BraveMail (Microsoft Office 365) is UNCP's official email for students.  Students are expected to check messages frequently.  Check out instructions here to access your account. If you do not set this up and regularly check your BraveMail - you will miss something important. 

 If you need assistance contact helpdesk@uncp.edu with your concern, attach screenshots or other supporting documentation for faster support from DoIT.

1. Raleigh Durham International Airport - [2 hours - 191 kilometers] Book UNCP offered transportation here. 
2. Charlotte Douglas International Airport - [2 hours - 191 kilometers] (no UNCP transportation provided) 
3. Myrtle Beach International Airport - [2 hours - 160 kilometers] (no UNCP transportation provided) 

1. Private Transportation: You may choose to take an Uber, Lyft, it is encouraged that you download these ride sharing application to your phone and pre-book or pre-estimate your intended travel.
2. Personal Transportation: You may elect to drive yourself or have a family/friend drive you to campus. 

• Reminder on-campus move in is Wednesday January, 8 from 1- 5 pm. 
• Orientation and your campus reporting date is Thursday, January 9 beginning at 10 am.

Welcome to the United States! UNC Pembroke is located in Pembroke, North Carolina, and while the town itself is relatively small, there are several options for accommodations and tips on navigating the area  Here’s a guide to help your family get settled.

1. Hotels Near UNC Pembroke

Here are some hotels within driving distance of the campus that should be convenient for families:

• Holiday Inn Express Pembroke
  • Distance from UNC Pembroke: ~2-3 miles (5-10 minute drive from campus)
  • Located in Pembroke, N.C., this is the only in town and the closest larger hotels, offering modern amenities, breakfast, and a pool. Ideal for longer stays and family comfort.
• Hampton Inn by Hilton Lumberton
  • Distance from UNC Pembroke: ~15 miles
  • Located in Lumberton, N.C., this is one of the closest larger hotels, offering modern amenities, breakfast, and a pool. Ideal for longer stays and family comfort.
• Comfort Inn & Suites Lumberton
  • Distance from UNC Pembroke: ~16 miles
  • Another well-known chain hotel with good service and spacious rooms. Offers free breakfast, Wi-Fi, and parking.
• Quality Inn Lumberton
  • Distance from UNC Pembroke: ~15 miles
  • Budget-friendly option with breakfast included and other basic amenities.
• Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, Lumberton
  • Distance from UNC Pembroke: ~15 miles
  • A higher-end option with free breakfast, gym, and an indoor pool. Great for those who want a little extra comfort.

2. Airbnb Rentals

If your family is planning to stay for an extended period, renting a house or apartment via Airbnb or similar platforms might be more comfortable and cost-effective. This will provide more space and a home-like environment for your family to adjust. You can search for properties in Pembroke or nearby areas like Lumberton and Red Springs.

3. Navigating Pembroke and Surrounding Areas

For a first-time international visitor, it might be useful to understand the basics of navigating the town and its surrounding areas.

• Transportation:
  • Car Rental: The best option for getting around, especially since public transport options are limited in this area. Renting a car will allow your family to explore Pembroke and the nearby towns at your convenience.
  • Ride-Sharing: Services like Uber and Lyft are available in the area but may not be as frequent in rural regions, so a rental car is a better option.
  • Walking: UNC Pembroke has a walkable campus, and you can easily navigate between academic buildings. However, for off-campus activities, walking might not always be practical, especially if you want to explore local shopping centers or other places.
• Visiting Local Amenities:
  • Walmart: There’s a Walmart Supercenter in Pembroke for groceries, household items, and more.
  • Food Lion: There's a Food Lion in Pembroke for groceries, household items, and more
  • Lumberton: This larger town (about 15 miles away) has additional shopping malls, small shops, restaurants, and a variety of services.

5. Family Activities in Pembroke

Although Pembroke is a small town, it has some fun family-friendly activities you can enjoy:

• Luther Britt Park: A short drive from Pembroke, this park offers trails for hiking
• Lumber River State Park: A short drive from Pembroke, this park offers trails for hiking, fishing, and canoeing.
• UNC Pembroke Cultural Events: The university often hosts cultural events, performances, and student activities that your family can enjoy together.

6. Additional Tips

• Time Zone: Pembroke is in the Eastern Time Zone (ET).
• Weather: Be prepared for the weather; it can get very hot in the summer months (up to 95°F or 35°C), and winters are generally mild but can get chilly (around 40°F or 5°C). You may need to buy a few seasonal clothing items if you haven’t already.
• Mobile Services: If your family is staying long-term, getting a local SIM card or activating an international phone plan is a good idea. Major carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile have stores nearby.

Final Thoughts

For first-time international students and their families, adjusting to a new country can feel overwhelming, but remember that UNC Pembroke and the surrounding community are there to support you. Take advantage of local resources, and don’t hesitate to ask for help from fellow students, staff, and residents.

If you need more specific recommendations or advice for your stay, feel free to ask!

Process to open a bank account as a foreign National. 

