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Mid Summer Gathering Barbecue -- Friday, July 18th -- 5:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Mark your calendar! Get acquainted with faculty, staff, current and incoming students at an informal gathering on Friday, July 18th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Atkinson School. We will serve a barbecue dinner and refreshments. Dress is casual and relaxed. RSVP online if you can join us.

A July visit is also a good opportunity to tour the Mid-Willamette Valley and secure housing. The "Gathering" is scheduled to coincide with the annual Salem Art Fair and Festival, which runs Friday through Sunday. The Festival boasts 180 Northwest artists and artisans, and some of Oregon's best musical talent. We know that many of you will not be in Oregon yet, but we want you to be invited just in case you can come!



Academic Calendar for 2008 - 2009
Fall Semester 2008 for international students starts on August 14th with MBA International Student Orientation. The academic calendar for 2008-09 is shown below. Note: Fall Semester will end on December 12th -- this is a change in date from the original information provided.

Compass Week Begins August 20th
Compass Week is a required for all new students and will include important academic, professional and social activities. Appropriate dress for Wednesday, August 20th is "formal business attire" (suit and tie for men, equivalent professional attire for women). Appropriate dress for Thursday, August 21st "casual - athletic clothes and tennis shoes." Appropriate dress for Friday, August 22nd is "business casual - nice clothes but suits not required." More information will be provided as we get closer to August.



Registration for Fall Semester Courses
Willamette MBA registration is a very simple process, so don't worry. First year Early Career MBA students will automatically be pre-registered for the entire first-semester core curriculum (15 credits). Judy O'Neill, Director of Admission, will contact students who have special registration options. We anticipate the fall semester schedule of core courses will be as shown below. We will notify of you of any changes in the core course schedule.

Textbooks For Fall Semester Required Courses
A list of Textbooks for Fall Semester Required Courses is available for those of you who plan to purchase your books before school starts. All text books will be available for purchase at The Willamette Store



Health History and Immunization Records
Oregon state law requires all new students to provide immunization and health records. Forms to be completed are available online in pdf format and are linked below. Be sure to complete the health history, immunization, and tuberculosis forms as soon as possible and send them to the Willamette University Bishop Wellness Center.
* Health History and Immunization Form (http://www.willamette.edu/dept/health/pdf/immunization_form.pdf )
* Tuberculosis Screening Form (http://www.willamette.edu/dept/health/pdf/tb_form.pdf)

If you need the measles immunization (MMR) or the PPDTB test, you can get them on campus during Compass Week. The date and time will be announced on the Compass Week Schedule. The cost for the MMR vaccination is $58. The PPDTB test is $10. Charges for vaccinations will be billed to your Willamette University student account.

[Note: If you have recently been enrolled in the Willamette University College of Law or College of Liberal Arts, you should update the health history form, but you do not need to resubmit the immunization and tuberculosis forms.



Looking for a Roommate?
If you would like to have a roommate who is a new Willamette MBA student, please complete our Roommate Interest Form and fax it or email it to Judy O'Neill by June 26th (fax # 503-370-3011; email joneill@willamette.edu). We will collect the information and email you a summary of the names, emails and preferences of students seeking a roommate so you can begin to connect with each other.

Off-Campus Housing
Nearly all Willamette MBA students live off-campus. We have developed two two great resources for information about off-campus housing:
1) For a Google map and recommendations from students visit Housing Recommendations and Tips From Students
2) For additional general information see the Willamette University graduate student brochure titled Moving to Salem - How to Look for Housing.
Other resources for information include the Statesman Journal (Classified Ad) and Craigslist

Housing and roommate options we know about right now, include:
1) Willamette MBA Alumni Dan and Angela Mahoney may have apartments available for rent and will know more as the summer progresses. Dan and Angela take very good care of their apartments and their renters! Contact Angela at angela@mahoney-realty.com if you are interested and would like to be informed as opportunities become available. Be sure to identify yourself to Angela as a new MBA student.
2) Second year MBA student, Ophelia Yan, is looking for a roommate. She will be selecting an apartment in July. If you are interested in living with a second year student, email Ophelia at oyan@willamette.edu.



On-Campus Housing
As of now, on-campus housing is full and a wait list has been established. If you would like to be added to the waitlist email housing@willamette.edu. Most MBA students live off-campus, so be sure to see the above information about off-campus housing.



