UIUC Pre Arrival Guides

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International Exchange Student Pre-Arrival Guide Spring 2012

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Study Abroad Office Student International Academic Affairs

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Incoming Exchange StudentPre-Arrival GuideSpring 2012 & Calendar Year 2012

University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignStudy Abroad OfficeStudent International Academic Affairs

mailing address115 International Studies Building

910 South Fifth StreetChampaign, IL 61820

U.S.A

phone+1 (217) 333-6322 ~ fax+1 (217) 244-0249

webhttp://studyabroad.illinois.edu/exchange/accepted/index.aspx
http://studyabroad.illinois.edu/exchange/accepted/index.aspxhttp://studyabroad.illinois.edu/exchange/accepted/index.aspxhttp://studyabroad.illinois.edu/exchange/accepted/index.aspx


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

VISAS 3

CHECKIGN IN, ORIENTATION, & DATES 3-4

MEDICAL & IMMUNIZATION HISTORY FORM 4

TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION 4

GETTING TO CHAMPAIGN-URBANA& LOCAL TAXI COMPANIES 5-7

PERMANENT ACCOMMODATION 7-10

ACADEMICS & COURSE REGISTRATION 10-16

ACADEMIC CALENDAR 16

STUDENT FINANCES 16-19

INSURANCE 19

SETTING UP YOUR UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS E-MAIL 19

WHAT YOU SHOULD BRING 20-22

CAMPUS SAFETY & STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES 22-23


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VISAS

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign cannot apply or pay for your visa. You areresponsible for following the visa application procedures, compiling the necessarydocuments, and following through on the visa application requirements. Details aboutentry visas into the U.S. and applying for your visa can be foundhere.

When completing your visa application, please provide the following contact informationunder the required fields:

Contact at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: International Student

and Scholar Services, [email protected]

Address you will be at in the USA: 400 Turner Student Services Building, 610 E.

John Street, Champaign, IL 61820

CHECKING IN, ORIENTATION, and DATES

As a student admitted through the Study Abroad Office, you are required to check in withthe following offices when you arrive:

International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS)

The Study Abroad Office - Student International Academic Affairs (SAO)

Your academic college or department

You are expected to arrive in time for the ISSS check-in, SAO orientation, andcollege/department academic briefings. During the respective check-in, orientations, andbriefing sessions, you will receive pertinent information that will help you prepare for yourstudies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Please plan to arrive in Champaign-Urbana between Monday, January 9, 2012 andWednesday, January 11, 2012.

Checking in with ISSS is mandatory to comply with U.S. Department of HomelandSecurity regulations. Please refer to theISSS websitefor details about the requiredimmigration check-in.

If you arrive after office hours, move into your accommodation first and settle in for

the night. You will be able to check in with ISSS the following business day.

VERY IMPORTANT: You will not be able to obtain your i-card until you check in withISSS. Without your i-card, you may not have access to various campus facilities, such asUniversity Housing and Campus Recreation; you may not be able to set up a checkingaccount with TCF Bank or use the community buses without paying $1 per ride.

The Hold on your account will beremoved 24 hours after you check in with ISSS. Inother words, if you arrive late Thursday night, you will only be able to check in with ISSSon Friday and the Hold will not be lifted until Saturday. Consequently, you will not be ableobtain your i-card until Monday.
http://studyabroad.illinois.edu/exchange/accepted/visa.aspxhttp://studyabroad.illinois.edu/exchange/accepted/visa.aspxhttp://studyabroad.illinois.edu/exchange/accepted/visa.aspxhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fisss.illinois.edu%2Fstudents%2Fincoming.shtml&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEZHD13owDgSmrwxWi86pipLn_Myghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fisss.illinois.edu%2Fstudents%2Fincoming.shtml&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEZHD13owDgSmrwxWi86pipLn_Myghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fisss.illinois.edu%2Fstudents%2Fincoming.shtml&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEZHD13owDgSmrwxWi86pipLn_Myghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fisss.illinois.edu%2Fstudents%2Fincoming.shtml&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEZHD13owDgSmrwxWi86pipLn_Myghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fisss.illinois.edu%2Fstudents%2Fincoming.shtml&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEZHD13owDgSmrwxWi86pipLn_Myghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fisss.illinois.edu%2Fstudents%2Fincoming.shtml&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEZHD13owDgSmrwxWi86pipLn_Myghttp://studyabroad.illinois.edu/exchange/accepted/visa.aspx


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Further, please note that the ISSS immigration check-in is different from the ISSS

orientation. The ISSS immigration check-in is required, while the ISSS orientation ishighly recommended, but not required. Information about the ISSS orientation can befoundhere.

You are also required to attend the SAO orientation session:

Thursday, January 12, 2012 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am in101 InternationalStudies Building.

Your academic college and/or department will contact you about relevant academicorientations or registration briefings. As of today, the following college academic briefingshave been scheduled:

ENGINEERINGFriday, January 13, 2012 from 9:30 a.m. 11:30 p.m. in 106B8Engineering HallLIBERAL ARTS & SCIENCESFriday, January 13, 2012 at 1 p.m. in 160 EnglishBuilding

FINE & APPLIED ARTSPlease schedule individual orientations/advisingappointments with your respective departments Academic Advisor.

o Theater: David Swinford,[email protected] Urban Planning: Alice Novak,[email protected]

Landscape Architecture: Carol Emmerling-DiNovo,[email protected] Art & Design: Robin Douglas,[email protected]

APPLIED HEALTH SCIENCESo Please schedule an individual orientation/advising appointment with the

Academic Advisor for Recreation, Sports, and Tourism: LoriKay Paden,[email protected]

AGRICULTURAL & CONSUMER ECONOMICS

o

To be determinedPlease remember that you are expected to arrive on campus no later than Wednesday,January 11, 2012.

You are expected to remain at Illinois until you complete your final exams. Werecommend that you schedule your date of departure after the last day of exams. Whenyou receive your syllabus at the start of each class, you should be informed of the date ofyour final exam for that class. If you find out that your exams end early, you may changeyour departure date, although you will likely incur an additional fee. The amount will varydepending on the airline and the type of ticket you purchased.

MEDICAL & IMMUNIZATION HISTORY FORM

You must complete the Medical and Immunization History Form prior to your arrival oncampus. You can download the form fromhere. Please read the instructions beforecompleting the History Form. You will need your home doctor to sign the History Form, soyou will need to complete it before you leave your home country. You will need to submitthe completed form to the McKinley Health Center when you arrive on campus.
http://isss.illinois.edu/students/orientation.shtmlhttp://isss.illinois.edu/students/orientation.shtmlhttp://isss.illinois.edu/students/orientation.shtmlhttp://illinois.edu/ricker/CampusMap?buildingID=369&target=displayHighlighthttp://illinois.edu/ricker/CampusMap?buildingID=369&target=displayHighlighthttp://illinois.edu/ricker/CampusMap?buildingID=369&target=displayHighlighthttp://illinois.edu/ricker/CampusMap?buildingID=369&target=displayHighlightmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.mckinley.illinois.edu/general/first_time_inter.htmhttp://www.mckinley.illinois.edu/general/first_time_inter.htmhttp://www.mckinley.illinois.edu/general/first_time_inter.htmhttp://www.mckinley.illinois.edu/general/first_time_inter.htmmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://illinois.edu/ricker/CampusMap?buildingID=369&target=displayHighlighthttp://illinois.edu/ricker/CampusMap?buildingID=369&target=displayHighlighthttp://isss.illinois.edu/students/orientation.shtml


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TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION

If you applied to and are assigned to a residence hall with University Housing, you mayneed to reside in temporary accommodation until the official start of your UniversityHousing contract. These contracts usually begin the three to four days before the start ofclasses. Depending on your residence hall, you may be permitted to move in early.However, you will be charged a nightly fee until the official start of your UniversityHousing contract. In other words, you will have to pay a nightly charge for the earlymove-in days. For more details about early move-in through University Housing, pleasevisitUniversity Housings website. Additional options are available fromISSSs website.

If you arrive after 5 pm and need temporary accommodation, please proceed to any ofthe options listed above. For University Housing and Private Certified Housing, look forthe intercom phone at the main door of the residence hall and buzz the main desk. Arepresentative will come to the door to let you in.

GETTING TO CHAMPAIGN-URBANA & LOCAL TAXI COMPANIES

The most common way to get to Champaign is to fly into Chicago's O'Hare InternationalAirport (code: ORD). Depending on how you arrange your flight, it is possible to cost-effectively fly directly into Willard Airport (code: CMI). To get the best deal, you shouldsearch various sources as well as work with a travel agent.

