Freshman

Log on to the Admitted Student System and let us know that you will be joining us.

• Early Decision students must confirm no later than January 31.
• Early Action and Regular Decision students must confirm no later than May 1.

Your enrollment is contingent upon the successful completion of your current coursework and graduation. Your final official high school transcript must be received in the Office of Admission by July 1.

Requests for deferred admission must be made in writing to the dean of admission.

The required enrollment deposit is mandatory for all incoming freshmen and is non-refundable. In addition to confirming your decision to join Christopher Newport and reserving your spot in the incoming class, the enrollment deposit covers orientation and welcome week expenses. You can pay your enrollment deposit with a credit card using the Admitted Student System.

You can select your course preferences through the Admitted Student System. This is not your official course schedule, but simply a preferred list. Please note that there is no “wrong” Living and Learning Community or course selection.

With the help of your academic department chair and the Office of the Registrar, your final schedule will reflect the university’s core requirements and your academic and personal interests. The Office of the Registrar will review any AP, IB or dual-enrollment credit and design a schedule with appropriate courses.

You must submit official AP/IB exam scores and official college transcripts to the Office of the Transfer Admission and Enrollment.

You will be notified of your residence hall and roommate assignment in late July.

Living and Learning Communities (LCs) provide a valuable resource for first-year academic success. The positive effect of LCs on academic success is well documented. Therefore, all students will live either with or in close proximity of their LC in the residence halls. Students may prefer a roommate, and we will do our best to match them accordingly; however, LCs are our top priority when it comes to room assignments.

Setting Sail is a two-day orientation program for new students generally held during the last two weeks of June. It is mandatory for all first-year students. You may register for Setting Sail in the Admitted Student System. We also offer a parent/guest program (register through the Admitted Student System). We encourage parents/guests to attend; however, there is no sibling or small-child program.

Yes. Orientation is an important program to help with your transition to Christopher Newport. If you have a conflict please contact us at (757) 594–7767 or orientation@cnu.edu to request an exemption from the program.

Leadership Adventure includes sessions on academics, team-building and outdoor activities, and is required for students admitted to the President's Leadership Program (PLP). PLP students must register for Setting Sail session 1 or 3 in order to attend Leadership Adventure. PLP students must also accept their offer to join the program. There is no additional registration required for Leadership Adventure.

Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and University of Cambridge courses are a good way to earn credit for college courses in high school. Information about specific requirements is available from the Office of Transfer Enrollment and Admission.

Dual enrollment courses can also be accepted for college credit and specific credits are awarded through an individual course review by the Office of Transfer Enrollment and Admission. It is important that you request to have your official exam results and official transcripts sent to the Office of Transfer Enrollment and Admission. For dual enrollment courses, we need the official transcripts from the college(s) where you completed the coursework.

Christopher Newport provides reasonable accommodations to make education accessible to students with qualified disabilities. Examples of accommodations for students may include, among others:

• Extra time on tests
• Testing in a distraction-reduced environment
• Priority seating
• Access to notes

New students are encouraged to begin this process early upon acceptance. More information is available on the disability support webpage or by contacting the Office of Student Affairs at osa@cnu.edu.

The Center for Student Success offers workshops, seminars and one-on-one assistance to students who wish to improve academic performance and stay on track with effective study strategies. Free tutoring is available for all currently enrolled students in subjects that range from calculus to government and philosophy to biology.

Freshmen work with a faculty core advisor for two years while completing university core requirements. Students declare a major in the second semester of sophomore year, and are then assigned a new advisor from the major department.

Christopher Newport offers two types of financial aid:

• Need-based aid
• Merit scholarships

To apply for need-based financial aid, you must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Our priority deadline to receive your FAFSA information is March 1. Christopher Newport’s school code for the FAFSA is 003706.

Merit scholarships are available through the Honors Program and the President’s Leadership Program (PLP). Scholarships range in value from $1,000 to $25,000 per year. A separate application is required. If you did not complete the academics section of the Common Application, you may still apply online.

