New Mexico State University

• Evidence shows that students who participate in an orientation prior to their first semester are more successful and engaged in their college experience.
• Orientation is a time when the student has the opportunity to integrate into the NMSU campus community by meeting faculty, staff, and create bonds with other students.
• Orientation allows the student to learn about the various campus resources available to them here at NMSU.
• Students have the opportunity to learn about academic requirements, course offerings, and registration procedures.

Orientation will be provided in two parts: Prior to your selected AWO date, you will be given access to our pre-orientation modules. Through these modules, you will learn about the different resources NMSU has to offer as well as your responsibilities as a student. During the virtual experience (through Microsoft Teams) or in-person experience on your AWO date, you will engage with some of the offices you learned about, meet other students, hear directly from university staff, discover unique experiences that your major or college have for you to get involved in, and meet with your Academic Advisor in a one-on-one meeting and register for classes.

You can sign up for an Aggie Welcome & Orientation session by clicking on any of the Sign Up for Orientation buttons on the AWO main page.

The orientation fees for this year are: $165 for a two-day in-person session or $99 for all virtual sessions or a one day in-person session.  This fee will be charged to your account upon registering for an orientation program. All first-time undergraduate students at New Mexico State University will be charged an orientation fee per the statutes of the State of New Mexico related to matriculation fees at state institutions. A minimum of a $50.00 payment must be made to secure your spot at orientation. Your reservation will not be confirmed prior to the payment being received and the program you selected may not be available at a later date. This fee does go towards your overall cost of the orientation session. This fee is used to provide programs and services to help new students with their transition to NMSU including the following: 

• AWO Bag of Swag  
• Online Resources for Students and Families 
• Crimson Kick-off week events 
• Meals provided for in-person sessions 
• Housing Accommodations (one night) for students for two-day in-person session 

You may pay your orientation fee directly through the AWO registration form using a credit or debit card.

If you requested to defer your fee to your NMSU student account or if you only initially paid the $50 deposit, payment can be made through the University Accounts Receivable Online Payment Portal or in person between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Accounts Receivable Office, located in the Educational Services Center.

Payments can also be made by phone between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. using a credit or debit card by calling (575) 646-3927 (please know your Aggie ID number when you call).

• If you are an incoming student and can’t make any of the dates for the in-person or synchronous AWO sessions, please contact AWO professional staff at awo@nmsu.edu to discuss other options.
• If you are still planning on being an NMSU student, and your original session has not closed yet, we ask that you reschedule your orientation instead of cancelling. To reschedule, you can log back into the  AWO reservation system and select another open date.
• If you are no longer coming to NMSU, we can cancel your AWO reservation, and inactivate your application with NMSU (which includes cancelling any scholarships or housing assignments that you have).
  • If you cancel more than 10 days before your AWO date (or before starting asynchronous orientation) – you will receive a full refund.
  • If you cancel less than 10 days before your AWO date (or after starting asynchronous orientation) – you will receive a $49 refund (we will keep the $50 deposit).
  • NOTE: We will not cancel you simply because you did not show up for the session you registered for. It is your responsibility to cancel with our office.
  • To cancel, please email the AWO office at awo@nmsu.edu.

The Orientation Hold is placed upon admission to NMSU for all new students who are:

• New Undergraduate Students
• Freshmen Transfer
• Transfer from Out-of-state
• Transfer from In-state

Yes. All undergraduate, degree-seeking students are required to attend NMSU Main Campus Orientation prior to their first semester. International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) facilitates a dedicated session during the orientation program that focuses on information specific to international students. International students attending Doña Ana Community College are also required to participate in Main Campus Orientation due to this dedicated session.

Additionally, all International Students from all campuses and degree levels that are being issued an I-20 or DS-2019 (usually those who will attend NMSU with an F-1 or J-1 visa type) will complete another orientation through the ISSS office, which is called SEVIS Check-In, around the start of your first semester.

If you have questions about whether you are required to attend this session as part of Main Campus Orientation, please contact Aggie Welcome & Orientation at awo@nmsu.edu or 1-575-646-8038.

For any questions about SEVIS Check-In requirements (after admission and other steps completed), please contact International Student and Scholar Services at isss@nmsu.edu or 1-575-646-2834.

Absolutely! We will be providing various resources, programming, and opportunities for connection with Family Engagement staff specifically for families and supporters during orientation session dates. Please ensure that your family member or supporter's email address (to recieve communication and schedule) is provided when you fill out your registration form for Orientation. If you already submitted your form and would like to go back and add their information, you can edit your form, as long as the session is still open: https://newstudentregistration.nmsu.edu/login. For family and supporter questions please contact the Family Engagement staff at families@nmsu.edu.

¡Absolutamente! Brindaremos varios recursos, programas y oportunidades para conectarse con el personal de Family Engagement específicamente para la familia durante las fechas de las sesiones de orientación. Asegúrese de proporcionar la dirección de correo electrónico de su familiar o invitado (para recibir la comunicación y el horario) cuando complete su formulario de registro para AWO. Si ya envió su formulario y desea regresar y agregar su información, puede editar su formulario, siempre que la sesión aún esté abierta: https://newstudentregistration.nmsu.edu/login.  Para preguntas de familiares e invitados, comuníquese con el personal de Family Engagement en families@nmsu.edu.

Visit  https://myaccount.nmsu.edu/activation to set up your NMSU account (username & password).

After your NMSU account has been set up, you can access your NMSU email by visiting my.nmsu.edu.

1. Login to my.nmsu.edu using your NMSU username and password
2. Once logged in, click on “Email & Collaboration” located on the ribbon near the top of the webpage
3. Locate the card titled “Microsoft Outlook Email” and click on “Email”

Be sure to check your NMSU email regularly—this is where all official university communications will be sent.