This Opening Days Newsletter was prepared by Mehna Harders, University Web, for the students, faculty, and staff of the University at Albany to facilitate the efficient opening of the Fall 2001 semester. The following items address many common inquiries.
Residential Life & Housing
Residence hall check-in will be held on Friday, August 24th, from 9 a.m.–5 p.m., for new Freshman students. Freshmen who did not attend a Summer Planning Conference can check in on Wednesday, August 22nd, between 12 noon and 5:00 p.m.
Transfer students who did not attend a Summer Planning Conference and who plan to live in the residence halls may check in between 12 noon and 5pm on Tuesday August 21.
Residence Hall check-in for all other students will be held on Saturday, August 25th, and Sunday, August 26th, from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. All students will check in at their assigned quads.
Students with questions about their quad assignment should go to the Department of Residential Life, located on State Quad, or call (518) 442-5875 or 1-800-4RESLIFE.
For Freshmen and Transfer students who did not attend a Summer Planning Conference and who plan to live in the residence halls, meals will begin with dinner Wednesday, August 22, in the Alumni and Dutch Quad Dining Halls from 5:30 to 6:30. For these students, dining services for Thursday August 23rd will be Breakfast 7:30 – 8:30, Lunch 12:00 –1:00 and Dinner 5:30 –6:30 at the same locations. **Please Note: Transfer students who did not attend a Summer Planning Conference and moved in on Tuesday, August 21st will receive meal tickets from the Orientation Department for dinner on Tuesday evening.Meals for those participating in the Fall Orientation for Freshmen Program will begin with dinner on Friday, August 24, at the Frosh/Family Picnic held on State Quad. Packaged meals will be available upon request for Kosher Students and their guests. The dining halls will open for all other students beginning Saturday, August 25, for brunch at 11:00.
Residential Meal plans will be served in all of the quad dining halls beginning with brunch on Saturday, August 25.
Monday–Thursday 7:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. Friday 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. Saturday 10:00 am-7:00 pm Sunday 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. Service hours may vary during University recognized breaks and holiday observances; these hours will be posted in advance in all dining halls.
Welcome Tent 2001New students and parents are invited to the Alumni Association's Welcome Tents located on Indian Quad on Thursday, August 23rd, and on Indian Quad and State Quad on Friday, August 24th, from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Enjoy refreshments while you're moving in on Opening Day! The event is co-sponsored by University Auxiliary Services.
Parents' Orientation SessionThe Parents' Orientation Session (for parents of new students who did not attend a 1999 Summer Planning Conference) is Wednesday, August 22nd, from 2:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m. in the Campus Center Ballroom. Check-in begins at 2:15 p.m.
Freshman Candle-Lighting CeremonyThe Opening Convocation will be held at 8:30 pm Friday, August 24th, at the football field. All new students and their parents are encouraged to attend this traditional ceremony that celebrates the official welcoming of new students to the University community.
Orientation, Advisement, & Registration for New StudentsFreshmen — Freshmen who did not attend a Summer Planning Conference will attend an orientation, advisement, and registration session (according to information mailed to them) Thursday and Friday, August 23–24, and the Fall Orientation for Freshman program that occurs from August 24–26.
Transfers — Transfers who did not attend Summer Planning Conference will attend a Fall Planning Conference for advisement and class registration (according to information mailed to them) occurring on Wednesday, August 22.
Fall Orientation for FreshmenAll Freshmen, including those who attended a Summer Planning Conference, are invited to attend this University Orientation Program. A flyer detailing events will be distributed as students check into residence halls. The program dates are August 24–26.
Orientation For All New International StudentsThis will be held from Monday, August 20, 2001 through Thursday, August 23, 2001. Temporary housing will be available during the program, starting at 12 Noon on Sunday, August 19, 2001. Registration for the Orientation Program will begin on Monday, August 20th at 8:30 a.m. in Lecture Center #1. It is MANDATORY for all new international students to report to International Student Services, located in LI-84, upon arrival in Albany!
Graduate Teaching Assistant Orientation ProgramThe 2001 New Graduate Teaching Assistant Orientation Program will take place Thursday and Friday, August 23-24. All new graduate teaching assistants are urged to attend. Each attendee will receive a packet of resources including the 2001 edition of The Graduate Teaching Assistant Handbook. Call 437-3920 to register by Wednesday August 22.
