Congratulations and welcome to the Jack Baskin School of Engineering at UC Santa Cruz! Please take a few moments to review the information below about our programs and what you'll need to do as a new graduate student.
If you are living on-campus, please see the individual housing offices for details on when you can arrive.
For information on airport transportation, please see the Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS) webpage.
All grad students have general access to computers and workstations. General graduate student computer use will be in BE 314A/B. For workstation info, see the SOE Support web site.
To apply for your REQUIRED SOE e-mail account, go to new-accounts and follow the instructions there. Indicate either Carol Mullane (for BME, CMPE or EE) or Tracie Tucker (for AMS, CMPS or TIM) as your sponsor. Take the PDF generated by your application to Baskin Engineering, Room 313 for processing. You will NOT need a sponsor signature. Our techstaff will have a list of new grads that have been authorized for accounts. Your account should be activated within three days.
Online registration can be done at My Portal. The first time you access this registration process you will be asked for your AIS student ID number and password.
New graduate students priority enrollment begins: June 21, 2012
For help with your student ID and password or enrolling in a class, first check the enrollment FAQ's at http://reg.ucsc.edu/; call the enrollment Help Line at 831-459-4357; e-mail , go to their website at http://ais.ucsc.edu/help/ or visit them in person at Kerr Hall, Room 54 and 60, M-F 8AM to 5PM.
Enrollment will open on in June 21, 2012 for new graduate students. For most graduate courses, a permission number is required (see below).
Enrollment is open until October 17, 2012. You must be enrolled in at least five units by October 1, 2012. If you have not registered by that date, a $50 late fee will be charged. You can also check the Academic Calender for more important dates.
The most important thing to do is to talk to your faculty advisor. Together you and your faculty advisor should determine which courses would help you pursue your goals and what, if any, courses should be taken in preparation. In the summer it is easiest to reach the faculty via e-mail. If you are unsure of who your advisor will be, contact your appropriate departmental graduate advisor (see Contact Information).
All students planning to enroll in an independent studies/thesis research course must submit a petition, signed by your faculty advisor, to the SOE Grad Advising Office in order to receive a call number by e-mail. Please see the detailed instructions at this page.
Permission numbers are required for all undergraduate courses and graduate level courses that have prerequisites. To obtain a permission code you must contact the instructor directly. Note - some instructors will provide permission numbers on the first day of instruction.
See the online schedule of classes reference for more information.
For general housing information, please see the Student Housing Services website. For off-campus housing we recommend that you begin your search early and that you apply for on-campus housing as soon as you find out that you have been accepted into the graduate program. Family student housing apartments are offered on a priority basis, with students with children receiving first priority. Here are a few numbers where you can find housing assistance:
All new F-1 and J-1 international students are required to attend a MANDATORY visa check-in meeting before classes begin to notify the university, and the U.S. government of your arrival on campus. There will be 5 visa check-in meetings this fall for new international students. They are listed below. Please note that you only need to attend ONE of them.
|
When |
Where |
Sign-up |
|
September 11, 2012 2pm |
Classroom Unit Building Room 201 |
Due to space limitations, sign-up is required at http://events-manager.ucsc.edu/content/new-international-student-visa-check-meetingopen-new-graduate-students-only. |
|
September 18, 2012 2pm |
Classroom Unit Building Room 201 |
Due to space limitations, sign-up is required at http://events-manager.ucsc.edu/content/new-international-student-visa-check-meetingopen-new-graduate-students-only-0. |
|
September 24, 2012 2pm |
Classroom Unit Building 001 |
No sign-up required |
|
September 25, 2012 2pm |
Classroom Unit Building 001 |
No sign-up required |
|
September 26, 2012 2pm |
Classroom Unit Building 001 |
No sign-up required |
Students must bring photocopies of the following documents to the meeting:
If you do not attend or arrange an appointment, you will not be registerted in SEVIS and this will affect your legal status in the U.S.
In order to be a teaching assistant, international students whose first language is not English must demonstrate their skills in spoken English with a short oral interview and a passing score on the SPEAK test. Both tests are given before the fall quarter begins. Dates and times for the SPEAK test are given by the Graduate Division. Contact the for further information.
The International Programs Office serves as the international student advising center. Staff members provide visa/immigration counseling concerning required course loads, financial problems and employment, plus a variety of other services to help international visitors adjust to academia and life at Santa Cruz.
Forms and advising for extending visa stays, on- and off-campus work approval, transfer of school, and other matters are also available.
If you are a non-immigrant foreign student studying at UCSC, the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) imposes additional regulations upon your stay in the United States. You must comply with these rules in order to maintain your student status (F-1).
For more information contact International Students and Scholars Services by calling 831-459-3555 or emailing .
For more information contact International Student and Scholars Services by calling 831-459-3555 or emailing .
Your SOE orientation packet will include a card authorizing keys & access. Take this form and your ID card to the facilities office, in Baskin Engineering Rm 399C. This will give you access to the common grad areas (grad labs, mailroom, etc.) for Baskin Engineering and Engineering 2. Hours are 1:00PM-3:00PM
For access or codes to individual research labs your advisor must email an authorization to .
