To do as soon as you arrive on campus

Checkmark Visit your department office

One of the first things to do when you arrive on campus is introduce yourself to the staff in your department and meet your faculty adviser if you know who he or she is. If you have an office on campus, locate your mailbox. If you have an assistantship or fellowship, ask about paperwork you may need to complete.

Checkmark Attend your department orientation

Most academic departments hold an orientation for new students. This is a great opportunity to meet classmates and professors often includes tips for success in your department, introductions to key people in your college and access to useful resources for graduate students. If you haven't heard from your department about an orientation for new students, call and ask.

Checkmark Attend the campus-wide New Graduate Student Welcome sponsored by the Office of Graduate Studies
Orientation snapshot

Meet grad students from all disciplines, learn about graduate life at UNL, enjoy a complimentary lunch, and attend an information fair featuring a variety of campus departments and community resources from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on August 17 at the UNL City Campus Student Union, 14th and R Streets. The Welcome Event page provides more information about the schedule.

Checkmark Familiarize yourself with the UNL campus

You'll want to get to know our beautiful campuses, and don't forget to take time to enjoy the incredible landscaping. With a good map and a little time to walk and explore, you'll find the campuses (East Campus and City Campus) friendly and easy to navigate. Start by browsing the campus map.

Besides your department, campus sites that grad students find most useful include the libraries, health center, instructional design center in Henzlik Hall, campus recreation centers, student unions, and the Office of Graduate Studies.

Checkmark Get your NCard

The NCard is UNL's permanent photo identification card. The NCard system is campus-wide and is used by campus departments and businesses for identification, access to buildings and labs, and optional services such as purchasing and educational discounts.

To get your NCard, you'll first have to register for classes. Afterward, take a current photo ID, such as a driver's license or passport, along with proof of registration and your NU ID number to the NCard Office, Room 121, Nebraska Union, 14th and R streets, City Campus. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A $20 issuance fee will be charged to your student account for your first NCard.

The additional convenience of linking your NCard to a Wells Fargo checking account is available. If you choose this feature, your NCard becomes a PIN-based debit card, requiring a balance in a Wells Fargo bank account to cover the purchases.

Checkmark Sign up for health insurance

Under the 2012-2013 Graduate Student Health Insurance Plan students receive medical, dental, and prescription coverage.

Health insurance:
Summary of costs
Student Fall Spring &
Summer
Full price $642 $992
Grad assistant price $135 $208
Dependents
Spouse or partner $2,073 $3,324
Child $1,045 $1,651
  • Coverage includes medical expenses for illness and accident up to $250,000 with an annual deductible of $400, unless you receive care at the University Health Center where there are no deductibles.
  • A Preventive/Basic policy for dental care covers up to $500 per year, with preventive treatment covered 100% with $0 deductible for treatment at the University Health Center and $40 deductible for basic services.
  • The prescription coverage is a $300 policy benefit for fall semester and $300 for spring/summer semesters with a $10 co-pay for generic drugs and $25 co-pay for brand name drugs.
  • A well-baby benefit of $250 is available for those who add dependents to their policy.
  • The full premium for one year (Aug. 14, 2012, through Aug. 13, 2013) is $1,634. Graduate assistants pay only 21% ($343) of that amount, charged to your centralized billing account.

Students who are on graduate assistantships and all international students are automatically enrolled. To add a dependent, spouse, or domestic partner, and for all other students, enroll via MyRED.

Also, if you are a graduate assistant and you do not wish to be enrolled in the student health insurance, you must waive coverage every semester. For the fall semester a waiver must be submitted before the 14th day of class to avoid charges. The Student Health Insurance Waiver Request Form is available online from the University Health Center.

For more information read the health benefit FAQ or browse the University Health Center.

