1
International Programs
Office
Information Packet for
Graduate Students
Spring 2010
ORIENTATION:
ARRIVAL DAY AND VAN TRIPS TO LOCAL MALL: SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2010
WELCOME & ORIENTATION SESSIONS: MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2010
http://www.ipo.umass.edu/?go=springorientationschedule
FIRST DAY OF CLASSES: Tuesday, January 19, 2010
2
THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND FORMS
When you receive your Admissions Packet from the Graduate Admissions Office,
please:
•
Confirm your “intent to enroll” by sending back the Confirmation Card you will find in the
acceptance packet. It is also possible to email your confirmation (this is recommended) to
[email protected]. Please include the following in your email: 1) your name, 2) your
date of birth, 3) your student identification number, 4) your program, and 5) the semester you are
being admitted for. To contact the Graduate Admissions Office please call 413-545-0722.
•
Fill in the Certificate of Eligibility Request Form (CERF) and send it to IPO. We suggest
you either fax the form to 413-545-1201 or email to [email protected].
•
A Sponsor Statement should be completed if you will be sponsored by someone and it has
not been done already.
•
•
Be sure to send a completed Financial Document ID Form with any financial documentation.
For students who are already in the US with a F or J visa, you will need to fill out the
Transfer Recommendation Form (TRF). This form will be used to transfer your SEVIS record, not
your academic credits, from your current school to UMass.
•
Dependents’ Form – REQUIRED IF PLANNING TO BRING DEPENDENTS WITH YOU now OR
IN THE NEAR FUTURE TO THE US (Please read the form carefully to understand the difference
between a J and F visa and how it could affect your dependents).
*When all necessary paperwork has been received by UMass, IPO can issue
the I-20 or DS-2019.*
Mailing of Visa Documents: You can expedite the shipping of your visa document by
indicating Express Mail on your Certificate of Eligibility Request Form (CERF), and
supplying us with a copy of the front and back of your credit card. Without this request,
your document will be sent to you via regular mail which can take 3 to 4 weeks to reach
you and there is no tracking option. Please see the Admissions Response Form for
more information.
OTHER REQUIRED FORMS
Housing Application Form –SUBMIT NOW if interested in on-campus housing, space is
LIMITED.
Mandatory Immunization Form—Required by Health Services per Massachusetts
3
State Law. Submit by the time you arrive at UMass, or it will result in discontinuation of your
UMass student status. http://www.umass.edu/uhs/immunizations/
TRAVEL AND ARRIVAL INFORMATION
ARRIVAL DATE: All NEW international students are expected to arrive on campus by January
17, 2010. The Arrival Days for all students are January 17th. Please refer to the Spring
Orientation Schedule for more information.
TRAVEL SUGGESTIONS: The airport closest to the University of Massachusetts Amherst is
Bradley International Airport but there is no direct bus from Bradley to UMass so this is not
the most convenient option. It is possible to get to UMass from both Logan International and
JFK International via bus.
BRADLEY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT is in Hartford/Windsor Locks, Connecticut. It is
sometimes difficult to book flights directly from abroad to arrive at Bradley, but connecting
flights are available from within the U.S. Traveling to UMass from Bradley is accomplished
through The Valley Transporter www.valleytransporter.com or other shuttle service. There
is NO bus service from Bradley to UMass—the bus can be taken from Hartford, CT to UMass but
you will have to take a shuttle such as CT Limo www.ctlimo.com to the Peter Pan bus
terminal www.peterpanbus.com
LOGAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT is in Boston. Peter Pan buses also travels from Boston to
Amherst and to get one of these you must take a shuttle bus or taxi to South Station where
you will find the bus boarding station (for more information see
http://www.massport.com/logan/getti_typeo_silve.html From South Station to Amherst, you
will need to take the Peter Pan bus www.peterpanbus.com This trip will takes about 3 hours.
JFK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT is in New York. To get a bus from New York to Amherst, you
must find transportation from the airport to Port Authority (the major bus terminal in New
York City) where you will find a bus to take you to Amherst. The trip takes about 5 hours from
New York.
NEWARK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT is in Newark, New Jersey. In order to ride the Peter Pan
bus, you will first need to get to the Penn Railroad Station, on Raymond Plaza, W Market St.
