Incoming Student Brochure Fall 2018

Guide to welcome incoming students to UC Merced including important dates and deadlines, steps to enrollment, housing info, orientation, course registration, financial aid, tuition and fees, and all about campus life.

IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES For a list of your dates and deadlines, you can view your personalized checklist on the UC Merced student portal at my.ucmerced.edu . Learn about taking advantage of the checklist at studentsfirst.ucmerced.edu/understandingyourchecklist . YOU’RE ON YOUR WAY TO UC MERCED! We are so pleased that you have decided to join us! During the next few months, there are some steps you must take before enrolling at UC Merced. This guide will take you through the process step-by-step and provide you with the details you need to know to prepare for the 2018-19 academic year, as well as some general helpful information. You can visit our First Year Experience website at fye.ucmerced.edu for even more. We can’t wait to see you on campus!

See a calendar of dates and deadlines at studentsfirst.ucmerced.edu/datesdeadlines .

FALL2018 March 1, 208 May 7, 2018 June 5, 2018 Aug. 10, 2018 April 21, 2018 June 1, 2018

SPRING2019

Housing application opens First year priority housing application deadline Transfer priority housing application deadline Official room assignments and move-in details available

HOUSING housing.ucmerced.edu/ apply18

TBD Visit housing.ucmerced.edu for details.

Signups begin Priority Orientation registration deadline

NEWSTUDENT ORIENTATION

TBD Visit orientation.ucmerced.edu for details.

Your academic advisor will send information about placement exams to your UC Merced email address. Your academic advisor will email additional registration resources. Online class registration for incoming first year and transfer students Priority deadline to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) Deadline to submit supporting documents requested by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships and to complete all requirements listed in your checklist at my.ucmerced.edu Official transcripts must be postmarked or electronically submitted to the Office of Admissions. Official test scores are due in the Office of Admissions. If this online questionnaire to verify California residency is listed in your checklist at my.ucmerced.edu , you must submit it.

COURSE REGISTRATION

Mid - May 2018

TBD Visit fye.ucmerced.edu for details.

LateMay to Early June 2018 June 20-22, 2018

March 2, 2018

March 2, 2018

FINANCIAL AID

Complete Requirements

June 1, 2018

Dec. 1, 2018

ADMISSIONS

July 1, 2018

Jan. 6, 2019

July 15, 2018

Jan. 6, 2019

STATEMENTOF LEGAL RESIDENCE (SLR)

June 15, 2018

Dec. 15, 2018

Must be completed by 4 p.m. Check your UC Merced email for more information.

PLACEMENT EXAMS

June 1, 2018

TBD Visit fye.ucmerced.edu for details.

Waiver application opens at my.ucmerced.edu Deadline to submit waiver Late waiver deadline with $50 fee

HEALTH INSURANCE WAIVER

May 1, 2018 Aug. 1, 2018 Aug. 9, 2018

Nov. 12, 2018 Jan. 8, 2019 Jan. 16, 2019

Tuition and housing fees must be paid at MyBill at my.ucmerced.edu

FEE PAYMENT DEADLINE

Aug. 15, 2018

Jan. 16, 2019

Students will receive an email with their assigned move-in time.

MOVE-INDAY

Aug. 18-19, 2018

Jan. 13, 2019

All incoming students are required to provide proof of immunization against Hepatitis B and prove vaccination and/or immunity to certain diseases. Visit the MyHealth section on the myhealth.ucmerced.edu portal.

Aug. 22, 2018

Jan. 22, 2019

PROOFOF IMMUNIZATION

Online textbook reservation begins at bookstore.ucmerced.edu . Online textbook reservation closes.

