Are you going to be a NEW graduate student in our Department this fall, 2018?

Iowa

If so.... more information can be found here!

Welcome to the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science!

 

Please review this information at your convenience.  If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact us at any time.  Have a nice day!

Classes start on August 19th-  All students will register for classes the week before classes start.  International students must complete the required Orientation Program before they can register for classes.    https://international.uiowa.edu/isss/new

MYUI, and its website will serve as a hub for students to access several of the UI systems and tools they use most. 

Housing

The department has a housing webpage, please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. If you are looking for a roommate please let us know and we can update this web page!

Looking for housing options

English Proficiency Requirement

If you are an international student and your native language is not English and your TOEFL score is below 600 on the paper-based test, or 100 on the internet-based test, you may be subject to this requirement.  If you have received a TOEFL waiver PLEASE read your admission letter to see if Admissions has determined that you need to take this exam.  More information can be found here:  

http://clas.uiowa.edu/esl/esl-credit-classes/english-proficiency-requirement

ESPA and ELPT Tests for International Students

All “SUPPORTED” international students, whose native language is NOT English, will be required to complete the ESPA TEST.  Students who are offered financial support are automatically signed up to take this test.  The testing schedule can be found here: http://clas.uiowa.edu/esl/tape/testing-schedule  Results take a few days to process, and evaluations are often sent to the department by August 17th.  A copy of the report is put in your mailbox in the department’s office, 241 Schaeffer Hall on the 20th or just stop in our office and we can share the results.

More information regarding Teaching Assistant preparation in English please go Iowa's Intensive English Program and English as a second language department. More information can be found here: ESPA & ELPT tests.

If you are NOT currently FINANCIALLY supported and want permission to be evaluated you must make a DEPARTMENTAL request by completing this form and submitting.  

It does not mean that we will be able to support you (since support is very limited) however in the event that a position does open in our department those students who secure a “A” or “B” grade will then be considered for future semesters and we are often asked to make recommendations to other departments for teaching assistants.   (This past year our students have worked in Economics, Sociology, Mathematics, Educational Measurement, and Biostatistics, etc.).  We work very hard to find these positions too!

International Orientation, August 6-10, 2018

If you are an international student you will need to complete your international orientation prior to registration. Go here to see the Orientation Overview for F1 and J1 students.

Fall Classes Advising will be August 13-17, 2018

All students must meet with their advisor prior to registration.  There is no worry about getting into any of the classes we teach. 

  • IF you are an Actuarial Science MS or PhD student you will need to meet with Professor Shyamalkumar.  I  will set up the appointment for you (so do not worry about this)! I will send more information about his availability in August!
  • IF you are a Statistics MS or PhD student you will need to meet with Professor Dale Zimmerman.   I  will set up the appointment for you (so do not worry about this)! I will send more information about his availability in August!

New Graduate College Welcome and Orientation, August 15 at 1:00- 6:30 p.m., Iowa Memorial Union

The Graduate College hosts a New Graduate Student Welcome and Orientation on Wednesday, August 19 at 1:00 p.m. in the Main Lounge of the Iowa Memorial Union. 

  • Information Fair —Student services, organizations & community resources. Meet representatives from organizations that serve graduate students.
  • Mini Sessions —Attend a variety of short sessions such as funding, career preparation, and other key professional development resources available to you at the University of Iowa.
  • Key Campus Connections —Gain valuable information about paying tuition and fees (UI Billing Office), health insurance enrollment (UI Benefits), assistantship payment (UI Payroll), and the UI Main Library.
  • Panel Discussion with Current Graduate Students —Participate in an open Q&A with graduate students who are well-established in their programs of study. Get useful tips, facts, and helpful suggestions from students who have been in your shoes.
  • Reception —Enjoy food and an opportunity to meet other new graduate scholars and Graduate College staff. This is a great opportunity to get to know a few members of the faculty from your department or program.
  • Register here to attend when the link goes active later this summer!  You will hear directly from the Graduate College about this event!  Bookmark for later! http://www.grad.uiowa.edu/welcome-new-grad-students

New Teaching Assistant Orientation, August 16, Time and Location to be determined. 

Sponsored by the  Office of Teaching, Learning & Technology.

This day-long introduction to the role of  teaching assistant at the University of Iowa will bring together more than 200 TAs from across various disciplines to discuss strategies for teaching excellence and your professional development at Iowa. 

Participants who attend will learn about:

  • Strategies to be an effective instructor
  • Approaches for helping students across a range of abilities succeed
  • Resources available for undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Iowa
  • Information and resources for teaching in your discipline or field

Participants will have the unique opportunity to network with hundreds of TAs from differing backgrounds and disciplines as well as experienced UI TAs and staff members who work to enhance student academic success.

New Student Department Orientation, August 17 at 9 a.m., Location to be determined.

  • New Student Orientation —Group Introductions and General Policy Procedures at 9:45 we break into two groups. 
    • Statistics Students move to another classroom and Professor Zimmerman goes into great details of the academic program.  Afterwards we like to take a group picture on the steps of the Old Capitol or at Schaeffer Hall.
    • Actuarial Science Students will stay in this room and Professor Shyamalkumar will go over in greater detail the academic program.  He will also be joined from someone from the Pomerantz Career Center to go over how to use hireahawk.com since our 1st job fair is on September 20, 2018.  Afterwards we like to take a group picture on the steps of the Old Capitol or at Schaeffer Hall.

