
SEAS New Student Orientation 2022

Welcome to the School for Environment and Sustainability!
We are so glad that you will be joining us in the fall.
This website has information that will help onboard and transition you to SEAS. It has a schedule of Quantitative Review and Orientation events, as well as resources to help you during your first semester at the University of Michigan. If you have any questions about Orientation, please email seas-orientation@umich.edu or call 734-763-4928.
Quantitative Review
This workshop series is OPTIONAL and VIRTUAL. It is held over the summer, in the evenings Eastern Standard Time. Dates, times, and zoom links were sent to your @umich.edu email address. It is intended for students that do not have a strong statistical background or have been out of school for a while and would like a refresher. It is a crash course that covers basic data analysis, data analysis in Microsoft Excel, graph interpretation, functions (linear, polynomial, log, power, hyperbolic), and algebraic equations. Masters and PhD students can attend.
Orientation Schedule*
SEAS orientation will take place in-person in Ann Arbor, Michigan and at the Biological Station in Pellston, MI. Housing, transportation, and meals at the biostation will be provided and the associated costs covered by SEAS.
- Monday, August 22 - First day of orientation - Ann Arbor, MI.
- Tuesday, August 23 - Second day of orientation - start in Ann Arbor, get on buses, end day at the Biostation in Pellston, MI.
- Wednesday, August 24 - Third day of orientation - Biostation in Pellston, MI
- Thursday, August 25 - Fourth and last day of orientation - start at the Biostation, get on buses, end day in Ann Arbor.
* This schedule will be updated regularly as we finalize event details.
Required for All Graduate Students: Follow the UM Vaccination Policy
Submit your vaccination information by July 15.
Required for All Graduate Students: PEERS-RCRS Training
All graduate students are required to take the PEERS Responsible Conduct of Research and Scholarship (PEERS-RCRS) online training.
Masters students only need to do the online training. It is approximately 3 hours. This course introduces the key concepts and elements that foster ethical research and scholarship practices.
PhD students need to complete the online training and a minimum of 8 instructor-led contact hours of training before advancing to candidacy.
More information about RCRS training is on the Research Ethics and Compliance site.
SEAS Top 3s
SEAS Track Leaders put together their SEAS Top 3s. Their top 3 restaurants, bars, stores, and more. They also have this recommendation map, with places you may want to visit.
List of Helpful Resources
The content below contains resources to help you during your first semester at the University of Michigan.
Table of Contents
- Advising Resources
- Child and Elder Care Resources
- COVID-19
- Curriculum
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
- Housing
- International Student Resources
- Learning Accommodations
- Library Services
- MCards
- Mental Health Resources
- Midterm Elections
- SEAS Student Center - SEAS Student Support Team
- Student Organizations
- Technology Resources
- Transportation
Advising Resources
- Student and advisor shared expectations form
- Advising and Mentoring Resources (PDF)
- Rackham's guide for getting the mentoring that you want
- Mentoring Others Results in Excellence (MORE)
Child and Elder Care Resources
University Human Resources provides a listing of child care resources. An additional set of resources have been created for in-home care and tutoring.
If you are caring for an older family member, UM offers elder care resources as well.
- Center for the Education of Women (CEW) - Even though their main focus is women, they will help all students who are primary caregivers, regardless of gender.
- Child Care Subsidy - child care expenses from any licensed child care provider will be eligible for reimbursement under the subsidy, regardless of the state, country, or agency of licensure.
- Children on Campus policies and resources
- Early On Michigan - addressing a child's developmental delays
- Lactation Rooms on campus for breastfeeding parents
- On-Campus childcare centers:
- Stories from Michigan Caregivers and Student Parents (MCaSP)
- Washtenaw County resources for senior citizens
COVID-19
- Information on how to get the vaccine
- COVID-19 testing
- COVID-19 prevention efforts
- ResponsiBLUE screening check - must be completed before entering any University of Michigan building.
- Michigan Government COVID-19 site
Curriculum
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
Housing
A few questions have already come in regarding housing in the Ann Arbor area. The links below may be helpful to you as you begin your housing search. Additionally, here is the Facebook group for the SEAS incoming class. Please join to get in touch with potential room or housemates.
Off-Campus Housing - Most Graduate students live in apartments off campus.
A lot of apartments/houses in Ann Arbor are run by management companies instead of individual landlords. One of the easiest ways to search these is to check out the companies' websites:
Here are some general sites that have a lot of rental options (particularly for non-management company landlords):
Facebook group for finding housing - Ann Arbor Roommates & Housing
Munger Graduate Residences - There is a graduate residence on campus that may also be of interest to you. You can find information about Munger Residence, here.
Signing and Understanding Apartment Leases - Student Legal Services can help you read through your lease and make sure you understand it. To make an appointment, call them at (734) 763-9920.
International Student Resources
The University of Michigan’s International Center is responsible for advising students on US immigration laws related to F and J visa categories. Contact them at icenter@umich.edu or call them at 734-764-9310 if you have questions.
The English Language Institute (ELI) provides a full range of English for academic purposes courses and academic support for international students.
- Pre-Arrival Guide for New International Students - good starting place.
- The International Center’s Immigration and Visa page
- ELI Conversation Circles
- ELI Online Pre-Arrival Course: Preparing for Graduate Success - this course is optional/ not required.