Graduate Student mailboxes are currently located in Baskin Engineering Rm 312B. You will receive access to get into the room when you pick up your building keys. Each student is assigned a mailbox at his/her department office for official university business mail (only) - not to be used for personal mail (no bills, newspapers, personal letters).
The School of Engineering New Graduate Student Orientation will be held in Engineering 2 Rm 180 on Sept. 26, 2012. Orientation will be a great time to get to know other new admits, continuing graduate students, faculty, and SOE staff.
The Campus-Wide New Graduate Student Orientation will be on Sept. 25, 2011.
Parking permits can be obtained from the parking office Transportation And Parking Services (TAPS) at the main entrance to campus. There is an online graduate student parking permit form available. There are alternative transportation services also available.
For more information:
If you are either employed or a student in California, you must obtain a California Driver's License in order to drive. This would include those on F-1, J-1, H-1B, TN, and their dependents. If you are going to purchase a motor vehicle (a car, scooter or motorcycle), most insurance companies will not provide coverage unless you have a valid California License.
To obtain a California Driver’s License contact the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) located at 4200 Capitola Road (near 41st Avenue) in Capitola. The telephone number is 1-800-777-0133. Their web site address is www.dmv.ca.gov.
In addition to permitting you to operate a motor vehicle, a driver’s license is also the most recognized means of identification. A California ID Card is also available through the DMV as a means of identification for those ineligible for a driver's license. You will be asked for a Social Security number and your passport to obtain either the Driver’s License or the ID card. If you are not eligible for a Social Security card, you should be able to indicate this to the DMV, and still apply for a Driver's License.
If you are a Graduate Student Researcher or a Teacher's Assistant, you must fill out important payroll paperwork from the Administrative Business Office.
Payroll sign ups will be part of the SOE Graduate Student Orientation on Sept. 26, 2011. Sign-ups follow lunch in E2-Room 180.
Each student will need to provide a document that establishes personal identity such as a passport, Driver's License, State ID card, or Valid Student ID. Each student will also need to provide a document that establishes employment eligibility such as a US Birth Certificate or Social Security card. All non-citizen and non-resident alien students will have to have a Social Security card and will also need to provide all visa and passport documentation, including the I-94 and I-20 forms.
For any payroll questions please contact (AMS, BME, CMPS) or (CMPE, EE, TIM), who are in E2 298. Make sure you submit your full name and email address in any correspondence.
Paychecks are available on the 1st of the month from the faculty support administrative assistant in E2 298. If your check is automatically deposited, the statement will be put in your mailbox.
Reimbursement checks are usually issued on the 8th of each month. You will receive a pink check slip in your mailbox if you receive another type of check.
If you are an international student, you must obtain a social security number before you can open a checking account.
Photos for Grad Student ID cards will be taken at the ID Card Services Office next to the Baytree Bookstore Building, . If you are unable to have your ID card photo taken during that time, you can have your photo taken after instruction begins on September 27th. You will need to show some form of picture ID. A driver's license or passport will be acceptable.
For more information, call 831-459-2990 or e-mail .
Your student ID is your bus pass; if you need a temporary bus pass before you receive your photo ID, you may obtain one at the Graduate Division Office at the second floor of Kerr Hall.
PLEASE READ: After your picture is taken at ID card services, you must bring it to the SOE facilities office (in Baskin Engineering Building Room 399C) for programming and activation.
If you need lab access you will need your sponsoring faculty or Instructional Lab Manager to send an e-mail in advance to stating the reason why you need the card, what areas you need to access and an end date for access.
Take the bus. It is a Santa Cruz County Metro Bus Pass – with a valid quarter sticker available each quarter from the graduate student advisors.
Go to the gym. It is a Recreation Facilities Pass – with a valid quarter sticker.
Go to the library. It is a Library Card – UPC code on the front of your ID card is your library check out number.
Eat. It is a Food Service/Flexi-Dollar Card – Cafeteria food plans and declining balance Flexi card plans. Contact Office is in room 104, Hahn Student Services Building.
Get into the building. Your ID is also your access card into Engineering 2.
If you are a TA or would like to apply for a TA position, you need to fill out and submit a TA Preference Form.
To see what classes usually require TA's, click here.
For more information on what is expected of a teaching assistant on campus, there are several informative web pages on the UCSC Graduate Division website. There is also a very useful link page for TA's at the Center for Teaching and Learning website.
The Campus Graduate Division office is located at the second floor of Kerr Hall or you can call 831-459-4108 for questions about the campus-wide graduate student policies.
Graduate Student Staff Advisor for Biomolecular Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Electrical Engineering: Carol Mullane, E2 298, 831-459-2576,
Graduate Student Staff Advisor for Computer Science, Statistics & Applied Mathematics or Technology & Information Management: Tracie Tucker, E2 298, 831-459-5737,
Please e-mail for any questions or concerns.