To find transportation from this airport,
http://www.ny.com/transportation/airports/NWK.html
NOTE: The bus trips may require a change of bus but this is a very simple to do. Tickets can
be purchased at either the Trailways (Peter Pan) or Greyhound ticket counters.
BUS ARRIVAL AT UMASS: DO NOT get off the bus in the Amherst Town Center. Stay on the
bus until it arrives at Haigis Mall on the UMass campus. Ask the driver if you are unsure.
There will be vans available at the bus stop from 8am to 12 midnight on Monday August 25th
to transport you to the orientation residence hall. There will also be vans at the Campus
Center Hotel on Monday morning to transport students who have stayed here to the
orientation dorm. If you will not be arriving by bus, go directly to the Orientation Residence
hall located in the Southwest section of campus.
4
MAIL AND FAX MESSAGES: If you wish to have mail sent to you for your arrival at UMass you
may have it sent to our office: IPO, c/o YOUR NAME HERE, WS Clark International Center, 111
Infirmary Way, UMass, Amherst, MA 01003. We will accept mail during the first month of
classes. In emergency situations, you may also have a fax sent to you in care of our office at
413-545-1201. Make sure your name is on the fax.
LUGGAGE
Remember that shipping time can be lengthy!!
If you have extra luggage that you need to ship to UMass, you can ship luggage to:
YOUR NAME HERE, c/o International Programs Office, 111 Infirmary Way, Ofc 2, University
of Massachusetts, Amherst MA 01003 USA
♦ Clearly mark your name and address on the outside of the box;
♦ Boxes should be no heavier than 50 lbs/23kg,trunks should be easily carried by two
people;
♦ DO NOT send valuable items;
Note: Due to limited storage, no more than TWO BOXES or ONE SUITCASE per person. Be sure
to clearly write your name on the outside of the package.
BILLS AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Access your bill via logging into SPIRE using your Net ID and password.
NOTE: IF YOU DECIDE TO USE YOUR CREDIT CARD TO PAY YOUR BILL via SPIRE
(also known as QUICKPAY), YOU WILL BE CHARGED A SERVICE FEE.
Graduate students are billed for the Fall semester in September, with payment due in
mid-October. For the spring semester, students are billed in February with payment
due in mid-March.
The Bursar’s website www.umass.edu/bursar has more info about billing or you can
contact them by email with questions [[email protected]].
Wire Transfer?
∇ Wire Transfer is the most popular way to pay your University bill. These are
usually fast and secure. Here’s what you need to process a wire transfer:
Beneficiary: University of Massachusetts
Receiving Bank: Bank of America, 100 West 33rd St, NY, NY 10001
FBO: University of Massachusetts
Routing Number: 026009593
Account Number: 362172980
Swift Number (required for all international transactions): BOFAUS3N
Purpose: [max 35 characters – include student name and UMass ID#]
5
ACADEMIC INFORMATION
•
Immigration law requires that international students be enrolled in full-time status.
Graduate Students: 9 credits/semester, which is normally 3 courses.
•
As a University of Massachusetts student, you are allowed to enroll in any course for which
you meet the prerequisites and in which there is space available. You can also enroll in
any course, under the conditions listed above, offered at Mount Holyoke, Smith , Amherst
and Hampshire Colleges. You must take certain courses to fulfill departmental and
University requirements but can select any other courses which are of interest to you.
•
As a new graduate student, you may want to be in touch with your department/advisor
regarding first semester/year required courses for your program.
•
We suggest that you go to the UMASS website (http://www.umass.edu) This will bring
you to the page which links to, among other sites, academic regulations, course schedules
and academic calendars (URL) and will give you a clear idea of the University’s policies.
CLASS REGISTRATION—SPIRE
UMass uses a web-based registration system called SPIRE. You may be able to access the
SPIRE system from home as soon as you receive your password via the email address you
provided at the time of application. This system is used by students for: registering for
classes, checking grades, and verifying their bills. The login page is www.spire.umass.edu
6
EXPENSE ESTIMATE FOR THE 2009/2010
ACADEMIC YEAR
UNIVERSITY FEES
Tuition1,2
Curriculum Fee2
Registration Fees5
Compulsory Basic Health Insurance2,3
Supplementary Accident/Hospitalization Insurance4
Subtotals
$ 8,400.
$ 9,300.
$ 1,400.
$700.
$ 2,500.
$22,300.
ON-CAMPUS LIVING COSTS
Residence Hall Rent6
(including Residence Hall Telecommunications fee)
Dining Hall Meal Plan (14 meals/week)
$5,100.