Learning Accommodations
We want to make sure that you have an environment that you can thrive in. If you wish to register with Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) Office, please start by filling out the Student Application Form and reviewing the registration process on their website. Students already approved for accommodations through SSD will continue to receive their accommodations. Additional resources to be aware of:
- Tips for Academic Success in the Current Learning Climate
- Academic Innovation's Adjusting your Study Habits during COVID
- Wellness Coaching
Library Services
The University of Michigan Library is a system of 20 libraries that includes a specialized graduate library. With more than 11 million volumes, the University Library is the eighth largest academic library in North America and is considered one of the top research libraries in the United States.
MCards
The Mcard is your official University of Michigan identification card. The UMID number is the cardholder's eight-digit student number listed on the card. MCards can be used as a bus pass on campus, for access to campus buildings after hours, and more.
Submit your photo for your MCard.
General information about MCards.
Mental Health Resources
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is still offering virtual appointments through the pandemic. You can make an initial consultation request here.
SEAS has a CAPS embedded counselor. Her name is Dr. Juemei Yang (juemeiya@umich.edu). Email her for an appointment.
- CAPS stressbusters app
- Online mental health screening
- Relaxation videos
- Mental health resources for graduate students
- CAPS Anxiety Toolbox
- SilverCloud
Midterm Elections
In a democracy, citizens vote to elect representatives to make policy guided by the beliefs and preferences of voters. The University of Michigan encourages eligible students to exercise their right to vote, and students of all citizenship backgrounds to actively engage in issues of public concern. You are encouraged to vote in local and national elections, work at the polls and support democratic engagement. You can find more information at govote.umich.edu or by emailing voterregquestions@umich.edu. Here are the local midterm election dates:
- UMMA Satellite Clerk's Office opens --- September 27th
- Absentee Ballots become available --- September 29th
- Duderstadt Gallery Satellite Clerk's Office opens --- October 12th
- Registration Deadline (other than going to the clerk's office with proof of residency) --- October 24th
- Election Day --- November 8th
SEAS Student Center
The SEAS Student Center is where you can find the student support staff including admissions, the registrar and course advising, financial aid, and career services. You can contact the staff by emailing seas.gradsupport@umich.edu.
Other contact information if you want to reach a particular sub-group of the student center staff:
- seas-careers@umich.edu - direct email to the careers services staff
- seas-financial-aid@umich.edu - direct email to the SEAS financial aid staff
- seas-admissons@umich.edu - direct email to the admissions staff
Student Organizations
Hundreds of student organizations enrich your experience outside of the classroom. The most popular among SEAS students are listed below. Visit Maize Pages for a full student org directory.
- SEAS Track Leaders
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Behavior, Education, and Communication (BEC) - Madison Parrish and Maaike Wielenga
-
Environmental Justice (EJ) - Erin Posas and Mia Dozier
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Environmental Policy and Planning (EPP) - Joe Pitti and Joel Weltzein
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Ecosystem Science and Management (ESM) - Liam Connolly and Ezekiel Herrera-Bevan
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Geospatial Data Sciences (GeoSci) - Melissa Mattwig and Laura Gumpper
-
Landscape Architecture (MLA) - Izzy Shehab and Ted Vuchinich
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Sustainable Development (SusDev) - Jasmynn Noel, Nikita Hahn, and Kaitlyn Sledge
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Sustainable Systems (SusSys) - Hailey McQuaid and Karan Dhanak
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- SEAS Student Government
- American Society of Landscape Architects student chapter
- Graduate Rackham International (GRIN)
- Students of Color at Rackham (SCOR)
- Ross Net Impact
Technology Resources
- Zoom at UM
- Zoom For Students Video (13 minutes)
- MPrint mobile app with FollowMe (for touchless release of print jobs on-demand)
- ITS Remote Resource Guide
- ITS Computing Sites
Transportation
The closest major airport to Ann Arbor is Detroit International Airport (DTW). If you are flying to Michigan, here are directions on how to get to and from the airport.
The university provides a free campus bus service, learn more about it at the Parking & Transportation website. In addition, the U-M campus and Ann Arbor, in general, are extremely bike-friendly.
Check the Interactive Campus Map to find specific campus buildings. The SEAS Student Center, and most SEAS faculty offices, are in the Dana Building.
Buses
- Blue buses are for University Bus Routes - They offer free transportation around campus. You can just hop on these buses, no ID is needed.
- White buses are run by the City of Ann Arbor Transportation Authority - If you have your MCard, you can swipe it when you get on the bus and ride for free. If you don’t have your card, the city bus fare is $1.50.
- MAGIC Bus - GPS location and E.T.A. for some buses.
- Greyhound Buses - Budget transportation to popular locations like East Lansing
- Airbus and Michigan Flyer - Cheap and easy ways to get back and forth from the Detroit Airport during school breaks
- Paratransit - Transportation Services offers curb-to-curb Paratransit services for students, faculty and staff that are pre-qualified through the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD)
Student Driving
- Michigan Drivers License - Learn how to get a Michigan driver’s license or state I.D.
- Michigan Parking and Transportation Services - University parking information.
- Parking in Ann Arbor - Ann Arbor parking information, including fines, permits, and different structures.