GA/TA Health Insurance OrientationGraduate and Teaching Assistants who have at least a half assistantship and who have an annual stipend of at least $3,800 ($1900 per semester) are eligible for coverage in the Student Employee Health Plan (SEHP). Enrollment packets, including information about deadlines for enrollment and a series of meetings for interested students, will be sent to eligible graduate and teaching assistants in care of their departments. Be sure to check your department mailbox during the first week of classes for this important and time-sensitive information. Contact Lynne Cable in Employee Benefits at 437-4727 if you have questions.
Academic Advisement ServicesThe Advisement Services Center is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. During the first week of classes students will be seen by their advisor on a first come, first served basis. Regularly scheduled appointments will begin the second week of classes and continue for the remainder of the semester. Any students who have not yet activated their computer accounts are urged to do so as soon as possible so that you will receive the e-mail messages sent from your advisor.
Academic Computing CenterThe Academic Computing Center Helpdesk (LC-27) is open Monday–Thursday 9:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m., Friday 9:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m., Saturday 1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m., and Sunday 6:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m. Students may activate their computer accounts via the Web using WEBCAAP. (You will need your campus ID and Pin#.)
Public User Room Hours LC 3 Monday–Friday 10:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m. Saturday–Sunday 1:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. LC 4 Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m. Saturday–Sunday 11:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. Main Library Monday–Thursday 10:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m. Friday 10:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. Saturday–Sunday 11:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. Draper 15 Monday–Friday 9:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. Saturday–Sunday 10:00 a.m.–??2:00 p.m.?? For details on using email, opening accounts, and downtown computing facilities go to the Academic Computing Web Site at: https://www.albany.edu/academic_computing/
Computer StoreThe University at Albany Computer Store is proud to offer IBM and Dell computers to University at Albany students, faculty, and staff. Call us at (518) 442-3002 or stop by our store on the ground floor of the Campus Center (near Pizza Hut). Store hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Academic RegistrationThe Fall 2001 Final Registration Day will be conducted via the Voice Response Registration system (518-442-9000, 9-442-9000 from on campus) for all students on Monday, August 27, 2001. Students who have not yet registered may call Voice Response Registration from 12:01 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. on this date. The system may be accessed from any public or private touch-tone telephone. Two telephone lines will be available in CC-B25 for students who want assistance using the Voice Response System from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on August 27th. You will need your Advisement Verification Number (AVN)from your adviser PRIOR to calling the registration system. Additional details can be found at https://www.albany.edu/registrar/reg-final.html
The University has established deadlines for registration, late registration, dropping, and adding courses. The deadlines are published in the Schedule of Classes and on the University's Web page under "Academic Calendar." Students are responsible for accomplishing registration activities within those deadlines.
Office of Student Accounts The Student Accounts Counter Fall hours are 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Office will be closed on September 3rd. Special extended hours are scheduled for August 27 – 30, when the Counters will be open until 5:30 p.m. To avoid standing in long lines, you should pay your bill by mail, using the return envelope provided. Students with Stafford Loans from banks not using electronic transfer of funds will receive a postcard when the check arrives on campus. Go to the Bursar's Office (CC-26) at that time to endorse it. Students awarded Perkins Loans should come to the Billing Counter (CC-26) during the extended hours period noted above to sign their promissory notes. All financial aid disbursement checks will be mailed or, with your authorization, electronically deposited into your SUNYCard Citibank debit account. Disbursement checks are not held for pick-up. EOP stipend checks will be available on August 27th in the EOP Office. After that date, stipend checks will be located in the Bursar's Office (CC-26). If you would like to review the status of your account on the University's web page go to https://chewy.albany.edu/paws_main.htm, then click on Student Accounts. You will need your campus ID# and PIN# to access your account.
Financial AidThe Office of Financial Aid is located in the basement of the Campus Center, Room B-52. Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. It is recommended that only students with emergency needs visit the office during the first week of classes. New students will have a reasonable amount of time during the first few weeks of the semester to resolve any outstanding financial aid issues without penalty. Contact them at (518) 442-5757 or (518) 442-5480.
