Welcome to the Asian Studies Graduate Programs
FALL 2011
Dear New Graduate Students,
Congratulations on your acceptance to our graduate program! We are looking forward to you joining us in August. Our faculty and staff are here to help you in the successful completion of your graduate program, and we encourage you to utilize the many resources available to you through the Department of Asian Studies, the Office of Graduate Studies, and the University of Texas at Austin!
There are numerous details to attend to as a new student, so the remainder of this Welcome will focus on Orientation, Advising and Registration, and other matters relevant to incoming students. Please read this entire page and feel free to ask questions.
Orientation
All students are expected to attend orientation. If you are unable to attend orientation, please contact me (your Graduate Coordinator).
The Office of Graduate Studies (OGS) Orientation is August 22-23.
Orientation Schedule and RSVP link here: http://www.utexas.edu/ogs/current/orientation/
OGS, also known simply as ‘the Graduate School’, administers all graduate programs at UT and gives final approval on all graduate student matters. It has many services and resources available to you throughout your academic career at UT. Their website is extensive and searchable, and you will refer to it many times over these next several years, so please bookmark it now! A summary of their services, including a link to the online Ethics Training, can be found here: http://www.utexas.edu/ogs/student_services/
Department of Asian Studies
The Asian Studies Departmental offices are located in the Will C Hogg building (WCH) next to the Main Building (MAI) (aka the UT Tower) and Gebauer (GEB).
We will have a mandatory departmental orientation session on Tuesday, August 23, from 2-4 PM, in our Meyerson conference room (WCH 4.118). A number of presentations and events connected with Asian Studies take place in the Meyerson room throughout the year, and we hope to see you there often.
International Student and Scholar Services
International Students are required to attend an Immigration and Briefing check-in session: http://world.utexas.edu/isss/students/new/orientation
They also have the opportunity to participate in a variety of orientation sessions, workshops, and social activities, depending on their arrival date. The main orientation and welcome program is Aug. 12-13. Students who are unable to arrive for the August 12 Orientation should arrive no later than the day of August 15th. “This should allow sufficient time to complete the required IBC, as well as the health & TB testing prior to August 18th.” Additional orientation information for international students can be found on their website.
International Students with a J-bar and those who will be Teaching Assistants will also need to complete the appropriate screening/training through the English as a Second Language (ESL) Program.
Advising and Registration
You will need a "high assurance" UT EID to register, pay, access Blackboard for class, etc.
Advising
The Graduate Advisor, Dr. Joel Brereton, will advise new students on Wednesday and Thursday, August 17-18.
Please sign up for your appointment on our Advising Googledoc and also look at the online course schedule and course descriptions to identify potential classes for your first semester. You will discuss your classes with Dr. Brereton and he will contact me to remove your advising bar. Advising bars are placed on a student's record to insure that students seek academic advising prior to registration. You will be assigned a Faculty Mentor at this time, as well. We ask you to contact your Faculty Mentor to arrange a meeting as soon as possible and ideally prior to the beginning of the semester. Your Faculty Mentor may suggest alternate courses and if you cannot complete changes to your schedule before the start of classes, be aware that there is an add/drop period beginning Aug. 24 for students who have paid their tuition bill. In future semesters, you will meet with your Faculty Mentor first and then with the Graduate Advisor.
After I clear your advising bar, you will be able to register during the times listed on your Registration Information Sheet (RIS). If you do not register during the New/Re-Admitted Student access period, you can register during the next access period (Aug. 24-29), but there is a late fee.
Courses
The course numbering system at UT may be unfamiliar to you. The two or three letter prefix identifies the departmental area of each course (ANS=Asian Studies, JPN=Japanese, HIN=Hindi, etc.). The first number indicates the number of credit hours. The middle number denotes whether a class is graduate or undergraduate (8 and 9 are graduate level classes; 0-7 are undergraduate classes). The last number and any letters immediately following the course number are related to internal course numbering policies, guidelines, and conventions. These are most relevant if courses must be taken in a particular sequence and tend to apply more frequently to undergraduate courses. During the summer sessions, lower-case letters are placed in front of the course number to designate the session in which the course is offered (first, second, nine weeks, or whole session). Examples: ANS 384 = A graduate seminar of three credit hours – look out for these! ANS 301= A lower-division undergraduate course of three credit hours that you cannot enroll in for graduate credit. ANS s380C = The graduate level conference course (three credit hours), offered in the 2nd summer session.
Unique number
All courses have a 5-digit number, hyperlinked in the course schedule to additional information about the course. Use this 5-digit number to register for the class.
Please bookmark the Registrar's homepage: http://registrar.utexas.edu/
You will find a link to Academic Calendars (here’s Fall 2011/Spring 2012) and other resources you will need now and in the future.
