Congratulations on your acceptance to NIC!
We are excited to welcome you to the Cardinal community! Whether you are enrolling as a college student for the first time, coming back to school after a break, transferring from another institution, or traveling from another country to attend NIC, we are happy you chose NIC for your academic journey.
There are a few things that you should do after you receive your acceptance letter. Follow the steps below to be prepared for your first day of classes at NIC.
Step 1: Prepare for Success
Completing the online New Student Orientation will help you become familiar with the many resources and services available to support your success throughout your NIC experience. You'll learn about free services available to you as an NIC student, financial aid and scholarships, career exploration, how to get involved on campus and more. You should plan for about one hour to complete this program.
Self Service is a centralized location to take care of business within your MyNIC account. Below is an overview of what you can do within Self Service:
- Student Planning: View your degree progress, plan and register.
- My Documents: View documents needed to complete your file.
- Financial Aid: View your award and access documentation.
- Student Finance: View your statement and make a payment.
- Course Catalog: View upcoming courses.
- Download your unofficial transcript.
- Graduation Overview: Submit your graduation application.
Step 2: Connect with Advising
Complete your Advising Profile online prior to scheduling your advising appointment. An advisor will review the information you share in your profile to prepare for your advising conversation.
After you have submitted your Advising Profile, contact Advising Services to schedule a personalized 45-minute appointment with a student success advisor. Our team of student success advisors will partner with you to develop a personalized, meaningful and informed educational plan to complete your associate degree or pre-nursing prerequisites.
Contact Advising Services at (208) 769-7821 to schedule an appointment.
Step 3: Register for Classes
As a new, transfer or former student, you will be able to register for classes after your advising appointment. It's important to plan your class schedule early each semester and register as soon as you can.
A course delivery method is the way in which educational content is conveyed from instructor to students. Course deliveries often vary by the type of course you are enrolled in. Understanding the delivery method of your course can help you better plan for success in your course environment.
The most common course delivery methods at NIC:
- Hybrid (HYB): Classes that combines face‐to‐face and online instruction.
- Lecture (LEC): Classes taught face‐to‐face.
- Online (OLINE): Classes taught online with no set meeting times.
When a course fills up and there are no seats available, you can join a waitlist. You must select to waitlist yourself for the class when registering. You are not automatically placed on the waitlist. If room becomes available in the class, eligible students on the waitlist will be enrolled in the section and we will email your NIC Cardinal Mail account notifying you that you have been registered in the section.
The following courses do not permit waitlisting:
- Course with co-requisites (i.e. CHEM 101 and CHEM 101L, ENGL 101P and 114C, etc.)
- Directed Study
- Independent Study
Dropping a Course
Let’s say you signed up for a course, but early on you realize it’s not right for you and you don’t want to take it. The drop period allows you to drop courses without them appearing on your official academic record (transcript). If you drop a course during the drop period, tuition and fee charges are rebilled.
Withdrawing from a Course
Dropping a class after the drop period has ended is considered a Withdrawal. You may withdraw from a course after the drop period has ended with no grade penalty, however, you will not be eligible for a tuition refund and must still pay any outstanding balances owed to the college. You will receive a "W" grade for the course when you withdraw.
Students who have received Financial Aid are encouraged to speak with Cardinal Central before withdrawing from a class as this can affect current and/or future financial aid eligibility.
Drop/Withdraw Deadlines
Drop/Withdraw deadlines vary by course. Refer to the Academic calendar for full-semester courses drop and withdraw dates. Refer to the catalog for drop/withdraw timeframes for classes that do not run the entire length of the term, such as Accelerated Programs or Late Start courses.
It is your responsibility as a student to be aware of the drop deadlines for your courses and to drop any course you do not plan to attend. Students who remain enrolled in courses after the withdrawal deadline has ended will be assigned a final grade in the course.
A college catalog is a comprehensive reference for your years of study – a list of degrees, degree programs and courses offered at NIC. In addition, it gives you valuable information including suggested and required degree plans; information about costs, scholarships and financial assistance; and campus resources.
The 2022-23 NIC catalog is considered the source for academic and programmatic requirements for students entering programs during the Fall and Spring Semesters, as well as Summer Session. Although this catalog was prepared using the best information available at the time, all information is subject to change without notice or obligation.
