Prospective/Incoming Students


Welcome to the MGSA web page for new and incoming students, one more resource to guide you through your first days at UIC! This web page will serve as a tour guide and initial checklist for you and your mentor. You will soon get a copy of "Nuts and Bolts", an invaluable source of information on all this and much more. Also you will get a copy of the Graduate Handbook containing information relevant to your academic pursuits at UIC. The goal of these various resources is to assist you in the transition to our university. This document has three sections: Prior to Coming to Chicago, Things to do on Arrival, and General Stuff. Please stop by the Graduate Studies office in 339 SEO if you have more questions.

Prior to Coming to Chicago - (International students should read!)

  • Contact the Office of International Services (OIS) to find out which documents you need in order to get a visa to enter the United States. The visa regulations vary from country to country. Please contact your nearest United States embassy/consulate for more details. You can find more details on this website of United States State Department.
  • Once you have obtained your visa, please check with the OIS and the department to find out which documents you need to bring with you. You will need to bring proof of your medical immunizations, specifically for diphtheria, measles, mumps, rubella, and tetanus. This information is required BEFORE you can register for classes.
  • It is recommended that all new students (domestic and international) have vision, dental, and physical exams prior to coming here, since these services may not be fully covered under the student insurance/student health fee.
  • It is advisable for new students (domestic and international) to carry short-term health insurance to cover for the period before the start of the semester. The student insurance coverage does not start until the first day of classes.
  • Bring extra money to bridge the gap between your arrival and your first paycheck. It is not uncommon for the first check to be delayed. Remember, your Tuition and Fee Waiver covers only the Tuition and the Service fee. You will need money for all remaining fees as well as your books and supplies, at least one month's rent plus the security deposit (usually equal to one month’s rent), and money for living expenses (groceries, etc.)
  • All new students (domestic, too) should take a look at the checklist (for Microsoft Word) prepared by OIS for new students.

First things to do on Arrival…

…things related to your Employment as a TA/RA/Fellow

  • International students will first meet with the MSCS Graduate Studies Secretary upon their arrival. She will review your documents and give you a Visa Clearance form (which authorizes you to work on campus) before directing you to OIS to begin the process. The OIS will advise you on how to obtain a social security card, an important step in the employment process. The nearest office is located at 1233 W Adams St.
  • Domestic students need to visit the MSCS Graduate Studies Secretary upon their arrival. Those who need to get a social security card can go to the nearest Social Security Administration office located at 1233 W Adams St. A social security card is required before you can get paid.
  • The MSCS Graduate Secretary will help you with your employment papers so that you get your paycheck on time. It is important for international students to maintain their status. Contact OIS for details. Information about foreign tax treaties, which may affect what (if anything) is withheld from your paycheck each month, can be found at the Payroll Office located in the Marshfield Building on the west campus.
  • Obtain a copy of the Graduate Handbook from the MSCS Graduate Studies Office. It is your guide through the program and the most reliable source of information. Also ask for the "Nuts and Bolts", which will help you get around on campus and in the department especially in the first weeks. Both documents are also available on the MSCS Graduate Studies website.

…regarding your Medical Immunization and Medical Insurance

Remember, you are required to have your immunizations up to date before you can register. If you do not have these before arriving, you can obtain them on campus at the UIC Department of Family Medicine. However, expect long lines and understand that these immunizations are not free. (We recommend getting the shots before you arrive.) Keep a copy of your immunization records for future reference.

You will automatically be enrolled in the student insurance plan, currently handled by MEGA Life and Health Insurance Company UNLESS you can show that you are covered by your own insurance by the deadline specified in the current Timetable (or schedule of classes).

…regarding Registration, your UIC ID card and Computer Accounts

  • Beginning Fall 2004 you will register via the web. If you do not have access to the internet please contact the MSCS computer support personnel in SEO 205 who will provide you with a math account and access to the internet. You will not be able to register until you do this.
  • The course offerings for the current semester are listed in the Timetable and are viewed via the web.
  • After you register, go to the office of Records and Registration in SSB and get a printout of your schedule. Take this printout to the Photo ID office to get your UIC ID (identification card). You should always carry your UIC ID card with you. It is required for many things including rides on the university buses or red car, building access and so on.
  • Next, go to one of the ACCC labs (there is one in SSB), and follow the instructions on the PC's to set up your new UIC email account. This is very important for various reasons including access to your employment records.
  • Once you have your email account, subscribe to the Math Graduate Student listserv by sending a message to . This is a way to receive important reminders from the Graduate Studies office as well as stay in touch with your fellow grad students in the department.
  • You will be assigned a Faculty Mentor who will advise you on course selection. Contact the MSCS Graduate Studies office, if you do not have a Mentor.

…regarding After Hours access to SEO

To be able to enter SEO after hours and on weekends or to access the lab in 736 SEO you will need to give the MSCS Graduate Studies Secretary a copy of your UIC ID card. She will submit your information to the Campus Police who will provide access. You will need to renew this from time to time. Your request may take 10 days to process. You will then be able to access the building by sliding your UIC ID in the card reader located on the east side of the building. You can also use the red phone at the door to call campus police and ask for one time entry, especially if your card doesn't work.

…about the Library

The Daley Library is located on the north side of SEO. You will need your UIC ID to access services and materials in the library. The library offers various services, the two most important being ILLINET and inter-library loan. You can request books not available at any of the UIC libraries using these two services. This can be done online. But first use UICCAT to see of the book is available at any of the UIC libraries. If you don't find it look for the book on ILLINET and follow instructions. ILLINET is basically a group of libraries within Illinois. As a last resort you could use the inter-library loan which is a nationwide book loaning system. Note that audio and video resources are also available at the UIC library. There is also a Mathematics Library located on the 4th floor of SEO and has an excellent collection of mathematics books. You can also access a collection of electronic journals on the UIC library website.

