First-semester African graduate students:
Important Websites:
ONE.UF (one.uf.edu) is the portal through which you see offered courses, your registration, class schedule, registration holds, final grades, etc.
myUFL (my.ufl.edu) is the portal that allows you to check your bills, tuition statement, edit your directory information, and issues that relate to finances as well as your class list for the course you are teaching (if you are teaching). The direct link to the bursar’s office is: University Bursar/ (352) 392-0181/ www.fa.ufl.edu/bursar
Hiring Paper Work: How You get Paid!!
1) Social Security Card. It is very important that you bring your Social Security Card with you on the first morning of the English orientation, August 14. We need your original social security card (not your number or a copy) and a photo ID (e.g. passport or Driver’s License), in order to enter you in the payroll system. We will make a copy of your SS card and ID, and you will sign the 4-in-1 hiring forms, which can be notarized in the department by Carla Blount. If you do not sign the 4-in-1 forms at orientation, you will need to print it via GatorStart, sign it, have it notarized, and return it to the department as soon as possible. It is imperative that you also bring your SS card and ID to Jessie Sumner in the University Writing Program early in the week of orientation, 14 August and no later than 20 August.
2) GatorStart. After you complete the initial new-hire paperwork with the English department, you will receive an email from gatorstart@ufl.edu. It is very important that you open this email as soon as you receive it and follow the instructions. The sooner you complete the hiring steps, the better able we are to ensure you receive your first paycheck on time.
3) Paychecks. You will be paid every other Friday. The first paycheck for fall is 8/31 and covers 6 workdays from 8/16 through 8/23. Normal paychecks, however, cover 10 working days. If you do not turn in your paperwork on time or if you are an international student (for whom this process is lengthier), you may not receive your first check until later, but you will receive all back pay.
Final Admissions Paperwork
1) Finalized Transcripts. If you are completing a degree in spring or summer 2017, you need to send a finalized, official transcript to the Office of Admissions in order to be registered for classes in the spring semester. Students with international degrees also need to bring their original diploma or certificate to the Office of Admissions so they can verify the degree upon your arrival. If your institution takes a longer amount of time to issues degrees/certificates, see the English graduate program assistant.
2) International Degrees. If your degree is not from a US institution, you need to mail finalized official transcripts to:
You may also email PDFs of your transcripts. UF only accepts PDF transcripts from Parchment, National Clearing House, and eScript. The email address for receipt of these transcripts is transfer@admissions.ufl.edu Please ATTN these transcripts to UF Online OneStop.
Bring an original of your diploma or degree certificate with you. All international degrees/certificates should be submitted to the Admissions office before the end of the fall semester. If you cannot fulfill this requirement, please let the graduate coordinator know. There is a petition process that will allow us to register you for two semesters as we wait for the diploma or certificate. The graduate coordinator is responsible for writing the petitions in coordination with Peggy Lowenstein, the program assistant.
Health Insurance: Enrollment is not automatic; students must enroll in GatorGradCare each academic year.
Effective date of coverage for annual enrollment begins August 16.
Students pay a $10 premium per month for health insurance.
The online enrollment link and further information can be found here: http://hr.ufl.edu/benefits rewards/health/gatorgradcare/ Eligible students may enroll in GatorGradCare during the specified enrollment periods only.
Important – Please note that if you are receiving insurance through another carrier, you must apply for a waiver from the requirement to purchase insurance. This is possible if your current plan provides comparable coverage to the policy provided by our institutional plan (UFSHIP).
Your Account: Your tuition waiver is contingent on your being enrolled in the payroll system and your paperwork being processed. This can take some time. Until your tuition waiver has been processed, your account will show that you owe the full bill for your tuition and health care. This will disappear once the tuition waiver has cleared, which happens after drop/add, usually within the first two weeks of classes, except for international students whose payroll enrollment may take longer. Thus, do not be alarmed if you see a very high bill on your account! Do come and see us about it if the bill does not clear when your tuition waiver is processed.
Fees: You are responsible for paying your fees. This is done through the Bursar’s office: http://www.fa.ufl.edu/bursar/ Fee payments are due at the end of the third week of the term or the date given on your financial page which may be as late as early November.
Florida Residency: We recommend that all PhD students who are US citizens establish Florida Residency so your tuition will be in-state, thus much lower than the out-of-state rate. Because you are on a tuition waiver, this usually does not matter, but some fellowships cover only in-state tuition, and then it matters a lot. This process takes a minimum of one year. You should receive from us a document that outlines how to establish residency. For more information from admissions: http://www.admissions.ufl.edu/residency.html
International Students. Some specific things to keep in mind.
