Information for Incoming Tulane Graduate Students

We are delighted to welcome you to the School of Liberal Arts graduate program and want to make your transition to life as a graduate student at Tulane as easy as possible. Before your classes begin there are a few very important things that every new Tulane student must do and several forms that all new students must complete (most completed online). Some of these forms require information that may take some time for you to obtain so it is advisable to review and complete as soon as possible, any forms that have not already been completed and have everything completed if possible by the beginning of August. Below is a step-by-step summary, followed by a detailed explanation of each step necessary to complete your enrollment and begin receiving stipend checks (if applicable). You may have already completed some of the steps but all are included as a reminder/review. Please read every section carefully and follow each step that applies to you:

Summary of Steps Required for Enrollment for ALL Graduate Students and Completion of Hiring/Payroll Documents for Students Receiving a Stipend:

Before Arriving on Tulane Campus:

1. Students on Visa – Complete the Foreign Admission Data and Fund (FADF) Verification Form online and submit it back to the Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs in the School of Liberal Arts Graduate Programs Office. This form will appear on your admission application portal within a day after you accept the admission offer online. Schedule a Visa appointment for a date after you expect to receive your I-20 (or DS-2109) from Tulane
2. Check your personal email, including spam/junk, for an email from Tulane Technology Services with Information about your Tulane ID#
3. Send final, official transcripts with degree earned to: Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs, School of Liberal Arts, Newcomb Hall Room 108, New Orleans, LA 70118, if not already done so. If you have already sent an official transcript that indicates all final degrees earned when you applied, it is not necessary to send another one.
4. Obtain your immunization records, complete and submit the online immunization form to the Campus Health Center through the online upload by July 15.
5. Register for classes through Gibson Online.
6. Contact the Office of Housing and Residence Life at Tulane for information on Tulane affiliated or non-Tulane affiliated housing.
7. Check your Tulane email at least once a week for messages from the University.
8. Enroll in or submit waiver, if eligible, for Tulane Student Health Insurance by August 15.

If you will be receiving a fellowship, teaching or research assistantship stipend:

9. In order to receive your fellowship, teaching or research assistantship stipend payment you will have to complete the “hiring process” and all the documents/forms required for a student starting a new job. The Hiring Documents and detailed instructions will be emailed to you from Tucareers@tulane.edu sometime between mid-June and early July. Please complete and submit these documents online by the deadline in the detailed instructions listed in the Payroll section below.

NOTE: You must have a U.S. bank account in order to begin receiving your stipend payments. IF you do not have a U.S. bank account you will not be able to submit the completed Hiring Documents until you arrive in the U.S. and get a U.S. bank account. This could potentially delay the start of your stipend payments until the second pay date depending on when you obtain the bank account and submit the forms.

After You Arrive on Tulane Campus:

1. If you are a student on a Visa, check in ONLINE with the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) to activate your immigration record as soon as possible after you arrive in New Orleans.
2. If you have a fellowship, teaching or research assistantship and do not have a U.S. bank account, get a U.S. bank account then immediately complete and submit the online Hiring Forms emailed to you over the summer.
3. If you have a fellowship, teaching or research assistantship, complete the new hire documents as instructed on the forms and in email from TUCareeres@tulane.edu. In order to receive your pay for fellowship, teaching, and/or research assistantship, All steps through the I-9 verification must be completed by the deadline specified in the details below.
4. Orientation - Review the online orientation material and it is strongly suggested you attend the in-person Graduate Student Orientation if possible. The online orientation will be available to review in mid-July or early August and will remain open for you to refer to until after classes begin. The date for the in-person orientation, presented by the Tulane Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies has not yet been confirmed but is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, August 16, 2022. More information on this and confirmed date will be emailed to you by end of July. This is NOT the same as the international student orientation or any orientations individual departments may have.
5. If you are an international student on a Visa, attend the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) Orientation which is scheduled for Monday, August 15, 2022. You will receive more details from the International Office by the end of July.
6. Go to the Splash card/ Tulane ID Card office to get your Splash/ID Card.
7. Contact your department or attend the department graduate student orientation (if the department has a graduate student orientation) for information regarding department policies, fellowship expectations, teaching assistantship assignments/job descriptions and answers to any questions about classes for the first semester.
8. Use Gibson Online to make any changes to class schedule and confirm your registration when schedule is complete.