1. Step 1: Complete the bank letter request form 
   1. Tips for filling out the form
      1. You will need to use your Residence Hall and room number/Off Campus Apartment Name and room number/Street Address for the "U.S. Physical Living Address". 
          
         City: Pembroke 
         State: NC 
         Zip Code: 28372 
          
      2. You will need to use your campus mailbox/Off Campus Apartment Name and room number/Street Address for the "U.S. Mailing Address". 
          
      3. You may not have your campus mailbox yet. You will need to go to our campus mail service to open an account with them. It will cost $25. This will last the entire school year, and you can receive mail through them.  
          
      4. please allow a business day for your bank letter to be processed. 
2. Open a bank account 
   1. Where can you open an account? 
      1. Locations Near Campus
         1. Local First Bank - Pembroke 
         2. Lumbee Guaranty Bank 
         3. Woodforest National Bank
             

Freshman/Transfer Students 

Courses will be pre-advised by advisors before attending orientation. 
 

Exchange Students 

Contact studyabroad@uncp.edu with your desired course listings. An academic advisor will review, and communicate back with you to assist you in registering for courses.
 

Health Insurance is required . 

After you register for Orientation and are loaded into a full - time course load, you can now enroll to get your ID Card if you opt to choose Student Blue as your provider!

Enroll/Waive

To Enroll:

1. Visit the Student Blue website at www.bcbsnc.com/uncp.
2. Click on Enroll in the menu at the top of the page.
3. Follow the instructions.  

You will not pay for the cost of insurance coverage when you enroll.  The cost will be added to your student billing account.

Click here for more information on the UNCP student insurance plan.

To Waive:

1. Visit the Student Blue website at www.bcbsnc.com/uncp.
2. Click on Waive in the menu at the top of the page.
3. Follow the instructions.   

Your policies must meet the following to be granted an approved waiver. The policy must have:

• A minimum total benefit/coverage of $100,000 (USD) per accident or illness
• A deductible of no more than $500 (USD)
• Medical evacuation coverage of at least $50,000 (USD)
• Policy has repatriation coverage of at least $25,000 (USD)
• Policy is currently active and will cover me for the duration of the current semester

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Many international students are often caught off guard by how expensive and complicated the U.S. healthcare system can be. Check out this video presentation, Intro to U.S. Healthcare, it will provide you with key information when accessing care and how to save on medical bills.

Please find billing deadlines on the Student Accounts Webpage here. 

The office of Global Engagement encourages you not to make any payments until you have successfully received your visa from a U.S. Embassy or if you don't require a visa then any U.S. entry forms from your UNCP Designated School Official.

By law, F-1 students must provide evidence to both their school and the US consulate that they have enough funds to pay for all costs associated with studies and living expenses. Please ensure you are prepared to pay your student balance every semester; if you fail to do so, you will be at risk of having your enrollment status terminated, which could lead to the loss of your F-1 visa status and advised to return to your home country. It’s crucial to manage your finances carefully and seek assistance from your sponsor if you encounter any difficulties.

International Credit/Debit Card

UNCP has a platform that gives you the ability to use when completing your payments; 

1. TransferMate 

For questions or support with TransferMate you can click on the following link https://transfermateeducation.com/en/contactus.aspx 

For all other questions for support with your student billing please contact student.accounts@uncp.edu and oge@uncp.edu 

Health forms and immunizations are required  for every UNCP student.

Have your doctor in your home country fill this out before you come to UNCP.

 Required Immunization for enrollment are; 

The record of these immunizations must be signed by a health care professional or have the stamp of a clinic or health department. More information found here.

All international students are also required to take a PPD (TB Skin Test) after arriving on campus. These are offered at Student Health Services and can be given during your orientation days.

*For students under the age of 18, please have your guardian sign the bottom of the student health history form; this will allow you to get treatment provided by UNCP. 

Step 1

Familiarize yourself with the Immunization policy 

Step 2

Do a map search of the area around where you will be living and find the local pharmacy, Walgreens, Walmart or the Robeson County Department of Public Health. 

Make an appointment with the one you are most comfortable with.

Step 3

Arrange transportation on your own as needed. (The Robeson County Department of Public Health is about 10 miles away from Pembroke. It does not have an easy walkable path there)

In order to get to the Health Department during the semester you may do one of the following:

• Schedule a ride with SEATs (see instructions below)
• Find personal transportation

SEATs Shuttle Bus

• Call SEATs (Southeast Area Transit System) at (910) 618-5696 to make a shuttle reservation to the Robeson County Department of Public Health.
• Provide your name, pick-up date and time, pick-up location (physical address), and Date of Birth.
• There is a small fee for each trip.

Step 4

Return the immunization shot records to Student Health Services on campus/ upload them to your patient portal. 

UNCP does not have an authority to any off campus affiliated housing, if you choose this option. It will be your responsibility to secure. 