RESERVE TEXTBOOKS

June 26, 2018 Aug. 16, 2018

Dec. 16, 2018 Jan. 17, 2019

INSTRUCTIONBEGINS

Aug. 22, 2018

Jan. 22, 2019

my.ucmerced.edu

STEPS TO ENROLLMENT

1 Apply for Housing

To guarantee your spot in the residence halls, fill out the housing application at housing.ucmerced.edu by the deadline and submit the $300 reservation fee or request a payment deferment. Students who apply after the deadline will be considered for housing on a first-come, first-served basis.

IMPORTANT FALL HOUSING DATES: March 1: Housing application opens May 7:

housing.ucmerced.edu/apply18

First year priority housing application deadline

Roommate assignments begin

May 21: June 5:

FALL PRIORITY APPLICATION DEADLINES:

Transfer priority housing application deadline

Online check-in available; complete move-in forms online and change move-in times Preliminary room assignments sent; first bills available

July 1:

July 15: Aug. 10:

FIRST YEAR STUDENTS May 7, 2018 TRANSFER STUDENTS June 5, 2018

Official room assignments and move-in details available Aug. 18-19: Move-in days for academic year; times will be assigned

HOWMUCH DOES IT COST TO LIVE ON CAMPUS? The cost of living in the residence halls varies with the number of residents per room. Most students live in double- and triple-occupancy rooms, although a limited number of quadruple- and single-occupancy rooms are available. The rates for on- and off-campus housing are available at housing.ucmerced.edu . DO I NEED TO PAY THE WHOLE CONTRACT AMOUNT AT ONCE? No. Although the contract commitment is for a full academic year, you are billed by the semester. You have the option to pay the semester in full (about half the total contract amount), or you can apply for the Deferred Payment Plan (DPP) in MyBill in the my.ucmerced.edu student portal.

Visit the On-Campus Housing FAQ at housing.ucmerced.edu/frequently- asked-questions for everything you need to know about living at UC Merced.

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Sign Up for Orientation

Attendance at New Student Orientation is required for all new students and will provide you with the opportunity to build relationships, explore resources, reflect on your goals and learn more about what it means to be a Bobcat!

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IMPORTANT ORIENTATION DATES: Late May: You will receive a link to access the online Pre-Orientation Experience. This requirement must be completed two weeks before your Orientation date. Deadline to register for Orientation at orientation.ucmerced.edu . Reservations are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. We encourage you to register your parents, guardians and supporters, as we have a special program designed especially for them. The cost to attend New Student Orientation is $110 per student and $100 per parent or guest. June 26- New First Year Student Orientation. Gather copies of your July 24: transcripts, print your parking pass, sport those sunglasses, put on some sunscreen, and get ready to build relationships and continue your journey to becoming a Bobcat. June 1:

orientation.ucmerced.edu

Transfer Student Orientation. We have designed an experience exclusively for students transferring to UC Merced.

July 13:

ARE YOU TRAVELING FROMA DISTANCE? You can get the full UC Merced experience by making arrangements to stay in a residence hall on campus for $25 per person, per night. For rates and information, or to reserve your room, visit housing.ucmerced.edu/orientation or call 209-228-2313.

Register for Courses

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IMPORTANT FALL REGISTRATION DATES: Mid-May:

Your academic advisor will send information about placement exams to your UC Merced email address after you submit your Statement of Intent to Register (SIR).

Your academic advisor will email additional

Late May to Early June:

advising.ucmerced.edu

registration resources.

Online class registration for incoming first year and transfer students

June 20-22:

You will register for classes on the my.ucmerced.edu student portal at a randomly assigned time between June 20 and 22. You will register for classes BEFORE attending New Student Orientation. Your advisor will recommend courses based on your intended major, provide how-to resources for navigating the online system, and alert you to other requirements to ensure you are prepared for registration.

You can check your registration appointment time at MyRegistrationTime on the my.ucmerced.edu portal .

my.ucmerced.edu

4 Complete

Documents required by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will be listed in your personal checklist in the my.ucmerced.edu student portal. Documents must be submitted by the priority deadline, or the deadline listed on your checklist, or your awards will be subject to cancellation. Please note that many of these documents (tax transcripts, income statements, etc.) will need to come from a parent.

