Orientation for National-Louis University Students

Welcome to National-Louis University!! We are happy you are here! We have a life-long commitment to being actively involved in the development of highly competent and humane individuals. You can find information here to help you navigate your experience at NLU from admission to graduation and beyond. To become familiar with the university and its operations, you can start browsing the links below. Understanding the operations and responsibilities of a student at NLU is vital to success at the university.

All new undergraduate students at National-Louis University are required to attend a FastForward orientation session no later than their first term of enrollment. Students in education programs (Early Childhood or Elementary Education) or College of Arts and Sciences Traditional Programs (Psychology, Human Services, Political Science, etc.) will be required to attend FastForward before their Fall registration will be processed.

Students in the Chicago area can schedule an in-person session of FastForward by contacting the Undergraduate Academic Advising Center (UAAC) at 1-800-443-5522, ext. 5900.  You can also email advising@nl.edu with the specific date from the list of upcoming dates. 

We wish you a rewarding and intriguing educational experience at NLU! Let the journey begin!

Upcoming FastForward Sessions:
Students in the Chicago area should plan to attend a FastForward session in person on an NLU campus.  You can register for a session by contacting the UAAC at 1-800-443-5522, ext. 5900, or by email at advising@nl.edu.  Send the date that you wish to attend in your email.

Unless otherwise noted, evening sessions begin at 5:00 PM.  Saturday sessions begin at 9:00 AM.  You can learn more about what to expect at FastForward here.

Accelerated Programs: For students in ABS, HCL, BSM, or BSMIS. Students should plan to complete the FastForward online or attend a session prior to the start of the program.  If you'd prefer to complete FastForward online, contact advising.  The following dates have been set for face-to-face sessions. More dates will be added throughout the summer.

Chicago campus:
Thursday  Oct 8
Wednesday Oct 14
Saturday Oct 24

Lisle Campus:

North Shore campus:
Wednesday October 21

Wheeling campus:
Wednesday September 29
Monday October 5

Education Programs: For students pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education or Elementary Education.

Sessions will be scheduled in December and January for Winter Qtr starts.  If you started in the Fall Quarter and still need to take FastForward, please contact the UAAC at 1-800-443-5522, ext. 5900 to schedule an individual session with an academic advisor. 

Traditional Programs: For students in our traditional CAS programs such as Psychology, Math, English, Human Services, and others.

Sessions will be scheduled in December and January for Winter Quarter starts. If you started in the Fall Quarter and have not completed FastForward, please contact the UAAC at 1-800-443-5522, ext. 5900 to schedule an individual FastForward with an academic advisor.