Apartment locations near campus;   

   
Pembroke Pointe (within 1.8 km)  

Prospect 698 (within 0.48 km)  

The View at Pembroke(within 0.80 km)  

The Commons at Pembroke  (within 0.97 km)   

Village at Hunter’s Run (within 5.8 km)  

In order to live off-campus you generally need to have a co-signer or guarantor. However, some locations will charge you with a higher rental rate instead of requiring a co-signer or guarantor. Rental rates are approximately $500 - $1500/month depending on number of rooms, bedrooms and roommates.   

Once your BraveWeb account is set up, you can purchase your meal plan through Brave Web.  You can make changes to your plan only 1 time by contacting studentaccounts@uncp.esu.  

First- and second-year students are required to live on campus as part of our freshman and sophomore residency requirements. Those residing in a residence hall are required to hold a meal plan.  The 12 meal plan is automatically assigned.  

Due to the limited availability of diverse food resources in the surrounding area, a mandatory meal plan is in place to ensure all students have access to nutritious and balanced meals within the residential community. 

it is important to be aware that this requirement may present challenges for individuals with specific religious or dietary needs. We encourage you to carefully consider this requirement in light of your personal circumstances.

--Petition for Exemption--

If you are looking to get a local SIM card or activating an international phone plan major carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile have stores nearby campus. Chavis Student Center has a weekly shopping shuttle that goes to both the shopping complex T-Mobile and Verizon is located in.

Other Pre-Paid Plan option (personal search): 

• Mint Mobile, Google Fi, etc.  
• Pre-Paid SIM Cards (Walmart, etc.)
• Device age restrictions  and device must be unlocked and approved by provider  

This service is available for any student that wishes to order items from their personal online accounts (Amazon, eBay, AliExpress etc.) and ship it to the university before they arrive in the U.S. This eliminates the hassle of buying larger items and having to transport it via plane and/or wait on buying everything day of arrival in Pembroke.  

If you request this service, OGE (oge@uncp.edu) will have everything will have everything waiting for you when you arrive.  

*Please use the following shipping information:

Delivery address:

Student Name  

Office of Global Engagement,  

Belk Residence Hall 81 Faculty Row, Pembroke, NC 28372

PO Box 1510 Pembroke, NC 28372

** To submit your request; once an order is completed click this to submit the order details and tracking number, if possible.

Once the order has been shipped. Send the tracking number to OGE (oge@uncp.edu)  

Disclaimer:  

Be mindful, you may not have the capacity to bring extra items that you order back home with you.  

Upon returning home, you can donate these and other items to our local community and C.A.R.E. resources.   

Stay informed of any advisories from the National Weather Service and follow local, state, and federal emergency response guidance when severe weather is in the Pembroke area.  

North Carolina, located in the southeastern United States, experiences a diverse range of weather patterns throughout the year. Here's a breakdown of the weather you can expect in the southeastern area of North Carolina:

1. Summers (June to August):

• Temperature: Summers in southeastern North Carolina are typically hot and humid. Average high temperatures range from the mid-80s to low 90s Fahrenheit (29-35°C), with occasional heatwaves pushing temperatures higher.
• Humidity: High humidity levels are common during the summer months, often making it feel warmer than the actual temperature.
• Rainfall: Summer is the wettest season, with frequent afternoon thunderstorms and occasional tropical systems or hurricanes bringing heavy rainfall.

2. Autumn (September to November):

• Temperature: Autumn brings relief from the summer heat, with temperatures gradually cooling down. Highs range from the mid-70s to low 80s Fahrenheit (24-28°C) early in the season, dropping to the 60s (15-20°C) by November.
• Humidity: Humidity decreases compared to summer but remains moderate.
• Rainfall: Rainfall decreases throughout the season, with fewer thunderstorms and a transition towards more frontal systems bringing rain.

3. Winter (December to February):

• Temperature: Winters are generally mild but can vary. Average highs range from the upper 50s to mid-60s Fahrenheit (14-18°C), with occasional colder periods where temperatures can drop below freezing at night.
• Precipitation: Winter is the driest season, with fewer rainy days. Snow is rare but can occur occasionally, especially in northern parts of the state.

4. Spring (March to May):

• Temperature: Spring sees a gradual warming trend. Highs start in the 60s Fahrenheit (15-20°C) early in the season and reach the mid-70s to low 80s (24-28°C) by May.
• Humidity: Humidity increases as spring progresses.
• Rainfall: Spring can be quite wet, with increasing chances of thunderstorms as temperatures rise. Rainfall totals begin to increase heading into summer.

Other Considerations:

• Tropical Weather: Southeastern North Carolina is susceptible to tropical storms and hurricanes, primarily from June to November. These storms can bring heavy rain, strong winds, and coastal flooding.
• Microclimates: Variations in elevation and proximity to the coast can lead to microclimates within the region, influencing local weather patterns.

Overall, the southeastern area of North Carolina offers a mix of warm summers, mild winters, and transitional spring and autumn seasons, with notable influences from both the Atlantic Ocean and the Appalachian Mountains.