[ back ]

Mid Summer Gathering Barbecue -- Friday, July 17th -- 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
If you will be in the U.S. on July 17th, mark your calendar for this event! Get acquainted with faculty, staff, current and incoming students at an informal gathering on Friday, July 17th from 5:30 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 2009 - 2010
Fall Semester 2009 for international students starts on August 14th. The academic calendar for 2009-10 is shown below.

Compass Week Begins August 19th
Compass Week will begin on the Wednesday after the two orientation programs for international students . Compass Week is required for all new students and will include important academic, professional and social activities. Appropriate dress for Wednesday, August 19th is "formal business attire" (suit and tie for men, equivalent professional attire for women). Appropriate dress for Thursday, August 20th is "casual - athletic clothes and tennis shoes." Appropriate dress for Friday, August 21st 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 students will automatically be pre-registered for the entire first-semester core curriculum (5 courses). Judy O'Neill, Assistant Dean and Director of Admission, will contact students who have special registration options. We anticipate the fall semester schedule of first year 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
We will provide a list of textbooks for the first semester core courses later this summer. We provide the list so you can purchase your books before school starts, if you want to.. 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 $62. 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 email it to Judy O'Neill by June 26th at 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. Another great way of meeting potential roommates is through our admitted student Facebook site.


Off-Campus Housing
All new Willamette MBA students will 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
(http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=104006393528237628807.00000112dfdf750522eec&z=9

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


On-Campus Housing
There is no on-campus housing available for graduate students for 2009-10. All Willamette graduate students will live off campus. It is possible that on-campus housing may become available at a later date, but not likely. If you would like to be added to a waitlist so you can be contacted if on-campus housing becomes available, email housing@willamette.edu and request to be aqdded to the waitlist.


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: 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 Willamette University international students and their accompanying family members are required to have health and accident insurance for each semester the student is registered for classes. Insurance coverage must be equal to or greater than the following:
* medical benefits of no less than $50,000 per each accident or each illness
* medical evacuation (assisted transportation to home country provided to a seriously ill person) to the insured’s home country no less than $l0,000
* repatriation (transportation of dead body to home country) of remains no less than $7,500
* a deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness
* benefits must be payable in the United States
* terms of coverage (beginning and ending dates) must e in effect throughout the entire semester and be renewable for continuing coverage
* maximum dollar coverage for each accident or illness
* list of covered services
* list of excluded services
* insured person's name
* address and telephone number of the insurance company

Willamette offers a health insurance plan that meets and exceeds the above requirements. The estimated cost for insurance for the 2009-10 academic year is $426 per semester for six months coverage ($852 for 12 months coverage). The cost of the health insurance is automatically billed to you by Willamette University at the beginning of each semester. Payment is required at the time other charges are paid. Check with Chris Andresen, Willamette University Associate Director International Education (phone 503 375 5404; fax 503-370-6565, email candrese@willamette.edu) for coverage and rates for family members.

You will not be required to purchase the Willamette insurance plan if you can prove that your existing insurance policy meets the minimum requirements listed above. If you have an insurance policy which meets the above requirements and contains all the information listed above, you must obtain a copy of your insurance coverage (written in English), and take it to Chris Andresen, Associate Director of International Education to be evaluated for compliance by the first Friday of classes each semester. If you are not able to provide proof of the required level of insurance coverage, you will be automatically billed for Willamette's health insurance plan.

If you have questions about health insurance for International students, contact Chris Andresen at candrese@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/wellness/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