The Fall 2011 course schedule is located at http://registrar.utexas.edu/schedules/119/
Your UT EID and password are required to ‘Find courses now’. The course schedule provides multiple ways to locate relevant courses – the first two (‘field and level’ and ‘keyword’) will be most helpful to you at this point. Course descriptions are posted on departmental websites. Faculty in the Department of Asian Studies post their course descriptions to the Asian Studies Course Descriptions webpage. Courses in other departments (History, Religious Studies, and Comparative Literature, etc.) will be posted similarly. Some Asian Studies (ANS) courses are cross-listed (i.e., same title/instructor listed with more than one course number). If a cross-listed course does not have a description on our page, look at the website of the cross-listed department(s). Courses not cross-listed with ANS may be counted towards your degree if the Graduate Adviser approves. Those descriptions will be found online with the appropriate department. Please look at the course listings and course descriptions prior to your advising appointment and pick out several courses that interest you.
Registration
There is a ‘Register’ link on every course-related page of the online schedule. You can also link directly to the Registration page from the Course Schedule homepage. A UT EID and password are required and you will need the unique numbers for your classes. You will be able to register only during your designated access days/times (see the RIS note in the Advising section above), after your advising bar is removed. If you encounter difficulties with registration, please let me know and I am happy to help you. In the future, advising and registration periods will occur approximately two months before the beginning of the next semester. After you register for courses, you may view your tuition bill and make a payment at https://utdirect.utexas.edu/acct/fb/my_tuition/my_tuition_home.WBX
Classes begin on Wednesday, August 24. The University is closed for the Labor Day Holiday (Monday, Sept. 5), and classes will not meet that day.
Tuition, Fees, and Payment
All of the following information can be found by way of the Registrar’s website. For ease of access, relevant information and links are provided.
Tuition: http://registrar.utexas.edu/schedules/119/tuition
Flat rate tuition for Graduate Students is based on the College of the student's degree program, the number of hours for which they are enrolled, and their Texas residency status. Included: the student's academic program costs -- tuition, mandatory fees and charges, and college and course incidental fees. Not included: general property deposit, the international student health insurance program fee, the international student orientation fee, the independent study and research fee, or fees for extended trips that require students to live off campus. Dual degree students: the flat rate tuition is proportional to the number of hours taken in each program.
Graduate student tuition rates: http://www.utexas.edu/business/accounting/pubs/tf_grad_fall11.pdf
For Fall 2011, tuition for nine hours (full time) enrollment the College of Liberal Arts (Department of Asian Studies) is $3,903 for Texas residents. Non-residents pay either $7,221 or $7,737, depending on when they first enrolled.
All tuition and fees will be posted on ‘My Tuition Bill’
https://utdirect.utexas.edu/acct/fb/my_tuition/my_tuition_home.WBX
Please bookmark the Student Accounts Receivable page http://www.utexas.edu/business/accounting/sar/index.html for quick access to ‘My Tuition Bill’, ‘What I Owe’ and ‘Tuition Loans
Payment
Payment of all tuition and fees and confirmation of $0.00 tuition bills must be made by 5 PM on Monday, August 29. Failure to pay tuition and fees, or failure to confirm a $0.00 tuition bill, will result in your registration being cancelled (‘zapped’). You will be dropped from all of your courses and you will have to re-register. There will be a late fee, and, depending on when you re-register, additional paperwork and signatures.
Payment of tuition and fees can be made by:
- cash, check or money order
- credit card (Mastercard or Discover with a convenience charge)
- electronic funds transfer from your bank account
- financial aid (approved federal student loans only - not fellowships)
- tuition loan/emergency loan - an option available for every student every semester
An installment plan is available: the first payment will be half the total amount due and the other half will be divided into two installments.
Students with a TA appointment receive a tuition benefit.
Additional payment information is available at http://www.utexas.edu/business/accounting/sar/.
Be financially prepared when you arrive in Austin! You need to be able to cover tuition, books, and expenses associated with leasing an apartment and getting settled in, as well as other normal living expenses.
Campus Services
The Graduate School has compiled this list of campus services for easy reference.
UT ID Card and Updating Your Information
Official ID Card
You can get your UT ID card as soon as you arrive on campus and avoid the lines during the first week of classes. Go to the Flawn Academic Center (FAC) between the Student Union Building and the Main building (aka the Tower). The ID center is on the ground floor and is open 8:30 AM to 6 PM Monday through Friday.
Request an ID card with High Assurance EID. A High Assurance EID will enable you to register, pay online, get a Tuition Loan, check out library books, see your grades online, etc. You must show a photo ID - either a driver's license or passport. The cost of the ID card is $10.00. Pay by cash or credit card at Student Accounts Receivable in the Main Building, or pay online on the What I Owe page.
Immediate benefit of getting an ID card: City of Austin Capital Metro buses are FREE with a UT ID.
UTDirect is your friend – it is a secure portal to your personal information, and you will use it often. Bookmark it now: https://utdirect.utexas.edu/utdirect/index.WBX
Updating Your Information
Please keep your contact information up to date via UT Direct https://utdirect.utexas.edu/apps/utd/all_my_addresses/
UT Direct is customizable and can help to organize your academic life and provide easy access to the information you need on a regular (and irregular) basis.
