New Student Orientation & Pre-Arrival Information

Please set up your NSU Identity prior to attending Orientation. Students may obtain their SharkLink IDs and email account credentials by visiting us here.

Please be sure to check with your program regarding on campus requirements and official start dates. Explore housing options by using the links below:

• Davie/Fort Lauderdale Undergraduate Students: 
  • Please visit the Undergraduate Housing Information link for information on main campus housing.

• Davie/Fort Lauderdale and Regional Campuses Graduate Students:
  • Please visit this link for an Online Apartment Finder.

A few weeks before Orientation, you will receive an e-mail from Castle Branch Customer Service with a personal link to set up your account. This will also be used for STEP FOUR.

Accepted applicants and students are required to authorize the Health Professions Division to obtain background checks. Please note that incoming students must complete the online background check documentation prior to Orientation.

A few weeks prior to your program orientation, information regarding the background check procedure and immunization requirements will be sent via NSU student email, so please set up your student email account as soon as possible (see Step Two above). You will receive an instructional email closer to Orientation, followed by the invitation from Castle Branch customer service. 

In the interim, please download the Physical Exam Form and the Immunization Form below in order to begin the process.

Contact the Student Affairs Team with questions: studentaffairschcs@nova.edu. If you have any difficulty setting up your account or logging in, please contact Castle Branch at (888) 723-4263.

All incoming students must have a thorough physical examination prior to the first day of classes*. Please review the Immunization Guidelines.

To complete this process:

• Have your physician fill out the immunization, physical and tuberculosis forms found here: Health Professions Division Immunization Form.
• Submit both of these forms by uploading them to Castle Branch located at https://www.castlebranch.com/. Remember you must have an account set up with your background check (see Step Three above) to be able to upload your documents.

The immunizations listed above on the Immunization Form are required of all students in the Health Professions Division based on the current Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations for Health Care Personnel. Every student is required to have completed these immunizations listed above before matriculating into Nova Southeastern University*. Failure to comply with this policy may result in the student’s inability to satisfy the requirements for graduation from their academic program.

Please note: DO NOT SEND ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS. YOU MUST KEEP A COPY FOR YOUR RECORDS. If you are unable to access a scanner, please take a High-Definition photo of your documents with your phone, or use the Castle Branch Iphone App.

The Health Professions Division is concerned for the health and welfare of its students. As a result, all full-time Health Professions Division students at Nova Southeastern University are required to carry adequate health insurance coverage. 

If you carry your own insurance you will need to fill out the waiver form following registration, located in the link below. If you fail to complete the online waiver you will be automatically billed and enrolled in the plan endorsed by NSU. For detailed information on the plan, benefits, and cost please visit the Student Health Insurance Waiver Application. Please complete the waiver prior to orientation.

All students at Nova Southeastern University will be required to complete the new Student Enrollment Agreement (SEA). The SEA requires students to agree to NSU standards and policies regarding course registration and withdrawal, financial responsibility, a release of liability, and more.

To complete this requirement, log in to SharkLink and select My Academics on the left panel. Next, on the right side, under the I Would Like To section, select Registration - Add/Drop/SEA to read and complete the SEA form online. For questions about the Student Enrollment Agreement, visit www.nova.edu/registrar or call the Office of the University Registrar at (954) 262-7200.

Join us for one of our pre-orientation sessions to get ahead of the game. Session times may range anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour depending on the topic. Each session is intended to help guide students through the different processes in preparation to start the program.

Sessions cover the following topics:

• General Overview (SharkLink, registration, etc.)
• Background Investigation & Immunizations
• Castle Branch Userguide
• Financial Aid

Dates for 2025 will be forthcoming!

Lab Coats (Non SLP Students)

It is required that all HPD students enrolled in on-campus programs purchase at least one lab coat, however some programs my require at least two based on the degree of use. Please check with your individual program for more details.

You will be given a chance to meet with bookstore personnel to try on sample lab coats during the orientation process. The lab coats cost $39.98 and payment will be due when you place your order. Any questions regarding the ordering process can be directed to the NSU Bookstore, (954) 262-4750. Visit the NSU Bookstore Lab Coat Order Website.

IMPORTANT: Please be sure to select the appropriate patch for the campus and program that you are enrolled in!

Student Services and Resources

We invite you to take advantage of all the student engagement and support services NSU has to offer. Additionally, for information about student success resources in the College, go to the Inter-Professional Student Support Center.

Parking Permit Application

All students, faculty and staff at Nova Southeastern University's campus in Davie are required to obtain a parking permit. Please go to the NSU Public Safety Website and print, fill out, and return the Parking Permit Application. You will need a copy of your vehicle registration and your Shark Card when you come to the One Stop Shop in the HPD Terry Building to get your parking permit. This should be done within the first week of the semester.

NSU Sharkcard

The NSU Shark Card is the official Nova Southeastern University identification card. All students, faculty, and staff are required to carry the NSU Card for identification purposes. In addition, the card can be used as a library card, for vending machine and copy machine purchases, for meal plans, and for building and parking access on campus. Visit the link below to apply for your Shark Card. Log into the application with your Sharklink username and password. Once you have completed your online application, your Shark Card will be mailed to the address listed on your application in 3-5 business days.

• Apply for Your Card Online Here

Travel Accommodations

The University offers discounts at several local hotels, Click to view the NSU Travel Office.

Professionalism

As an NSU College of Health Care Sciences emerging professional, I understand that Professionalism engenders the following principles:

Excellence

I am committed to becoming a respected, knowledgeable, and skillful professional. Therefore, I will approach all academic and professional endeavors with my best effort in pursuit of a higher purpose.

Community

I understand that I have been given the opportunity for education in order to serve others.  I will strive to make a positive contribution in my local community and my chosen profession.

Integrity

I believe that trust is important and will strive to uphold the highest degree of honesty, accountability, and character.  I understand that these qualities stand above all others.

Diversity

I believe that diverse perspectives, experiences, knowledge, and skills are valuable.  I will respect the contributions and approaches of my faculty, peers, and patients and seek to learn from them.

Innovation

I believe in standing above the rest by finding unique ways to address unmet needs.  I will seek innovative knowledge, skills, ideas, and approaches that will improve my academic endeavors, professional capacity, and college experience.

Leadership

As I demonstrate these qualities, I will serve as a role model in my academic program, profession, and community.

As an NSU Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences student and emerging health care professional, I understand that daily adherence to these attributes will earn me the respect of my patients as well as my peers and will help assure the continued high regard of my new profession. Today, I embark on a path that will change my life and the lives of others. 

For Admissions or Financial Aid Questions:

Contact HPD Admissions & Financial Aid at 1-800-356-0026, Ext. 21101

For Castle Branch, Immunizations and Background Check Questions:

Contact Student Affairs at studentaffairschcs@nova.edu