Financial Aid Requirements

AFTER YOU RECEIVE YOUR AWARDS: • Visit the MyFinancialAid section in the my.ucmerced.edu student portal.

financialaid.ucmerced.edu

• Select “Accept/Decline Awards.” • Select “2018-2019 Award Year.” • All grants and scholarship awards will be accepted for you.

FINANCIAL AID PRIORITY DOCUMENTATION DEADLINES

• Choose which loans or work opportunities you’d like to accept, if applicable. • If you are required to complete the verification process, you will be able to accept/decline loans and work opportunities once that process is complete. If you would like to apply for a loan, detailed instructions are available at financialaid.ucmerced.edu/types-aid/loans . If your parent would like to apply for a Parent PLUS Loan, he or she can visit financialaid.ucmerced.edu/ how-plus-loan for instructions. IF YOUDIDNOT SUBMIT A FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA) OR CALIFORNIA DREAMACT APPLICATION (CADAA): Aid may still be available even though the March 2 deadline has passed. All students will be considered for federal grants and loans throughout the year. Contact our office for assistance. Our school code is 041271. IF YOU DID SUBMIT A FAFSA OR A CADAA: • Confirm that you have included UC Merced’s school code (041271) on the application. • If UC Merced’s school code was listed, visit the my.ucmerced.edu student portal to view requirements or awards. If you do not see any awards, contact the Students First Center for assistance.

FALL DEADLINE June 1, 2018 SPRING DEADLINE Dec. 1, 2018

QUESTIONS? Email the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at finaid@ucmerced.edu or call the Students First Center at 209-228-7178.

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5 Submit

The Office of Admissions admitted you to UC Merced with a set of conditions that must be met to ensure that your admission offer will remain intact. You can view the Conditions of Admission for first year and transfer students at admissions.ucmerced.edu/admitted . Notify the Office of Admissions immediately of any changes to the courses that were reported on your application and subsequent communications or updates, including the Transfer Academic Update. TRANSCRIPTS • Final, official transcripts from all high schools and higher education institutions must be postmarked or electronically submitted to the Office of Admissions or before July 1 for fall 2018 and Jan. 6, 2019, for spring 2019. • Notify the Office of Admissions if you have difficulties getting your transcripts sent. Check the my.ucmerced.edu student portal frequently to confirm that we have received your official documents and to review your checklist for any unresolved items. ◊ If you have sent your test scores to a UC campus and they are not listed, contact the UC Application Center at 800-207-1710 for assistance. • If you are an international applicant and have attended school outside of the United States, visit the my.ucmerced.edu student portal to view any foreign records the Office of Admissions requires. TEST SCORES • Official scores for ALL exams you have taken must be submitted to the Office of Admissions by July 15 for fall 2018 and Jan. 6, 2019, for spring 2019. • You can confirm that we received your official ACT and/or SAT scores by logging in to your UC application at admissions.universityofcalifornia.edu/ applicant/login.htm . Do this frequently until you have confirmed that all official test scores have been received. • If you are an international applicant and have attended school outside of the U.S., please visit the my.ucmerced.edu student portal to view any external exam scores the Office of Admissions requires. NOTES FOR ENTERING TRANSFER STUDENTS: • If you reported AP or IB examinations passed with acceptable scores on your application, it is recommended that you have your official test scores sent to the Office of Admissions as a condition of your admission. If AP exams appear on your checklist on the my.ucmerced.edu student portal, they are required, and you must contact the appropriate testing agency immediately to have your official scores sent to the Office of Admissions.

Admissions Documents

admissions.ucmerced.edu/admitted

TRANSCRIPT DEADLINES

FALL DEADLINE July 1, 2018 SPRING DEADLINE Jan. 6, 2019

TEST SCORE DEADLINES

FALL DEADLINE July 15, 2018 SPRING DEADLINE Jan. 6, 2019

my.ucmerced.edu

6 Submit Other Required Documents

These requirements will appear on your checklist on the my.ucmerced.edu student portal. After you submit the documents, monitor your UC Merced email for updates on status or additional information.