Tulane email, Tulane ID #, Identification (Splash) Card

Within 1 week of accepting our admission offer through the online reply to offer form on your admission application portal, Tulane Technology Services will send you an email with your Tulane ID# and a link to set up your new Tulane email. Sometimes this email will get stuck in junk mail so check your junk mail folders for an email from Tulane Technology Services. The 9 digit Tulane ID# is also known as your Splash Card number because you get an ID card known as a Splash Card. Your 9-digit Tulane ID#/Splash Card# will be the way you are identified for everything at Tulane so remember it. If you did not receive the email from Tulane Technology Services within 7 days of accepting ONLINE, please email Technology Services at: help@tulane.edu with your full name and date of birth to request a Tulane ID# and Tulane email address. Once you are enrolled in classes, the University and the School of Liberal Arts will send emails to your Tulane email, so please be sure to check your Tulane email at least several times a week. When you arrive on campus and before you start classes, go to the Campus Services/Splash Card office across from the food court on the first floor of the Lavin- Bernick Student Center on McAlister Dr. to get your Splash card/ ID Card. Your picture will be taken and a card made for you in just a few minutes. You must be registered for fall classes in order to receive a Splash Card.

Immigration Documents for International Students (any student on F-1 or J-1 Visa)

The first step for any student coming to Tulane on an F-1 or J-1 Visa is to submit a Foreign Admissions Data and Funding Verification Form (sometimes referred to as a (FADF) so that the Tulane Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) can prepare the I-20 form for an F-1 Visa or (DS-2019 for J-1 Visa) that you will need to bring to the embassy to obtain your VISA.

For F-1 or NON-exchange J-1 Visa students, this Foreign Admissions Data and Funding Verification Form should appear on your admission application status portal in the FORMS SECTION near the bottom a few hours after you indicted online through the application portal that you accept the admission offer from Tulane. Sometimes the system is slow so it might take as long as a day to appear on the application status portal.

Before you complete this online Foreign Admission Data and Funding Verification Form you will need to decide which visa status (F-1 or J-1) you will use to attend Tulane. F-1 visa status is the most common visa status used by non U.S. citizen students seeking a degree from a university in the U.S. However in some situations degree seeking students may qualify for a J-1 visa which might provide more benefits for international students. J-1 visa status is commonly used for exchange students or students on Fulbright or other scholarships not seeking a final degree from the university but some degree seeking students might also qualify for J-1 status. You must meet certain requirements to qualify for J-1 status; one requirement is that 51% or more of your total cost of attendance is paid for by Tulane scholarships, tuition waivers and/or stipends. Information about the Cost of Attendance for graduate students in the School of Liberal Arts is on this FADA form but basically the Cost of Attendance includes: tuition, room and board (apartment rent, utilities, food), university fees, required health insurance cost, books and miscellaneous expenses. Generally, if you received a full tuition scholarship you are likely to qualify for J-1 status if you desire. Please read the information on F-1 and J-1 status on the Office of International Students and Scholars website: F-1 or J-1? Which status is right for you? to help you determine which visa status is most appropriate and would be most beneficial for your situation. Generally, J-1 is beneficial for students coming to Tulane accompanied by a spouse because the spouse might be eligible for a work permit. If you have received a tuition scholarship from Tulane and you think you might want to apply for a J-1 visa or if you have any questions about your visa status, please contact Tulane's Office of International Students and Scholars, oiss@tulane.edu or Beth Nazar (enazar@tulane.edu) in the Office of International Students and Scholars (do NOT contact the department or graduate office) BEFORE you submit the Foreign Admission Data and Funding Verification Form (FADF).

IF you are attending Tulane as an Exchange student on a J-1 Visa, the Foreign Data form for J-1 students will be emailed to you after you accept the exchange.