…regarding Housing

There are two options for housing: on-campus and off-campus. On-campus housing is limited and more expensive and you will need to apply to the on-campus housing office pretty early. Also some of the on-campus housing requires you to purchase a meal plan whether you want it or not. Most graduate students in the department live off-campus. There is an off-campus housing office located on the campus. They provide information about housing (mostly ads from landlords) and also ads for roommates. The John Nuveen Center for International Affairs provides information on housing. If you decide to live off-campus, you can either look for a place in the neighborhood or commute. You can also walk around the neighborhood and the city to look for housing. Click here for information on locating temporary housing.

…buildings you should become familiar with

Most of the important offices are located in the Student Services Building on 1200 W Harrison St. Click here to see which offices are located in SSB and the kind of services they provide. Some important offices in SSB are the Records and Registration, Disability Services, International Services Office, Medical Immunization, Legal Services, Office of Ombudsperson, and Counseling Center, among others.

Also explore the Graduate College (located in 606 University Hall on 601 S Morgan St.) website, especially for various sources of financial aid and any benefits that you might get as a TA/RA/Fellow.

…Banking Services

Offices for Credit Union 1 are located on the East and the West campuses. You will definitely need a checking account. You may also want a savings account. The Credit Union can explain the benefits of each. It is recommended that you get temporary checks until you have a fixed address and can provide proof of residence (a utility bill or any letter received by you at your local address). During the employment process you will be asked to set up direct deposit (your salary is sent electronically into your bank account). You may want to get a bank card to use at ATMs (automated teller machines). There are ATMs all over the campus. Generally these machines will charge you a fee to access your money (ATMs will warn you about it). For locations of Credit Union 1 ATMs click here.

…Your Health Care

At present there are two kinds of facilities for student health care. ne is the outpatient facility that is covered by the mandatory student health fee. The outpatient services are provided at the Department of Family Medicine located on 1919 W Taylor St. (call (312)996-2901 for questions on medical services). You can also obtain non-emergency medical services from the UIC Hospital (now known as the University of Illinois Medical Center, call 1-800-842-1002 for an appointment). If you have a medical emergency, call the University of Illinois Medical Center emergency number at (312)996-7298. Always ask about your financial liabilities before you receive medical care.

General Stuff…

…Groceries, Transportation, Entertainment and Campus recreation

Since most of you will be full time students, you will automatically be billed for the U Pass, giving you unlimited rides on buses and trains of CTA. You will need a printout of your schedule when you go to get your U Pass. In general, it costs $2.00 to ride on a CTA bus or train. You can buy fare cards at the train stations and selected stores.

There are two major grocery stores close to campus. The Dominicks is on 1340 S Canal St. and the Jewel is on 1220 S Ashland Av. Jewel is halfway between the two campuses and more convenient.

Chicago is the cultural hub of mid-America and has a variety of entertainment available. Please look at Chicago Reader for more details. There are a lot of activities organized for students on-campus at both the student unions located in SCE and CIU. You can find free movies, craft lessons, concerts, etc. Also John Nuveen Center for International Affairs organizes a whole bunch of activities for students throughout the year.

…Miscellaneous

An Illinois State ID card can be obtained from the office of the Secretary of State of Illinois. You will need a State ID or Drivers License to enter clubs or bars and while paying by check at stores.

SINC (the Student Information Network Center) can provide information on almost anything on campus. They are really well informed; do not hesitate to call them for information. They are located on the East Concourse of CCC and can be reached at (312)996-5000.

The Campus Shuttle bus runs between the East and the West campus from 7 AM till 12:30 AM on weekdays and 7AM till 11 PM on weekends/holidays. The routes for daytime and nights/weekends can be found on the website. You will need your UIC ID to ride the shuttle bus.

Red Car service is available from any campus building to your home/another campus building, within a designated few blocks of the University. The service is available from 11 PM to 7 AM. You need to show your UIC ID (U Pass is not accepted) and on rare occasions proof of address. Call (312)996-6800 and tell them of your location in order to get a ride.

…Important Phone Numbers and Email Addresses

Departmental Contacts

  • Prof. David Radford
    Director of Graduate Studies

    (312) 996-3041
  • Ms. Kari A. Dueball
    Assistant Director of Graduate Studies

    (312) 413-2175
  • Ms. Darlette M. Willis
    Graduate Secretary

    (312) 996-3041

University Contacts

  • Emergency Police (312) 996-HELP (996-4357)
  • Fire (312)996-FIRE (996-3473)
  • Health and Safety Section (312-996-SAFE) (996-7233)
  • UIC Hospital Emergency (312) 996-7298
  • Police non-emergency (312) 355-3532
  • Radiation Safety Section (312) 996-7429
  • Service Desk (312) 996-2834
  • Student Patrol (312) 996-2830
  • Operator (312) 413-9323

Campus Phones

Please note that all phones on campus are area code 312 and have prefixes 996, 355 or 413. The campus phones are located all over the campus and are sand colored. The phones in the offices are also campus phones. When calling from a campus phone to ANOTHER CAMPUS PHONE you need to dial only the last 5 digits of the number. For instance, to make a call from a campus phone to another campus phone at this number, (312)996-2834, simply dial 6-2834. You can make off campus calls from the graduate lounge (736 SEO). For this, dial 9 first, followed by 1, then the area code and the number. You can also call toll free numbers this way.

Finally, you are all automatically enrolled as a member of MGSA. Please sign up for the mathgrad email listserv by sending a blank email to . You will receive information (mostly from the Graduate Studies office) on relevant issues like deadlines for aid applications and notices from the Graduate College, among other things.

Other Information

Some additional relevant sites you should know about can be found on our links page.