If you fly into Champaign's Willard Airport, use one of the taxis present or call a cab fromthe list of companies provided at the end of this section to take you to youraccommodation.

If you decide to arrive at O'Hare International, you have multiple options to transfer to

Champaign-Urbana.

IlliniShuttleis a comfortable coach service that provides connections between O'HareInternational Airport and Champaign. The shuttle will pick you up from O'Hare's centralbus/shuttle centerand drop you off in the heart of campus. Reservations are required.When you arrive in Champaign, there are three main stops on campus:

Armory Hall (campus)Get off here if you are staying in Sherman, the IlliniTower, Armory House, Newman Hall, Presby Hall, or any of the IkenberryCommons halls (Barton, Lundgren, Garner, Forbes, Hopkins, Scott, Snyder,Weston, Taft-Van Doren, and Nugent). These halls are within walking distanceof the drop-off point.

Altgeld Hall (campus)Get off here if you have a reservation for temporaryaccommodation in the Illini Union Hotel or to get a taxi to FAR/PAR (Oglesby,Trelease, Babcock, Blaisdell, Carr, and Saunders), Busey-Evans, Allen, and LAR(Leonard and Sheldon). Note that you will need to call for a cab to pick you upfrom the Illini Union. You may call for a taxi from the Illini Union informationdesk or from the Illini Union Hotel check-in desk. A list of taxi companies andtheir telephone numbers are provided at the end of this section.
http://housing.illinois.edu/Future/Incoming/Early%20Arrival.aspxhttp://housing.illinois.edu/Future/Incoming/Early%20Arrival.aspxhttp://housing.illinois.edu/Future/Incoming/Early%20Arrival.aspxhttp://isss.illinois.edu/students/Spring_Check_In.shtml#Earlystayhttp://isss.illinois.edu/students/Spring_Check_In.shtml#Earlystayhttp://isss.illinois.edu/students/Spring_Check_In.shtml#Earlystayhttp://www.illinishuttle.com/index.htmlhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.illinishuttle.com%2Findex.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGGwIy4I_gPWgK8WGMqHNxqb72HSAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.illinishuttle.com%2Findex.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGGwIy4I_gPWgK8WGMqHNxqb72HSAhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.illinishuttle.com%2Findex.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGGwIy4I_gPWgK8WGMqHNxqb72HSAhttp://www.illinishuttle.com/index.htmlhttp://www.illinishuttle.com/index.htmlhttp://isss.illinois.edu/students/Spring_Check_In.shtml#Earlystayhttp://housing.illinois.edu/Future/Incoming/Early%20Arrival.aspx


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ISR (Illinois Street Residence on campus)Get off here if you live inTownsend, Wardall, Daniels or Hendrick House. It is possible to walk from ISR toBusey-Evans, Allen, Leonard, and Sheldon if you don't have heavy luggage.

Lincolnland Express(also known as LEX) provides shuttle services between O'Hare andChampaign. Reservations are required. To utilize LEX's student rates, please show yourletter of admission upon boarding. Please carry the LEX phone number on you so that

you can call them when you arrive at O'Hare and are ready to be picked up.

When you arrive in Champaign, get off at Follett's Bookstore(campus to the left ofEveritt Lab on your campus map) or the Illinois Terminal. Taxis are available at theIllinois Terminal. If no cabs are waiting at the Illinois Terminal, you will need to call forone. Please note that the Terminal is only open from 5 a.m. - 12 midnight. If you get offat Follett's Bookstore, you can walk to the Illini Union to call a taxi. Please see the end ofthis section for a list of taxi numbers.

Depending on the time of your pick-up from O'Hare, you may request to be dropped off atone of the following locations:

Allen Hall (good for Busey-Evans and LAR, too);The Armory (good for Sherman Hall, Armory House, Presby Hall, and the IlliniTower);FAR/PAR (Oglesby, Trelease, Babcock, Blaisdell, Carr, and Saunders);ISR (Townsend and Wardall, as well as Daniels Hall and Hendrick House); orIkenberry Commons (Barton, Lundgren, Garner, Forbes, Hopkins, Scott, Snyder,Weston, Taft-Van Doren, and Nugent).

Please check your reservation for details.

If you are adventurous and do not have large luggage bags, you may consider taking anAmtrak train, a Greyhound bus, or a Megabus coach.

Amtraktrains leave from Chicago's Union Station (downtown Chicago) three times daily.Reservations are required. The trains take about three hours to get to Champaign. Youwill need to find your way from O'Hare International Airport to Union Station. While thereis a subway train (CTA blue line - get off at Clinton), it can be inconvenient with luggage.Taxis to Union Station from O'Hare are expensive. When you arrive in Champaign, youwill get off at the Illinois Terminal. You can pick up a taxi from the Terminal and take it toyour housing.

Greyhoundbuses take between two and a half to four hours to get from downtown

Chicago to downtown Champaign, depending on whether the bus is an express or localservice. Seats are not reserved, even if you purchase your ticket ahead of time. Times ofthe buses change, but they run frequently. You will need to find your way from O'HareInternational Airport to the Greyhound Bus Station. There is a subway train (CTA blueline - get off at Clinton), but it can be extremely inconvenient with luggage. Taxis to theGreyhound Station from O'Hare are expensive. When you arrive in Champaign, you willget off at the Illinois Terminal. You can pick up a taxi from the Terminal and take it toyour housing.
http://www.lincolnlandexpress.com/http://www.lincolnlandexpress.com/http://www.amtrak.com/http://www.amtrak.com/http://www.greyhound.com/http://www.greyhound.com/http://www.greyhound.com/http://www.amtrak.com/http://www.lincolnlandexpress.com/


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Megabusis an inexpensive service between downtown Chicago and downtownChampaign. Megabus picks up from Chicago's Union Station and drops off at Champaign's

Illinois Terminal. There are two trips a day, each taking about two and a half hours. Youwill need to find your way from O'Hare International Airport to Union Station. While thereis a subway train (CTA blue line - get off at Clinton), it can be inconvenient with luggage.Taxis to Union Station from O'Hare can be expensive. When you arrive in Champaign,you will get off at the Illinois Terminal. You can pick up a taxi from the Terminal and take

it to your housing.

Taxi Companies in Champaign-Urbana:

Black Cab and Limo (217) 693-2468 (recommended)

Orange Taxi (217) 367-8888

Yellow Cab (217) 355-3553

Reservations are required. When calling for a taxi, please check the price of your ridebefore starting your journey, especially since most cabs in Champaign are not metered. Ifyou have luggage, ask if the cab charges for luggage. If they do charge, find out the

amount they charge per piece of luggage. If you are traveling with other people, makesure that you find out the price for the ENTIRE group and the cost per person. Tipping($1-2 extra) is expected. Cab fares from Champaign's Willard Airport to the University ofIllinois campus is a flat rate and should not be more than $16.

PERMANENT ACCOMMODATION

You are responsible for arranging your own housing. The Study Abroad Office does notreserve housing for students. There are many options available to exchange students:Undergraduate Residence Halls (URH), Graduate Residence Halls, University Apartments,

Private Certified Housing, and off-campus properties owned and managed by independentlandlords. There are pros and cons to each option, so you should carefully weigh yourneeds and preferences against what the different options offer.

Undergraduate and Graduate Residence Halls

These properties are traditional dormitories for college students. Typically, two studentsshare a room. In some cases, you may be assigned to a suite, where there would be

three or more students to a room. Sherman and Daniels halls are the only two GraduateResidence Halls and are geared towards undergraduate and graduate students. Singlerooms are few and highly competitive to get. Therefore, if you choose to live in one of the

University's residence halls, you will need to be prepared to live in a shared room.

Benefits of living in a University Residence Hall:

Rooms are already furnished.

Utilities are included in the housing charge, so you will not need to worry aboutarranging and paying additional fees for electricity, heat, water, sewage, trashremoval, internet, and basic television (although you will need to get a digitalbox to decode digital programs).
http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fus.megabus.com%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHAmmPeif85ThEwfhII5o5eObZAoghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fus.megabus.com%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHAmmPeif85ThEwfhII5o5eObZAoghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fus.megabus.com%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHAmmPeif85ThEwfhII5o5eObZAog


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Meal plans are included in the Undergraduate Residence Hall contracts, so youwill not need to worry too much about groceries, cooking, or washing dishes(except for that occasional toast or bowl of cereal). If you are assigned toSherman or Daniels Halls, you will not need to purchase a meal plan, althoughthey are available for purchase if you need them.