Because of the potentially long processing time, it is IMPORTANT that you complete the Foreign Admissions Data and Funding Verification Form (F1-FADF) as soon as possible. After you have completed the Foreign Admissions Data and Funding Verification (FADF) Form online, uploaded a copy of your passport and documents to verify funding as instructed on the form and submit the form online. The Tulane Office of International Students and Scholars will use this information to prepare your I-20 or DS-2019 and send it to you via either email or Federal Express. After you submit this form, your record is coded in the Tulane system and then forwarded to the Tulane Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS). It may take the Tulane Office of International Students and Scholars as long as 4-5 weeks to process your forms and send the I-20/DS-2019 so do not expect to receive your I-20 /DS-2019 until about 6 weeks after you have submitted the Foreign Admissions Data and Funding Verification (FADF) form online. You should contact your embassy to find out how long it takes to get a Visa and schedule an appointment as soon as possible after you expect to receive your I-20 (or DS-2019) form.

If you are currently attending a University in the United States you will need to also upload a copy of your current Visa with the FADF form so the Tulane International Office can ask your current school to complete and send a Transfer Form for International Transfer Students to the Tulane Office of International Students and Scholars.

Immunizations

Louisiana law requires ALL entering college students to have up-to-date immunizations or immunity against measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, and tetanus. All incoming students must comply with the immunization program and provide evidence of compliance with the state guidelines for immunizations by uploading the required immunization form by July 15, if possible. The Immunization form, information about required immunizations, and brief instructions on how to upload the form are on the Tulane Campus Health immunizations website: http://campushealth.tulane.edu/patient-portal/immunization-compliance

Tulane students are required to be fully vaccinated for Covid-19. However, students may decline Covid-19 vaccination for reasons consistent with Louisiana state vaccine laws by submitting a Vaccine Declination Form. New arriving students must submit vaccine documentation prior to arrival on campus and if possible before July 15. If you are not vaccinated for Covid-19 and will not be able to obtain full Covid-19 vaccination prior to arrival on campus please contact the immunizations department of Tulane Campus Health Center at (504) 865-5255 or immunizations@tulane.edu for information on procedures you should follow upon arrival and how to schedule needed vaccination after your arrival.

Once enrolled, Tulane students are also required to receive a flu vaccine and submit documentation each flu season. Newly admitted students do NOT need proof of a previous flu vaccine but will be required to receive a flu vaccine during the fall semester. Campus Health offers no-cost flu shots on campus each fall via our annual flu clinics. Also, many pharmacies (Walgreens and CVS) and retail outlets (Target, Walmart) offer vaccines at low or no charge to you.

If you have any questions regarding the immunization program or will not be able to submit the immunization form online by July 15, please contact the immunizations department of Tulane Campus Health at (504) 865-5255 or immunizations@tulane.edu. NOTE: if you fail to submit an immunization form before classes begin, you will not be able to make any registration changes to your first semester classes, such as add or drop a class, or to register for classes for the following semester until the form has been submitted and reviewed by Campus Health.

July 15: Immunization Compliance Deadline - This is the deadline to submit your completed Tulane immunization compliance form and records via the Patient Portal. Your doctor needs to sign and stamp Tulane's form. Tulane must have evidence of a student’s compliance with the state guidelines for immunizations. Failure to meet these requirements will result in an enrollment hold being placed on your student account on October 1, which will bar you from dropping or adding further classes in the Fall semester and/or enrolling for Spring semester classes.

If you may need to continue with ongoing therapy or counseling while in New Orleans as a student you should connect with a community therapist or psychiatrist for ongoing concerns before arriving in New Orleans. Contact the Counseling Center Care Coordinator in the Campus Health Center if you need assistance.

Health Insurance & Campus Health Center

The Campus Health Center fee provides access to outpatient medical, mental health and health promotion services and personnel available through the University Campus Health Center but it is NOT the same as health/medical insurance. The university’s policy is that full-time students must pay the Campus Health Center fee.

