Carry (on your person not in your checked baggage!) your passport with the US visa stamp, your I-20/DS-2019 form, SEVIS fee receipt, and the supporting documentation you provided to obtain the visa when you travel to the US. You should have U.S. currency available for travel expenses and any emergencies that might occur. You will be issued a Form I-94 to process your entry into the US in the appropriate visa status. Please keep the I-94, which will be given to you at the port of entry at the airport, with your passport.

Do not leave the immigration area at the port of entry until your documents are in order as follows:

You should have your Form I-94 stamped 'F-1' or 'J-1' and the letters 'D/S' (for 'Duration of Status') printed on it. Family members should have 'F-2' or 'J-2' and 'D/S' on their own I-94 forms. You will receive your I-20/DS-2019 back. If you have a question or if there is a problem, it is much easier to take care of it there before you leave the immigration area.

Transportation to the University of Delaware Campus

Once you arrive in Philadelphia, you can take the Delaware Express Shuttle to Newark, Delaware, but a reservation must be made at least 48 hours in advance. The reservation can be made on-line at www.delexpress.com or call 1-800-648-5466. The cost is around $45 plus a $7.00 tip. Please mention the University of Delaware discount to benefit of this rate. If making a reservation on-line, use code “129676” to get a discount. We encourage you, if at all possible, to make arrangements to arrive in Philadelphia. Do not take a taxi from New York to Newark, Delaware.

Those arriving in New York City can reach Newark, Delaware by bus. To travel by bus to Newark, Delaware after you arrive at Kennedy International Airport, take the Shuttle Bus to Eastside Terminal in Manhattan (around $15), and you will be transported to the Port Authority for free. Bus service from the Port Authority to Wilmington, Delaware leaves at frequent intervals (around $35). Once in the US, call 1-800-343-9999 for bus schedule information. Be sure to take the bus to Newark, Delaware (150 miles from New York City) rather than to Newark, New Jersey (across the Hudson River from Manhattan). The bus arrives at 2nd & French Street in Wilmington, Delaware across the street from the AMTRAK train station. There is DART bus service at the train station. The DART bus goes to Newark, Delaware several times a day (cost under $3).

Delaware Bus Route Schedules: http://dartfirststate.com/services/bus_services.shtml

At OISS

Soon after arrival in Delaware, you must check-in with our office (413 Academy Street) and bring the following documents with you:

• Passport
• I-94
• Visa
• I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1)

Additional documents: in addition to the documents listed above New students must complete and submit the following forms:

• International Student & Scholar Information Request Form
• SEVIS form

Students transfering to UD from another US institution will need to check-in with OISS in order to receive their new I-20/DS-2019 unless they require the new I-20/ DS-2019 to enter the U.S.

Note: International Students attending UD on a visa status that allows study in the U.S., (besides F-1 or J-1), must also submit their immigration documents to OISS.

If you arrive on a weekend day or at a time in which OISS isclosed, go immediately to your residence hall. Be sure to go to OISS once the office is open.

At your residence hall

All new freshmen MUST live on campus. Please see your housing assignment information at www.udel.edu/housingview for your specific residence hall with address.

At International Student Orientation (ISO)

International Student Orientation will be held on August 23, 2013 for Fall Semester and February 7, 2014 for the Spring Semester. We recommend that you arrive a couple of days prior to this date, and no later than the day before orientation. You must apply for early check-in by contacting Housing Assignment Services. For information about undergraduate orientation, please visit www.udel.edu/students/nso/ .

You may be asked to attend other orientation activities but this one is MANDATORY for international students. Undergraduate students may be required to take placement examinations or attend special meetings for new students. Questions about such requirements or about other details of your academic program should be addressed directly to your program office. The UD catalog is online at http://www.udcatalog. udel.edu/where admission and degree requirements are explained.

With your Academic Advisor

After checking in at OISS, all undergraduate students must check in with your academic advisors. You should communicate with your advisor prior to arriving on campus in order to register for fall courses. You may also have the opportunity to meet with your advisor during new student orientation. He or she will review your degree requirements and help you select classes. Your academic advisor will serve as an excellent resource at UD and will work with you to ensure that your academic experience is successful by assisting you with the following: course selection, choice of major(s), choice of minor(s), maintaining progress toward graduation, interpreting university policies and referrals to university support services. It is a good idea, therefore, to meet with your advisor or faculty contact before the start of each semester. See contact information below for undergraduate student advisors in each college.