If you choose to live in one of the Living-and-Learning Communities (LLC), you

will find a community of other like-minded students. LLCs are geared towardsstudents with specific interest: Leadership, the Arts, Engineering and Science,Global and International Studies, Social Justice, Health Professions, as well asInnovation and Entrepreneurship. Students in these halls are typically veryinvolved on campus and are keen to meet other students, whether internationalor from the US. For more information on the LLCs, visitthis webpage.

There are computer labs in each hall, most of which are open 24 hours a day,while classes are in session.

Guaranteed to be on or within a 5-minute walk to a bus line.

There are Resident Assistants and Resident Directors who can advise you on any

matter, 24 hours a day.

If you are enrolled at the University of Illinois for only one semester, you can bereleased from your housing contract without needing to find someone to subletfrom you. There is also no penalty for canceling your contract after your firstsemester. NOTE: If you are at Illinois for TWO SEMESTERS, you cannot cancelyour University Housing contract after your first semester on campus. You willbe financially penalized for canceling your contract. This also applies to studentswho are initially accepted for one semester, but who then extend their stay atIllinois by one more semester.

Drawbacks of living in a University Residence Hall:

Meal plans are part of your Undergraduate Residence Hall contract. You cannot

opt out of the meal plan. Sherman and Daniels Hall contracts do not include ameal plan.

There are NO kitchens in the Undergraduate Residence Halls and limited cookingamenities in Sherman and Daniels Hall.

There are rules that are enforced and that residents will need to adhere to, e.g.pertaining to under-aged drinking and quiet hours.

It can be noisy.

You will most likely live in shared rooms.

You will need to share showers and bathrooms.

Some students, in the past, have reported that living in a University ResidenceHall is more expensive than living off-campus. Check out University Housingrateshere.

TheUniversity Housing website covers housing options for international studentsin greatdetail. When you have decided on your choice of accommodation, you are responsible forsubmitting the required applications and signing the necessary contracts. You will need to
http://housing.illinois.edu/Current/Living-Learning.aspxhttp://housing.illinois.edu/Current/Living-Learning.aspxhttp://housing.illinois.edu/Current/Living-Learning.aspxhttp://www.housing.illinois.edu/Future/Upperclassmen/Affordable%20Rates.aspxhttp://www.housing.illinois.edu/Future/Upperclassmen/Affordable%20Rates.aspxhttp://www.housing.illinois.edu/Future/Upperclassmen/Affordable%20Rates.aspxhttp://www.housing.illinois.edu/Future/International.aspxhttp://www.housing.illinois.edu/Future/International.aspxhttp://www.housing.illinois.edu/Future/International.aspxhttp://www.housing.illinois.edu/Future/International.aspxhttp://www.housing.illinois.edu/Future/Upperclassmen/Affordable%20Rates.aspxhttp://housing.illinois.edu/Current/Living-Learning.aspx


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apply online to live in a University Residence Hall. Housing placement is based largely onthe availability of rooms.

An alternative to the University Residence Halls isPrivate Certified Housing. Thesehalls are managed by external property companies, but have been "approved" by theUniversity of Illinois. The rooms in these halls are typically bigger, but are moreexpensive. Several of these are also religiously affiliated, e.g. Catholic for Newman Hall

and Presbyterian for Presby Hall. NOTE: Private Certified Housing does NOT bill theUniversity Student Account for housing charges. Rents and any associated feeshave to be paid directly to the housing unit. If you receive a stipend from the StudyAbroad Office as part of your exchange, you should avoid this housing option.

Off-Campus Housing

If you seek a more social or independent living environment, you are encouraged toconsider sub-leasing an off-campus apartment from an Illinois student who will bestudying abroad. Options can be found on theStudy Abroad webpage for Housing inChampaign-Urbana(NetID and NetID password required to view and respond to postings

on the Study Abroad Housing Board).

You could also consider leasing an apartment throughFamily and Graduate Housing,especially if you are only at Illinois for one semester. Applications are made directly withtheFamily and Graduate Housing(look under "University Apartments"). You may alsosublease an apartment by signing up to be a roommate with another resident.

Please note that off-campus apartments, including those through Family and GraduateHousing, do NOT bill the University Student Account for housing charges. Rents and anyassociated fees have to be paid directly to that property's management. If you receive astipend from the Study Abroad Office as part of your exchange, you should avoid thishousing option.

Off-campus housing is handled separately and independently from the University. You willneed to contact the appropriate individuals or property management company directly toset up private housing. You are strongly encouraged to hold off signing any leases until(1) you have seen the apartment unit yourself and (2) have had the lease/contractreviewed by theTenant Union. If you are interested in private housing, you should arriveat least one full week before orientation.

Advantages of Off-Campus Housing:

Potentially more privacy, personal space, and independence. If you prefer to liveby yourself, this could be a quieter environment.

Proper kitchens.

Potentially your own bathroom or one shared with fewer residents than what youwould have to in an Undergraduate Residence Hall.

If you live with other US college students, it is an ideal way to make local friendsand be immersed in the life of US college students.

You get to control your own expenses, e.g. with utilities and food.
http://www.housing.illinois.edu/Future/International/Apply%20Now.aspxhttp://www.housing.illinois.edu/Future/International/Apply%20Now.aspxhttp://certified.housing.uiuc.edu/http://certified.housing.uiuc.edu/http://certified.housing.uiuc.edu/http://studyabroad.illinois.edu/resources/return/cu_housing.aspxhttp://studyabroad.illinois.edu/resources/return/cu_housing.aspxhttp://studyabroad.illinois.edu/resources/return/cu_housing.aspxhttp://studyabroad.illinois.edu/resources/return/cu_housing.aspxhttp://housing.illinois.edu/Future/Graduate/Apartment%20Options.aspxhttp://housing.illinois.edu/Future/Graduate/Apartment%20Options.aspxhttp://housing.illinois.edu/Future/Graduate/Apartment%20Options.aspxhttp://housing.illinois.edu/Housing/Apply.aspxhttp://housing.illinois.edu/Housing/Apply.aspxhttp://housing.illinois.edu/Housing/Apply.aspxhttp://www.tenantunion.uiuc.edu/http://www.tenantunion.uiuc.edu/http://www.tenantunion.uiuc.edu/http://www.tenantunion.uiuc.edu/http://housing.illinois.edu/Housing/Apply.aspxhttp://housing.illinois.edu/Future/Graduate/Apartment%20Options.aspxhttp://studyabroad.illinois.edu/resources/return/cu_housing.aspxhttp://studyabroad.illinois.edu/resources/return/cu_housing.aspxhttp://certified.housing.uiuc.edu/http://www.housing.illinois.edu/Future/International/Apply%20Now.aspx


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It is easier to have guests visit you.

There may be fewer rules that you'll need to observe, although neighbors cancall the cops on you if there is excessive noise or disruptive behavior.

Disadvantages of Off-Campus Housing:

Apartment might not be furnished, so you'll need to purchase furniture.

You'll need to buy groceries, cook your own meals, and then wash your owndishes. There is a small supermarket on the corner of Springfield andStoughton, where you can purchase grocery items. A 20- to 30-minute bus ridetakes you to larger supermarkets located in north Champaign and east Urbana.

You may need to arrange your own utilities and pay for these amenities,including electricity, heat, water, trash removal, sewage, internet, and TV.

Unless you are subleasing an apartment from another individual, almost all off-campus apartment contracts run for 12 months (typically August to August) andit will be very difficult for you to get out of the lease without a substantialpenalty.

You'll need to pay for at least one month's security deposit and the first month'srent upon signing the lease. Some landlords will ask for the first and lastmonth's rents as well as a security deposit.

Apartments may not be close to campus, so you will need to use publictransportation to get to and from campus. Students with an i-card can ride thepublic buses for "free." The buses run seven days a week and have late-nightroutes when classes are in session.

No 24-hour contact other than your landlord.

You will be responsible for locating an apartment. When deciding on an off-campusapartment, you should consider the location, the availability of bus routes, accessibility,cost, duration of lease, safety of the neighborhood, and how easy it would be for you toget home at night, especially after the bars close.

Please remember that it is your responsibility to verify the validity of your lease. Thismay be done through the University'sTenant Union. All arrangements must be madedirectly with the leasing agent or the person subletting the apartment.

ACADEMICS & COURSE REGISTRATION

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is comprised of twelve colleges, threeschools, one institute and one division. Each academic unit has a high degree ofautonomy over its policies and governance. As you prepare for your studies at theUniversity of Illinois, it is good idea for you to become familiar with the academic processand culture at our university.

Terminology
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Courses This term is used to refer to an overall class, e.g. ENGL 101 Intro to Poetry.In some countries, a course may be called a unit, module, or paper. In the U.S., a course

is not a students course of study, degree or major.

