Transfer Transitions

More than likely you come from a school that was on a semester system. To make sure you know the difference:

A semester system consists of two 15-week terms: one in the fall (followed by a winter break) and one in the spring (followed by a summer break). In this setup, the average full-time student takes five courses per term, or roughly 15 credits. A semester school year typically starts in late August and concludes in early May.

A quarter system consists of four 10-12 week sessions: fall, winter, spring, and summer, with classes ranging in length from five, six or ten weeks. In this format, the average full-time student takes 3 courses per term, or 12-15 credits.The average part-time student takes two courses per term, or 6- 10 credits.  An academic year on the quarter system usually runs mid-September through early June. The fourth (and optional) summer quarter allows students to take more classes and possibly graduate early. Semester hours are multiplied by 1.5 to get quarter hours total.

Learning Support

The Office of Learning Support provides tutoring services for currently enrolled NLU students with the aim of helping them become more independent and self-directed. Tutoring sessions are held online and are offered for writing, research, and math skills. In addition, Learning Support also assists in college readiness skills, such as: organization, time management, growth mindset, and technology. Tutoring sessions provide the opportunity for students to review and strengthen their work with a Learning Specialist.

Schedule an Appointment

Schedule an appointment with a Learning Support Specialist. Learning Support Specialists are available to assist with math, writing, and science. To schedule an appointment, call 800-443-5522 x3374. 

NLU Learning Support Specialists also offer drop-off essay review services which will provide you with feedback on your writing assignments. You can submit your writing assignments for feedback to a Learning Support Specialist through our Drop Off Essay Submission Form.

To meet with a librarian for assistance with research, finding books & articles, topic development, or search strategies, fill out the Library Request an Appointment Form.

Time Management Guide

This guide will help you develop strategies for managing your time. First, take the self-assessment to learn more about your time management habits. Then try to identify your own time management style. With that information, you'll be able to use the resources provided to find the best way to manage your time!

Grammarly

Grammarly, an online grammar checking tool, is available to all students, free of charge! Grammarly offers clear, effective, mistake-free writing across multiple devices, browsers, and apps.  It’s an automated proofreading and revision tool that students can use in conjunction with Learning Support’s Drop Off Essay Service. For instructions on signing up, use this Grammarly guide.

Help & Resource Guides

These online help guides (formerly called Library Guides) provide tips for finding materials for specific subjects, citing your sources, and much more.

Check out the APA Style Guide and Writing Resources!

Here are some ways in which to connect and feel more plugged into the university community:

• Attend Welcome Week events  which is a week of events that will include an activities fair and a plethora of fun engaging  activities that will help you learn and feel connected to NLU family.
• Participate Transfer Talks that introduces you to seasoned transfers, ways to get involved as a new student, academic success, resources for transfers, and how to map out your time at NLU to be successful.
• Join a student organization (CLICK HERE)
  
• Get involved on campus! whether they are transfer specific or simply student specific, there are a plethora of activities, events, workshops, and service opportunities offered every week during the quarter. Be on the lookout for them through the Eagle Life App and website. Don’t forget Internships, research positions, jobs on campus, and volunteer opportunities are also terrific ways to get plugged into NLU.
• Talk to people! It may sound silly or seem scary, but the truth is we are all in the same boat. Lots of students feel isolated and shy to just talk to the person next to them, but it is a terrific way to connect.
• Start a study group.
• Go to office hours! Meet with professors and do not be anonymous in class! Terrific relationships and opportunities can come from reaching out to those doing work you are interested in.

You're not alone.

The first quarter can be rattling, and is a huge adjustment, especially if you have never experienced the quarter system. We guarantee you that you are absolutely not alone in these feelings. This is a normal part of the transition and normal part of being a transfer student at NLU. The good news is, there are also a ton of resources and ways in which to help ease the stress. Visit NLU Counseling and Wellness services, come to transfer specific events and meet other transfer students, or start conversations with students in your courses. This may seem a little obvious but it can often be quite challenging to get to know people unless you reach out. Finding a cohort, a group of friends, or others with shared experiences can be your best resource, will ease stress, and can help you find focus at NLU. 

Are counseling services available for students?

Whether you are intensely stressed out, have something very distressing going on in your life, or are just feeling worn down by the quarter system it is a good idea to visit our counseling services. 

What is a U-pass?

In partnership with Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), National Louis University provides a Ventra U-PASS to eligible, full-time students during enrolled terms. The Ventra U-PASS provides unlimited use of CTA trains and buses during the enrolled academic term allowing students to commute to the Chicago Campus with ease.

The U-PASS program is not optional; all full-time students (see eligibility page) are assessed the $120 Ventra U-PASS Fee for each term of full-time enrollment. 

The NLU CTA U-PASS is available to full-time undergraduate students and full-time graduate students. Undergraduate students must be taking a minimum of 8 credit hours on the Chicago Campus to qualify. Students from the Graduate College must be registered for at least 6 credit hours on the Chicago Campus to receive a U-PASS. These students will be assessed a nonrefundable CTA transportation fee per term for this benefit. This fee entitles all eligible students to a nontransferable NLU CTA U-PASS valid for that term.

The U-PASS will be valid for CTA travel during the academic term, this includes CTA buses and trains. The NLU CTA U-PASS is non-transferable and carries the student’s photo.

Questions? Contact upass@nl.edu. 

How can I request  a locker on campus?

National Louis University maintains lockers within the Chicago Campus for students to store their learning materials and other items related to their studies. Lockers are located within both buildings on the Chicago Campus (18 S. Michigan and 122 S. Michigan). Lockers can be reserved on a quarterly or academic year basis as they are available.

