International Student Orientation (ISSO Orientation) – MANDATORY
http://www.utdallas.edu/isso/orientation/
International Student Orientation provides valuable information to ease your transition to UT
Dallas. During Orientation you can discover campus resources, fulfill your International Student
Orientation requirement, and answer all your questions about registering for classes.
This orientation is mandatory to attend. There is a hold against
every student’s name, which gets removed only after you attend
the ISSO orientation & only after which you will be allowed to
select your courses for the semester.
Fall 2013 Orientation
Friday, August 2
Tuesday, August 6
Friday, August 9
Tuesday, August 13
Friday, August 16
Tuesday, August 20
Friday, August 23
International students starting UT Dallas in fall 2013 an register by filling out the online form. .
https://orgsync.com/30274/forms/65963
Couple of things to be done before Orientation:
http://www.utdallas.edu/isso/orientation-before/
At this point, you have followed the steps to prepare for your trip and come to UT Dallas.
Here is a checklist of important assignments you must complete as you prepare to register for
classes.
Register for International Student Orientation (mandatory for F-1 and J-1 students).
Access Galaxy (mandatory) - Log into the Galaxy online portal to access Zmail and student
self-service tools.
o All official communication will be sent to your Zmail account.
o Galaxy (ex: Student Center, Academic Records, etc.) will tell you what is needed to remove
your holds, and which department to contact. Take care of the proper documentation required
for the holds to expedite your registration process.
Meningitis Vaccination Form (mandatory) - All students must take the meningitis vaccine and
submit the results to the Registrar’s Office per the instructions on their website.
Research Financial Support Opportunities (optional) - Visit the Financial Resources page to
learn financial opportunities that may be available.
Prepare for life at UT Dallas:
o Arrange Housing - See the following for more information:
Housing
Living in Dallas
o Money - Determine the cost of tuition and fees, along with living expenses, and start-up
deposits, and make arrangements to transfer money to cover cost. In the past, international
students have spent approximately $11,000 (U.S. dollars) in their first month at UT Dallas for
tuition and fees, living expenses and start-up deposits. Do not bring this amount in cash. We
have found that international students typically bring $200-$400 in cash when they arrive.
o Medical and Dental Care - It is recommended that you schedule medical and dental
appointments before you depart your home country. You may also want to bring any
prescription or any non-prescription medications (with copies of your prescriptions translated
into English) with you.
Assignments to Complete After Arriving in the U.S.
Tuberculosis (TB) Documentation Form (mandatory): Effective for fall 2013 new students, all
persons born outside the United States will be required to have a Tuberculosis screening (IGRA
blood test, includes QuanitFERON and T-Spot) prior to registering for UTD classes. This must
be administered and interpreted in the United States. See the Student Health Center
website for details.
Submit stamped immigration documents (mandatory) - All F-1 and J-1 visa holders must
submit copies of their stamped immigration documents to the International Student Services
Office (ISSO) prior to registering for classes and attending orientation. If you are unable to visit
the ISSO prior to your Orientation, bring copies of your documents to Orientation.
o Stamped I-20 (page 1 and 3)
o Visa
o Front of the I-94
Note: Copy machines are available in the McDermott Library and Visitor Center/Copy
Center. The ISSO will not be able to make copies for you.
Attend the International Student Orientation
Access Galaxy (mandatory) - Log into the Galaxy online portal to access student self-service
tools. Galaxy will also tell you the appropriate department you must visit to clear your
registration holds.
o Submit Academic Documents (transcripts, test scores, etc)
o Submit Meningitis Vaccination Form, if not previously handled.
o Submit Tuberculosis (TB) Documentation Form, if not previously handled.
Make a decision about your options for Student Health Insurance.
Couple of things to be done after Orientation:
http://www.utdallas.edu/isso/orientation-after/
At this point, you have completed the assignments before orientation and attendedInternational
Student Orientation. These are things you will need to do to before the semester starts.
Assignments To Complete After Attending International Student Orientation
Register for classes - Meet with an academic advisor, and attend any academic orientation if
required.
Pay tuition and fees - UT Dallas Bursar’s Office offers information about the cost of tuition and
fees and acceptable payment methods.
Fees international students will have on their accounts:
o The International Student Special Services Fee is a $100 per semester mandatory fee for non-
immigrant students used for the ongoing support of all non-immigrant students enrolled at UT
Dallas.
o The Student Health Insurance Fee is a per semester fee to ensure international students meet
the UT System requirement to have health insurance coverage while enrolled at UT Dallas.
Students with alternative insurance that meets or exceeds UT System requirements
may request a waiver of the insurance fee during designated periods.
Update your local address - Login to Galaxy and update your local address.
Comet Card (student ID) - Take a fee payment receipt to the Comet Center to apply for your
Comet Card after registering for classes.
Apply for Transit Pass - Once registered for classes, you are eligible to apply for a free Dallas
Area Transit Authority (DART) Bus Pass.
Get Involved - Start with attending Orientation Extras, and other campus activities.