$3,900.
$9,000.
SUMMER/WINTER LIVING EXPENSES (Jan. and June-Aug.)
Residence Hall7
Dining Hall Meal Plan
MISCELLANEOUS8
(books, supplies, laundry, etc.)
$1,600.
$1,400.
$3,000.
$2,300.
$2,300.
Total:
$36,600.
Students who will be accompanied by their families should add $9,400 for the first dependent, and $3,000. for any
additional dependents.
1. Tuition is billed on a per credit basis and this estimate is based on a student registered 10 credits per
semester.
2. Fee waived for students with a Graduate Assistantship with an annual stipend of at least $7,200.
3. The Basic Health Insurance fee is compulsory and cannot be waived, regardless of any other
insurance coverage which a student arranges! Students must also have the required supplementary
accident/hospitalization insurance in addition to the compulsory Basic Insurance.
4. In accordance with Massachusetts law, students are required to have accident/hospitalization
insurance which meets certain specific, minimum requirements. To comply with these requirements,
students must enroll in the UMass supplementary Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) in addition to the
compulsory Basic Health Fee (which allows students access to the university’s infirmary). 95% of fee
waived for students with a Graduate Assistantship with an annual stipend of at least $7,200.
5. The Registration Fees listed here reflect our estimate of the total combined cost of all other mandatory
fees, such as the Grad Senate Tax and the Service Fee.
6. A mandatory housing deposit of $100 is required in advance to confirm housing reservations. This
deposit would be credited towards a student’s total residence hall rent payment for the semester unless
the student cancels the reservation, in which case he/she would lose the deposit.
7. The Graduate Student Residence Hall is billed for nine months of the year. Students who wish to
remain during the summer will need to pay additional rent.
8. Our estimate for Miscellaneous Costs includes expenses such as books, academic supplies, laundry,
long-distance telephone charges, and some entertainment. However, it is a minimal estimate and costs
may be considerably higher, depending upon a student’s personal spending habits!
*There is a one time Graduate Entering Fee of $332. Full-time Engineering Students are charged an
additional $160./semester.
*There is a one time Graduate Entering Fee of $332. Full-time Engineering Students are charged an
additional $160./semester.
7
ON CAMPUS HOUSING
(very limited space, please apply as soon as possible)
HOUSING ASSIGNMENT OFFICE
235 WHITMORE
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS
AMHERST, MA 01003
TELEPHONE 413-545-2101
FAX 413-545-1241
For the Application Form and more information, click here.
*Prince House, THE ONLY GRADUATE STUDENT HOUSING is a "coed" hall - both male and female
students live in the same hall though individual rooms are shared only by students of the same
sex.
* If you request on-campus housing and a room is reserved for you, you will be expected to
live on-campus for at least one semester. Failure to do so will result in a penalty fee of $200450!
*Students who live on-campus for one semester have the option of staying in the residence
hall or moving off-campus for the next semester (but must remember to officially cancel their
second semester housing).
*Most residence hall rooms are shared by two people. You can request a specific roommate but,
if you do not do this, you will be assigned a roommate by the Housing Assignment Office. There
are very few single rooms available and these are rarely assigned to new students (there is an
extra charge for single rooms).
*Rooms are furnished with beds, mattresses, desks and chests or closets for clothing. Students
must provide their linens (sheets, towels, pillows, blankets). All residence halls have central
heating; none are air-conditioned.
*Residence hall rooms are only for students unaccompanied by family members. If your family
will be joining you in Amherst, please refer to the pages entitled "Family Housing" and "OffCampus Housing" for details about accommodations suitable for families. Also check the Family
Housing Website.
*Bathroom facilities in residence halls are shared by other residents of the same sex (even in coed
halls). Hot running water is readily available.
*Most residence halls have limited cooking facilities. It is possible to rent refrigerator/microwave
oven combinations from the Housing Office.
* Prince House IS NOT CLOSED during times when the University is not in session, but must pay an
extra fee. [University vacation periods are the Thanksgiving break, Winter Intersession, Spring
Break. See academic calendar attached (URL) for specific dates.
*ALL students are expected to follow residence hall rules and regulations. These include
restrictions on smoking, use of alcoholic beverages (you must be 21 years of age or older to drink
8
alcoholic beverages in the U.S. and there are further restrictions on the use of alcohol on
University property), and controlled substances - such as marijuana (prohibited). Each hall has a
resident staff (some of whom are students) who have the responsibility of seeing that rules and
regulations are followed and enforced.