Sections A course may be divided into sections. Each section of a course may betaught by a different instructor, offered at different times and at different locations.Depending on the course, each section may have its own syllabus as long as the overall

objectives of the course are met.

If you look at theClass Schedulefor ENGL 101, you will see that each section is taught atdifferent times and days, and in different locations. When you register for a course, youselect and register for ONE section. Each section has a unique Course RegistrationNumber (CRN).

For some courses, you will be expected to register for both a Lecturesection and aDiscussion-Recitationor Laboratorysection. If you do not register for the requiredsections, you will see a "Linked Section" error, and you will not be able to register for thecourse. You must addboth the Lecture and the Discussion/Recitation or

Laboratory section before you can register for the course.Some courses have specific topics associated with each section, e.g. HIST 200 Introto Historical Interpretation. In this course, one section may focus on "Visual History,"while another may look at "Music in Modern History."

As you search for courses, you will find that each section will specify the days that thelectures, discussions, and/or laboratory meet:

M = Monday

T = Tuesday

W = Wednesday

R = Thursday

F = Friday

MWF = you must attend class on Monday andWednesday andFriday

TR = you must attend class on Tuesday andThursday

When registering for courses, you should also be aware of when the section you areinterested in is offered. A course could offer one section for a full semester, anothersection in the first eight weeks of the semester, and a third section taught over thesecond eight weeks of the semester.

Add/Drop At the University of Illinois, students are not guaranteed seats incourses, even if they are required for a student's graduation. While seats may be

reserved for particular cohorts of students, students still have to "compete" for a fixednumber of seats in a course. To manage student enrollment, individual departments maycontrol access to some courses. As a result, you may find that courses you need are fullor closed even if it appears that there are seats available. In many cases, departmentsrelease more seats after they have a clearer sense of student demand. This is normallydone just before the start of each semester. In the first two weeks of the semester,students also begin changing their schedule, picking up courses that they need and un-registering from courses they do not need or want. This period is known as add/drop. It
https://my.illinois.edu/uPortal/render.userLayoutRootNode.target.u41998l1n6.uP?pltc_target=210253.u41998l1n6&pltc_type=RENDER&pltp_action=subjectsView#u41998l1n6https://my.illinois.edu/uPortal/render.userLayoutRootNode.target.u41998l1n6.uP?pltc_target=210253.u41998l1n6&pltc_type=RENDER&pltp_action=subjectsView#u41998l1n6https://my.illinois.edu/uPortal/render.userLayoutRootNode.target.u41998l1n6.uP?pltc_target=210253.u41998l1n6&pltc_type=RENDER&pltp_action=subjectsView#u41998l1n6https://my.illinois.edu/uPortal/render.userLayoutRootNode.target.u41998l1n6.uP?pltc_target=210253.u41998l1n6&pltc_type=RENDER&pltp_action=subjectsView#u41998l1n6


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is in this period that you have a chance to register for courses that you could not get intoprior to arriving on campus.

Culture of U.S. Classrooms and Academic Expectations at Illinois

Academic styles at U.S. universities can be different from what you are familiar with. Forexample, many instructors give continuous assessments throughout the semester, so

instead of one final exam at the end of the semester, you may have weekly quizzes ortests every 3-4 weeks. You may also find that you will be expected to speak up in classand to complete assigned readings before each class. Another distinct characteristic inmany US classrooms is mandatory attendance. Past exchange students have beenshocked that attendance in some classes is required and that it counts towards their finalgrade.

When it comes to final exams, the type of assessment will depend on the academic fieldyour course is in. Courses in the humanities and social sciences are known to give"papers." Unlike in-class essay exams, "papers" in the US refer to "take home" researchand analytical essays that you prepare on an assigned topic. Your instructor might give

the class a topic or question and you could be asked to use scholarly articles to supportyour argument and analysis. In other papers, you could be asked to summarize andreflect upon articles, essays, and/or arguments presented in class. The University'sextensive library collection and online resources are well organized and easy to use forresearching these topics.

Classes in engineering and the sciences, on the other hand, will have regular gradedhomework assignments and lab reports. In other words, you will be asked to submitwritten work very often. An important thing to keep in mind is that lab reports cansometimes be quite long, so adequate planning will be necessary in order to finish themby their due date.

Remember, attendance and class participation are calculated as part of your final score.Hence, it is important that you attend your lectures, discussion sections, labs and/orstudios.

There will, of course, be instances where the teaching and grading style of the instructorwill be similar to what you are familiar with. For example, in a big lecture, there may onlybe one mid-term and one final exam. The common observation that past exchangestudents have made, however, is that there is less academic flexibility in terms of timeand what you can study in each class. Past students also commented that there are morerequirements per class than what they are used to at their home institution. Again, howthe academic culture at Illinois will affect you will vary individually and from country to

country.

In general, given the workload and grading requirements, most Illinois students limitthemselves to three or less courses within their major. The remaining courses onIllinois students' class schedules typically comprise general education requirements and/orelectives. To attain an all-round education, you are encouraged to seize this opportunityto enroll in courses unique to the US or Illinois, as well as classes that are not offered atyour home institution. To make the most use of your time here in the US, you should


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avoid taking more than three classes at the 300-level or higher, especially withinyour major.

Course Credits and Course Loads

As part of your J1 visa requirements, you need to remain a full-time student throughoutyour terms as a J1 visa holder. All international students admitted at the undergraduate

level are required to enroll in at least 12 credit hours to maintain full-time status.

Most courses are 3 credits each. Such courses typically meet three hours a week andinvolve at least 6 hours per week of work outside of class. Generally, classes are heldbetween 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. While there are some evening classes, most classes will beheld during the day. Depending on the course, you may need to invest more than theexpected number of hours per week in order to achieve good grades. Courses withsubstantial lab or studio time are usually worth 4-5 credits.

Maximum course load is 18 credit hours. This is not recommended if you plan to visitdifferent parts of the U.S. or participate in social-cultural activities on campus. We

recommend sticking to 12-16 credits per semester. If you intend to travel during theweekends or pursue extra-curricular activities, keep to the 12-credit minimum.

When registering for classes, please pay attention to the level at which the course isoffered:

100- to 300-levels: Undergraduates400-level: Advanced undergraduates and graduates500-level or higher: Graduates only

The general guiding principle is that the higher the level of the course, the higher thedegree of difficulty; higher-level courses also assign more readings and written work.

Accordingly, we recommend enrolling in no more than three courses per semester in yourmajor and no more than three courses per semester at the 300-level or higher. Werecognize that some universities require you to take only courses in your major or at the300-level or higher. While we cannot stop you from doing so or prevent your universityfrom expecting you to do so, we can strongly advise you against overloading on courses inyour major or at the 300-level or higher.

Course Registration

Undergraduate degrees in the U.S. operate on a liberal arts model and the University of

Illinois is not an exception. Each undergraduate degree will require a number of courses,but students will not be pre-placed into those courses. The remaining courses, which mayconstitute half of a student's degree requirements, will be at the student's discretion,albeit under specific parameters. This means that students are expected to be flexible intheir course choices. As an exchange student, this translates into you needing to havemany choices in your course selections. We recommend that you have 10-15 coursechoices per semester so that you have ample options to choose from when you arrive andtry to register for classes. As we have repeatedly mentioned, Illinois cannot guarantee

that you will be able to enroll in classes you would like or need to take. We are also not


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able to advise you on what you should take. Instead, you will need to work with yourhome university advisor and your assigned academic advisor at Illinois.

For a complete view of what is offered, you should use theClass Schedulerather thanrelying on UI Integrate. Do NOT use the Course Catalogas that does not reflectcourses available for the most current semester. Registration for new incoming exchangestudents typically begins at the end of May (for August entrants) and at the end of

November (for January entrants).Please refresh yourself of theenrollment restrictionsin the respective subject areas listedin ourApplication Bulletin.

Before registering for courses, you will need to familiarize yourself with the UI IntegrateSelf-Service system:

Registration ProceduresRegistration ChecklistRegistration HelpHow to Add a Class on UI-Integrate

After you have registered for a particular course, you have the option ofdropping acourse. Please remember that as an undergraduate J1 student, you must have at least12 credit hours per semester. It is also your responsibility to be aware of theacademic deadlinesfor adding and dropping courses.

When deciding between courses or sections to add/drop in the first couple of days,consider your time availability and the amount of coursework outlined on the syllabus ofeach course/section. It is recommended that you make a decision within the first one ortwo class periods so as to have adequate time to catch up in another course/section thatyou choose to add. You might also find it useful to preview the textbooks you will needfor each course. A tentative textbook list for most courses can be foundhere.