STATEMENT OF LEGAL RESIDENCE (SLR) All incoming students submit a Statement of Legal Residence to determine their residence status for tuition purposes. The information you submit will be used to determine whether you and your parents meet the requirements for California resident tuition as of the first day of instruction of the term.

my.ucmerced.edu

Failure to submit your SLR will result in nonresident fees being assessed to your student account.

STATEMENT OF LEGAL RESIDENCE (SLR) DEADLINES

STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE WAIVER All registered UC Merced students are automatically enrolled in the UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP) in order to meet the University of California mandate that all UC students have health insurance coverage as a nonacademic condition of enrollment. However, if you have coverage through a major medical insurance plan that meets the University’s minimum criteria for health care and do not wish to be enrolled in UC SHIP, you can waive enrollment by submitting an online waiver application. Waiver applications can be submitted on the my.ucmerced.edu student portal during the fall or spring waiver periods. A new waiver application must be completed each academic year in the fall. Complete the Waiver Criteria Worksheet at health.ucmerced.edu/ waiverworksheet.pdf to help you gather the information you will need prior to completing the application. Visit health.ucmerced.edu/waiver for information.

FALL DEADLINE June 15, 2018 SPRING DEADLINE Dec. 15, 2019

STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE WAIVER DEADLINES

FALL DEADLINE Aug. 1, 2018 SPRING DEADLINE Jan. 8, 2019

Late Waiver Deadline With $50 Fee

Semester

Waiver Opens

Waiver Deadline

Fall 2018

May 1, 2018

Aug. 1, 2018

Aug. 9, 2018

PROOF OF IMMUNIZATION DEADLINES

Spring 2019 Nov. 12, 2018

Jan. 8, 2019

Jan. 16, 2019

FALL DEADLINE Aug. 22, 2018 SPRING DEADLINE Jan. 22, 2019

PROOF OF IMMUNIZATION To comply with the University of California immunization requirement, all incoming students are required to complete a TB Risk Screening questionnaire and Immunizations Form to prove vaccination and/or immunity to certain vaccine-preventable diseases. You can find these items in the MyHealth portal at myhealth.ucmerced.edu . We strongly recommend that you meet TB and immunization requirements before you arrive on campus. Failure to submit proof of immunizations and TB compliance will result in a registration hold for the following semester . health.ucmerced.edu/immunizations

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7 Pay Tuition and Fees

Undergraduate fees will be assessed after you register for courses. You then will be responsible for paying the fees by the fee payment deadline, which will be noted in the my.ucmerced.edu student portal.

HOW TO PAY? Log in to the my.ucmerced.edu student portal and select MyBill to view the amount you owe. Balances not paid by the payment deadline are subject to a $50 late fee and a hold on your student account.

my.ucmerced.edu

FEE PAYMENT DEADLINES

PAYMENT METHODS: • Online:

Credit card and eCheck payments Cash, checks and money orders

• In person:

FALL DEADLINE Aug. 15, 2018 SPRING DEADLINE Jan. 16, 2019

Checks and money orders

• By mail:

FINANCIAL AID DISBURSEMENTS: Financial aid will be disbursed (posted to student accounts) no sooner than 10 days prior to the beginning of the first day of instruction each term. In general, you must be enrolled in at least 12 units, must have submitted all required documents and accepted all aid before your aid can be disbursed to your account. DEFERRED PAYMENT PLAN: The Deferred Payment Plan (DPP) offers the option to pay registration fees and on-campus housing costs (if applicable) in four monthly installments per semester. To qualify for the DPP, you must owe more than $500 after authorized financial aid is taken into consideration. You can request enrollment using the MyBill link in your my.ucmerced.edu student portal. ELECTRONIC REFUNDS (EFT): You should sign up for electronic refunds if you are expecting a refund. Once enrollment is complete, future refunds will be transferred electronically to the bank account of your choice. Those funds will be accessible in 1 to 3 business days. Students enrolled in EFT do not have to stand in line to pick up their refund checks. Students can sign up for EFT using the Electronic Student Refund link in the my.ucmerced.edu student portal.