University Health & Counseling ServicesThe Health Center will resume academic hours on Saturday, August 25th. Health Center hours for the Academic year are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Saturday, 12 noon – 3:30 p.m., and Sundays closed. For information call 442-5454, and for an appointment call 442-5229.
Five Quad Volunteer Ambulance Service will also begin service on Saturday, August 25th and may be reached by calling 442-5151 (emergency number) or 442-5555 (administration). Five Quad will be in service 24 hours a day.
The University Counseling Center, located on the second Floor of the Health and Counseling Services Building, provides a range of health promotion, prevention education, and treatment services to assist students with personal concerns and in optimizing their academic productivity and health. Services include psychological counseling and short-term psychological testing of academically underachieving students. Health promotion and prevention education activities addressing a range of health and mental health issues are offered to the University community. Located in the Health and Counseling Building our office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please call 442- 5800 to request a brochure or arrange for services.
The Middle Earth Peer Assistance Program provides a student-staffed hotline service, peer education and peer theater, and a credit-bearing training program for undergraduate students interested in helping other students with problem-solving, education, information, or referrals. Call the Middle Earth Hotline at 442-5777 for confidential and anonymous hotline service. Beginning Monday, August 27, the Middle Earth hotline is open Noon - Midnight, Monday through Thursday and 24 hours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday when classes are in session. Peer education or peer theater programs may be requested by calling 442-5891 or emailing the Middle Earth Director at [email protected]. Applications for membership in Middle Earth may be picked up on the second floor of the Health and Counseling Building.
Project SHAPE (Sexual Health and Peer Education} offers undergraduate and peer education and training in HIV/AIDS prevention. Call Carol Stenger at the University Counseling Center (442-5896) for more information.
University Bus ServiceAccess to the University Bus System (including CDTA's routes 10, 11, and 12) is free via their SUNYCard for full and part-time undergraduate and graduate students who pay the full comprehensive fee (billed by Student Accounts). Faculty, staff, and graduate students who are GSEU-represented employees may ride with $1.00 ride coupons (University buses only, $1.00 cash on CDTA), or via their SUNYCard if they purchase a $70.00 semester unlimited ride bus fee. For further information, please contact the Office of Parking Management at 442-3121.
Also, the University Administration Building Shuttle runs between the RACC/New Library and the new University Administration Building/Management Services Center building during the week. There is no weekend service. Check here for the daily schedule: http://chef.fab.albany.edu/bus/admin.asp
Date Bookstore Hours Aug. 20–21 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Aug. 22 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Aug. 23–24 9:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. Aug. 25–26 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Aug. 27–30 9:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. Aug. 31 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Sept. 1 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Sept. 2 CLOSED Sept. 3 Labor Day 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Sept. 4–6 9:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. Sept. 7 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Sept. 8 12:00 noon–5:00 p.m. Sept. 9 CLOSED Sept. 10–13 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Sept. 14 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Sept. 15–16 CLOSED Regular Bookstore Hours Resume on Monday, Sept. 17, 2001
Monday–Thursday 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Friday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday 12:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. Sunday CLOSED
Off-Campus Housing OfficeThe Off-Campus Housing Office is located in the offices of Residential Life, which is in the basement of Eastman Tower in the State Quadrangle on the uptown campus of the university. The office assists students who want to live off-campus by providing free apartment listings and other essential information on how to survive off-campus.
The office's homepage found on the University's web site at https://www.albany.edu/opsoca/off_campus_housing/, lists off-campus apartments and is updated every Friday afternoon except during recesses. Use the search engine to search the listings and display the apartments that meet your specific needs. For more information and current office hours, please call the Off Campus Housing Office at 442-5886.
LibrariesRegular Fall Session Hours are effective August 27–December 21, 2001. For exceptions, call the Library's Hours Line, 442-3600. For information on library services, call the University Library at 442-3558,the Dewey Library at 442-3691,the Science Library at 437-3945, or consult the Libraries' web page at: http://library.albany.edu
September 3 Labor Day–All Libraries are Closed
University Library Intersession Schedule: August 18–August 26 Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Saturday Closed Sunday Closed Regular Hours: August 27–December 21 Monday–Thursday 8:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m. Friday 8:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. Saturday 9:00 a.m.–11 :00 p.m. Sunday Noon–11:00 p.m. Gov. Thomas E. Dewey Graduate Library for Public Affairs and Policy Intersession Schedule: August 18–August 26 Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Saturday Closed Sunday Closed Regular Hours: August 27–December 21 Monday–Thursday 8:30 a.m.–10:00 p.m. Friday 8:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Saturday 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Sunday 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Science Library
Intersession Schedule: August 18–August 26 Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Saturday Closed Sunday Closed Regular Hours: August 27–December 21 Monday–Thursday 8:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m. Friday 8:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. Saturday 9:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. Sunday Noon–11:00 p.m.