Agriculture & Natural Resources
Kim Yackoski, (302) 831-2508, Yackoski@udel.edu
Academic Programs & Student Services, 104 Townsend Hall
Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Arts & Sciences
Cindi Shenkle, (302) 831-3020, cshenkle@udel.edu
Undergraduate Academic Services, 219 Mitchell Hall
Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 1-4 p.m.

Business & Economics
Dr. Jennifer Gregan-Paxton, (302) 831-4628, greganj@udel.edu
Office of Undergraduate Advising & Academic Services, 102 Purnell Hall
Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 2-4 p.m.

Earth, Ocean, & Environment
Frank Newton, (302) 831-2841, fanewt@udel.edu
Office of Student Services, 111 Robinson Hall
Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Education & Human Development
Kristine Ritz-Coll, (302) 831-2301, kritz@udel.edu
Office of Student Support Services, 120 Willard Hall
Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Engineering
Chuck Shermeyer, (302) 831-8659, fcsherm@udel.edu
Office of Undergraduate Affairs, 141 Dupont Hall
Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 1-4 p.m.

Health Sciences
Sue Clark, (302) 831-8371, sclark@udel.edu
Office of Student Services, 343-A McDowell Hall
Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

University Studies
Courtney McGinnis, (302) 831-4555, cmym@udel.edu
Advisement Services, 148-150 S. College Avenue
Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1-3:30 p.m.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the University of Delaware is committed to providing equal access for students, employees and visitors with a disability. The Office of Disabilities Support Services (DSS) provides reasonable accommodations and ensures equal access to University programs and services. The DSS office works with individuals who have physical, medical, psychological disabilities, as well as, learning disabilities and ADHD. Anyone requesting an accommodation from the University based on a disability should contact the DSS office directly. It is the individual's responsibility to inform the DSS office of the disability and need for accommodation. The DSS staff works in conjunction with other University departments to assist individuals with disabilities. Eligibility for reasonable accommodations is determined on a case-by-case basis utilizing established documentation guidelines. Please contact a DSS professional by phone (302) 831-4643, by TTY/TDD (302) 831-4563, by fax (302) 831-3261, by email, DSSoffice@udel.edu, or visit the website at www.udel.edu/DSS. The office is located at 240 Academy Street, Alison Hall, Suite 119, Newark, DE 19716. Students with temporary disabling conditions should contact the DSS office to discuss accommodations. University visitors with a disability are asked to contact the sponsoring department in advance to ensure appropriate arrangements can be made. Students with special housing requests based on Dietary, Medical, or Physical needs must submit their requests in writing. For complete details on housing requests involving special needs, please refer to www.udel.edu/has/needs.html, or contact Housing Assignment Services at (302) 831-3676.

Classes begin on August 28 for the Fall semester and February 4 for the Spring semester. You should review your schedule of classes in advance with your academic advisor. Be sure to show up to class on time and be prepared to participate in class discussion. Consult the following academic calendar for many important dates throughout the year.

The Office for International Students and Scholars will assist in providing a host family who will provide housing for two or three days upon your arrival. Students must request this service prior to arrival at UD.
Undergraduate students can check-in early by contacting Housing Assignment Services (http://www.udel.edu/has/movein/moveinday.html).
The INNternationale House at 153 Courtney Street, Newark, Delaware 19711 is very close to campus and provides both temporary and long-term housing. For more information and online registration you can visit: www.TheInnternationale.orgThe INNternational House is not a subsidiary of the University of Delaware, and its inclusion in this publication does not represent an endorsement by the University.

Freshmen students are required to live in University residence halls. For more information about University residence hall, please contact Housing Assignment Services via email at ud-housing@udel.edu or call 302-831-3676. If you are exempt from living on-campus, you can rent rooms or apartments off-campus. Rooms are normally furnished, with or without kitchen facilities, and the cost is between $350/600 per month. Apartments are unfurnished and the cost is $600 or more per month for one bedroom.

There are several places that list apartments for rent:

• The University of Delaware Office of Housing and Residence Life, 5 Courtney Street, Newark, Delaware 19711 keeps lists of apartments for rent. The list includes private apartments, apartments to share (which usually includes cooking facilities), and rooms for rent in private homes (http://www.udel.edu/has/offcampus/main.html)
• Department offices have bulletin boards which sometimes include advertisements of rooms for rent.
• The University of Delaware (Classifieds) lists apartments and rooms for rent.
• Newspapers, such as The News Journal, list apartments for rent.