Reminders and General Information

Laptop Requirement
All Willamette MBA students are required to have a laptop computer. In some classes you will use your laptop extensively; in others periodically or minimally. Current required laptop specifications are available at listed http://www.willamette.edu/agsm/full-time/admitted/laptop.htm
Toward the end of June the Willamette Store will announce it's selected systems for the academic year, costs, etc. If you need to purchase a laptop, you can do so through a store or through the Willamette Store.

Using Financial Aid to Purchase Your Laptop
Reminder - MBA students are required to have a laptop computer. The cost to purchase the required laptop can be included in your financial aid budget if you are using loans to help pay for your education. If you plan to use funds Stafford, Graduate Plus or Private loan to pay for you laptop, contact the Willamette University Office of Financial Aid at gradaid@willamette.edu or call 503-370-6273 (toll free in U.S. 1-877-744-3736) and submit the Budget Adjustment Form (for graduate students). You can access other graduate aid forms at http://www.willamette.edu/dept/finaid/graduate.htm

CareerLeader
Remember to complete CareerLeader! Completing CareerLeader now -- before school starts -- gives you important time to explore career directions and issues related to your future career satisfaction. Beth Ursin, Director of Career Services for the Willamette MBA program, will use your CareerLeader results to work with you when school starts. If you have misplaced your access information for your initial log-in for CareerLeader, email Judy O'Neill at joneill@wilamette.edu for access directions.

Student Health Insurance
All students are required to have health insurance. Willamette University's domestic student health insurance plan for 2008-2009 is through Fairmont Specialty Group, and provides coverage for part of the cost of emergency care and some outpatient medical, mental health, and drug and alcohol care. A written summary of the coverage is available at http://www.willamette.edu/dept/health/pdf/summary.pdf

The rate for the student insurance plan for the 2008-2009 school year is a 2 tier rate based on age. The rate is based on your age on August 15, 2008. Students age 24 and under will pay $440 per year and students over 24 will pay $700 per year. The rate is not pro-rated for students who begin in the spring or mid-year.

Students who have other coverage may elect to go online after July 1, 2008 to waive out of the Willamette University student insurance plan. This plan must be waived by September 19, 2008. The link to waive online can be found on the left navigation bar on this page (Student Brochure and Online Waiver). Once the student waives coverage the student's account will be credited for this charge prior to the next billing cycle. The coverage period is August 15, 2008-August 15, 2009.

Dependent Insurance is available if the student is enrolled in the Student Sickness and Accident Plan. Dependent insurance can only be added at the beginning of the fall semester. Exception is only made for a newborn dependent which must be added within 31 days after birth. Those wishing to purchase Dependent Insurance may enroll at the Business Office Cashier located in Waller Hall. The coverage period is August 15, 2008 - August 15, 2009. The brochure, enrollment form and insurance card for the dependent plan can be linked on the left navigation bar found on this page.

More information about health insurance for U.S. students is available at http://www.willamette.edu/dept/health/insurance/
If you have questions about health insurance for U.S. students, contact Julie Prieto at jprieto@willamette.edu

Willamette Universit Bishop Wellness Center
The Bishop Wellness Center provides Health Services, Counseling Services, and Disability and Learning Services to our students. There is no office visit charge to students; fees are charged for lab work, prescriptions and some supplies. Students are seen by appointment, but urgent problems will be seen immediately. For more information about the services of the Bishop Wellness Center visit http://www.willamette.edu/dept/health/index.html

Financial Aid Loan Applications
U.S. citizens and permanent residents applying for federal loans must submit the FAFSA to Willamette University (the WU FAFSA code is 003227) and process of loan applications. If you have questions about financial aid contact Katy Wilson, Senior Financial Aid Counselor in the Willamette University Office of Financial Aid. Email Katy at gradaid@willamette.edu, call 503-370-6273 or call toll free in the U.S. at 1-877-744-3736.

Disability and Learning Services
Willamette MBA students who have a documented disability and would like to request accommodations as covered under the American Disabilities Act are encouraged to make application for special accommodations and services through the Willamette University office of Disability and Learning Services. Disability and Learning Services provides support for individuals with a diagnosed disability (e.g., learning, visual, hearing, psychiatric, chronic illness, etc.). Documentation needs to be on file with Disability and Learning Services to receive appropriate accommodations and services. For more information visit http://www.willamette.edu/dept/disability/ and contact:
JoAnne Hill, Director
Disability & Learning Services
503-370-6471 (voice)
503-375-5383 (TDD)
503-375-5420 (fax)
email: jhill@willamette.edu