my.ucmerced.edu

8 Move-in Day

ON-CAMPUS RESIDENTS You will receive an email with your assigned move-in time. While we ask that you arrive during your assigned time, you will be allowed to check in on either day during the times advertised. Students not able to check in during their assigned move-in time can check in at the Terrace Center Housing and Resident Life Office starting at 5 p.m. each day and during office hours the following week. After you have checked in and received your room keys, you will be free to unpack and explore campus. Each community will have a floor meeting hosted by their Resident Assistant (RA) that each resident is expected to attend. These meetings will provide important contact information, resources and a review essential policies. OFF-CAMPUS RESIDENTS Students living in the Heritage Apartments will check in between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. at a station near the main office of their designated complex. There are no assigned move-in times, but we strongly encourage you to check in between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.

my.ucmerced.edu

MOVE-IN DATES

FALL MOVE-IN DAY Aug. 18-19, 2018 SPRING MOVE-IN DAY Jan. 13, 2019

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN YOUR ROOM:

• 1 twin 5-position adjustable bed with an extra-long twin mattress (80”x30”) • 1 desk • 1 desk chair • 1 lockable drawer (bring your own lock)

• Under-bed drawers • Closet space • 1 TV cable jack (cord not included) • 1 telephone jack • High-speed ethernet jack for each resident • Wireless Internet

WHAT TO BRING: For a list of what to bring and what to leave at home, visit housing.ucmerced.edu/apply/spring-housing/what-bring .

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PREPARING FOR THE SEMESTER

UC MERCED STUDENT PORTAL At my.ucmerced.edu , you can find updated, secure, 24-hour access to comprehensive information about Financial Aid, Admissions, registration, records and more. Student services found in your portal: • MyFinancialAid will link you to your individual student awards as well as student requirements. • MyAdmissions will link you to any outstanding Conditions of Admission you need to fulfill. • MyBill will link you to your student account, where you can manage payments and much more.

Checklist

As a new student, there are a number of steps you need to complete before you get to campus. Your personalized checklist, found in your portal, will guide you through this process. Note: Each student will have different Financial Aid, Admissions, registration and residency requirements that will need to be fulfilled.

