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SEAS New Student Orientation 2024

| Wednesday August 21, 2024 | 9:00 am
2021 SEAS orientation

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. We encourage you to bookmark this site as a repository of useful resources you can refer to in the future. If you have any questions about Orientation, please email [email protected] or call 734-763-4928.

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.

  • Wednesday, August 21 - First day of Orientation - Ann Arbor, MI.
    • 9:00am-10:15am - Check-In with Coffee and Light Refreshments
    • 10:15am-10:45am - Dean's Welcome 
    • 10:45am-11:00am - Student Center Staff Introduction
    • 11:10am-12:00pm - Faculty Panels for Specialization Breakout
    • 12:00pm-1:00pm - Lunch
    • 1:10-2:00 - Specializations Panels with Student Leaders & Current Students
    • 2:10-3:00 - Simultaneous Sessions
    • 3:30-5:00 - Community Connections Fair + Ice Cream Social
  • Thursday, August 22 - Second day of Orientation - start in Ann Arbor, travel, end day at the Biostation in Pellston, MI
    • 7:45am - Student Check-In
    • 9:00am - Board buses
    • 9:30am - Leave for UM BioStation
    • 12:00pm - Rest Stop at 9 Mile Hill Rest Area (lunch time)
    • 1:30pm - Return to busses
    • 3:00pm - Arrive at BioStation and settle into assigned cabins
    • Simultaneous Sessions:
      4:00pm - 5:00pm - BioStation Welcome at Lecture Hall & Ice Breakers
    • 5:00pm - 6:00pm - Dinner
    • 7:00 PM - Group Photo on the Beach
    • 7:30pm - Outdoor Games or Free Time
  • Friday, August 23 - Third day of orientation - Biostation in Pellston, MI
    • 7:00am - 8:00am - Breakfast
    • 8:30am - 11:30am - Activity Breakout #1 
    • 11:30am - 12:30pm - Lunch
    • 12:30pm - 1:00pm - Break Time
    • 1:00pm - 4:00pm - Activity Breakout #2
    • 4:00pm - 5:00pm - Optional Volleyball Game OR Free Time
    • 5:00pm - 6:00pm - Dinner
    • 6:00pm - 8:00pm - Free Time
    • 8:00pm - 10:00pm - Bonfire or Movie Screening Or Free Time
  • Saturday, August 24 - Fourth and last day of orientation - start at the Biostation, travel, end the day in Ann Arbor.
    • 7:00am - 8:00am - Breakfast + Pack Lunch
    • 8:30am - Activity Breakout #3
    • 11:30am - Lunch
    • 12:30pm - Pack up
    • 1:30pm - Board Buses to go back to Ann Arbor
    • 3:15pm - Rest Stop at 9 Mile Hill Rest Area
    • 6:30pm - Arrive at Dana

* This schedule will be updated regularly as we finalize event details.

Quantitative Review with Dana Jackman

This workshop series is intended for students who 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. Though related, the sessions are not cumulative. You can choose which sessions to attend, and you can benefit from later sessions even if you miss earlier ones. Any Masters or PhD students can attend.

There will be two sets of virtual meetings throughout the summer. SEAS-relevant examples will be used throughout. Recorded lessons will be provided for students to review prior to each set of virtual meetings. Each virtual meeting will consist of approximately one to two hours of large and small group work where we will set up and solve complex problems. This group work will be followed by virtual office hours with Dana. You can ask your questions in a group setting or move into a breakout room to work one-on-one with Dana.

In preparation for meetings, please do the following:

Days 1 and 2 “Building Skills in Mathematics and Modeling” - July 22 & 23, 5:30 pm

  • Via recorded lessons and virtual group meetings, students will develop motivation and frameworks for solving problems with mathematics,modeling, and statistics. Students will also get acquainted or reacquainted with mathematics fundamentals and foundational function forms. This includes mathematical functions common to environmental systems. 

  • July 22nd Zoom: https://umich.zoom.us/j/91300429901

    • Password: QUANT1

  • July 23rd Zoom: https://umich.zoom.us/j/99135962283

    • Password: QUANT2

Days 3 and 4 “Building Skills in Data Analytics”- August 19 & 20, 5:30 pm

  • Via recorded lessons and virtual group meetings, students will develop, improve, and refine skills for data management, analysis, interpretation, and communication. We will use MS Excel to explore data, produce descriptive statistics, and develop effective visuals. Students will also become acquainted or reacquainted with a variety of essential statistical concepts. Students will also practice calculating and interpreting statistics. 

  • August 19th Zoom: https://umich.zoom.us/j/93982419126

    • Password: QUANT3

  • August 20th Zoom: https://umich.zoom.us/j/94995926003

    • Password: QUANT4


If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
 

Required for All Graduate Students: Follow the UM Vaccination Policy

Submit your vaccination information.
 

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
  • Anti-Harassment Resources
  • Child and Elder Care Resources
  • Curriculum
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
  • Housing
  • International Student Resources
  • Learning Accommodations
  • Library Services
  • MCards
  • Mental Health Resources
  • SEAS Student Center - SEAS Student Support Team
  • Student Organizations
  • Technology Resources
  • Transportation

Advising Resources

Anti-Harassment Resources

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.

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 [email protected] 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.

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:

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 ([email protected]). Email her for an appointment.

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 [email protected].

Other contact information if you want to reach a particular sub-group of the student center staff:

Please Note: Non-matriculated students are unable to schedule coaching appointments with the SEAS Career Services team until after New Student Orientation. If you have any general questions, please email: [email protected]

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.

Technology Resources

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. 
  • 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

Night Transportation

Trains

If you are looking for any information that you can't find on this page, you can also check the SEAS student resource guide.