New Arrival Schedule of Activities Fall 2010

It’s almost that time… classes at the University of Alabama in Huntsville will be starting soon. We look forward to seeing you, remember there are many preparations and activities before you begin your academic future at UAHuntsville. All F1 students are expected to report to UAH no later than August 4^th as indicated on the I-20. Please email visahelp@uah.edu if you cannot arrive on time and include details regarding your late arrival.  Pre-arrival information is also available at http://www.uah.edu/ISSO/Students/prearrival.html and the ISSO blog will have periodic updates and a means of communicating posts with other students http://uahisso.blogspot.com/

IMMUNIZATION FORMS:

Before you leave home each of you need to meet with your doctor or physician to complete the UAH immunization form http://www.uah.edu/SHC/forms/IR10.pdf . Documentation of immunizations must be in English. All international students are required to have two MMR vaccinations; vaccinations will be less expensive in your home country. MMR VACCINATIONS MUST BE ADMINISTERED AT LEAST 35 DAYS PRIOR TO YOUR ARRIVAL. If that is not possible, you may schedule MMR vaccinations upon arrival in Huntsville, for an approximate fee of $50. Students enrolling in college for the first time as an undergraduate student must also have a meningitis vaccine.  The University Health Center charges $140; please get this done at home prior to your arrival. In addition to vaccinations, a Tuberculosis (TB) test administered in the United States is required prior to registering for classes and is built into the arrival activities schedule.  There will be a $25 fee to all students for this test. DO NOT OBTAIN A TB TEST IN YOUR HOME COUNTRY AS IT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED BY THE STUDENT HEALTH CENTER. Please contact the Student Health Center  http://www.uah.edu/SHC /or if you have immunization or TB questions.  

MANDATORY INSURANCE POLICY:

University policy requires all F1 students purchase insurance through the UAH Student Insurance Policy. The student insurance policy is coordinated by the Dean of Students Office. All F1 students will be automatically charged the insurance premium on your student account for each semester of enrollment.  The insurance coverage will begin the start date of classes, August 16, 2010.  We encourage you to purchase insurance to cover you from the date of arrival in the U.S. through August 15, 2010. You can purchase temporary insurance on your own or through UAH upon arrival for a nominal fee. More information about the insurance policy and medical issues in the U.S. will be provided at orientation. Please direct all insurance questions to the Dean of Students Office, Ms. Margaret Hall, hallma@uah.edu.

HOUSING:

UAH offers wonderful options for on-campus living for both graduate and undergraduate students. All single students who have earned less than 64 hours of college credit at the undergraduate level and are enrolled in 12 or more hours at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAHuntsville) are required to live in UAHuntsville student housing. http://housing.uah.edu/Housing/FR Students who have applied to live on campus for the 2010-11 academic year must complete an early move in request form located at http://housing.uah.edu/Housing/MoveIn.  The deadline to request early move in is July 21st. Students who are approved for early move in may move into campus housing on August 3^rd.Students who prefer to live off-campus should be aware that there is little or no public transportation in Huntsville, AL. Once you sign a contract for an apartment or other housing there is little or NO means to end the contract. Please be sure that you are certain that the apartment is right for you prior to signing the contract. The Bevill Center located on the UAH campus offers rooms at a special rate for UAH students from $59-68 per night (includes internet access/business center, light breakfast, and access to campus facilities) www.uah.edu/BevillCenter/.

MONEY AND BANKING:

You must bring $250-$500 in traveler’s checks, cash or other funds that are immediately accessible for the first few days in the U.S. By the end of your first week in Huntsville when you will be able to open a bank account and you will need money to take care of any incidental expenses. UAH is fortunate to have both local and national financial institutions on and near campus. At immigration processing you will be given information regarding your options to open account in the U.S. Upon opening an account and depositing funds you can make arrangements to pay your tuition or other bills.  Please refer to the Bursars Office website for current tuition rates and course fees. http://www.uah.edu/bursar/tuition.php

***The Office of International Programs and Services offers airport pick-up for new students from the Huntsville International Airport. If you need transportation from the airport then email oip@uah.edu a minimum of 1 week PRIOR to your arrival. Please include your full name, arrival date and time, airline, flight itinerary, and place of residence in Huntsville. All of this information will ensure that the OIPS staff will arrive on time and without any complications.***

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