Communication and Tech Info
Dasgrads listserve
Before the fall semester begins, you will be added to our departmental listserve (dasgrads(at)utlists.utexas.edu). The listserve is used to communicate important information throughout the academic year, including advising and registration, program-related presentations and events, announcements about conferences and funding opportunities, etc. Please add our listserve address to your ‘safe’ list.
Blackboard
Blackboard is a tool you will quickly encounter in connection with your classes. Bookmark it now!
The Asian Studies Graduate Program also has a Blackboard site used for storing departmental forms, relevant articles, and other material of interest. You will be added as users and will be able to log in by the time the Fall semester begins. Please note that, over the course of this year, I will be updating the information currently on our Blackboard site. I welcome your suggestions for documents or links to be added.
As a UT student, you can obtain a free UT email account. Info here: http://www.utexas.edu/its/email/
Web storage space (Webspace)
UT also provides 1 GB of free storage space to students. Log in with your UT EID and claim your free web space.
Additional tech resources and information
Housing, Transportation, and Parking
Housing
There is some on-campus and University-managed housing for graduate students, though most students live off campus. A Google search of ‘apartment locator services’ in Austin and the UT area will yield numerous results. Here are some resources to help you find a place.
General apartment rental information
- Housing and Food Services: information on Graduate and Family Living
- Housing Resources (International Office)
- Graduate School info on housing
- UT's Division of Housing and Food Service – related sites (off campus)
Housing listings also available in local newspapers
Transportation and Parking
Parking and Transportation has information on parking permits, shuttle bus route maps, and links to a variety of transportation resources, including CapMetro.
Parking permits may be purchased as an optional fee during registration or from Parking and Transportation. Parking on campus, even with a permit, is not guaranteed. Bike racks (and some bike lockers) are available throughout campus (register your bike with UTPD). Numerous Capital Metro buses serve the campus area and are free with your UT ID. UT shuttle buses are also free, and serve the campus and specific parts of town. The UT shuttle bus and Capital Metro bus route maps and schedules are a useful reference when considering where to live in Austin. And here’s that Grad School link again, for info on parking and transportation: http://www.utexas.edu/ogs/current/campus.html#park
Funding and Student Employment
Funding
Departmental funding is limited and students are encouraged to seek out scholarships and grants. Please refer to the Graduate School’s page on Financing Your Education for information about and links to a variety of funding sources. The Office of Student Financial Services also has a search tool to help identify resources. We post announcements on the bulletin board and table in the hall across from the Graduate Program office, and forward funding opportunities to the dasgrads listserve as they come to our attention. TAships are sometimes available in other departments.
Employment
Keep in mind that graduate school is a full-time job in its own right. Some graduate students choose to take a part-time job to supplement their income. If you must work, please consider your options carefully. Many graduate students enjoy working for one of the libraries on campus, particularly the Physics and Math Library. You can find out more about working at a campus library at http://www.lib.utexas.edu/admin/employment/. For your convenience, other sources of employment include:
- OFS Student Employment (‘hire-a-longhorn’) – work-study and non-work-study jobs. Please note that ‘work-study’ is a designated financial aid award and work-study positions are only available to US citizens
- UT Job Search
- Access UT - for UT students and alumni
- Austin-American Statesman classifieds
- Work in Texas
Student Health Services and Immunization Requirements
Your tuition and fees help support the University Health Services. They provide a variety of services for your physical and mental health and well being. Please read this for information on recommended and required immunization for incoming students.
Services at the Counseling and Mental Health Center include tools and resources for organizing and time management and managing stress. And be sure to check out the MindBody Lab! Your student fees also help support CMHC, so do not hesitate to utilize these resources!
Miscellaneous
Fellowships
If you have been awarded a fellowship, it will be released after you have registered and paid. Most fellowships are divided into two sums: half paid now and half in the spring semester. Depending on how you have ‘My Banking’ set up in UTDirect (in the finances section), you can receive a Direct Deposit to your bank, pick up the check in the Main Building, or have it mailed to your local address (remember: keep your address and contact information up to date).
TAships
Most new students will not have a TAship in their first year. However, if you are awarded a Teaching Assistantship, your TA salary will be paid to you once a month on the first of the month. TA appointments beginning in September will receive the first paycheck on October 1. Appointments beginning in January receive the first check on Feb. 1. There is paperwork to complete, including an I-9 form and submission of appropriate documentation to work in the United States. International students will also need to complete the International Teaching Assistant English Certification Program with the ESL office. More detailed information will be sent to students who will be offered a TAship.
Graduate Student Directory and Research Interests
The Department of Asian Studies keeps a Graduate Student Directory to help faculty and staff know our students better. The directory includes each student's research interests, email address, and telephone number. Please email your research interests to me at dasgrads(at)austin.utexas.edu before the departmental orientation on August 23. Thanks.
Thank you for taking the time to read through this entire page. We hope it has begun to prepare you for graduate life at UT. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at dasgrads(at)austin.utexas.edu. You may also contact our Graduate Advisor, Dr. Joel Brereton, at jpb(at)austin.utexas.edu.We’ll see you soon!!
Victoria A. Vlach, Graduate Coordinator
