July Update

TTIC New Student Update (July 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. Events to be included are presentations and discussions on registration, student services, and the PhD program. Meetings with your advisor and the student body will also be included during the week. You will get details on how to get your TTIC-UChicago campus ID cards, navigate the 2-school registration process, and you will get information about things happening in the city, the neighborhood and the campus as the new academic year begins. A Grad Student Resource Fair will be held with the University of Chicago. More details and events will be shared throughout the summer. Check for details on the New Student website.

The Autumn Quarter will officially begin Tuesday, September 27.

New Student Website

Ongoing information updates for new students can be found on the New Student website. Updates will appear on this site throughout the summer and will additionally come in summer emails. To help you keep track of what needs to be done before September enrollment, the website has a handy checklist.

New Student Laptops/Notebooks + TTIC Email

As you were notified in your admit letters, new students have a “computing equipment fund” of $3000. Please report what specifications you are requesting for your new laptop and equipment to Adam Bohlander, TTIC Director of Information Technology. He will work with you (in consultation with your advisor) on getting a machine and equipment that will serve your needs. To give him time to process all requests before your arrival, please email him by July 31 at asb@ttic.edu.

While you’re chatting with Adam, please select and set your ttic.edu address name by July 31 as well.

Student ID# | Populi Registration | cNet Registration

In early August, once you have selected your ttic.edu account with the Director if IT, TTIC Student Services will be sending you your student ID number and instructions on accessing and registering for accounts in Populi (TTIC’s system) and cNet (UChicago’s system). Activating your accounts with this ID will allow you to access registration, various TTIC and University of Chicago student systems, buildings and on-campus services. You will also use this ID to report your immunization records.

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, with exemptions for documented religious or medical reasons. 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, even with an approved exemption 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.

Plans for Health Insurance Coverage

Please consider if you will join the TTIC-UChicago student health insurance plan, called U-SHIP, or if you will be finding your own comparable plan. If you do choose your own plan, it must still meet coverage requirements. Students who join USHIP will have insurance enrollment costs covered by TTIC. If you opt to enroll in a different plan with comparable coverage, this will be at your expense. More information can be found on the New Student Website.

You can contact Amy Minick (aminick@ttic.edu) with questions you have now, but we will send you more information in August.

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

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.

We will send out another monthly update in August. Have a safe summer!