Withdrawal

If you miss the deadline to drop a course (i.e. remove a course from your academictranscript), you have the option of petitioning your academic college to withdraw from thecourse. There is a chance that your college will not accept your petition. If your collegeapproves your petition, a "W" will appear on your transcript for that course. The "W"designation does not affect your Grade Point Average (GPA). However, it is calculatedinto the number of credits you attempted. Dropped courses will not appear on yourtranscript and affect neither your GPA nor the number of credits you have attempted.=

Registration Errors

Some of the errors that you may encounter while trying to register for classes:

Major Restriction These classes are restricted only to students in that major. As anon-degree exchange student, your major on the student information system is listed as"non-degree exchange," not your major at your home institution. This, unfortunately,creates some problems when you try to register for courses. If you have academic

reasons for needing particular courses, but are not able to register for them on your own,
https://my.illinois.edu/uPortal/render.userLayoutRootNode.target.u41998l1n6.uP?pltc_target=210253.u41998l1n6&pltc_type=RENDER&pltp_action=subjectsView#u41998l1n6https://my.illinois.edu/uPortal/render.userLayoutRootNode.target.u41998l1n6.uP?pltc_target=210253.u41998l1n6&pltc_type=RENDER&pltp_action=subjectsView#u41998l1n6https://my.illinois.edu/uPortal/render.userLayoutRootNode.target.u41998l1n6.uP?pltc_target=210253.u41998l1n6&pltc_type=RENDER&pltp_action=subjectsView#u41998l1n6http://studyabroad.illinois.edu/userfiles/file/List%20of%20Courses.pdfhttp://studyabroad.illinois.edu/userfiles/file/List%20of%20Courses.pdfhttp://studyabroad.illinois.edu/userfiles/file/List%20of%20Courses.pdfhttp://studyabroad.illinois.edu/userfiles/file/List%20of%20Courses.pdfhttp://studyabroad.illinois.edu/userfiles/file/List%20of%20Courses.pdfhttp://studyabroad.illinois.edu/userfiles/file/List%20of%20Courses.pdfhttp://registrar.illinois.edu/registration/procedures.htmlhttp://registrar.illinois.edu/registration/checklist.htmlhttp://registrar.illinois.edu/registration/help.htmlhttp://www.registrar.illinois.edu/registration/help_add.htmlhttp://www.registrar.illinois.edu/registration/help_drop.htmlhttp://www.registrar.illinois.edu/registration/help_drop.htmlhttp://www.registrar.illinois.edu/registration/help_drop.htmlhttp://www.registrar.illinois.edu/registration/help_drop.htmlhttp://registrar.illinois.edu/registration/deadlines.htmlhttp://registrar.illinois.edu/registration/deadlines.htmlhttp://uofibookstore.illinois.edu/buy_main.asphttp://uofibookstore.illinois.edu/buy_main.asphttp://uofibookstore.illinois.edu/buy_main.asphttp://uofibookstore.illinois.edu/buy_main.asphttp://registrar.illinois.edu/registration/deadlines.htmlhttp://www.registrar.illinois.edu/registration/help_drop.htmlhttp://www.registrar.illinois.edu/registration/help_drop.htmlhttp://www.registrar.illinois.edu/registration/help_add.htmlhttp://registrar.illinois.edu/registration/help.htmlhttp://registrar.illinois.edu/registration/checklist.htmlhttp://registrar.illinois.edu/registration/procedures.htmlhttp://studyabroad.illinois.edu/userfiles/file/List%20of%20Courses.pdfhttp://studyabroad.illinois.edu/userfiles/file/List%20of%20Courses.pdfhttps://my.illinois.edu/uPortal/render.userLayoutRootNode.target.u41998l1n6.uP?pltc_target=210253.u41998l1n6&pltc_type=RENDER&pltp_action=subjectsView#u41998l1n6


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please contact your academic advisor at Illinois (see list of academic advisors below).When you contact your Illinois academic advisor, please state the full error message that

you received when you tried to register for the course. Please also provide a briefexplanation concerning why you need the course. While the University of Illinois cannotguarantee courses for students, it will attempt to accommodate students who needcourses for their major.

Consent of Instructor Required Similar to the explanation above for classesrestricted to only students in a major. The best course of action is to send an email to theinstructor, asking permission to be enrolled in the class. Please note that somedepartments do NOT allow instructors to give class overrides. In those cases, instructorsmust obtain clearance from their department to admit a student into a course.

Missing Pre-requisites Previous coursework required. Since courses from yourhome university are not recorded on Illinois' registration system, UI Integrate willconsider you as not having met the pre-requisites to take the course. If there are seatsavailable, the department or college will need to give you an override before you will beable to register for the course.

Time Conflicts If you are signing up for a lecture and a discussion for a course,BOTH will not register if one of them conflicts with another course. If that happens, try tofind the section that conflicts and try to find another available time slot.

If you encounter the first three errors or are not able to resolve a time conflict on yourown, please send an e-mail to one of the following contacts:

Students admitted to the College of Fine & Applied Arts Marian Stone,

[email protected]

Theater: David Swinford,[email protected]

Urban Planning: Alice Novak,[email protected] Landscape Architecture: Carol Emmerling-DiNovo,[email protected]

Art & Design: Robin Douglas,[email protected]

Students admitted to the College of ACES Dawn Berg,[email protected]

Students admitted to the College of Engineering Jana Gadbury,[email protected]

Students admitted to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Cory Ohms,

[email protected]

Students admitted to all other Colleges Jerome Ng,[email protected]

When you write to one of the advisors or to me, please state the full error message that

you received when you tried to register for the course. Please also provide a briefexplanation concerning why you need the course. While the University of Illinois cannotguarantee courses for students, departments will attempt, within its own constraints, toaccommodate students who need courses for their major.

Course Syllabi
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Syllabi for courses are typically not available until the start of classes. Depending ton theacademic department, syllabi from previous semesters may be archived on a

department's web page.

ACADEMIC CALENDAR

View thecomplete academic calendar here. Please pay particular attention to the lastdays to add and drop classes. As explained in the "Terminology" section above, pleasenote that some courses are offered in the first half of the semester, while others areoffered in the second half of the semester. These courses have different add and dropdates from each other and from full-semester courses. The deadlines for undergraduatestudents are also different from those of graduate students. Please be aware of thedifferences.

As you look towards personal travels at the end of the semester, we recommend that youschedule your date of departure AFTER the last day of exams. When you receivethe syllabus at the start of each class, you should be informed of the final exam date for

that class. If you find out that your exams end early, you may change your departuredate, albeit for a fee. The amount varies on the airline and the type of ticket youpurchased.

STUDENT FINANCES

All exchange students will receive a tuition waiver. However, depending on youruniversity's agreement with Illinois, you will still be required to pay various student feesor fees for studio/lab instruction. These fees are not covered under the exchangeagreement and you will be responsible for those fees that are not waived under the

student exchange agreement with your home university.

You will receive your semester invoice at Illinois in September for the Fall semester and inJanuary for the Spring semester. Before you pay the invoice, we will ask you to meetwith one of SAOsstaff members to verify the actual amount that you will have to pay.The fees listed below are the ones you should expect to see on your invoice eachsemester. These amounts are correct for 2011-2012. All amounts in US dollars.

Fee Type Fee Amount(USD)

Health Service Fee 229

Transportation Fee 50Health Insurance Fee 1 219

SORF (Student Organizations Resource Fund) Fee 2 6

Krannert Fee 2 20

New International Student Fee 3 35

Orientation Accommodation ($50/person per night for threenights)

150

Clickhereto read more on the details regarding each fee and how they are determined.
http://registrar.illinois.edu/registration/deadlines.htmlhttp://registrar.illinois.edu/registration/deadlines.htmlhttp://registrar.illinois.edu/financial/tuition_details.html#feeshttp://registrar.illinois.edu/financial/tuition_details.html#feeshttp://registrar.illinois.edu/financial/tuition_details.html#feeshttp://registrar.illinois.edu/financial/tuition_details.html#feeshttp://registrar.illinois.edu/registration/deadlines.html


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1 You canpetition for this fee to be waivedprovided you demonstrate equivalent orbetter coverage. However, before you request to exempt out of the Student HealthInsurance, please schedule an appointment with the Study Abroad Office. Depending onthe agreement, SAO may pay your Student Health Insurance.

2 Studentsmay claim a refund for these fees. However, we recommend paying theSORF (Student Organization Resource Fund) Feeand theKrannert Fee.

