Graduate Program - New Student Checklist

New Graduate Student Checklist: What Do I Do Now?

Read the following carefully and follow the check list below:

Activate your NetID

You will need your NetID and password to access the My UW-Madison portal at my.wisc.edu. To activate your NetID, click on the ACTIVATE NETID button from the My UW Madison login screen and follow the instructions. If you are unsure about your NetID and password, contact the Dot Help Desk at (608) 264-4357.

Enroll for 3 credits in each of the First Year Courses:

Students enroll via the Web at my.wisc.edu student center. You will need your NetID and password to access the My UW-Madison portal (see "Activate your NetID" above for more information). For more detailed information visit MyUW Student Center Overview and MyUW Student Center Demos

All first‐year graduate students should register for:

Mathematical Economics (Econ 703)

Economic Statistics & Econometrics I (Econ 709)

Economic Theory‐Microeconomics Sequence (Econ 711)

Economic Theory‐ Macroeconomics Sequence (Econ 712)

Register for 3 credits for each course even though you may be given a choice of 3 or 4 credits. Undergraduates register for 4 credits.

You can find more detailed information on the Graduate Courses web page.
If you encounter registration problems, please send an email to kgrochol@ssc.wisc.edu with your id number, the name of the class you want to enroll in, and the discussion sections you want.

Check the first year’s textbooks information.

A Textbook link is available in the My UW portal student center as soon as you're enrolled. This link will provide information about which texts are required your courses.
Click on the textbook demo to see how to look for textbook information on your student center

Locate your WiscMail account.

Once you have activated your NetID, log on to my.wisc.edu WiscMail is UW-Madison's centrally supported email service. It provides email to all faculty, staff and students via the My UW-Madison portal on the web or through a local email client. WiscMail has valuable features, including IMAP folders, secure login, Web access, virus scanning, spam filtering and much more. Visit the WiscMail web page for more information.

The Registrar, Bursar, deans and the Graduate School only use WiscMail to correspond with students.
Prerequisite: You must be enrolled for classes.

Add your @wisc.edu email to econ_grad email list

When you have activated your NetID and have your @wisc.edu email address, email Jackie Utter (jutter@ssc.wisc.edu). She will add your @wisc address to the econ_grad email list. This list is used quite extensively by students, faculty, and staff to notify students regarding activities and important announcements in the Department of Economics.

Modify Your Net ID Account

To begin, log into the NetID Account Modification tool at https://www.mynetid.wisc.edu/modify. The account modification tool allows you to activate missing services, reset your password, change your account recovery questions, and change your preference to forward your WiscMail to a work or personal email address used frequently.

Verify your new mailing address & phone number

Once you have your email account and you find a place to live in Madison you should update your personal information at your student center my.wisc.edu/. For more information on how to update your personal information visit MyUW Student Center Demos. Helpful demos include Address, Phone Numbers, Email Address, and Emergency Contacts

Check in

One of the first things you will need to do upon arriving in Madison is to check in with your Graduate Advisor, Kim Grocholski, and the Graduate Program Coordinator, Jackie Utter, at our Graduate Program Office, 7235/7239 Social Science. The Graduate Advisor plays a vital role in the program, serving as a key link between graduate students and faculty. The advisor is the students’ primary source of information about program policies and procedures. The Graduate Program Coordinator provides administrative support and assists in the implementation of graduate program activities and procedure. Although the departmental office is there to assist you, it is your responsibility to be aware of graduate policies and deadlines.

Get your picture taken

When you check-in with the Graduate Advisor your picture will be taken and added to our graduate student photo directory.

Get your UW Photo ID card.

Get your UW ID card (the "WisCard") photo taken at the WisCard Office in Union South Room 149, M-F 8:30 am – 5:00 pm. Students who need a new or replacement ID card must present some form of personal photo identification such as a valid driver's license, passport, or state ID. Photo ID cards are required to check out library books, use UW recreational facilities, and obtain a free bus pass. Please visit the Photo ID Office website for additional information on your Photo ID card.