Student Employment AuthorizationThe Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 requires that all new employees provide proof of identity and authorization to work. This is a simple process, but must be completed no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in the delay of your paycheck. Questions related to this procedure and the verification itself should be directed to the Office of Human Resources according to the job titles listed:
Student Assistant, College Work Study, Graduate Assistant, Resident Assistant, Teaching Assistant — 437-4700 (UAB 300);
Research Project Assistant, Senior Research Aide, Research Aide — 437-4500 (MSC 326).
Department of Public Safety InformationThe Department of Public Safety (University Police Department) is staffed at all times. Thefts of property occur frequently during the hectic opening days period. Remember to secure your property; do not leave it unattended in unlocked vehicles or rooms. Security of property is primarily the owner's responsibility. In addition, Public Safety assists the Office of Parking Management with enforcement. The University Police 24-Hour Phone Number is 442-3131 or 911 for an emergency.
ParkingInformation regarding University parking may be obtained from the Office of Parking Management located in the Parking Management Building on the west side of campus near Tricentennial Drive, (518) 442-3121. Customer Service hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Campus maps and parking brochures are available from the Office of Parking Management, the Circle Visitor's Booth or Campus Center Visitor Booth (near Indian Quad). To find out more information, please visit the Parking Management website at http://chef.fab.albany.edu/deptment/parking/ and take a moment to note the various parking changes that have occurred over the summer.
SUNYCardThe SUNYCard functions as a universal card for all University students, faculty, and staff. It serves as a photo identification, library, building access, and meal card. The SUNYCard also accesses the Podium Plus and Munch Money accounts. Munch Money is a debit account associated with your meal plan, and is typically used in the Campus Center food court outlets. Students who open a Podium Plus Account will be able to use their SUNYcard to access on-campus sales locations such as the University bookstore, vending and laundry machines, New U Hair salon, Computer store, and any of the retail outlet operations on all three university campuses.
In addition, students can receive their financial aid electronically via the SUNYCard, with individual student authorization, much more quickly than the current check disbursement system. Students who choose to open a debit account with Citibank will be able to use their card to access off-campus sales locations and ATM machines utilizing the NYCE or Cirrus networks. Off-campus students who sign-up with MCI will be offered very competitive long-distance rates and an opportunity to obtain a calling card to stay connected to MCI as they travel within the U.S. and internationally.
Summer hours at the SUNYCard Office are from Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and hours during the academic year are from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Opening weekend hours will be as follows: Sat 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sun. 12 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call the help line at 442-3061.
Albany AthleticsThe University at Albany upgraded its intercollegiate athletics program for men and women to National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I status,in the 1999–2000 academic year. The University currently has 19 varsity athletic teams that compete at the Division I level. For more information regarding University at Albany Athletics call 442-DANE, or visit the Website at: https://www.albany.edu/sports/
Important Phone Numbers Academic Computing Help Desk 442-3700 Advisement Services Center 442-3960 Athletics 442-DANE Bookstore 442-5690 Student Life 442-5566 Counseling Center 442-5800 Financial Aid 442-5757 Five Quad Ambulance: Emergency 442-5151 Business 442-5555 Health Center: Information 442-5454 Appointment 442-5229 Library: University (Info.) 442-3558 Dewey 442-3691 Science 437-3945 Middle Earth Peer Assistance: Hotline 442-5777 Business 442-5890 Parking Management 442-3121 Public Safety: Emergency 442-3131 or 911 Non-Emergency 442-3132 Registrar 442-5540 Residential Life/Orientation 442-5875 ResNet Technical Support 442-3700 Student Accounts 442-3202 Student Association 442-5640 SUNYCard (Help Line) 442-3061 University Switchboard 442-3300
