Orientation
Incoming Graduate Students
Welcome to the Department of Computer Science at UNC-CH! As you get ready to start your graduate program here, I hope the information we have put together here will make your transition easier and answer some questions you may have.
NC Residency
Orientation Dates
14 August - Department of Computer Science Orientation
An agenda will be posted soon.
15 August - The Graduate School Orientation
16 August - Office of International Student & Scholar Services Orientation
Important Dates
19 August - CS Research Fair
20 August - Classes begin
23 August - Mandatory TA Meeting
ONYEN (the Only Name You'll Ever Need)
Your ONYEN is your login to everything UNC from registering for classes to paying your bill. To create your onyen visit the Onyen page to get started.
UNCOne Card
Once you are here on campus, please be sure to get an ID card at the UNC One Card Office located in the Student Stores. The UNC One Card is the official identification card for students, faculty, and staff. It functions as a meal card, library card, gym pass, and a whole lot more!
Where to Live
Most graduate students live off-campus in rental apartments or rental houses in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area. There is, however, on-campus housing available for graduate students. Living in Chapel Hill or Carroboro you can live within walking and/or biking distance of campus, on a bus line, or farther afield. Although living in Chapel Hill or Carrboro is super convenient, it can be expensive. Housing in the surrounding areas such as Durham, North Chatham County, will be less expensive. It will also require commuting. Parking on campus is practically non-existent, but Chapel Hill has many park and ride lots, commuter incentives, pay lots and garages in and around town. For more information on parking, the bus system, and commuter alternatives, please visit the UNC Public Safety web site.
Health Insurance
The University System of NC at Chapel Hill requires all students to have health insurance coverage. Students are required to show evidence of an existing "credible" health insurance policy or they will be automatically enrolled in and billed for the UNC system-wide student health insurance plan.
There are two different and separate kinds of health insurance offered to UNC-CH students
- University Mandatory Health Insurance
- RA/TA Graduate Student Health Insurance Program (GSHIP)
University Mandatory Health Insurance
Eligibility criteria for the University Mandatory Health Insurance is defined as:
- Enrolled in a minimum of 1 credit hour (graduate students) per semester
- Enrolled in a degree-seeking program
- Eligible to pay the campus health fee
GSHIP (the RA/TA Health Insurance)
If you have a TA or RA position, you are eligible for the GSHIP and will receive an enrollment form from me for this insurance program.
What to Expect and Actions Students Should take:
- Students will automatically be enrolled in and billed for the system-wide student health insurance plan. This charge will show on student accounts after July 2013.
- Students who are already covered by an insurance policy (i.e. through parents, family plans or employer-sponsored plans including those in the RA/TA campus plan) can easily opt-out of the system-wide plan through a secure on-line process. Once the information has been verified, all charges will be waived. To opt-out, the student should visit http://www.studentinsurance.com/ and enter UNC-CH in the drop down menu.
- The waiver process must be completed by the deadline for submitting a waiver, September 10 for the fall semester.
- The charge for the default UNC system-wide student health insurance plan will be removed from your student bill account once the policy is verified. Verification will begin in June each year.
- Students who do not submit creditable health insurance information will be enrolled automatically in the system-wide policy and will be responsible for the health insurance premium.
Please Note: The UNC-CH RA/TA health insurance plan (GSHIP) is a separate plan from the system-wide mandatory student health plan. Graduate students with RA/TA status should continue to be enrolled in the GSHIP through the academic year (August 15, 2013 - August 14, 2014). Students with RA/TA status must submit information to verify their enrollment each year and should follow the same procedure described above. You will NOT be automatically enrolled in this program each year.
GSHIP Verification and Enrollment Form
Registration Information
Course registration is done through ConnectCarolina using your onyen and your onyen password. A full time course load for graduate students is three (3) courses or nine (9) hours. Registration is now open although we are in the pre-pay period of registration. For those graduate students who have guaranteed funding, your name will be sent to the cashier's office so the hold can be removed. After which, you will be able to register for courses. Non-guaranteed supported student must pre-pay tuition and fees before you will be able to register.
You will be meeting with an assigned academic adviser during orientation (14 August) to go over a plan of study for the semester. Know that you may be advised to change your schedule during this advising meeting if you register early - which is not a problem.
Registration Information page (Office of the University Registrar)
Helpful Information
Graduate Student Guide - Includes information on and about campus, Chapel Hill, funding, housing for graduate students, and the transit system.
The Graduate Student Handbook - contains most of the policies and procedures you need to know of and about The Graduate School. This can answer a lot of questions you will have so I encourage you to refer to it often.
Fall 2013 Academic calendar - Includes very important dates and deadlines
FORMS
The following forms are forms you will need to complete and turn into me. Unless indicated otherwise, forms can be submitted electronically or when you arrive on campus.
All Students will need to turn in:
CS Student Disclosure & Pre-Employment Agreement
Address/Emergency Contact Information
Students with funding:
There are payroll forms our office needs in order to put you on payroll.
Note: If a non-guaranteed supported student does get a position at the Research Fair, you will also need to fill out these forms.
Student Employee Certifications & Conditions of Appointment (AP-2S)
NC-4 Withholding Allowance Certificate
W-4 Federal Withholding Allowance Certificate
Direct Deposit Authorization Form (required)
Graduate Student Payroll Deduction Authorization Form (Optional) - To have student fees deducted from paycheck
Graduate Student Health Insurance Program - GSHIP (RA/TA Health Insurance)