If you will receive funding in the form of a Graduate School University Fellowship for the first year of study:

Finalize the details of your appointment at Office of Fellowships & Funding Resources (OFFR) located at 231 Bascom Hall, 500 Lincoln Drive.
You will receive a stipend paid in 9 months and your first check will be available on October 1st
If you are required to take the ESLAT (English as a Second Language Assessment Test):There are multiple opportunities to take this test. For schedule and location information, visit the UW-Madison Program in English as a Second Language or call (608) 263-3780. Students must bring their student identification number and a photo ID (such as passport, U.W. Student identification card).

If you will receive funding for your first year of study from the department of Economics (TA’s, PA’s, and departmental fellows):

Expect an email if your funding offer is contingent upon verification of identity on the Form I-9. An email will be sent out from Susan Landsverk our payroll representative, requesting you to fill out the first section of the I-9. The email will have instructions on how to complete the electronic form I-9 and the list of documents required. You must present the required documents, in person 3 days after the first day your appointment started.

If you are an international student:

Register and attend one of the ISS Mandatory Orientation sessions.

Email the Grad Advisor (Kim) to take the SPEAK test. All non-native English speakers MUST take the Speak test once during the fall semester unless they earned a 26 or higher on the Speak portion of the IBT, taken within the last two years. If you are going to be a TA for the fall you must take the speak test as soon as possible. If you are not going to be a TA, plan to take the exam during Fall semester.

Pick up your office assignment and keys:

All first year students have been assigned space in room 7481 Social Science. Room 7481 has lockers. Room and locker keys are available from Tammy Herbst-Koel (Department Administrator) in 7448 Social Science. She also has building keys which you will need for after-hours access. There is a $5.00 deposit on each key which will be returned when you return your keys to the department. Do not lose your office key. The cost of replacing an office key is $75.00.

Enroll for Health Insurance.

The University's Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) is mandatory for international students that did not receive financial support in the form of a fellowship or assistantship for the first year of study and their dependents living in the U.S. Please go to the following website to obtain information on SHIP: http://www.uhs.wisc.edu/home.jsp?cat_id=116

Please note that International Students are required to enroll in SHIP unless the qualifying criteria on the Waiver Application are satisfied. Individual plans do not qualify for a waiver. If you will receive funding for your first year of study, you will be eligible for insurance through your Project Assistantship, Teaching Assistantship, Research Assistantship or fellowship. If you sign up for insurance through your Assistantship, or fellowship appointment, you do not need to sign up for SHIP. Plan to attend the Benefits Seminar & Drop-in Sessions for Graduate Assistants. This seminar will provide you with an overview of your UW benefits package. The drop-in sessions are designed to assist you with the completion of your benefit applications. No registration is required.

Pay your tuition/fees.

Check your student account invoice for amount due and payment deadlines. Pay your fees and tuition, if applicable, at the Bursar's Office. The offices are located at 333 East Campus Mall # 10501. If you do not receive an invoice, contact the Bursar's Office, 608-262-3611. Failure to receive an invoice will not be accepted as a reason for failure to comply with payment deadlines. If you received a financial award that included remission of tuition (unless the award was a fellowship): You are still responsible to pay segregated fees.

Submit final transcripts

If you have not provided the graduate school with your final transcript, first stop by the Econ Graduate Office (7235/7239 Social Science) and ask Jackie Utter to make a copy for your departmental file. After that, you can submit the requested final transcript(s) to room 228 Bascom Hall. If you do not submit final transcripts by the third week of classes, you will not be able to register for future semesters.

Pick up your free Madison Metro bus pass.

As a UW student, you can pick up a bus pass at no charge from the ASM Student Print office located in the Student Services Tower on University Avenue (333 East Campus Mall) at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters. Fall ASM bus passes available starting Monday August 27. Visit the ASM Web site for more information on their services. Be sure to have your UW I.D. with you. You must register for classes before you get your Madison Metro bus pass. To see how you can make the most of your bus pass visit Madison Metro web page or Try Metro's Automated Trip Planner.

If you have a need related to a disability:

Contact the McBurney Center before you arrive on campus for program access services and information, as well as referrals.

Get familiar with the Department of Economics Graduate Program website:

The Graduate Program Guidelines and the Resources and Information for Current Students web page.

Visit the Resources and Information for Current Students web page, specially the incoming students section.