OFF CAMPUS HOUSING
In general, there are three types of off-campus housing accommodations: rooms in private
homes; shared apartments or houses; single occupancy apartments or houses
Please note it is YOUR RESPONSILITY TO FIND OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING ACCOMODATIONS. Below
we have provided you with a list of agencies and resources that you may use while you are
still at home. Generally, you should expect to pay about $ 400/month for rent, in addition to
utility costs (electric, phone, ethernet etc). Keep in mind that the closer the bus stops are to
your home the more expensive the rent will be.
WHERE TO SEARCH FOR OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING
•
•
•
Go to the Commuter Services / Off-Campus Housing Office in the Student Union
Building. There is also a searchable database here: http://www.umoch.org/
Check the Daily Hampshire Gazette – You can search online here:
http://www.gazettenet.com/ [go to Classifieds, then to Real Estate for Rent]
Check in the Amherst Bulletin (a free, weekly newspaper)
Contact a rental agency, such as D.H.JONES (200 Triangle Street, Amherst) or KAMINS (55 S.
Pleasant Street, Amherst)
9
USEFUL WEBSITES
Name
Description
Website
http://www.umass.edu/registrar/gen_info/academic_calendar.htm
Academic Calendar
African Students Association
http://www.umass.edu/rso/african/
Amtrak
Train Service
www.amtrack.com
http://www.umass.edu/rso/arab/
Arab Students Club
http://www.umass.edu/ewc/rr/iris_web/ewcr0162aa.html
Asian American Students Association
Boston T - Metro
Public Transit in Boston
www.mbta.com
http://www.bradleyairport.com/home/
Bradley Airport
Hartford's Airport
http://www.umass.edu/rso/cambodia/roatha.html
Cambodian Students Association
www.aux.umass.edu/hotel/
Campus Center Hotel
Hotel on campus
http://www.umass.edu/visitorsctr/downloads/campus_map_07.pd
Campus Map
http://www-unix.oit.umass.edu/~capeverd/
Cape Verdean Student Alliance/CVSA
http://www.umasscssa.org/forum/
Chinese Student Association
Daily Gazette
local newspaper
www.gazettenet.com
English Speaking Caribbean Association/ESCA
http://www.umass.edu/campact/esca.html
Enterprise Rent A Car
Car Rental
www.enterprise.com
Graduate Admissions
http://www.umass.edu/gradschool/
www.greyhound.com
Greyhound Bus Lines
Bus Transportation
http://www.umass.edu/rso/hasa/
Haitian Students Association
Heath Services
Immunizations/Healthcare http://www.umass.edu/uhs/
http://www.housing.umass.edu/
Housing Services
http://www.umass.edu/isa/
Indian Students Association
www.umass.edu/ipo
International Programs Office
our office
http://www.umass.edu/rso/japanam/
Japan America Club
http://www.panynj.gov/CommutingTravel/airports/html/kennedy.h
JFK Airport
New York's Airport
http://www.umasskgsa.org/
Korean Graduate Student Association
Logan Airport
Boston's Airport
www.massport.com/logan/
http://www.umass.edu/rso/msa/
Muslim Students Association
Persian Student Organization
http://www.umass.edu/rso/persian/
Peter Pan Bus Lines
Bus Transportation
www.peterpanbus.com
http://www.umass.edu/ipo/rww/
Round The World Women
international women's organ
Russian Student Organization
http://www.umass.edu/campact/russian.html
South Asian Student Association
http://www.umass.edu/rso/sasa/
SPIRE
online class registration
www.spire.umass.edu
Student Association for the Multicultural Brazilian Alliance (S.A.Mhttp://www.umass.edu/rso/samba/
http://www.umass.edu/rso/tsa/history.html
Taiwanese Student Association
Target
local store
www.target.com
Town of Amherst
location of UMass
http://www.town.amherst.ma.us/
Undergraduate Admissions
http://www.umass.edu/admissions/
University of Massachusetts
school home page
www.umass.edu
http://www.umass.edu/visitorsctr/Campus_Map/
UMass Amherst Campus Map
http://www.sidestep.com/hotels-rates-h100028-university_lodge_
University Motor Lodge
Hotel