New Graduate Student Information Guide

Department Contacts

Contact us with any questions or concerns that come up during your time here. We’re happy to help!

Professor Boxiang Wang

  • Director of Graduate Studies, Statistics and Data Science Graduate Advisor
  • boxiang-wang@uiowa.edu
  • (319) 335-2294
  • 261 SH

Professor Zhiwei "Josh" Tong

Tammy Siegel

Olivia Tobin

Heather Roth

Important Dates

Domestic Students

August 19, 2025 --- Latest date by which you should arrive in Iowa City

August 20, 2025 --- Graduate College Orientation

August 21, 2025 --- Department Orientation for all new graduate students, Fall Open House Welcome Event

August 21-22, 2025 --- New graduate student advising meetings

August 22, 2025 --- Department Orientation for new Teaching Assistants (TAs), I-9 meetings for new TAs

August 25, 2025 --- Classes begin

International Students

July 11, 2025 --- Earliest date you may enter the U.S. in F-1 or J-1 status

August 10, 2025 --- Latest date by which you should arrive in Iowa City

August 11-15, 2025 --- International Student Orientation

August 20, 2025 --- Graduate College Orientation

August 21, 2025 --- Department Orientation for all new graduate students, Fall Open House Welcome Event

August 21-22, 2025 --- New graduate student advising meetings

August 22, 2025 --- Department Orientation for new Teaching Assistants (TAs), I-9 meetings for new TAs

August 25, 2025 --- Classes begin

Set up your University of Iowa email

All University of Iowa students are required to activate their assigned uiowa.edu email address. All official communication from university offices will be sent via email to your University of Iowa email address. This address usually follows the pattern firstname-lastname@uiowa.edu (it may also include a number).

How to access your email

  1. Log in at Microsoft 365 to sign-in to your university email. Enter your credentials in the format of HawkID@uiowa.edu when prompted for your HawkID and password.
    1. Note: If you have forgotten your HawkID or password, visit the HawkID Tools page to locate or reset your account.
  2. Click on the Apps icon on the left side of the screen, and then click on the Outlook icon along the top of the screen to view your email.
  3. Download the Outlook application to access your email on your mobile devices.

Living in Iowa City

Housing

Graduate students at the University of Iowa typically live in off-campus rental housing. The Division of Student Life’s Off-Campus Living Guide is a great resource for students looking for off-campus housing in the Iowa City area. The university also offers an Off-Campus Housing Listing website. You can browse listings here and find general resources for renters here.

Getting Started

Prior to looking into off-campus housing, it is important to look at all your options and resources. The Division of Student Life has compiled a list of resources for students to use before, during, and after their off-campus experience. Below are some links to relevant information to look at during your apartment search:

Looking for a Roommate?

Finding a roommate can be a great way to save money on rent. The university offers a way to connect with other students looking for roommates. Create an account with the Off-Campus Housing Service here to get started.

Know Your Rights as a Tenant

Student Legal Services (SLS) strives to educate tenants on their rights and responsibilities throughout the renting process. Students can take proactive steps to protect themselves from being taken advantage of by landlords and property managers. If you have questions about your renting situation, contact Student Legal Services or another attorney. SLS offers free lease reviews to students. You can find SLS’s Tenants’ Rights Guide here, available in English, Arabic, Hindi, Korean, and Simplified Chinese.

Iowa City Resources

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) has compiled several resources concerning life in Iowa City that may be helpful for all students who are new to Iowa City.

New Graduate Student Orientation- August 20-22

Graduate College Orientation- Wednesday, August 20

To help you prepare for your graduate and professional studies and settle into the Iowa City area, the Graduate College hosts the Graduate and Professional Student Orientation on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. As you transition into graduate school life, the Graduate College is here to help. You can reach them at grad-orientation@uiowa.edu.

Graduate Student Community
  • Online Graduate and Professional Student Orientation & Resources Site
    • Click here to enroll
    • New modules will be released every month, April through August, and you will have access to these resources during your entire time at the University of Iowa
  • GradNav Newsletter
    • Sign up for the biweekly professional development newsletter to receive news & information on upcoming events
    • Click here to sign up
Informational Sessions

Check out the Graduate and Professional Student Orientation informational session offerings. All sessions will be held virtually on the morning of orientation. Links will be added to this page as orientation nears. Recordings from all the sessions will be available in late August.

