Graduate students arriving Fall 2009

When should I arrive on campus?

Calendar of startup events

Domestic Students: By August 13 for course advising.

International Students:

If you need to take the SPEAK test: By August 10. The SPEAK test is given on Monday, August 10. Note that all international students who will be employed as a TA must take the SPEAK TEST unless you have already taken the internet based TOEFL and provided us your speaking score (this includes those of you who have been a TA at another school). You can register to take the Speak Test by contacting Wendy Wimmer in the Graduate Office.

Course Advising for new International students will take place on August 12.

All new students will be sent an e-mail in July with your advising time and location on one of the above dates .

Information for Teaching Assistants

• Mandatory Teaching Orientations Schedule (information for Teaching Assistants)
• Give us your teaching preferences and schedule (please wait to fill this out until after new student advising in August)
• Detailed Information on the Teaching Assistants Orientations

Traveling to Champaign-Urbana

Driving directions from Chicago, Indianapolis, St. Louis, and Bloomington-Normal airports

CHECKLIST FOR WHEN YOU ARRIVE ON CAMPUS

• Checklist of required new student activities. (We will update this as things change over the summer and will give you the up-to-date checklist during new student arrival in August).
• Obtain your student ID card (An Absolute Must!)
• University NetIDs
• Look up your Illinois NetID *New students will not appear here until your official notice of admission has been generated from the Graduate College Admissions Office.

The Qualifying Examination

• The Qual (you will receive an e-mail in August asking you to sign up for the Qual if you want to take it as a free shot).
• Qual FAQ
• Qual Archive

Computer Accounts/Email Accounts/Postal Mail

• University Computing Account Guide
• Your Physics computer account
• Postal Mail and Packages (Please DO NOT have personal mail sent to Loomis Lab!)

Choosing Your Courses for the Fall

• Advice on choosing your courses
• Detailed course considerations
• Special topics courses for Fall 2009 (A hallmark of our department)

Registering for Courses

Step-by-step instructions to register for classes using UI Enterprise System, a web based course registration system for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. You must register before classes begin on Monday, August 24; if you will be a Teaching Assistant you must register by 5:00 pm Friday, August 14 so that we may know your schedule to do TA section assignments.

Starting Your Employment (Pay) Appointment

• The main employment form (NESSIE)
• Employment Eligibility Verification (I-9 form)
• General Information about graduate student pay appointments and Housing Options

Calendars

• Academic calendars
• Events calendar

Housing Information

• University Housing
• Community Housing Information
• Certified Housing
• Apartment Rentals

Informative Links for Graduate Students

• Insurance (if you already have insurance coverage, then you must opt out of university insurance to avoid the fee)
• Housing
• Parking
• Grad Student Quick Guide (A Must Read!)
• Urbana-Champaign Community Information
• Campus Safety

International Students

• English fluency requirements for teaching assistants
• International Student and Scholars Services (ISSS)

Other Sources of Information

• Research Areas in Physics at Illinois
• The Graduate College at the University of Illinois
• Handbook for Graduate Students and Advisors (Graduate College)

Need more information?

Contact: Wendy Wimmer, 1-217-333-3645, at the Graduate Programs Office