The courses listed in this catalog are intended as a general indication of active NIC courses. Courses and programs are subject to modification at any time. Not all courses are offered every semester, and faculty teaching particular courses or programs may vary from time to time. The content of a course or program may be altered to meet particular class needs.
The catalog is published only online in an accessible format. In accordance with requirements under the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), alternate formats are available upon request.
Step 4: Pay for Classes
You don’t want anything standing between you and your education – especially not bills and payments. You'll want to stay on top of your bill so you can register for courses. After that, you can just focus on acing them!
To view your tuition and fee charges and make a payment online, visit Student Finance within your MyNIC Self Service.
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply for grant and loan funding through the Department of Education.
The North Idaho College Foundation raises more than $1 million in scholarship funds for NIC students every year! Complete the scholarship application on your MyNIC Account.
NIC students typically add a parent, spouse, grandparent or other trusted family member as an authorized user for payment purposes only. An authorized user can:
- View account details
- Make payments
- Set up a payment plan on your behalf
An authorized user does NOT have access to your student schedule or other educational information. Your authorized user will receive a separate login for your student account, but you will still be liable for any charges to your student account.
To add an authorized user to your account, simply log into the MyNIC Self Service. It is listed on the left-hand side of the home screen.
Third Party Payer: Submit an authorization voucher to Cardinal Central if you are being sponsored by an employer/company or agency. Once received by the Student Finance Office, these other financial resources will be applied to your account.
If a balance remains on your account after all your financial aid options have been applied, be sure to set up a payment plan before the start of the semester or before the 100% refund date to avoid additional fees.
You can save money by planning ahead, so start early!
- The $25 setup fee is waived if you set up a payment plan before the beginning of the semester.
- The $50 late fee is waived if you set up a payment plan before the 100% refund date.
Set up a payment plan in Student Finance within your MyNIC Self Service.
Your residency classification will affect your tuition rate. Residency status is based on information provided on the NIC Application for Admissions and your classification was included in the Thank you for applying email.
Visit our Residency for Tuition Purposes page to learn about residency requirements, deadlines to change your tuition rate, and how to apply for an Idaho residency change.
If you don't remember your residency classification, contact Cardinal Central.
Military veterans, active duty, reservists and other military-connected students may be eligible for education benefits. Visit with our Veteran and Military Family Services to see if you qualify for support.
Step 5: First Day Ready
You're a Cardinal!
Once you are registered in courses you are officially considered a "current" student! We want you to be ready before classes start, so below are some items you'll want to take care of before the first day of classes.
Cardinal Central makes and distributes Cardinal Cards (student IDs). The Cardinal Card is your official college ID and is required to conduct business at all campus departments. Funds can be added to your card as Cardinal Cash, which is a prepaid, declining balance similar to a debit card. This allows you to have flexible spending options for bookstore purchases, printing, and dining services.
A Cardinal Card is required for:
- Access to computer labs
- Checking out library materials
- Free admission to a variety of college events
- Discounts at off-campus locations (visit nic.edu/shoplocal to view participating businesses)
- Software purchases in the Cardinal Bookstore
- Loading money through to your card for purchases on campus
- Outdoor Pursuits equipment rentals
- Access to the Student Wellness and Recreation Center
To get your Cardinal Card, stop by Cardinal Central during posted office hours with a government-issued photo ID (driver's license, passport, tribal ID, military ID, etc.). The first Cardinal Card is free. A $20 replacement fee is charged for all lost or damaged cards. Visit Cardinal Card website for more information.
Not having the book on the first day can make it hard to catch up since college classes move fast. Once registered for classes, it is important to visit the Cardinal Bookstore to see what books are needed for each of your classes.
Visit the Cardinal Bookstore for more information.
A valid parking permit is required for any vehicle, except motorcycles and vehicles displaying handicapped plates or placards, parked at the main NIC campus and the Parker Technical Education Center during the academic year. Parking permits are only valid for the semesters printed on the permit. Permits expire at the end of the Spring Semester. A new permit must be purchased every academic year.
Parking permits are available for purchase online only using an eCheck, Visa, MasterCard, Discover or an American Express (AMEX).
Visit the Parking Services website to learn more and to purchase your permit online.
Before the first day of classes, it is great to know where your classes are located.
If you have never been to the campus, be sure to schedule a campus visit!
If you are interested in living on campus but haven't already applied, you will want to do so ASAP! Visit the Residence Hall website for additional information and how to apply.