Money from the SORF Fee provides funds for Registered Student Organizations, whichform a big part of campus life. This fee is also used to finance Student Legal Services,which provides students with legal counsel and related support, and the Tenant Union,which helps students with housing problems and leases. Claiming a refund on this fee willcut access to these services.

The Krannert Fee is used to support community programming at the Krannert Center forPerforming Arts. Many of these programs, such as the AfterGlow series and KrannertUncorked, are free and open to the public. These programs add very important culturalelements to the University of Illinois landscape and experience. We hope that you do not

claim a refund on this fee so that such programs may continue.

3 For more information on this fee, please visithttp://isss.illinois.edu//students/intl_student_fee.shtml

In addition to the above fees, you will need to budget for housing and meals, books andsupplies, light to moderate entertainment, and other living expenses. An estimated costof living estimate breakdown can be foundhere.

Actual rates for University Housing accommodation and meal plans can be foundhere. Ifyou opt to live in non-University Housing accommodation, you should plan to spend $400-$750 per month on rent, $200-$400 per month on food and groceries, and $200-$400 on

utilities, such as electricity, gas, heat, water, trash removal, internet service, and cable.

One way of saving money is to buy used textbooks or rent, instead of buying, textbooks.You can do so through theIllini Union Bookstore. Some instructors may also placereadings onCourse Reserve in the Library,which you can either download onto yourcomputer or take out for a few hours. Other students have found electronic versions oftextbooks or articles and have opted to download them onto their iPad or Kindle.Whatever you choose to do, you should wait until you receive your class syllabus beforebuying any textbooks or reading packets.

Paying Your Bill

Student invoices, referred to as e-bills, are normally distributed around the second weekof classes. You will receive an e-mail through your University of Illinois e-mail accountthat your e-bill is ready on UI Integrate. Download the pdf version of your e-bill. Printyour e-bill and bring it in to the Study Abroad Office at your scheduled time for review.The Study Abroad Office will cross-reference your e-bill with the exchange agreementyour home university has with the University of Illinois. Our staff will then inform you ofthe total amount that you will need to pay. Please look for an e-mail from SAO inviting

you to set up an appointment to meet with a staff member for these e-bill reviews.
http://www.si.uiuc.edu/Howto/RequestanExemptionfromStudentInsurance/tabid/64/Default.aspxhttp://www.si.uiuc.edu/Howto/RequestanExemptionfromStudentInsurance/tabid/64/Default.aspxhttp://www.si.uiuc.edu/Howto/RequestanExemptionfromStudentInsurance/tabid/64/Default.aspxhttp://www.usfsco.uillinois.edu/TopQuestions.html#RefundableFeehttp://www.usfsco.uillinois.edu/TopQuestions.html#RefundableFeehttp://www.usfsco.uillinois.edu/TopQuestions.html#RefundableFeehttp://union.illinois.edu/involvement/sorf/http://union.illinois.edu/involvement/sorf/http://www.krannertcenter.com/http://www.krannertcenter.com/http://www.krannertcenter.com/http://isss.illinois.edu/students/intl_student_fee.shtmlhttp://isss.illinois.edu/students/intl_student_fee.shtmlhttp://registrar.illinois.edu/financial/ugrad_expenses.htmlhttp://registrar.illinois.edu/financial/ugrad_expenses.htmlhttp://registrar.illinois.edu/financial/ugrad_expenses.htmlhttp://registrar.illinois.edu/financial/ugrad_expenses.htmlhttp://www.uofibookstore.uiuc.edu/http://www.uofibookstore.uiuc.edu/http://www.uofibookstore.uiuc.edu/http://www.library.illinois.edu/ipm/reserves.htmlhttp://www.library.illinois.edu/ipm/reserves.htmlhttp://www.library.illinois.edu/ipm/reserves.htmlhttp://www.library.illinois.edu/ipm/reserves.htmlhttp://www.uofibookstore.uiuc.edu/http://registrar.illinois.edu/financial/ugrad_expenses.htmlhttp://registrar.illinois.edu/financial/ugrad_expenses.htmlhttp://isss.illinois.edu/students/intl_student_fee.shtmlhttp://www.krannertcenter.com/http://union.illinois.edu/involvement/sorf/http://www.usfsco.uillinois.edu/TopQuestions.html#RefundableFeehttp://www.si.uiuc.edu/Howto/RequestanExemptionfromStudentInsurance/tabid/64/Default.aspx


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You will be able to pay your e-bill in-person (cash and checks only) or online (American

Express, Discover, or MasterCard credit cards only). Please note that credit cardtransactions are subject to a convenience fee.

You may also pay by wire transfer from you home bank. If you choose this latter option,allow 10-15 business days for wire transfers to be completed. However, there are

transaction fees for wire transfers. The relevant information needed to arrange awire transfer are as follows:

Bank:JPMorgan Chase Bank NAAddress:4 New York Plaza, Flr. 15, New York, NY 10004ABA/Routing Number:021000021 (provide this identifier if your wire transfer is comingfrom a US bank)SWIFT ID:CHASUS33 (provide this identifier is your wire transfer is coming from a non-US bank)Account Title:University of Illinois Accounts ReceivableAccount Number: 840783682

Reference:Student Name and UIN (must be on wire transfer)

For more information about billing and payment, please clickhere.

To avoid transaction fees and minimize inconvenienceswhen it is time to pay youre-bill, the Study Abroad Office strongly recommends that you open a checking accountwith a local US bank. A checking account provides you with paper and electronic checks,which you can use to pay your student account with no transaction fees. You will also beable to use the ATMs of local banks to withdraw money and avoid transactions fees thatyou would otherwise incur if you used your credit/debit card from your home bank.Lastly, you will be able to wire money into your US checking account. You may wish tobring some traveler's checks or banker's drafts, so that you can use them as deposits

when opening an account.

There are five banks on campus:

Busey Bank(located on the corner of Green Street and Sixth Street)

Freestar Bank(located on the corner of Green Street and Wright Street)

PNC(located on Green Street between Fifth and Sixth Streets next to ColdstoneIce Cream) - this is a national bank

TCF Bank(located on the first floor of the Illini Union Bookstore on WrightStreet) - this is a national bank

University of Illinois Employees Credit Union(located on the first floor of the

Illini Union, east corridor)

There is also aChase Bankthat is a national bank with multiple ATMs around town,including campus. The closest Chase Bank office is on the corner of University Avenueand Randolph Street in downtown Champaign. The Green West bus will take you close:get off on the corner of State Street and University Avenue by West Side Park and walkone block east, away from the Park, along University Avenue. Chase Bank will be at yourright.
http://www.usfsco.uillinois.edu/index.htmlhttp://www.usfsco.uillinois.edu/index.htmlhttp://www.usfsco.uillinois.edu/index.htmlhttps://www.busey.com/home/homehttps://www.busey.com/home/homehttp://freestarbank.com/http://freestarbank.com/https://www.pnc.com/webapp/unsec/Homepage.do?siteArea=/pnccorp/PNC/Home/Personalhttps://www.pnc.com/webapp/unsec/Homepage.do?siteArea=/pnccorp/PNC/Home/Personalhttp://www.tcfbank.com/http://www.tcfbank.com/https://www.uiecu.org/ASP/home.asphttps://www.uiecu.org/ASP/home.asphttps://www.chase.com/https://www.chase.com/https://www.chase.com/https://www.chase.com/https://www.uiecu.org/ASP/home.asphttp://www.tcfbank.com/https://www.pnc.com/webapp/unsec/Homepage.do?siteArea=/pnccorp/PNC/Home/Personalhttp://freestarbank.com/https://www.busey.com/home/homehttp://www.usfsco.uillinois.edu/index.html


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Bank of America has various ATMs in Champaign, Urbana and campus. Bank of Americais affiliated with various international banks overseas. Check with your home bank if they

are affiliated with Bank of America. If they are, you might be able to access Bank ofAmerica ATMs for no fee. Please note that Bank of America does not have any physicalbank offices in town.

INSURANCE

All University of Illinois students are automatically enrolled in the University StudentHealth Insurance. In addition, all students pay the Health Service Fee, which coversservices and programs offered by McKinley Health Center and the Counseling Center. Formore information about what is covered by the Health Service Fee and the Student HealthInsurance,refer to this page.

Because you will be enrolled in the University Student Health Insurance, you will receivetwo insurance cards in the mail. At the end of August, these cards will be sent to theaddress listed in yourUI Integrate account. Therefore, it is important to verify that your

mailing address is correct. You can also download the card fromhere.

The gray card is your insurance card. Keep this card in your wallet in case you have toseek medical attention outside of McKinley. You will also receive a white card, which isthe United Health Allies discount card. Because the student health insurance does notcover certain prescriptions, vision, and dental services, this discount card makes youeligible for discounts from various healthcare providers.

