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1. Enrollment and Registration

• Enroll every fall & spring (summer only if program-required) or secure an approved academic leave.

• Add/Drop through the 10th class day. Failure to register by Day 10 → automatic discontinuation; reinstatement requires approval and $65 fee.

• Holds (training, immunization, financial responsibility) block registration—check the Student Admin “Action List.”

• If withdrawing/going to zero credits: submit the online Voluntary Separation Notification; refunds, follow University schedule based on notification date.

2. Health, Safety & Well‑Being

• Complete the electronic Health History in the student health portal (some clinical programs require additional items per acceptance letter).

• Interpersonal Violence Prevention: complete the one-time “U Got This 2!” training; the hold lifts 2–3 days after completion.

Health Insurance Options

• Meet requirement via your own plan, dependent coverage, Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), or GA CT Partnership Plan.

• Most full-time non-GAs are auto-enrolled in SHIP (appears on fee bill). To waive, your plan must meet standards, and the waiver must be submitted by the deadline.

• GAs: enroll in the CT Partnership Plan within 31 days of hire; dependent changes require a qualifying event within 31 days.

3. Money Matters (Tuition, Billing, Aid)

Tuition & Status

• Tuition depends on residency, campus (Storrs vs regional), program, and credits.

• Full-time status: 9 credits (non-GA) or 6 credits (GA).

Fee Bill, Payments & Holds

• Fee bill due: Friday before the first day of the semester; notification emailed to your UConn address.

• Payment plan: 4 monthly installments; $100/term; due on the 15th (Fall: Jul–Oct; Spring: Dec–Mar); $50 late fee per missed installment.

• Late payment fee: $150 (may be assessed twice/semester). Returned checks count as late.

• Holds: >$10 = transcript hold; >$100 = Bursar hold (blocks registration, rec center, library, etc.).

Financial Aid & Funding Resources

• Office of Student Financial Aid Services: eligibility, application process, deadlines for graduate students.

• External Fellowships listings; Office of National Scholarships & Fellowships (ONSF) advising for competitive awards.

• Third-party sponsorships: submit the financial guarantee to the Bursar.

4. Career, Teaching & Professional Development

Center for Career Readiness & Life Skills

• 1:1 coaching on career exploration, CV/résumé, job search, academic materials, interview prep, LinkedIn, and offer negotiation.

• Events calendar and Career Readiness modules (24/7 self-paced). Engage early and revisit each semester.

Teaching Support: CETL & CIRTL

• CETL: consultations, pedagogy resources, TA/GA development.

• CIRTL Network: evidence-based teaching with national credentials—Associate, Practitioner, Scholar—via webinars, workshops, and courses.

5. Inclusion, Accessibility & Student Support

Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD)

• Interactive process to determine reasonable accommodations for qualified students (e.g., extended time, reduced-distraction testing, note-taking support, assistive tech, captioning, alt formats).

• Accommodations are individualized based on disability-related needs (including chronic, episodic, or temporary conditions).

Veterans & Military Programs

• First-stop support for veterans, active service members, Guard/Reserves, and dependents: benefits certification, transition, career partnerships, and events.

• Lounge spaces (Veteran OASIS) at Storrs and regional campuses; Veterans History Project.

International Students & Scholar Services (ISSS)

• Pre-arrival live chats; international orientation; immigration advising via email, video appointments, and daily chat advising.

• Resources for SSN, CT driver’s license, banking, taxes; guidance on travel, employment, and part-time rules.

6. Housing, Transportation & Campus Logistics

• Most graduates live off-campus. Common towns: 

o Storrs Campus: Mansfield / Willimantic / Manchester / Vernon

o Hartford & UConn Health: Hartford / West Hartford / Farmington / Manchester 

o Waterbury: New Britain / Waterbury / Bristol 

o Stamford: New Haven / Stamford / Fairfield 

o Avery Point: Groton / Norwich / New London 

• On-campus graduate housing is limited and Storrs-only.

• Parking: permits required and enforced year-round; review campus maps and lot options before purchasing.

Getting Around

• UConn shuttles with live GPS in the TransLoc app; Accessible Van Service (door-to-door, free for eligible students).

• U-Pass CT: unlimited in-state public transit when paired with your student ID (apply each semester at no cost).

• WRTD buses connect Storrs to Willimantic/Windham, train options available statewide.

7. Community & Belonging

• Cultural Centers (Storrs Student Union, 4th floor): African American, Asian American, Middle Eastern Cultural Programs, Native American Cultural Programs, Puerto Rican/Latin American, Rainbow Center, Women’s Center.

• Faith & Spiritual Life: a broad network of campus/community organizations across traditions; see directory.

• Student Organizations: 700+ groups via UConntact—join or start your own to build skills and community.

8. Life in Connecticut (Quick Notes)

• Weather varies widely—plan for all four seasons (layering, rain gear, waterproof winter boots, winter coat).

• Helpful packing adds: sunglasses, sunscreen, bug spray, ice scraper (car), and shovel/ice melt (home).