  • Welcome Session 10:00 - 11:00 A.M.
    • Welcome from the Dean & Doctoral Student Panel
  • Session 1 11:10 – 11:40 A.M.
    • Time Management: Plan for Success
    • Grad Student Teaching Resources
    • From Ideas to Impact: Exploring Writing, Digital Scholarship and Community Engagement Resources
  • Session 2 11:50 A.M. - 12:20 P.M.
    • Mental Health Awareness & Resources
    • Top 10 Library Resources and Services for Grad Students
    • Grad Success Center
  • Session 3 12:30 - 1:00 P.M.
    • Using AI Tools in Grad School
    • Cultivating Your Community in Grad School
    • Working with Mentors
  • Benefits, Billing & Payroll: 101 1:15 - 2:45 P.M.
    • Gain valuable insights from representatives of the Billing, Benefits, and Payroll offices as they guide you through navigating financial matters during your academic journey. Learn about tuition payment options, available benefits such as healthcare and insurance, and understand the intricacies of payroll procedures to ensure a smooth transition into graduate life.
Engagement and Resource Fair
  • Date: Wednesday, August 20, 2025
  • Time: 4:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M.
  • Location: Main Lounge, Iowa Memorial Union (125 N Madison St., Iowa City, 52245)

Why come to the fair?

  • Have dinner from local food trucks
    • Please stop by the registration tables outside the IMU Main Lounge before the event to pick up your $10 voucher. Supplies are limited!
  • Have a free professional photo taken
  • Meet Herky and listen to live music on the IMU Amphitheater 
  • Learn about new activities and ways of thinking
  • Develop a sense of community on and off campus
  • Find groups that will help build skills and your resume
  • Meet other new students with similar or differing interests

What to expect

  • Each organization sets up a booth to showcase its offerings, which encompass diverse interests ranging from ways to become involved in the university and local community to campus resources
  • Check this website to find updated lists of vendors and participating organizations as the event gets closer

Transportation & Parking

Department Orientation for All New Graduate Students- Thursday, August 21

Fall Open House Welcome Event
  • 9:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.
  • 241 SH
  • Check back soon for more details!
Department Orientation Presentation
  • 9:00 – 10:00 A.M.
  • Group introductions and general policy and procedures
  • Check back soon for more details!
Group Photo
  • 10:00 – 10:15 A.M.
Major Information Sessions
  • 10:30 – 11:30 A.M.
  • Students will divide into smaller groups for an introduction to their specific major/program
  • Check back soon for more details!
New Graduate Student Advising Meetings
  • By appointment
  • Students will set up an appointment to meet with their advisor and discuss their individual plan of study. Following this meeting, students will be authorized to register for courses on MyUI. Check back soon for more details on how and when to set up an appointment!
    • Actuarial Science MS and Statistics PhD (Actuarial Science concentration)
      • Advisor: Professor N.D. Shyamalkumar
    • Data Science MS, Statistics MS, and Statistics PhD (other concentrations)
      • Advisor: Professor Boxiang Wang

Department Orientation for New Teaching Assistants- Friday, August 22

New TA Orientation
  • 9:00 – 10:00 A.M.
  • Our Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) will review expectations and go over your specific roles in our department. Topics will include teaching, grading assignments, class preparation, teaching tips, common problems and questions, quizzes and exams, weekly meetings, appropriate office use, harassment prevention training, and more. Check back soon for more details!
TA Meetings by Course/Instructor
  • 10:15 – 11:00 A.M.
  • Students will divide into smaller groups to meet with the instructor of the course they will TA for. 
  • Check back soon for more details!
New TA To-Do List
  • 11:00 A.M. – 4:30 P.M.
  1. Stop by 241 SH between 11:00 A.M. and 4:30 P.M. to pick up your office key and check out any textbooks you need for your TA duties
  2. Complete FERPA and Harassment Prevention online trainings before the start of the fall semester
    1. Access trainings through Employee Self-Service --> My Career --> My Compliances
New Graduate Student Advising Meetings
  • By appointment
  • Students will set up an appointment to meet with their advisor and discuss their individual plan of study. Following this meeting, students will be authorized to register for courses on MyUI. Check back soon for more details on how and when to set up an appointment!
    • Actuarial Science MS and Statistics PhD (Actuarial Science concentration)
      • Advisor: Professor N.D. Shyamalkumar
    • Data Science MS, Statistics MS, and Statistics PhD (other concentrations)
      • Advisor: Professor Boxiang Wang
I-9 Meetings for New TAs
  • 3:00 – 4:00 P.M.
  • 21 SH
  • Financially supported graduate students must come in person and present required documents for employment verification
  • Check back soon for more details!

ISSS & Graduate College Orientation Schedule
Calendar schedule of ISSS and Graduate College orientation

Department Orientation Schedule
Calendar schedule for department orientation

Register for Classes

Students will register for classes after meeting with their advisor on Thursday, August 21 or Friday, August 22. Check back soon for more details!

Schedule Builder
MyUI Course Browse & Registration

Facilities
Schaeffer Hall (SH)

20 East Washington Street, Iowa City, Iowa 52242

Home to the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science. Most of your classes will be in this building. Here you will find the administrative office, TA offices, and faculty and staff offices.

