New Student Orientation
What is NSO?
New Student Orientation (NSO) is a mandatory online course for all students new to Seattle Central College. It’s designed to welcome, celebrate, and connect you with the college community, services, and support systems.
NSO is available anytime online, making it easy to complete at your own pace. Through this orientation, you’ll receive timely information, learn student success tips, and get connected to essential campus resources to help you start strong.
The Goals of NSO are to provides new students guidance and connections to:
- Campus Resources
- Area of Study Resources
- Educational Planning
- Extracurricular Activities
- Building Your Seattle Central Network
- Tips for Student Success
Who Does NSO?
All new students to Seattle Central seeking an associate’s degree or certificate must complete NSO, unless you meet one of the exemptions below.
The following program populations are exempt from New Student Orientation:
- Bachelor Degrees
- High School+
- Continuing Education
- International Students
- Basic and Transitional Studies
- Running Start
- Seattle Promise
- Academy for Rising Educators
- Re-entry Support Program
- Apprenticeship
- Anyone who already completed an associate or bachelor's degree.
Please note, these programs may have a separate required orientation.
How do I get started?
- Make sure to Activate Your ctcLink Account because this will provide you access to Canvas.
- Login to the Canvas (the platform we use for course instruction) and explore this learning tool.
- Two weeks before the quarter begins, you will receive an invitation to our Online NSO or simply log-in to your Canvas account around that time and you should see the course there.
Why is it mandatory?
This is an opportunity for new students to learn about Seattle Central’s critical resources to support student success. Completion of the online NSO will positively impact your student records to allow registration for future quarters.
IMPORTANT: At the start of Fall 2025, a Hold will be placed on student accounts that have not completed the NSO. This will prevent enrollment in future quarters.
Who do I contact for questions?
Our New Student Orientation Team would be happy to help you. Email us at fye.central@seattlecolleges.edu for any questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
It will take about 1–2 hours to complete the NSO (depending on how much time you spend exploring the external links). We recommend splitting this up over several days so you can explore each module and topics of interest more thoroughly.
No. NSO is designed to be completed on your own time, and you may come back to it at any time. The course will remember where you left off and you can continue with the modules when you return.
Currently, no. Completion of the NSO in Canvas is required. However, there are resources on campus such as laptop loans, the library, and computer labs where students can use computers to complete the NSO. Students can also download the Canvas app on their mobile device and complete NSO that way (it is mobile-friendly). In the future, we will offer a hybrid NSO program, but you will still need to complete the online NSO. If you have extenuating circumstances, please contact: fye.central@seattlecolleges.edu.
Completion of NSO is recorded on the last page titled “How do I finish NSO.” Your submission results will be available there.
Students should complete the online NSO by the end of the 4th week of the quarter to ensure a hold is not placed on their account.
Holds are removed 1–2 days after completing the NSO. If you believe your hold should be removed, please contact: fye.central@seattlecolleges.edu.