Dear CNAS Class of 2027:
Welcome to your new academic home in the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (CNAS) at the University of California Riverside! As a member of our CNAS community, two of the things you will discover are that our staff and faculty care about your success and that opportunities to engage abound. From classes, to campus clubs, to research under the mentorship of world-renowned faculty members and more, your next four years will be rich with experiences that will position you for future success.
Fall 2023 is not far off, with orientation just around the corner this summer. The orientation will have both in-person sessions dates as well as few, select virtual dates. Please review the information below to ensure that you are ready for a great start in CNAS.
I look forward to meeting you and welcoming you to UCR! If you have any questions about the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, our programs or the placement examinations noted here, please contact my office at cnasstudent@ucr.edu.
Sincerely,
Connie Nugent, Ph.D.
Divisional Dean, Student Academic Affairs
College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
Highlander Orientation (Mandatory)
You should have already received information about the UCR Highlander Orientation Program (HOF) in your myUCR Portal, and additional information can be found here: orientation.ucr.edu. You must attend one of the mandatory sessions for CNAS students in order to prepare for your transition to UC Riverside this Fall.
Highlander Orientation involves:
- Completing an online CNAS ADV101 advising module that introduces your major, advising, registration, and preparation for your fall schedule of classes (CNAS ADV101 opens early June, you will be notified via your UCR email account)
- Attending an in-person orientation on the UCR campus or a virtual orientation (first session starts July 13)
At Highlander Orientation you will be able to:
- Get important information and advice from faculty, professional academic advisors, and CNAS Leadership
- Register early for Fall 2023 courses
- Become acquainted with campus culture and resources
- Talk to Highlander Orientation leaders about questions and concerns
- Become familiar with your academic support team in your freshman learning community
Before you can register for your fall courses, you must send in any AP and IB scores, and complete placement testing for Math and English. The first in-person orientations start July 13th, and all placement examinations in mathematics and English must be completed by July 12th, 2023. You will not be able to participate in advising and registration without these scores.
Placement Testing for Fall Course Enrollment
The Mathematics Advisory Exam (MAE) is important for students in CNAS because the results determine your initial math class placement. The key to best placement on the MAE is study, study, study, practice, practice, practice! Take advantage of exam practice modules to review your knowledge of second-year algebra and pre-calculus before taking the final, proctored MAE exam. If you place into ARC035 on your proctored exam, we HIGHLY recommend that you do more prep online and retake your proctored exam prior to July 12th. The highest placement from the MAE or AP/IB scores will determine the starting math class. For more information on how to register and take the online exam, please see this web site:
To meet graduation requirements, all UC students must satisfy the Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR). The first step for meeting the ELWR is to take the Analytical Writing Placement Exam (AWPE). Keep an eye out for test information and also visit this site:
Advice on Summer Classes
Our last tip is regarding Summer: We do not recommend CNAS students enroll in any community college courses in Summer 2023 since unforeseen transcript delays could affect your timely enrollment in the appropriate Fall classes. If you need options during the summer, your CNAS academic advisor will inform you during Highlander Orientation and will refer you to appropriate UCR Summer enrollment options.