Andrew Szeri, Dean

Summer is here!

Maybe you’re planning to leave campus over the summer for research or other educational pursuits?

If so, then my never-too-frequent admonition about travel insurance is called for. Many of you will be traveling over the summer, while participating in UC sponsored and supervised off-campus activities both domestically and abroad. Did you know that the Office of Risk Services within the Financial Management Department at the UC Office of the President has arranged for students to be covered for a wide variety of accidents and incidents while away from the campus or primary place of work? Upon completion of the short Traveler Insurance Form, they will provide you with information to use if you have an emergency while traveling. Registration (by filling out the form) is required for activities taking place out of state and in foreign countries. This broad coverage includes medical care and evacuation, loss of personal property (UC employees only), extraction for political and weather related reasons, and more, at no cost to you. You can find out more by visiting the UC TRIPSS website.

If you are going to be away, it is also a very good idea to let your program staff know where you will be and how to contact you. So, do the right thing: register for travel insurance before you go — if your trip qualifies, and in any case be sure to let your program know where you will be and how to reach you.

Maybe you have plans for research that will take you out of California in the fall?

If so, in absentia status is a form of registration available to academic and professional-degree graduate students undertaking coursework or research related to their degree programs outside of California. Students registered in absentia are only assessed full health insurance fees, and 15 percent (only!) of the combined University Educational and Registration Fees. If applicable, students are also assessed non-resident tuition and/or professional school fees. All applications are due by August 10 for the fall semester. You can find more information on the Graduate Division website.

Finally, in Graduate Division, we’re coming to the end of the fall 2010 recruiting cycle. Applications were up and admissions are holding steady. Fellowship acceptances were strong. Some disciplines will enroll a few less students than usual in the fall; others a few more. But overall, it was a very successful recruiting season despite difficult times. I am delighted that we have lots of talented colleagues coming in a few months, to further enrich this incredible concentration of talent we call home.

Best,

Andrew J. Szeri

Andrew J. Szeri
Dean of the Graduate Division