Checkmark Purchase a parking permit
  • Most graduate students living off campus purchase a commuter student parking pass for $528 per year ($396 for 9 months), although this type of pass does not guarantee a parking space, especially at peak times.
  • For a reserved space, you may opt to purchase a student reserved permit at a rate of $960 or a parking garage pass where spaces are not over-sold and also allow for protection from the weather for $636 per year.
  • However, the most cost efficient is the perimeter lot parking pass at $312 per year, which offers parking in a lot further from campus with shuttles running from the perimeter lots to the core of campus from 6:30 a.m. until 11:30 p.m.
  • Finally, many graduate students also choose bicycles or city buses over driving. As a UNL student you are eligible for a free bus pass. Check out routes for Startran, the city bus system.
  • Depending on your schedule, bus routes may not always be an option, so one last resort would be to park at one of the many meters around the campus. Just remember you can get ticketed for re-plugging the same meter!
  • To purchase a UNL parking permit and for more information visit the Parking and Transit Services site. You will automatically receive your free bus pass in the mail once you pay your student fees or you can pick one up at New Graduate Student Welcome.

To do within the first 2 weeks of the semester

Checkmark Learn about academic integrity

You will be proud to know that UNL's graduate program has a reputation for exceptionally high standards of academic integrity. Our graduate faculty expect graduate students to conduct every aspect of their academic career with complete honesty. Because we understand that you want a degree from a University with a sterling reputation for ethical conduct, the penalties for any graduate student who engages in academic dishonesty are severe. Make sure that you avoid any appearance of plagiarism, cheating or research misconduct. If you are ever in doubt, ask a trusted faculty member.

The Office of Student Judicial Affairs publishes a Student Code of Conduct which outlines the expected behavior of students as members of the campus and Lincoln communities. Since regulations vary between campuses, it's wise to familiarize yourself with UNL's expectations. The Student Code of Conduct outlines activities considered to constitute misconduct by the University. These include disruption of University operations, academic dishonesty, misuse of University computers, alcohol and drug misuse, abuse and assault, weapons misuse and a variety of other legal and regulatory guidelines.

For relevant definitions and detailed regulations visit Student Judicial Affairs.

Checkmark Locate the Graduate Connections newsletter

Graduate Connections is an electronic newsletter for graduate students at UNL that provides helpful information, news about events, reminders about deadlines and funding, and connections with other graduate students. It is published once a quarter; each edition is posted online.

Checkmark Set up an email account

UNL provides free web-based email for students. You can request your account at huskers.unl.edu using your your My.UNL (Blackboard) username and password. If you don't know your My.UNL ID, sign into MyRED, select "Additional Services", and click "My.UNL (Blackboard) Username" and then "UNL Student Email Account". Follow the instructions to configure your account. Refer to the Husker Email FAQ if you have questions.

Photo: Wireless access on campus
Checkmark Get access to the on-campus wireless internet network

Most academic buildings on UNL's campus have wireless connectivity. To ensure network security and for Information Services to know how to reach you with notifications or questions, UNL students must register their computer's Ethernet address (free for UNL students).

To register, you will need to find the hardware address of your computer, for example: 1C:92:97:24:36:DA (also called an Ethernet address, physical address, or MAC address) and then visit UNL's wireless registration page.

Checkmark Check out your consolidated bill

The University features a consolidated billing system which provides one statement for a variety of charges from different departments, offices, even Planet Sub or Runza in the Nebraska Union. You'll receive an e-mail notification that your statement is available online for you to access via MyRED. This is another reason why it is important to update your e-mail address with the University to the one you most frequently use.

Your statement should arrive by email the 25th of each month and payment deadlines are always the 12th of each month.

Graduate students on assistantships can defer the September and February bills, which include tuition and fees, for 30 days to allow for you to receive two paychecks. For the fall, your statement will still reflect a due date of September 12, 2011 but you will not be assessed a late fee if you pay by October 12, 2011. You do not need to request the deferment. This will be automatic.

Pay your bill online or in person at the Bursar's Office, 121 Canfield Administration Building.