Important Information for Fall Semester 2009 - U.S. Students - May Edition

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Mid Summer Gathering Barbecue -- Friday, July 17th -- 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Mark your calendar for the Mid Summer Gathering BBQ! 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 starts on August 19th. The academic calendar for 2009-10 is shown below.

Fall Semester 2009

 

Spring Semester 2010

 

Compass Week

August 19-21

First Day of Classes

January 18

Tuition & Fee Payment

August 19

Tuition & Fee Payment

January 18

First Day of Classes

August 24

Spring Vacation

March 22-26

Labor Day Holiday

September 7

End of Semester

May 14

Thanksgiving Vacation

November 26-27

Commencement

May 16

End of Fall Semester

December 11

  


Compass Week Begins August 19th
Compass Week begin on the Wednesday, August 19th . 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.

Course NumberCourse TitleTime

GSM 507

Marketing: Creating Satisfied Consumers

M/W 10:00 am - 11:30 am

GSM 508

PACE - Practical Application for Careers and Enterprises

M/W 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

GSM 505

Accounting for Managers

T/TH 8:00 am - 9:30 am

GSM 503

Data Analysis, Modeling and Decision Making

T/TH 10:00 am - 11:30 am

GSM 506

Human Resources and Organizational Dynamics

T/TH 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm


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: 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 2009-2010 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 2009-2010 school year is a 2 tier rate based on age. The rate is based on your age on August 15, 2009. Students age 24 and under will pay $475 per year and students over 24 will pay $720 per year. The coverage period is August 15, 2009 through August 14, 2010. The deadline to waive out of the coverage is September 20, 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, 2009 - August 15, 2010.

Complete 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/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