• Proximity to major cities: New York City and Boston are easily reachable; regional bus and rail options abound.

First 30 Days: Action Checklist

1. Activate NetID, set up UConn email (and forwarding if needed).

2. Submit Health History via the portal; note any program-specific requirements.

3. Complete “U Got This 2!” to remove the registration hold.

4. Register for classes (GAs must be registered before appointment start date).

5. Review fee bill; set up direct deposit; enroll in the payment plan if desired.

6. Upload Husky One Card photo; pick up your ID.

7. Purchase parking permit; install TransLoc; apply for U-Pass CT.

8. Finish Student Technology Training tutorial.

9. Book a Career Coaching appointment; enroll in Career Readiness modules.

10. If applicable: connect with CSD, ISSS, Veterans & Military Programs.

Key Contacts & Where to Start

• The Graduate School: +1 (860) 486-3617 | gradadmissions@uconn.edu | gradschool@uconn.edu | grad.uconn.edu

• Registrar (registration help): registrar@uconn.edu (Storrs/Regionals) | registrar@uchc.edu (UConn Health)

• Bursar: tuition/fees, payment plans, refunds, third-party invoicing

• Center for Career Readiness & Life Skills: coaching, events, modules

• CETL: teaching support for TAs/GAs; pedagogy resources

• CSD: accommodations & assistive resources

• ISSS: immigration advising, orientation, practical matters for international students

• Parking Services • One Card • Transportation Services (shuttles, U-Pass)

Tip: Check your Student Admin “Action List” weekly and read the daily Grad News email for workshops, deadlines, and funding opportunities.

Homepage

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On behalf of the GSS, we want to welcome you to the GSS website.  Here you will find information on how our organization serves the needs of graduate student at UConn.  The GSS serves four important functions. It is the chief conduit for information about and advocacy to the wider UConn community through the University Senate system.  The senate also provides the resources for graduate Tier II organizations, as well as a common place for these organizations to gather and discuss the goals of the graduate community.  Through our emergency loan fund, the GSS provides financial resources to individual graduate students.  Lastly, our organization provides a social focal point for grads through events such as the Graduate Assistant Information Fair, the GSS BBQ, grad Thanksgiving Dinner, and Grad Prom.

If you have any questions or want to directly email the officers of the GSS, feel free to click on the Executive Committee Tab to find those contacts.  You’ll want to check this webpage often as is it is frequently updated with important information and links to useful resources!

About Us

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The Graduate Student Senate is one of the five deliberative bodies at this University (along with the University Senate, the Graduate Faculty Council, the Undergraduate Student Government, and the Board of Trustees). It is the sole body charged with the representation of graduate students. Its strength depends on the active participation of the entire graduate community. We have secured our recent gains because of new graduate student activism. Those times when we have been most successful, the Senate has had a strong core of representatives from across the graduate community.

The Graduate Student Senate (GSS) is composed of representatives from all of the academic departments across the University. Departments, ideally through graduate student organizations within them, choose their representatives. Each department is allotted representation based on its size, pursuant to the Graduate Student Senate Bylaws. Some of these positions are currently vacant, and all students are encouraged to inquire about representation. There are also at-large senators voted to the position by the Senate. All executive positions (President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Communications Director, Parliamentarian, and Activities Director) are elected from within the Senate. Additionally, the Graduate Student Senate has representation on nearly all University committees which have an impact on graduate students.

Our Mission:

  • To represent the graduate community within the University community.
  • To serve as an advocate of the graduate community’s concerns and needs to both the University and non-University organizations.
  • To serve as a liaison between the graduate community and the administration.
  • To provide services to meet the special needs of the University’s diverse graduate community.
  • To enhance and encourage cooperation and association within the graduate community.
  • To enrich the lives of graduate students at the University.

Our Services:

The GSS is responsible for providing and allocating activity funding for many Tier II Graduate Student Organizations. These organizations’ reimbursement requests are approved by the GSS before its submission to the University Student Activities Business Office for final approval.

In conjunction with the Bursars’ Office, the GSS maintains a short-term Emergency Loan Service to any Graduate Student currently enrolled at University of Connecticut. Subject to GSS official approval, students faced with unforeseen expenses or pressing needs may apply for a 90-day no-interest loan of up to $1,500.00.

Our Events:

In addition to funding Tier II Graduate Student Organization and their activities, the GSS also organizes several Graduate Student Activities every semester. The GSS’ annual events include the Graduate Appreciation and Information Night (GAIN), Graduate Thanksgiving Dinner, the Graduate Student Social Mixer and Speed Dating in the Fall, and the Grad Prom in the Spring. The GSS also organizes several career events and social events intermittenly throughout the year; for more information, please check our news feed and Google Event Calendar on our Events Page.

All GSS events are free to attend and open to UConn Graduate Students with a valid Graduate ID. Some GSS events may require registration, early sign-up or ticket purchases; please check our events page or email us for more information.

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