If you do not receive these cards or have lost them, you can request a temporary one bycontacting the Student Insurance Office for a new permanent card. You may contact theStudent Insurance Officewith any questions you may have.

If you already have insurance coverage, you may choose to exempt from UniversityStudent Health Insurance. To find out more details about exempting out of the StudentHealth Insurance and the deadlines to do so, refer tothis page. As stated above, pleasecheck with SAO before you make any request to exempt out of the Student HealthInsurance.

Please keep in mind that this insurance covers medical and health services only. Youshould consider purchasing travel insurance, which may cover theft of your property, lostluggage, and trip delays or cancellations. You will likely find travel insurance useful,especially if you plan to travel to different areas within or outside of the US.

SETTING UP YOUR UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS E-MAIL

University of Illinois undergraduate students set up an email account using Google Apps @Illinois. You can find instructions on how to set up your new emailhere. Once you haveset up your e-mail account, you can access your new emailhere. For more informationabout Google Apps @ Illinois, please clickhere. If you have any trouble setting up oraccessing the email, please seek help fromCITES.
http://studentaffairs.illinois.edu/students411/101/coverage.htmlhttp://studentaffairs.illinois.edu/students411/101/coverage.htmlhttp://studentaffairs.illinois.edu/students411/101/coverage.htmlhttps://apps.uillinois.edu/selfservice/https://apps.uillinois.edu/selfservice/https://apps.uillinois.edu/selfservice/http://www.si.uiuc.edu/http://www.si.uiuc.edu/http://www.si.uiuc.edu/http://www.si.uiuc.edu/http://www.si.uiuc.edu/http://si.uiuc.edu/Howto/RequestanExemptionfromStudentInsurance/tabid/64/Default.aspxhttp://si.uiuc.edu/Howto/RequestanExemptionfromStudentInsurance/tabid/64/Default.aspxhttp://si.uiuc.edu/Howto/RequestanExemptionfromStudentInsurance/tabid/64/Default.aspxhttp://www.cites.illinois.edu/email/google/gettingstarted.htmlhttp://www.cites.illinois.edu/email/google/gettingstarted.htmlhttp://www.cites.illinois.edu/email/google/gettingstarted.htmlhttp://g.illinois.edu/http://g.illinois.edu/http://g.illinois.edu/http://www.cites.illinois.edu/email/google/index.htmlhttp://www.cites.illinois.edu/email/google/index.htmlhttp://www.cites.illinois.edu/email/google/index.htmlhttp://www.cites.illinois.edu/help/http://www.cites.illinois.edu/help/http://www.cites.illinois.edu/help/http://www.cites.illinois.edu/help/http://www.cites.illinois.edu/email/google/index.htmlhttp://g.illinois.edu/http://www.cites.illinois.edu/email/google/gettingstarted.htmlhttp://si.uiuc.edu/Howto/RequestanExemptionfromStudentInsurance/tabid/64/Default.aspxhttp://www.si.uiuc.edu/http://www.si.uiuc.edu/https://apps.uillinois.edu/selfservice/http://studentaffairs.illinois.edu/students411/101/coverage.html


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It is important that you set up and regularly check your University of Illinois e-mail

account. A lot of useful and essential information are sent out to students at theirUniversity of Illinois e-mail address. For instance, ISSS will send out announcementsabout workshops and reminders about immigration documentation. Your academicdepartment or college may also distribute information about career and internship fairs,visiting speakers or lectures, or special programs that will help with your academic and

professional development. Most importantly, the campus sends out emergencynotifications via e-mail if a significant incident occurs.

WHAT YOU SHOULD BRING

Illinois Weather

The Midwest has a broad range of weather; be prepared for humid summers and very coldwinters, with moderate fall and spring seasons in between.

January to early March:Temperatures will remain around or even belowfreezing. Be prepared for wind chills, which can force temperatures belowfreezing. Make sure you have a warm outer coat that is waterproof. Scarves,hats, and gloves are strongly advised. With cold, dry winds, your skin will take abeating. Use moisturizers on your face and body to reduce drying.

From March on:Temperatures should start to warm up. Wear light and

comfortable clothes, especially for April and May. If youre lucky (if you likewarm temperatures), summer temperatures could come as early as late March,when temperatures will head into the 20s degrees Celsius. You may also get ahint of muggy, summer weather. You may find that there might be more rainy

days during the Spring season, so make sure you have appropriate clothes andan umbrella or waterproof coat.

August to December:Temperatures will still be warm, likely humid in August

and September. Have light and comfortable clothes, especially for earlySeptember. However, unlike spring, there's less rain. October starts coolingdown as the leaves turn different shades of brown, yellow and orange. A light

jacket will become necessary during this period. Temperatures take a noticeabledip in November and December. December is when wind chills start becoming aproblem.

Then again, this being central Illinois, weather is always unpredictable. We may

have summer-like temperatures all the way through November or winter maycome in early October! In the spring semester, we may have winter-liketemperatures all the way through May or summer may come in early March.

For the latest weather in Champaign-Urbana, clickhere. For the average temperatureand precipitation in Champaign-Urbana, clickhere.

Clothing
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Champaign&state=IL&site=ILX&textField1=40.113&textField2=-88.2649&e=0http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Champaign&state=IL&site=ILX&textField1=40.113&textField2=-88.2649&e=0http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Champaign&state=IL&site=ILX&textField1=40.113&textField2=-88.2649&e=0http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/fitness/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIL0209http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/fitness/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIL0209http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/fitness/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIL0209http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/fitness/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIL0209http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Champaign&state=IL&site=ILX&textField1=40.113&textField2=-88.2649&e=0


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Light clothing for the hotter/warmer months, e.g. khakis, T-shirts, shorts and/orskirts.

Items to keep you warm during the colder months, such as sweaters/pullovers, a

thick outer coat with a waterproof exterior shell, scarves, gloves, and wintercaps. I recommend multipurpose jackets that have multiple layers that you cancombine or remove to fit the weather.

Footwear: Sandals/slippers, track/tennis shoes, comfortable walking shoes,

semi-formal shoes. For the winter, waterproof hiking boots are helpful, althoughmany students simply wear regular athletic or tennis shoes. Personally, thewaterproof hiking boots are helpful in the snow and when the snow melts andeverything gets mushy and messy. If you don't wish to carry a pair of boots inyour luggage, you may purchase one when you arrive in Champaign-Urbana.

Semi-formal wear for nights out. Champaign-Urbana is a casual town and few

people dress up to go to restaurants or the clubs, unless they are attending aspecial function. The typical weekend attire includes button-down shirts and

jeans for men and a slightly more fancy blouse and jeans for women.

Bedding, such as bed sheets, pillowcases, and a fleece blanket. You should notanticipate the availability of blankets and duvets on your first day, but may be

purchased from stores such as Meijer, Target, or Walmart. You can get to thesestores by taking buses from Champaign-Urbana's public bus system,MTD(nopayment needed with your i-card). Depending on your time of arrival, you mayalso purchase bedding from Urban Outfitters on Green Street (between Sixth andFifth Streets), right here on campus. However, Urban Outfitters is expensive.Check out their websitehere. If you need additional pillows, you can buy themfromWalgreenson Green Street (between Fifth and Fourth Streets), also here oncampus.

Sun block, moisturizer, lip balm, sunglasses, hat, and other products for skin

protection.

Electronics

Many of the electrical goods that you are familiar with at home will be available inChampaign-Urbana. However, you may still wish to bring the following items with you:

Adapter plugs for electronic equipment (NOT voltage converters)

Music player/iPod and/or a small radio

Camera

Shaver

Laptop with supporting accessories

Alarm clock (try to not only rely on your cell phone)

Please ensure that all appliances operate on 110-120 volts and are fitted with US-styleplugs. Alternatively, you may use adapter plugs. If you wish to bring electrical goods,please ensure that you purchase the appropriate plug adapters.