 

**WARNING: Do not sign a lease until you arrive and see the room or apartment.**

Signing a Housing Agreement

Once you have found a suitable apartment, you’ll be asked to sign a lease, a legal agreement committing you to live in a place for a certain period of time at a certain price per month. You may also be asked to pay a security deposit which is often equal to one month’s rent. Here are a few things to remember:

• Be sure that you understand the terms of the lease before you sign it.
• Most area apartments require a year-long lease.
• You must pay rent for the entire amount of time that you agree to live in the apartment. Most leases state that the tenant may not vacate the apartment until the lease expires. If you vacate the apartment and are unable to find someone to rent your apartment, the law requires that you still have to pay the rent. You may not just vacate one apartment because you find another one that you like better.
• For a copy of the landlord-tenant law is the link below: http://attorneygeneral.delaware.gov/consumers/protection/brochure/landten.pdf
• Some landlords may ask for a “reference” before allowing you to rent their quarters. You may use Mr. Younes Haboussi, OISS Immigration Services Coordinator, as a reference.
• If there is something you do not understand in the lease, please contact OISS before you sign it.

• Good but used furniture may be purchased at reasonable prices at second-hand stores. The University Classifieds website (https://primus.nss.udel.edu/classifieds) is also a good source of second-hand items.
• Electric: It is your responsibility to have the electric connected when renting an apartment. The location of your apartment will determine which electric company provides the service. If the apartment is in the City of Newark, go to the Newark Municipal Building, 220 Elkton Road, Newark, Delaware, where the Utility Billing Office is located on the 1st floor (Phone: 302-366-7085). A minimum $75 deposit is required for electric heat, and a $50 deposit is required for gas or oil heat. If the apartment is located outside the City of Newark, contact Delmarva Power (Phone: 302-454-0313). Delmarva Power does not require a deposit. Check with your rental office to find out which utility will provide your power.
• Telephone: For a land line, contact Bell Atlantic Telephone (1-800-633-4330). You will have to purchase your own phone available at many stores. There are many cell phone companies so it would be helpful to ask friends or colleagues which plans are most advantageous for your calling destination. Most companies require you to sign a 1–2 year contact, especially if you want a free/inexpensive phone, and a US social security number may be required. If you don’t want to sign a contract, you can purchase “pre-paid” phone plans and pay more for the phone. Local phone calls from a public pay phone cost $0.5 cents and accept U.S. coins (quarters, dimes, and nickels). It might be wise for you to get change (get U.S. coins) or buy phone card as soon as possible in the U.S. in the airport in case there are no stores open that can make change for you late at night. You can purchase a domestic calling card at grocery stores, drug stores, etc. There is usually a basic fee for telephone and different long distance calling plans. For emergencies in the U.S. the emergency assistance number is 911. Directory assistance the U.S. can be reached by calling 411. There is a charge for directory assistance.

During New Student Orientation you will take a walking tour of campus. Get to know campus on foot and become familiar with our campus bus schedules. Note the location of your classes on a campus map and walk to each location before the first class of the semester. Some students use bicycles, scooters, and skateboards to make their way from their residence halls to classes to dining halls, and more. You can purchase these on Main Street or check our UD’s online classified section at www.udel.edu/classifieds

If you are uncertain of where your classes are located or how the bus system works, ask your residence hall advisors or stop by the University Visitors Center, at 210 South College Avenue, for a campus map with directions. Become familiar with all of your options so that you are comfortable getting where you need to be on time.

UD Bus Route Schedules (Free): (www.udel.edu/transportation/ud_route/ )

For Clothing

Students in the U.S. tend to dress quite informally, Jeans, T-shirts, shorts, and sweatshirts are all very acceptable to wear around the campus and in class. The weather in Delaware requires both summer and winter clothing. Students have found it useful and enjoyable to bring the national dress to wear on special occasions. In addition to the shops locates in Main St. , there are several places to shop in Newark although some are in driving distance: Christiana Mall (10/15 min drive), Concord Mall (20/30 min drive), Tanger Outlet Center (Lancaster, PA; Rehoboth, DE; both within 1hrs/1.5hrs drive).

For Groceries

Many shops, restaurants, and banks are located close to the University of Delaware campus. Ethnic grocery stores are also nearby including Wang's Oriental Food Store, apna Bazaar, and Zahara International Food Market. Newark Natural Food carries organic produce, herbs, grains, and groceries. A Farmer's market where fresh fruits and vegetables can be purchased is a 10-minute drive from campus, and there are large grocery stores (Acme, Pathmark, Shop-Rite) in the Newark area.

For Everything Else

You can also shop with greater ease online. The University of Delaware hosts its own classified site at www.udel.edu/ where you can buy furniture, books, services, and more. Additional web sites include: www.amazon.com, www.half.ebay.com, www.newegg.com, www.overstock.com, and www.craiglist.com