Administrative Office

241 Schaeffer Hall

This is where you will find your mailbox and the department’s conference room. This is also where you can find administrators Heather, Olivia, and Tammy, as well as our Department Executive Officer (DEO), Professor Kung-Sik Chan.

Your Mailbox

All graduate students and faculty will have a mailbox in our main office. Please check your mailbox at least once a week!

TA Office and Desk Assignments

Graduate Assistants will be assigned a desk in one of our offices on the second or third floor of Schaeffer Hall. Students will find out their office assignments after New TA Orientation on Friday, August 22nd. Students can check out their office keys between 11:00 A.M. and 4:30 P.M. on Friday.

TA desks are assigned in the following priority order: Ph.D. and Fellowship candidates, research assistants, half-time teaching assistants, quarter-time teaching assistants, and graders.

Having a desk is a privilege, and your desk area and office space should only be used for university business. Please remember to keep the rooms clean and take all trash out to the large bins in the main hallways.

Important Information for International Students

International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS)

ISSS is your greatest resource for all inquiries related to your status as an international student.

General Contact Information
  • Phone:      319-335-0335
  • Fax:            319-335-0280
  • E-mail:      isss@uiowa.edu
  • Address:  1111 University Capitol Centre
  • Instagram: @uiowaisss

                   The University of Iowa

                   Iowa City, Iowa 52242-5500

                   USA

Virtual and In-Person Advising Hours

9:30 - 11:30 a.m. (U.S. Central Time) Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday

1:30 - 3:30 p.m. (U.S. Central Time) Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday

  • In-person advising is in 1111 University Capitol Centre (UCC). To sign in for Zoom advising, visit https://apps.its.uiowa.edu/swipe2/site/isss/signin/virtual/walkin (you should bookmark that link!) and click on the button with the arrow. After entering your HawkID and password, select the reason for the appointment. If you do not have a HawkID, please call us at 319-335-0335.
  • Students and scholars can virtually sign in no more than 30 minutes before the start of advising. Swipe will not let you sign in more than 30 minutes before advising begins or after it ends.
  • After you sign in, just wait! Once an advisor has been assigned to you, Swipe will show a green button so that you can launch Zoom and ask your questions. Please remember not to close your browser tab until Zoom launches.

New Student Resources for International Students

Visit the ISSS New Student webpage here: https://international.uiowa.edu/ISSS/new-students 

Pre-Arrival Resources
Academic and Cultural Resources
Iowa City Resources

Spoken Proficiency of English in the Classroom (SPEC) Test

All students for whom English is not a first language (as self-reported on their admissions application) and who have first-time appointments as graduate teaching assistants (TAs) are required to take a test to assess their effectiveness in speaking English before they are assigned assistantship responsibilities. This is based on a policy overseen by the Office of the Provost (see the University of Iowa Policy Manual III-13), which was derived from a Board of Regents mandate (see Iowa Code 262.9 #24-5).

 

Prospective TAs will take the Spoken Proficiency of English in the Classroom (SPEC) test. The SPEC test assesses TAs' ability to communicate in English in a classroom context in their own field of study. All students for whom English is not a first language have been preregistered for the SPEC test. You should receive an email in the first week of July with instructions on how to sign up for a specific date and time. These tests will be administered fully online from July 28-August 15. Please register for a test date on July 28, 29, 30, or 31 so we can make sure you are authorized to teach before the beginning of the school year.

 

Please see the resources below for more details about the Speaking Proficiency of English in the Classroom (SPEC) Test and Teaching Assistant Preparation in English (TAPE) Program:

International Student Orientation

ISSS will host International Student Orientation August 11-15, 2025

Goals
  • Support transition to student life and academics at the University of Iowa
  • Highlight cultural adjustment and immigration regulations to successfully maintain F-1/J-1 status
  • Connect new students with each other
Orientation Fee

All graduate and professional international students are charged a matriculation fee of $325.

Orientation Schedule

A full schedule of orientation events will be available on the Pre-Arrival Checklist in iHawk before orientation. Complete all the items on the Pre-Arrival Checklist in iHawk to receive your schedule. Attendance is expected at all orientation sessions.

Small Groups

You will be assigned to a Small Group where you will connect with other new students, participate in activities, and ask questions to support your transition to the University of Iowa. Your Small Group Leaders are experienced current students who will facilitate your Small Group Meetings.

Orientation ICON Site

Resources and video recordings of orientation sessions will be posted in the International Student Orientation ICON site. ISSS will send an invitation email to your University of Iowa email account, and you must accept the invitation to access the ICON site.

Helpful Orientation Links

2025 Federal Updates

ISSS 2025 Federal Updates webpage: https://international.uiowa.edu/ISSS/2025-federal-updates

  • Stay on top of all presidential proclamations and federal agency actions which appear to be related to international students by checking the ISSS 2025 Federal Updates webpage frequently.
  • If there is any change that affects those in F or J status, ISSS will explain the change in detail on this webpage.