The priority deadline for Honors and PLP is December 1, however, you may apply as late as February 15. Notification varies depending on your application plan (Early Decision, Early Action or Regular Decision). Merit scholarships are available to incoming freshmen only and interviews are required for Honors and PLP.

Financial aid offers for early decision and early action admitted students are expected to begin processing in late-January or February. Financial aid offers for students admitted under Regular Decision will begin processing in March. Once financial aid offers become available, you will be notified via an email to the email address entered on your FAFSA.

If you are required to submit additional information to the Office of Financial Aid before your financial aid package can be processed, you will be contacted via email with instructions beginning in late-January or February.

More information on the financial aid process can be found in the Admitted Student System. You may also contact the Office of Financial Aid at finaid@cnu.edu or (757) 594-7170 with any questions.

You must complete all questions in the Residency and Parent/Legal Guardian Residency sections of the Common Application if you are claiming in-state tuition privileges.

Supporting documents may be requested and must be received on or before the first day of the semester or term for which you are applying if you wish to be considered for in-state status. This form should be returned as soon as possible in order to receive Virginia grant consideration; however, it must be received before the first day of classes of the term or semester in which you are applying. Additional information may be requested beyond the application. Email usresidency@cnu.edu if you have any questions.

The Board of Visitors makes a final determination on the tuition and fee costs in May. Current tuition, room and board information is available from the Business Office.

Yes. The plan allows you to pay your semester tuition and fees in four monthly installments. Contact the Office of Student Accounts at (757) 594-7195 or studentaccts@cnu.edu for more information.

The Office of Student Accounts can assist you. You may reach them by phone at (757) 594–7582. If you have questions regarding your VPEP or VEST account, please call VPEP directly at (888) 567–0540.

Yes. Contact Parking and Transportation Services for more more information and pricing.

Once you accept your offer of admission, your Christopher Newport ID number can be found in your registration confirmation page in the Admitted Student System. You will use this number throughout the enrollment process, so it is good to write it down and keep it somewhere safe. You will receive your email information at Setting Sail, the two-day summer orientation program. You will receive your student ID on your move-in day or during Welcome Week for commuting students.

Christopher Newport has a full-time, professionally trained campus police force that is certified through the Police Academy and Virginia Department of Criminal Services and is augmented with security personnel and police aides.

Christopher Newport University undergraduates are expected to live on campus as doing so enhances their opportunities for academic success and engagement with the university community. Christopher Newport guarantees university housing for all incoming freshmen for three years.

Students who wish to forgo their guaranteed housing must submit a request for residency exemption form and provide the required documentation necessary as described in the form.

Living and Learning Communities (LCs) are groups of approximately 20 students who take classes together and build strong relationships. Each LC is a set of courses based on an area of academic interest or a theme that sets you on the path toward graduation in four years. All freshmen indicate a preferred LC after they register for Setting Sail.

Yes. While computer labs are available in select locations on campus, students are expected to bring a laptop that meets our recommended specifications listed below to ensure adequate IT support.

Please review our laptop requirements below for information on computer specifications. If you have questions, please contact IT Services at (757) 594-7079 or helpdesk@cnu.edu

Additionally, consider visiting our vendor partners, Hewlett-Packard (HP), Dell and Apple for pricing options and our recommendations for laptops that will work effectively on the CNU network. As a reminder, you will need to maintain an updated anti-virus solution as well as your operating system.

Laptop recommendations to satisfy the university requirement standards

• Fine Arts and Humanities recommends students bring computers capable of running Adobe Creative Cloud apps
• Some programs used by Physics, Computer Science and Engineering run more smoothly on Windows but can work on macOS
• For students in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering, Windows is strongly recommended

*Other compatible PC laptops include Lenovo, HP and Microsoft Surface. Chromebooks are not supported.

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