All degree-seeking students (full and part-time) must have health insurance coverage that meets minimum coverage limits. The insurance requirement can be met by enrolling in the Tulane-sponsored student health insurance plan offered through the university or providing proof of other insurance and completing an online waiver. You may ONLY waive the student health insurance if you have other health insurance coverage that meets Tulane’s requirements. The annual cost for student health insurance for 2022-23 is not yet finalized but is expected to be about $3000 for 12 months of individual coverage. The cost will be posted on the Campus Health Center/Insurance website as soon as it is finalized. Additional coverage for family members is available at an additional cost. To learn more about the Tulane-sponsored medical insurance plan and the deadline dates to enroll in or submit a waiver to decline health insurance, please visit the University Campus Health Center/Insurance website: https://campushealth.tulane.edu/insurance-billing/t-ship

August 15: Health Insurance Action Deadline - This is the deadline to either enroll in or opt-out of the Tulane-sponsored Student Health Insurance Plan (T-SHIP). If you do not take action by this date, you will be automatically enrolled in T-SHIP, and the non-refundable premium will be charged to your account. Please note that this automatic enrollment does not usually occur until mid to late September so it is STRONGLY suggested that you do NOT wait for the automatic enrollment because you will be without any medical coverage for 4 to 6 weeks and if you need to use any medical services you would have to pay the entire cost.

REMEMBER: You will need to enroll in or opt out of insurance coverage before the beginning of EVERY academic year so please remember to do that each summer when you receive email reminders over the summer.

Class Registration Instructions

Once you have received your Tulane ID# you are able to register for classes You may use the online Schedule of Classes Planner feature to plan your class schedule. Your department Director of Graduate Studies or advisor should have contacted you or will be contacting you by mid-July with information about classes. You may also use Degree Works, a degree planning and audit tool, available on Gibson Online to help you select courses that apply to your program. Be sure to select course sections that are open and that have no time conflicts.

You will register for Fall classes by using GIBSON ONLINE, the Tulane Online registration system. To register online go to www.registrar.tulane.edu and click on “GIBSON ONLINE” or go directly to your Gibson Online account once you have set it up after receiving the email with your Tulane ID # and new Tulane email. NOTE: Gibson Online is the gateway to all your student information including class schedules, billing, financial aid, etc.

Classes will begin on Monday, August 22, 2022. You should receive a reminder email the first week of classes but remember to confirm your classes and enrollment online through your Gibson Online account by Friday, August 26, 2022.

Housing

Tulane housing for graduate students is very limited. There is no on-campus housing for graduate students but there is one Tulane affiliated off campus apartment building (Deming Pavilion) for graduate student housing downtown near the Tulane Medical School. Space in this Tulane affiliated housing fills up quickly so you should contact the Housing Office early. Many graduate students find less expensive and more conveniently located private rental apartments near the university often through the Tulane Facebook Classified page:https://www.facebook.com/groups/Tulane.Classifieds/ (Items for Sale) or real estate agents in the area. For more information please visit the Office of Housing and Residence Life off-campus housing website: https://housing.tulane.edu/off-campus-housing or email housing@tulane.edu. Graduate students in your department are also good sources of information about available housing and are always happy to help new students.

Payroll Information for Students Receiving Fellowship, Teaching Assistantship or Research Assistantship Stipends

Federal law requires that Tulane University verify employment eligibility of all students receiving stipend checks, work-study checks, or any other remuneration from Tulane. As a result, in order to receive your stipend payment, you will have to complete the “hiring process” and all the documents/forms required for a student starting a new job or paid from the student payroll. The Hiring Forms and DETAILED instructions will be emailed from TUCareers@tulane.edu to your Tulane email address or in some cases your personal email address, so please check both addresses. These forms will be emailed to you between mid-June and early July. If you have not received the forms from TUCareers@tulane.edu by July 10, please check your junk/spam mail and then let me know if you do not have the forms. Please do not lose or delete this information. We suggest you flag it or save it somewhere so you can refer to it easily.

There are two steps to completing the hiring process:

