July Update

TTIC New Student Update (July 2023)

New Student Orientation

Monday, September 18 – Thursday, September 22

Please report to TTIC for New Student Orientation on Monday, September 18.  Contact Student Services if you have any conflict with attending orientation. Events to be included are presentations and discussions on registration, student services, IT privileges, student health, 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. More details and events will be shared throughout the summer.

The Autumn Quarter will officially begin on Tuesday, September 26.

New Student Website

Ongoing 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

New students have a “computing equipment fund” of $3000. Please start thinking about what specifications you may request for your new laptop and equipment. Adam Bohlander is TTIC’s Director of Information Technology and 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 use the UChicago Immunization form, a downloadable PDF of the form is linked here. TTIC accepts this form, as does UChicago. You may use a form your hospital provides as well (if 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 received at both TTIC and UChicago by September 1. You can upload your records easily for both schools. The New Student website has more details on all immunization and health matters for students.

Plans for Health Insurance Coverage

Please consider if you will join the TTIC-UChicago student health insurance plan, called USHIP, or if you will be finding your own comparable plan. Students who join USHIP will have insurance enrollment costs paid by TTIC. If you opt to enroll in a different plan that you choose on your own, which must have comparable coverage, you are responsible for this insurance cost. More information can be found on the New Student Website.

You can contact either of UChicago’s Student On-Campus Insurance Coordinators – Dyeisha Collier and Stacey Childs – at uchicagoadvocates@uhcsr.com 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 updates to your official transcripts, TTIC needs your official transcript. Please have your official, sealed transcript sent to: TTIC Admissions | 6045 S. Kenwood Ave.  Chicago, IL 60637. We also accept digital official transcripts to etranscripts@ttic.edu.

Please let Erica Cocom (ecocom@ttic.edu) know 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 course requirements.

On-Campus Transportation

The University of Chicago has very convenient bus and shuttle service that serves the campus and Hyde Park/ Kenwood neighborhoods. It's FREE for students! As you choose your housing, this 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, 2023). Please make sure you bring enough money into the U.S. to support yourself until you receive your stipend check. 

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 great summer!

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