1) Social Security and Arrival Date: You may not enter the country more than 30 days before the beginning of the term, and you will want to apply for a social security number as soon as possible because the social security process can take from 10 days to 3 months. However, your department administrator can issue you a temporary tax ID if the process is going to be lengthy. To apply for a SSN, you need to have your offer letter, a letter from UFIC verifying your legal immigration status, your I-20, F-1 Visa, Passport, I-94, and the SSN Application – found here http://www.ssa.gov/online/ss-5.pdf
- Please see the University of Florida International Center, for more information:
https://www.ufic.ufl.edu/ISS/newstudentsVisaApplication.html
2) When you are accepted into the program, Peggy Lowenstein (dellingp@ufl.edu) requests your I-20 form through the UF International Center and the UFIC will send the I-20 to you directly. Please see the UFIC description: https://internationalcenter.ufl.edu/international-students-scholars/new-international students/i-20ds-2019-process-degree-students
3) If possible have sufficient funds for several months. The Payroll process can get delayed, and your first paycheck may arrive as late as early or mid-October. We are working as hard we can to get you paid as early as possible and that is why we are asking that you arrive early, so you can apply for your Social Security Card, which is necessary for you be enrolled in the payroll system.
4) The International Center provides more specific instructions and information.
https://internationalcenter.ufl.edu/
Check-in at the International Center with key documents (I-20, passport, visa) upon your arrival: https://internationalcenter.ufl.edu/international-students-scholars/new-international-students/check-process
Costs: The costs shown on the page linked below are NOT accurate for graduate students in our department. Please remember that your tuition and healthcare are covered and that you are not going to take the number of credits listed here. It is more likely that you will take 21 credits (9 in fall, 9 in spring, and 3 in summer), so please do not be alarmed by the high estimates of costs listed on this page.
The Career Connections Center organizes a lecture on immigration issues at least once a year and these are available online once you have set up an account with the CCC.
Housing Options.
In Campus Housing.
More information about in-campus housing is available through the below link based on the need, (beware that facilities might be undergoing renovations, therefore make further follow-up)
Graduate and family housing – https://housing.ufl.edu/living-options/?housing-type=family-housing
Residence Hall Living options – https://housing.ufl.edu/living-options/?housing-type=individual-housing
Chance of getting in-campus housing;
The chance is generally low; however, it depends on the following factors:
- Number of available apartments
- Number of available apartments
- Number of active applicants
- Time of application
Off Campus Housing.
Some of the Resources for Off Campus and affordable housing options can be found but not limited to the links below.
https://housing.offcampus.ufl.edu/
https://www.apartmentguide.com/apartments/Florida/Gainesville/
https://www.zillow.com/homes/for_rent/29.671927,-82.327058,29.643957,-82.359502_rect/14_zm/
https://gainesville.craigslist.org/search/roo
Transportation.
Important Apps to enhance commuting.
Lyft App.
UF Safe Rides By Lyft offers currently-enrolled UF students discounted Lyft Standard rides Wednesday through Sunday between the hours of 9 PM – 3 AM (excepting break weeks). A ride must begin and end within the service area below to qualify for the discount.
To see more details about this program and how to enroll, click the below link
https://taps.ufl.edu/alternative-transportation/uf-safe-rides/
GoRTS or Transit
Bus fares are free to all students just as long as you show your Gator 1 ID card when riding.
GoRTS and Transit, free to download from the App/Play Store, provide real-time bus tracking and accurate information for trip planning. The apps identify buses by number, each serving various routes. By using these apps, you can easily find the right bus based on your location, exact stop if not nearby stop, as well as identifying destination.
In Campus Resources.
- Institute of Black enrichment – Rent an office – For free, to rest and read.
- Newell Study Building
- UF Bookstore
- UF Libraries
- Health related resources – Gatorwell, Counselling and Wellness Center, Student Health Care center/Infirmary, Talk space for virtual therapy sessions (free if you have Gatorgradcare).
- Recreation Centers for sport
Off Campus Resources.
Food Stores.
Walmart, Publix, African Store, Sam’s Club (for bulk purchase) Indian Bazaar, La Aurora, Halal Market, Zeezenia International Market.
Online Stores
- Shoedazzle and JustFab (discounts available for first time users. Make sure to disable your VIP account after getting the products)
- Natural Hair care products (Cantu, mielle organics, shea etc.)
Physical Stores in Gainesville
- Ross (butler plaza. For affordable clothing, household items, cooking spices, gifts etc.)
- Target ( butler plaza)
- Best Buy (for electronics. You can get discounts on tax free days, and during holidays)
- Chunching market for Titus fish
- Ward’s market for goat meat with burnt skin, liver, gizzard,nice turkey cuts etc.
- UF Animal unit sells meats of Fridays. If you want to eat meat that tastes like the one in your home country, you may want to visit this place. They sell beef, pork and lamb (on select days)
- La Aurora for garri, fufu flour, yam flour, lafun flour, tapioca, etc. Their habanero pepper is usually cheaper.
- Publix is the best place to buy habanero pepper.
Fun Places.
- Springs – Ichetucknee Springs, Poe Springs, Ginnie springs etc.
- Museums
- Archade games centers
- Cinema
- Mall
- Parks
- Gardens
- Cork and Arts Studio
- The Planets