please contact ACCESS at 757-823-8507or visit us in the James A. Bowser Building, Room 118.

• Academic Advising
• Undeclared Student Services
• Intrusive Academic Advising for Special Populations
• Diagnostic Testing/College Student Inventory
• Early Academic Intervention
• Academic Probation Services
• Academic Skills Seminars
• Supplemental Instruction
• Tutoring Services
• Mentoring (female, male, and Peer)
• Scholarships

Freshman students are admitted to the University by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.  To request information please go to the Admissions website at http://www.nsu.edu/admissions.  You can also call or write: 

Office of Undergraduate Admissions
700 Park Avenue
Norfolk, Virginia 23504
(757) 823-8396 

Yes.  The ACCESS Peer, Male and Female Mentoring Programs are designed to aid in the academic, personal, professional and overall development of targeted male and female students at Norfolk State University.   

If you have declared a major, your academic advisor will be a faculty member from your specific department.  Go to the department and inquire about your advisor.  Students who are undeclared/ undecided should come to the FYE/ACCESS Department, located in the James A. Bowser Building, Room  118 to see the Coordinator of Undeclared Students. 

You should see your advisor several times during the semester. At the beginning of the semester, before midterms, to pre-register, and any time you need to discuss any issues, academic or personal, that may affect your grades. 

A copy of your  academic evaluation. 

Go to the department of the course in question to inquire if additional seats will be available.  The registrar’s office must process an over-ride for all students who wish to register for a closed class. 

Students are encouraged to meet with an FYE/ACCESS Academic Advisor as soon as they begin to experience difficulty in one or more classes. The ACCESS Academic Advisor will offer guidance and make recommendations or referrals to various ACCESS Academic Support Services, such as tutoring,  or academic skills seminars which are designed to help students get back on track academically. 

The minimum GPA requirements vary by the number of credit hours graded and completed. 

FYE/ACCESS Academic Skills Counselor is located in room 118 of the James A. Bowser  Building, 1^st floor.  Contact the office at 823-8507 or e-mail at access@nsu.edu 

The credit requirements vary by major.  (Obtain a curriculum sheet from your major department which illustrates the year you began matriculating as a student and a 2.0 GPA.) Keep in mind, you may have completed more than 120 hours, but have not yet satisfied the minimum GPA. In this case, you would not be eligible for graduation.  

Visit the FYE/ACCESS office in the James A. Bowser  Building, Room 118 to learn more about the tutoring opportunities available to you as well as ways to improve your college skills. 

If you have a personal problem, please visit the University’s Counseling Center.  The Counseling Center is located in New Student Services Center, room 312. 

No.  First of all, relax.  There is nothing wrong with taking some time to discover your major.  A lot of first-year students are unsure about their majors, even some of those who declare.  It is better to assess first your skills, interests, and abilities and then, match it with the appropriate major.

It is advisable to declare your major at the conclusion of your freshman year (at the completion of 30 credit hours). However, we know that some students require more time to explore their options. So, we recommend that students declare a major no later than the end of their sophomore year. 

The average course load for a full-time undergraduate student per semester is 15; the minimum is 12 and no more than 19 semester hours.  Students with a 3.0 grade point average or above may carry additional hours ONLY with appropriate approval.  The registrar has been authorized to approve up to 21 semester hours.  A course load in excess of 21 semester hours must be approved by the Dean of the School in which the student’s major is housed. 

MyNSU is a web portal which will allow access to multiple campus resources from a single site http://www.nsu.edu/mynsu/