Congratulations on your admission to the Department of Systems and Information Engineering at University of Virginia! We're looking forward to working with you. Listed below are a few items that may help you begin your career here with us.

You should plan to be on grounds at least two weeks before the start of the fall semester. You'll need this time to meet with your academic advisor to plan your course of study; to meet with the professor(s) to whom you have been assigned as a teaching assistant (TA) or research assistant (RA); and to attend to administrative items such as getting a computer network logon id, a University ID, and filling out employment forms.

Orientation activities have also been planned by the University and the School of Engineering and Applied Science.

One major Orientation activity is the issuing of University IDs. You'll need to go to the ID office, situated in the basement of the O-Hill (Observation Hill) Dining Hall, to have a picture taken. You'll get your ID within minutes. You can also arrange to "fund" your Cavalier Advantage Account at the same time. Check the University's orientation web page for more information.

The Teaching Resource Center (TRC) sponsors a university-wide two-day orientation for TAs. The orientation provides good information, and is a nice way to meet fellow TAs from other departments.

Be sure to contact the professor(s) for whom you'll work as soon as you know your assignment. Margaret Rennix (mcr3g@virginia.edu) will be able to tell you to whom you've been assigned, and give you the appropriate contact information.

Here is the Systems Engineering e-mail list for graduate students:

• sys-grad@virginia.edu

To subscribe to this list, just click on the link above and follow the subscription instructions.

You'll need to complete employment forms, such as a W-4 and a direct deposit authorization, as soon as possible upon your arrival on grounds. (You can't get paid until the forms have been processed!) Go to the Bursar's Office on the second floor of Thornton Hall A-wing to complete the forms. Be sure to get a payment schedule; fellowships are paid on a different schedule than the TA/RAs.

Contact the University's Office of Parking and Transportation to obtain a parking permit. The lot closest to Olsson Hall is the E-3 lot. You might have to be placed on a waiting list for a permit in that lot, however; it's a very popular lot with students. Space is more likely available in the BLUE lot next to U-Hall, the basketball arena. It takes approximately 30 minutes to walk from U-Hall to Olsson Hall. Bus service is also available between the two sites.

All information you'll need in order to make the move to Charlottesville go smoothly can be found on the City of Charlottesville website. For example, if you want to enroll to vote, this page provides information about how to register locally.

Click here for information about obtaining a Virginia driver's license or identification card.