PERSONALIZED CHECKLIST

REQUIREMENTS THAT NEED TO BE COMPLETEDWILL BE IDENTIFIED AND LINKED TO

CHECK TOMAKE SUREWE HAVE RECEIVED YOUROFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS AND TEST SCORES

my.ucmerced.edu

UC MERCED EMAIL ACCOUNT You were provided with a UC Merced email address when you submitted your Statement of Intent to Register (SIR). It is important to check your UC Merced email, because that is where we send important information. Visit the my.ucmerced.edu student portal and click on the tab “WebMail” at the top of the page after you log in. You can opt to forward University email communications to a different account. In those instances, it is your responsibility to ensure that all information sent to your official University-assigned email account, including attachments, is properly forwarded to that other email account. Student Email Account Responsibilities: Pursuant to campus policy, all UC Merced students are responsible for taking the following actions: • Activating their university-assigned email account, preferably upon expressing their intent to register or as soon thereafter as possible • Accessing all information sent to their university-assigned email account • Managing their university-assigned computing and email accounts Acceptable Use Policy: The first time you logged in to the my.ucmerced.edu student portal, you were asked to read and agree to the terms of the Information Technology Resources Acceptable Use Policy. In case you didn’t read the terms before checking the box, we’d like to remind you that you are required to abide by all associated state and federal laws and adhere to University policies when connected to the UC Merced network, or when using any of the University’s network-based tools and resources. Although we recommend you review the terms at the link above, here is a highlight of the items you should be most aware of: No illegal sharing of copyrighted or licensed materials, no unauthorized use of University systems, no stalking, no spamming, and no use of University network resources for commercial gain. it.ucmerced.edu/aup DISABILITY SERVICES In order to ensure equal access to all of UC Merced’s academic programs and activities, students with disabilities are encouraged to contact the Disability Services Office at 209-228-6996 as soon possible to initiate the accommodation process. Visit disabilityservices.ucmerced.edu for more information. ENTRY LEVEL WRITING REQUIREMENT First year students must meet the Entry Level Writing Requirement within their first year at UC Merced. If you take the Analytical Writing Placement Exam (AWPE), offered on May 13, 2018, the AWPE checklist item will show as “Passed” or “Not Passed” when we receive your score. If you pass the examination, the ELWR will be marked “Satisfied.” If your ELWR is “Unsatisfied,” you can visit the UC Merced General Catalog at catalog.ucmerced.edu/content.php?catoid=2&navoid=51. edu/admitted and select “Entry-Level Writing Requirement” for options to satisfy the requirement.

JOBS AT UC MERCED Working on campus while at UC Merced can be the first step in building professional skills, discovering a new passion and making lasting friendships. Your search will begin at hire. ucmerced.edu. At the bottom of the page, select CATPAWS for on-campus jobs, or CATLink for off-campus jobs and internships. You can email careercenter@ucmerced.edu to ask questions or schedule an appointment with a career specialist. TEXTBOOKS AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT UC Merced students have many options for getting their textbooks. Reserve your textbooks online: Visit bookstore.ucmerced.edu , find “Course Books” and click on “Textbooks.” Here, you will find instructions on how to reserve your textbooks. Log in to the my.ucmerced.edu student portal and select MyRegistration, then select “View Books” to load all your courses on the Campus Store website so you can begin reserving your books. Rent your textbooks: The Campus Store offers a textbook rental program at a fraction of the purchase price. Call 209-228-2665 for more information. Purchase electronics at educational discounts: The Campus Store is an authorized Apple reseller and sells laptops, iPads and Apple accessories. You also can by discounted technology from Dell and Microsoft, and trade in your devices for credit at the store. Incoming first year students who live on campus are not eligible to park on campus unless special conditions apply. Transfer students who live in off-campus student housing may be able to purchase a permit to park on campus. Visit the Transportation and Parking Services website at taps.ucmerced.edu for information. CatTracks: The campus shuttle service, CatTracks, provides transportation to local businesses and many student housing communities. Visit cattracks.ucmerced.edu for schedules and route information. Alternative transportation: Students can also sign up for the ZipCar program, which provides hourly rental vehicles right from campus, and the carpooling service Zimride. STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT All UC Merced students must adhere to the UC Merced student code of conduct, found at studentconduct.ucmerced.edu/ sites/studentconduct.ucmerced.edu/files/page/documents/ code_of_conduct_600_and_700.pdf . TRANSPORTATION AND PARKING On-campus parking:

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STUDENTS FIRST CENTER

The Students First Center (SFC) is UC Merced’s one-stop shop for enrollment services. Students, staff, faculty members, and guests can contact the SFC for assistance with Admissions, Financial Aid, Registrar and Summer Session services.

PHONE 209-228-7178 (CATS-1ST)

EMAIL studentsfirst@ucmerced.edu WEB studentsfirst.ucmerced.edu IN PERSON Kolligian Library, Room 122

CHAT Monday – Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m., and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Voicemails and emails will receive a response in 24 to 48 hours, except on holidays and weekends.

First Year Experience Website fye.ucmerced.edu

5200 N. Lake Road | Merced, CA 95343

PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER MAY 2018 | 500

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