New Student Information

Getting Started

Welcome to the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics at the University of Delaware! We know you are looking forward to starting this new adventure and we’re looking forward to helping you along the way. Your decision to attend UD is an important one. It is important for you to know that UD is committed to providing you with the tools and resources needed to reach your goals. The staff in the Department of Finance is ready to provide you the assistance you need to be successful. The purpose of this message is to give you the information you need to prepare for your first semester of study.

Please read this entire document carefully before beginning the steps below! It contains important information about getting started as a University of Delaware student.

First Steps & Before Classes Begin

1. Course Registration

Please contact the MS in Finance Program Director, Dr. Helen Bowers [bowersatudel [dot] edu, (302) 831-4625] to schedule an appointment to determine your courses for your first semester. Once your courses are determined, contact the Graduate Coordinator [vrolloatlerner [dot] udel [dot] edu, (302) 831-1015] to help you get registered. For this first semester, Ms. Rollo will register you for the courses chosen, then will work with you in future semesters to get you registered for approved courses.

The full schedule of courses for Spring 2009 is available here.

How to Register Yourself:

Please note: You must have officially accepted UD’s offer of admission and returned the acceptance letter to the Graduate and Professional Education Office before you can register for classes. They will send you a Personal Identification Number (PIN), which you will need to register.

In order to register for classes, the Graduate and Professional Education Office must have received your acceptance of our admission offer and your check. Once they process those documents, your student account will be “activated.” Please monitor your status by logging on to UDSIS (www.udel.edu, click on UDSIS link near top center of page). It is important that you monitor your status and be ready to register as soon as you are activated.

Follow the registration prompts and make sure you complete all three steps.

2. Email & Internet Account Set-Up

Instructions for setting up your UD account can be found at www.udel.edu/help. Scroll down and click on the link called “Before you Arrive,” located along the left side of the site.

Please note: you must have officially accepted UD’s offer of admission, returned the acceptance letter, and been registered for classes before logging in to set up your email account.

3. Notify The Department of Finance

Forward your University e-mail address, mailing address and phone number immediately to vrolloatlerner [dot] udel [dot] edu. It is very important that you establish a UD email address. Email is the primary method of communication tool for faculty and administration. Students are required to access their UD email accounts daily. If you prefer, you will be able to forward your UD email account to another account (your work email, for example) that you read every day.

4. Obtain A Parking Permit

Avoid parking hassles by parking legally. Permits can be purchased at Public Safety on Academy Street. or online at: www.udel.edu/PublicSafety/permits.htm

5. Obtain A Student ID

Obtain your UD Student Identification Card after course registration at the Student Services Building on Lovett Avenue between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. [Call (302) 831-2759 for assistance or for more information about student identification]

6. Check in

International students, please report to Foreign Student Scholar Services upon arrival on campus. FSSS is located in the Student Services Building on Lovett Avenue.

7. Attend Orientation

Save Thursday, February 5th ( late afternoon/evening ) for Orientation. At Orientation, you will meet faculty and staff, hear from current graduate students with information on advice and expectations, and meet other new students before starting your first class. We’ll cap off the evening with dinner and wine in our lovely Atrium. This is a good day to get parking permits, Student IDs, and other campus errands done before coming to Orientation.

8. Assistantships

A Graduate Assistantship (GA) is an opportunity to work for the University and receive a tuition scholarship, in addition to a living stipend, in return. To be considered for an assistantship, applicants must supply a completed application online by March 1. Assistantships are for a full-term, starting in the fall semester. The Department of Finance has a very limited number of assistantships at this time.

Additional Items:

  • SEND YOUR IMMUNIZATION RECORDS.
    You should have received information regarding required immunization records with your admissions letter. The health of the entire student body, undergraduate and graduate alike, is important for everyone's continued health and well-being. Please send the required information if you haven't already. Failure to do so could jeopardize your course registration and continuation in the program. If you have questions, please contact Student Health directly at 302-831-2226.
  • Full-time students should also become familiar with the Student Health Services website, where information regarding their services, immunization requirements, and medical insurance can be found.
  • Please review your letter of admission to determine if you have requirements which need to be documented. In particular, you may need to provide the Graduate and Professional Education Office with an official transcript showing the conferral of your undergraduate degree. Please send or bring these items to the Graduate and Professional Education Office in 234 Hullihen Hall as soon as possible.
  • You will receive a billing statement for your first semester after you register. All students must return the Fee Payment Form found at the bottom of the billing statement by the date given. (Note: International students will receive their billing statement upon arrival on campus.)
  • Wireless connectivity is available in most University buildings. To learn about connecting your computer to the wireless network at UD, visit www.udel.edu/it-us/wireless/setupandusage.html.
    Note that you will have to register your wireless connection in the same way you registered your computer in step 2 above. This can only be done while you are on-campus, wirelessly connected to the UD network.

What Else Should I Do Before Starting my Graduate Program?

We know you’re eager to get started! But please use these last few weeks of relative free time to catch up on non-academic reading, visiting friends and family, cleaning out the garage or any other activity that you’ve been meaning to get to. Once your classes begin, you will have a new set of priorities! Visit our FAQ Page for a complete listing. Below are some frequently-asked questions we get from new admits:

Q: When can I get my textbooks?
A: Unless your professor contacts you with specific assignments prior to class, you do not *need* your textbook prior to the first class meeting. Fall texts are stocked by the campus bookstores starting in August and Spring texts are generally available in January. Textbooks may be ordered online.

Q: Is there homework before classes start?
A: Rarely (if ever) do classes require homework prior to the first class meeting. Professors will contact you via your UDEL email account with any prior information you need to have, including readings or assignments.

Q: What kind of calculator do I need?
A: In general, UD Finance graduate students need fairly simple calculators. For Finance classes, you will want a financial calculator such as Texas Instruments’ BA II Plus or the HP 12C. These financial calculators can handle most of your calculating needs.

Q: Where can I find specific information about my Student Account, Academic Calendars, Tuition & Fees, Library Hours, Campus Buildings and the like?
A: The University of Delaware has a wonderful website! Below are some important bookmarks you may find handy during your stay here:

  • Alfred Lerner College of Business & Economics
    303 Alfred Lerner Hall   •   Newark, DE 19716   •   USA   •   Phone: (302) 831-2551   •   © 2009