August Update

TTIC New Student Update (August 2022)

New Student Orientation

Monday, September 19 – Thursday, September 22

TTIC is excited to invite you to orientation. Please report to TTIC for the in-person New Student Orientation on Monday, September 19. Contact Student Services if you have any conflict with attending orientation. During the week, we will cover course registration, student services, campus access, and the PhD program. You will interact with your advisor and the student body and get details on how to get your TTIC-UChicago campus ID cards, and get information about things happening in the city, the neighborhood and on campus as the new academic year begins. Find details on the New Student website.

The Autumn Quarter will officially begin Tuesday, September 27.

Immunization Records

The State of Illinois requires all students to provide proof of Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) and Tetanus/Diphtheria vaccination. We recommend you record yours using the UChicago Immunization form, a downloadable PDF of the form here. TTIC accepts this form, as does UChicago. You may use a form your hospital provides as well (as long as the form is in English and includes the immunizations required for IL State Law). Any information not in English needs to be translated and certified.

Completed Immunization records should be uploaded to both schools by September 1*.

Please note the updated timing of these requirements.

Access the Health Matters page of the New Student website for full details on how to upload and report your immunization and COVID-19 vaccination records, to avoid any registration delays.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement

All students are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 starting on the first day of the 2022 Autumn Quarter. This requirement applies to all students participating in in-person classes, research, and other activities in the US. Proof of vaccination through medical records (or vaccine certification card) is required and should be entered into TTIC and UChicago’s immunization record portals. Access the Health Matters page of the New Student website for full details.

Anyone unvaccinated will be subject to weekly testing through UChicago Wellness and may be required to follow additional mitigation measures.

TTIC is happy to work with you through the process- ask us if you have any questions.

USHIP Enrollment/Waive Period

The enrollment site for student health insurance is now open. You can find full 2022-23 U-SHIP student insurance plan details here. Students who join USHIP will have insurance enrollment costs covered by TTIC. More information can be found on the New Student Website’s Health Matters page.

USHIP coverage will begin on September 1. You can contact Amy Minick (aminick@ttic.edu) with any questions regarding USHIP.

If you decline USHIP and choose your own plan, it must still meet coverage requirements and it will be at your own expense.

Academic Records

If you have completed an academic program since being accepted to TTIC, or have recently updated official transcripts that TTIC is required to have, please have a final copy of your official, sealed transcripts sent to: TTIC Admissions | 6045 S. Kenwood Ave. Chicago, IL 60637. You may also submit digital official transcripts to etranscripts@ttic.edu. Please have them in by Thursday, September 1.

Please let Erica Cocom (ecocom@ttic.edu) if you have sent anything to TTIC.

Getting to TTIC

TTIC is located in a big brick building on the corner of Kenwood Ave. and 61^st St. The school’s main lobby is on the 5^th floor.

Mr. Jerry Randle is our building security officer and is in the building lobby each day. He is very nice, and you’ll get to know him as you spend more time at TTIC.

New Student Website

Details specific to new students, orientation, and moving to Chicago can be found on the New Student website. To help you keep track of what needs to be done before September enrollment, the website has a handy checklist. Check to see if you’re on track.

UChicago ID Card

Since TTIC is on the University of Chicago campus, each TTIC student is required to get a UChicago ID card and cNet ID. Students will use both frequently for 24-hour building and campus access, ID purposes, to ride campus transport, visit libraries and athletic centers, access UChicago academic and health services, and to use the network. TTIC Student Services has included instructions to this email on how to claim your UChicago student ID number, instructions for how to claim your CNet ID, and how to get your ID card once you arrive in Chicago. If you have any questions about obtaining your UChicago ID card, please let Student Services know.

IT Support & Equipment

New TTIC students will be issued a computer when they arrive. It will be yours to use for the time you will be with TTIC as a student. By now, you have been in contact with Adam Bohlander, TTIC’s Director of Information Technology, for a machine that will serve your needs. Once you have arrived at TTIC, please see Adam in office 314, and he will get you all set up with the equipment you have pre-arranged. If you have any specific questions about IT support, please contact Adam at asb@ttic.edu.

Courses and Access

One of the benefits of being a student of TTIC is that you will have access to most of the University of Chicago’s offerings as well, including the beautiful, shared campus. Access libraries, athletic facilities, health services, campus transportation, computing access, and best of all: courses! As you explore the academic program and requirements for TTIC, you may enjoy browsing the University of Chicago courses as well. TTIC students often take courses from the Computer Science Department, Mathematics, and Statistics to supplement their TTIC required courses and electives. (TTIC 2022-23 courses are posted.)

On-Campus Transportation

The University of Chicago has a very convenient bus service that serves the campus and Hyde Park/ Kenwood neighborhoods. It's FREE for students! As you choose your housing, this bus information may be useful. You can find campus routes and bus information here. (For general Chicago Transit Authority mass transit information, please go here: www.transitchicago.com)

First Stipend Payment after Arrival

New students’ initial stipend checks will be given the last weekday of October (October 31, 2022). Please make sure you bring enough money into the US to support yourself until you receive your stipend check.

Please remember, we’re happy to answer any questions you have,

so just reach out if there’s anything we can do.

Have a safe summer, and we’ll see you next month!

[CC1]This info as not as important as the time-sensitive deadlines. Let's put those before this.