Baggage

Your luggage should have wheels or a trolley for easy carriage. Please remember that youare responsible for lifting and carrying your own luggage. Remember that you will very
http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cumtd.com%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEsV4a7zUs_Go_CC2OV0FbxvitgBghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cumtd.com%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEsV4a7zUs_Go_CC2OV0FbxvitgBghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cumtd.com%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEsV4a7zUs_Go_CC2OV0FbxvitgBghttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.urbanoutfitters.com%2Furban%2Fcatalog%2Fcategory.jsp%3F_DARGS%3D%2Furban%2Fcatalog%2Fcommon%2Fhighlited_itemcount.jsp_A%26_DAV%3Dfalse%26itemCount%3D80%26navCount%3D%26navAction%3Djump%26id%3DA_DEC_BEDDING%26101213furnish&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHWkMZGgupTmoVUOToHegG4FnTwQQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.urbanoutfitters.com%2Furban%2Fcatalog%2Fcategory.jsp%3F_DARGS%3D%2Furban%2Fcatalog%2Fcommon%2Fhighlited_itemcount.jsp_A%26_DAV%3Dfalse%26itemCount%3D80%26navCount%3D%26navAction%3Djump%26id%3DA_DEC_BEDDING%26101213furnish&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHWkMZGgupTmoVUOToHegG4FnTwQQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.urbanoutfitters.com%2Furban%2Fcatalog%2Fcategory.jsp%3F_DARGS%3D%2Furban%2Fcatalog%2Fcommon%2Fhighlited_itemcount.jsp_A%26_DAV%3Dfalse%26itemCount%3D80%26navCount%3D%26navAction%3Djump%26id%3DA_DEC_BEDDING%26101213furnish&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHWkMZGgupTmoVUOToHegG4FnTwQQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.walgreens.com%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEHooJO4Jlud2Itpd3SLObm2cyKpQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.walgreens.com%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEHooJO4Jlud2Itpd3SLObm2cyKpQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.walgreens.com%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEHooJO4Jlud2Itpd3SLObm2cyKpQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.walgreens.com%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEHooJO4Jlud2Itpd3SLObm2cyKpQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.urbanoutfitters.com%2Furban%2Fcatalog%2Fcategory.jsp%3F_DARGS%3D%2Furban%2Fcatalog%2Fcommon%2Fhighlited_itemcount.jsp_A%26_DAV%3Dfalse%26itemCount%3D80%26navCount%3D%26navAction%3Djump%26id%3DA_DEC_BEDDING%26101213furnish&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHWkMZGgupTmoVUOToHegG4FnTwQQhttp://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cumtd.com%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEsV4a7zUs_Go_CC2OV0FbxvitgBg


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likely be carrying more items back home with you, so do not bring too many items toChampaign.

On some U.S. flights you are allowed a maximum of two check-in pieces, and each piececannot exceed 50 pounds (about 23 kgs). Any single piece of check-in that weighs morethan 50 pounds will be subject to excess baggage charges. You are allowed one carry-onluggage. A laptop bag typically does not count towards the carry-on limit, but check with

your airline. The carry-on must be small enough to fit under the seat on your aircraft orin the overhead compartments. Please note that many US airlines now charge fees forluggage. Check with your airline for up-to-date baggage information.

You should carry some toiletries, extra clothing, and important documents in your carry-on, including your DS-2019, Notice of Admission, passport, visa, University of Illinoismap, all relevant pre-arrival information, and your housing offer. Please note thatU.S.Transportation Security Authoritylimitations regarding the carrying of liquids, gels andaerosols on aircrafts are enforced on domestic and international U.S. flights. If youencounter any problems at immigration, please call the Emergency Dean at (217) 333-0050.

Cell Phones

Once you arrive in Champaign-Urbana, you may decide to purchase a new cell phone or aSIM card for a cell phone from your home country. You can visitBlink Mobileto buy aphone and service plan. They are located on 715 S. Sixth Street on campus (across thestreet from the Turner Student Services Building). You have many service plan options.The major networks through Blink Mobile include AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint. You canpay on a monthly basis with limited or unlimited minutes and/or texts. Alternatively, youcan buy prepaid phones from additional carriers such as Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile.Please note that many carriers require a 2-year contract and there is a financial penaltyfor terminating a contract early. Blink Mobile appears to offer short-term service plans.

Wherever you choose to buy your cell phone or service plan from, check the details.

CAMPUS SAFETY & STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

The University of Illinois and the surrounding cities of Champaign and Urbana aregenerally safe. Nonetheless:

It is not advisable to walk alone, especially after darkStay in well-lit areas;Do not draw attention to yourself or your group, especially as you make your wayhome from bars;

Disconnect from you iPod or mp3 player;Put your mobile phone away and pay attention to your surroundings;If something does not look right or your gut instincts say that you should cross thestreet, follow your gut;When you go out at night, have fun, but do not get so inebriated that youmisbehave, have poor judgments, or become a target of crime;Most importantly, use your common sense!
http://www.tsa.gov/311/311-carry-ons.shtmhttp://www.tsa.gov/311/311-carry-ons.shtmhttp://www.tsa.gov/311/311-carry-ons.shtmhttp://www.blink-mobile.com/home.phphttp://www.blink-mobile.com/home.phphttp://www.blink-mobile.com/home.phphttp://www.blink-mobile.com/home.phphttp://www.tsa.gov/311/311-carry-ons.shtmhttp://www.tsa.gov/311/311-carry-ons.shtm


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Read up on the University PolicesSafety Resourcesand watch theCampus Safety Video.Become familiar with the campus and communitybus routes. A few routes run until 3

a.m. SundayThursday and until 5 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Bus routes may bedownloaded onto your smart phone or PC.

Utilize theCU-MTD Safe Ride scheme and become familiar with the locations of theEmergency Phones.

Save the following emergency numbers to your cell phone:

Emergency Dean: 333-0050

University Police: 911 or 9-911 from a campus phone

Safe Rides: (217) 265-7433

Safe Walk: (217) 333-1216. If you call this number, Safe Walks will arrange forsomeone to walk you home.

SAO advisor-on-duty: (217) 333-6322 [available 24 hours]

If you need support or assistance in any other areas, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has one of the best Student Affairs divisions in the country and there will be

someone who can help you.

Here are some essential student support services on campus:

Computing Support

Counseling Center

Dean of Students

Disability Resources and Educational Services

Emergency Dean

I Watch for Illinois Safety Program

International Student and Scholar Services

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Resource Center

McKinley Health Center

Religious Organizations

Student Accounts and Cashiers

Student Insurance

Student Legal Services

University Housing

Womens Resources Center

Hopefully, the information provided in this Pre-Arrival Guide has been helpful. If you havequestions, please write [email protected].
http://www.dps.uiuc.edu/universitypolice/campussafety.htmlhttp://www.dps.uiuc.edu/universitypolice/campussafety.htmlhttp://www.dps.uiuc.edu/universitypolice/campussafety.htmlhttp://www.odos.uiuc.edu/resource/campusSafety/http://www.odos.uiuc.edu/resource/campusSafety/http://www.odos.uiuc.edu/resource/campusSafety/http://www.cumtd.com/maps-and-scheduleshttp://www.cumtd.com/maps-and-scheduleshttp://www.cumtd.com/maps-and-scheduleshttp://www.cumtd.com/riding/saferideshttp://www.cumtd.com/riding/saferideshttp://www.cites.illinois.edu/http://www.couns.uiuc.edu/http://www.odos.uiuc.edu/http://www.disability.uiuc.edu/http://www.odos.uiuc.edu/emergency/http://studentaffairs.illinois.edu/iwatch.htmlhttp://studentaffairs.illinois.edu/iwatch.htmlhttp://isss.illinois.edu/http://studentaffairs.illinois.edu/diversity/lgbt/index.htmlhttp://www.mckinley.illinois.edu/http://www.odos.uiuc.edu/resource/rwa/organizations.asphttp://www.usfsco.uillinois.edu/http://www.si.uiuc.edu/http://www.odos.uiuc.edu/sls/http://housing.illinois.edu/http://www.studentaffairs.illinois.edu/diversity/women/http://www.studentaffairs.illinois.edu/diversity/women/http://www.studentaffairs.illinois.edu/diversity/women/http://housing.illinois.edu/http://www.odos.uiuc.edu/sls/http://www.si.uiuc.edu/http://www.usfsco.uillinois.edu/http://www.odos.uiuc.edu/resource/rwa/organizations.asphttp://www.mckinley.illinois.edu/http://studentaffairs.illinois.edu/diversity/lgbt/index.htmlhttp://isss.illinois.edu/http://studentaffairs.illinois.edu/iwatch.htmlhttp://www.odos.uiuc.edu/emergency/http://www.disability.uiuc.edu/http://www.odos.uiuc.edu/http://www.couns.uiuc.edu/http://www.cites.illinois.edu/http://www.cumtd.com/riding/saferideshttp://www.cumtd.com/maps-and-scheduleshttp://www.odos.uiuc.edu/resource/campusSafety/http://www.dps.uiuc.edu/universitypolice/campussafety.html

UIUC Pre Arrival Guides

Documents

Transcript of UIUC Pre Arrival Guides