To secure a locker, use the below links to select your building preference.

Chicago Campus – 18 S. Michigan Ave.

Chicago Campus – 122 S. Michigan Ave.

Parking

NLU Parking is free at all Suburban campuses. To explore nearby parking options and discounts for Chicago, click here. 

National Louis University provides a variety of financing options to assist in covering educational and tuition costs. Whether you are interested in utilizing one of our payment options or loan assistance, scholarships, federal work-study, grants or a combination of these resources. Our Financial aid advisors can develop a financial plan that meets your needs.

Explore NLU's Transfer Student Scholarships—You can qualify for up to $6,000 a year

NLU provides generous scholarships, including some for specific programs. Take advantage of this benefit and apply for all scholarships appropriate to your degree program.

• Alumni Choice Scholarship
• Louis Scholarship
• Baker Scholarship
• Criminal Justice Practitioners Scholarship

NLU believes our students can THRIVE through the advocacy of and inclusive campus and support of a caring community - where low-income students feel a sense of belonging and empowerment to not only be academically successful but thrive personally and professionally. Our THRIVE resource website curates and leverages community resources in key domains such as food and housing insecurities, financial wellness, employment, childcare/support for student parents.

Visit the Thrive Center page for current resources, services, and information.

Use the resources available to you. If you are feeling stressed, disconnected, or just need some inspiration about how to get more involved, contact your advisor, instructors or any staff or faculty on campus. It is not unusual to feel this way as a transfer! Do not feel as though you are alone in this, there are other students feeling the way you are feeling, and there is a tremendous amount of resources to help.

Go to office hours

• Go to instructors' office hours.
• All instructors have office hours, and they all want to see you succeed! 
• Establishing relationships with your instructor is not only a good way to deepen your understanding of the course topics, it is also a wonderful way for instructor to get to know you, your interests, and work ethic which comes in useful when you are looking for future letters of recommendations, faculty advisors to do an independent project or contract course with, or a research position in a lab.
• Put office hours in your weekly planner as though it is part of the course, that way you will not schedule other activities during this time. If the office hours available are not convenient for you, the instructor is generally willing to set up alternative times to meet so be sure to contact them.

Don’t procrastinate, use SMART Goals 

• Time management skills will be really important when it comes to adjusting to the quarter system. The time goes by very quickly and many transfers find it easy to get behind on the workload, which adds unneeded stress to an already intense new experience.
• Attend one of the many workshops about study skills and adjusting to the quarter system offered in the beginning of fall quarter and throughout the year to help you foresee what future obstacles and challenges may come up for you and ways in which to address and avoid the common pitfalls.

Get involved and engaged: Academically, Professionally, and Socially

• Join a Student Organization!
• Find a student organization/group/activity/department you like at the beginning of the quarter and get involved and engaged in activities on campus and with other students.
• Learn about what NLU offers and take advantage of all the opportunities that interest you
• Engaging in high-impact opportunities
• Honor Societies
• Career Bridge
• Internships
• Office hours with Instructors

Get a planner and use it 

• Good time management is a must in the quarter system especially for transfer students.

Know you are not alone

• The transfer transition can be challenging, everyone feels the stress and intensity of the quarter system and being in a new environment.
• If you are feeling discouraged or stressed out this is not uncommon and chances are that most of the transfer students around you are feeling the same way.
• Be confident and make the effort to talk to people and create a cohort of support at the University.
• You got yourself here, you are incredibly skilled and talented, remember that as you dive into the NLU experience.

I Have Physically and/ or Mental Disability, where can I get services?

Disability and Access Services provides support services for students with disabilities. If you have (or believe you have) a physical or mental impairment that limits your ability to do your best at NLU, visit DAS to find out what accommodations may be available for you.

NLU Learning and Information Technology Services (LITS)

National Louis University’s Learning and Information Technology Services (LITS) provides the computer resources and services needed for the scholarly pursuits of all students at NLU, including instruction, research and library services.

Student Email

You automatically receive an NLU e-mail account when you register for class. As the official form of communication for the university, it’s the place to go for important information about anything NLU — so check your email often to see what’s new and what’s happening.  You will also have an email account automatically created in NLU's online campus D2L.  Your instructors may use this account for information on course work and assignments.

Help Desk

The Help Desk team is on call 24/7 and is your first stop for technical support. To reach the Help Desk, call 866.813.1177, dial x4357 on campus or e-mail at helpdesk@nl.edu.

Computer Labs

LITS supports both PC- and Mac-based computer labs for student, faculty and staff use. To use the NLU computer labs, you must have a valid NLU ID.

All computer labs labeled as classrooms are designed for use by instructors. Classroom labs are available during some portion of the day for general student use. Walk-in labs are dedicated totally for student use. This is a more detailed list of the computer lab resources available at select NLU campuses:

• Chicago: 4 PC classroom labs (4024, 4036, 4038, 4044), 1 PC walk-in lab (4046), 1 Mac lab (4042)
• Elgin: 1 PC classroom lab (113)
• Lisle: 2 PC classroom labs (850-302 & 850-320), 1 PC walk-in lab (850-113), 1 Mac lab (850-321)
• North Shore: 2 PC classroom labs (627 & 628), 1 PC walk-in lab (374), 1 Mac lab (633)
• Wheeling: 2 PC classroom labs (331 & 344), 1 PC walk-in lab (114), 1 Mac lab (332)
• Tampa: 1 PC classroom lab 

Discounted Technology

Students and faculty can purchase computers and software through selected educational discount programs, including those run by Apple and Dell. LITS has more information available on discounted technology.