New Graduate Assistants Orientation, August 17 at 1 p.m., Location to be determined.

Our Director of Graduate Studies will have a department review of expectations and your specific roles in our department. Teaching and grading assignments will be explained, as well as preparation, teaching tips, problems and questions, quizzes and exams, weekly meetings, grading, appropriate office use and the Sexual Harassment Prevention Education.

New MS Statistics Students, August 17 at 3 p.m., Location to be determined.

Computer efficiency exam.  (Not graded).

Mailbox in 241 Schaeffer Hall 

All graduate students will have a mailbox in our main office.  The faculty do as well.

Office Desk Assignment

Nearly all supported students will have a desk in one of our offices.  The assignment priority (in this order) includes: Ph.D. and Fellowship candidates, research assistants, half-time teaching assistants, quarter-time teaching assistants and lastly graders.  Having a desk is a privilege and should be used only for University business.  Office assignments will be given to students on the first day of classes, August 20th.  Keys are checked out ONLY after that time.  

Individual Research Study Rooms in the Main Library

  • Description:  These are small, individual, locked rooms on the upper floors of the Main Library and are to be used for the purpose of in-depth study and research requiring extensive use of library materials.  Guidelines
  • Criteria:  Post-comp Ph.D. degree candidates, currently engaged in the writing of their dissertation (candidates in their last year of writing are given first priority).
  • Priority is given to disciplines served by the Main Library (humanities, social sciences, and math and physical sciences; then by other disciplines if rooms still available.)
  • How to Apply:  Download the PDF application here; fill it out and return by email to Andrea Rost.  Currently there is a waiting list.
  • You may also turn in the completed application to the Administration Office, 5th floor, Main Library. Paper copies of the application are also available.
  • To be considered in the first round of assignments, your completed application must be returned to the Administration Office by Friday, August 29th, 2014.  Applications are then prioritized based on return order and assignment criteria.

Set-up your University of Iowa Email

All University of Iowa students are required to activate their assigned uiowa.edu email address, as all official communication from university offices are now sent via email, rather than hard copy. This address usually follows the pattern firstname-lastname@uiowa.edu.

To activate the account:

  • Log on to MyUI
  • Click on My UIowa / My Email / Request Email Account
  • Complete the specified steps

Students who prefer to maintain only their work or home email addresses can do so by routing the uiowa.edu email to a work or home account. To do so, follow these steps:

  • Log on to MyUI
  • Click on My UIowa / My Email / Update Email Routing Address
  • Complete the specified steps

Important Notes:

  • If your uiowa.edu email address is routed to a different account, you will not need to change your address in ICON, as your messages will already forward to your routed address.
  • To reduce bulk/mass email: 
    As a University of Iowa student, you may be receiving emails which are related to university activities but which do not apply directly to you or your program. To "unsubscribe" from these mass emails sent out by the university (except from university administration and UI Student Government):
    • Log on to MYUI
    • Click on My UIowa / My Email / Email Account Filter filter bulk mail
    • Make sure that none of the categories are checked

Do you want a part-time Job?

A great way to find jobs on campus is the following web sites:

http://www.bo.uiowa.edu/~finaid/jobform.html

http://www.grad.uiowa.edu/graduate-assistant-job-postings

If you are interested in working independently as a personal tutor, check out this webpage!

http://www.stat.uiowa.edu/resources/tutor-information/private-tutors

Supported Students Please Note the Following: 

You will need bring in the following items to be officially hired.  You can meet with our Department Administrator, Tamara (Tammy) Siegel, to take care of this anytime on August 2-20.   Bring the following!

  • U.S. Citizens bring your driver’s license (or your passport or picture ID) and Social Security Card.
  • International students bring your passport, I-94, I-20 and Social Security Card (if you have one, if not we will help with obtaining one).

Required Graduate Assistants Teaching Courses:

  • ONLINE CLASS Requirement: Sexual Harassment Prevention Edu.  Use your HawkID and password to log into Employee Self Service. Click the Personal tab, next (under Learning and Development) click on Sexual Harassment Prevention Edu., follow instructions.
  • ONLINE CLASS Requirement:  Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Use your HawkID and password to log into Employee Self Service. Click the Personal tab, next (under Learning and Development) next click on Available Online Icon Courses, next FERPA Training, then click on View Details twice and the last click will be to Enroll in this ICON Course Session.
  • International Students, If you pass the ELPT/ESPA you are required to take an 212:009/TAPE:5330  class called TA Preparation: Orientation Program
    • A six-hour orientation program will be required of all students who are certified at level A or B and are teaching for the first time.  This orientation helps new teaching assistants understand the culture of the U.S. classroom and treats topics such as student expectations, teacher-student relationships, and understanding and answering student questions. Discussion focuses on suggestions for maximizing comprehensibility in spoken English. This course meets twice for 3 hours early in the semester. Both meetings are held in the evening.

 

Administrative Department Staff:

Professor Dale Zimmerman

Director of Graduate Studies, Statistics Graduate Advisor  dale-zimmerman@uiowa.edu  (319) 335-0818

Professor N.D. Shyamalkumar

Actuarial Science Graduate Advisor shyamal-kumar@uiowa.edu  (319) 335-1980

Heather Roth

Administrative Services Coordinator heather-roth@uiowa.edu (319) 335-0712

Margie Ebert

Academic Services Coordinator, margie-ebert@uiowa.edu (319) 335-2082

Tammy Siegel

Department Administrator, tamara-siegel@uiowa.edu, (319) 335-0706