1. Complete and submit the emailed Hiring Forms online no later than Monday, August 15, 2022. We suggest you complete the forms if possible by the end of July and definitely before you arrive in New Orleans unless you need to obtain a U.S. bank account. Full instructions on how to complete the forms are included with the forms. Note that the forms will ask for a Social Security Number (SSN). If you do not have an SNN, you should just indicate “will apply for” on the form and complete the rest of the information. When you arrive in New Orleans, one of the first things you should do is get a Social Security Number. F1/J1 students will receive information on how to obtain an SSN from the International Office. You WILL be able to receive your paycheck without a Social Security Number but you must obtain an SSN by the beginning of October or your payment could be terminated.
2. Verify your I-9 identification documents (passport or U.S. driver’s license) with Human Resources/Student Employment no later than August 19, 2022. NOTE: the identification documents must be originals and NOT copies. Please follow the I-9 document verification instructions on the forms or refer to the I-9 verification instructions on the Student Employment website: https://hr.tulane.edu/student-employment/home. You will have an opportunity to verify your I-9 documents with representatives from Human Resources on the day of the Graduate School Orientation during the week of August 15 or you will be required to bring the I-9 documentation to the Tulane Human Resources Office located downtown (not on the main campus). If you are in New Orleans prior to August 15, it is suggested that you try to verify your I-9 at Human Resources before orientation to avoid a long wait. REMEMBER: You must complete and submit all the online Hiring Forms mentioned in #1 above BEFORE your I-9 documents can be verified by Human Resources. AND You must have a U.S. bank account and enter that bank account information on one of the online forms in order to submit the forms and begin receiving your stipend payments. IF you are an International student and do not have a U.S. bank account you will not be able to submit the completed Hiring Forms until after you arrive in the U.S. and get a U.S. bank account; therefore if you do not have a U.S. bank account, your first stipend payment MIGHT be delayed unless you arrive in New Orleans, obtain a U.S. Bank account and complete/submit the forms online by August 15, 2022. It is a good idea to get a U.S. bank account as soon as possible after you arrive in New Orleans so you can submit the payroll forms online. There are several banks within a mile or two of campus including a bank on Claiborne Avenue across the street from the baseball stadium. You may also be able to open a U.S. account from a large bank in your home country but be sure that bank has a bank branch in New Orleans.

The first stipend paycheck for new School of Liberal Arts graduate students will be issued by direct deposit on Friday, September 2, 2022, if all payroll forms have been submitted online by August 15 and the I-9 identification documents have been verified by the Human Resources/Student Employment office no later than August 19, 2022. If your forms are submitted online late or your I-9 identification documents are presented to and verified by the Human Resources office after August 19, 2022, your stipend payments are not guaranteed to begin on September 2 and may start on the next pay date.

REMEMBER: All students on any type of VISA must check in online with the Office of International Students and Scholars to activate their immigration records BEFORE going to Human Resources with their identification documents.

Student stipend payments are distributed every other Friday (every two weeks) by direct deposit to a U. S. bank account. New School of Liberal Arts graduate students will receive their first stipend check in early September. Stipends are reviewed each summer for annual renewal in the beginning of September.

Please note that students receiving a fellowship and/or teaching or research assistantship stipend are not allowed to hold any other employment for remuneration, including within Tulane unless their department approves and confirms that such employment does not interfere with satisfactory academic advancement. Students on a stipend must request department approval for other employment at the beginning of each year.

Be sure you have enough funds available to live until the first paycheck on September 2 or September 16 if your forms and documents are submitted after the August deadlines noted in the payroll section above. And plan to bring enough funds to cover all initial move-in expenses such as security deposits, electricity and gas deposits, one month’s rent, meals, furniture, etc. We generally suggest you have at least $2,500 available to cover initial expenses.

Taxation of Scholarships, Assistantships and Fellowships

If you are a U.S. citizen all of your funding (tuition scholarship, assistantship, and/or fellowship) is subject to U.S. tax regulations. You may wish to refer to Publication 970: Tax Benefits for Education (Sec. 1. Scholarships, Fellowships, Grants, and Tuition Reduction):https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-970 and Topic No. 421 - Scholarships, Fellowship Grants, and Other Grants found on the IRS website: https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc421 for tax details. Taxes will be directly withheld only from assistantship stipends but you are responsible for paying applicable taxes on all of your funding (tuition scholarships, teaching or research assistantships and fellowships) in accordance with IRS regulations.

F-1/J-1 students receiving a stipend are subject to the tax laws of their home country and tax will be deducted from some or all of their stipend per home country tax laws. Before any stipend payment can be issued non-U.S. Citizens must complete the necessary forms via the Internet from any web-accessed computer using the GLACIER Online Tax Compliance System. Failure to do so may result in the maximum rate of tax withholding and/or delayed payment. Information about forms F-1/J-1 students must complete on GLACIER will be included with the hiring form's instructions.

Remember all stipend amounts are BEFORE any taxes are deducted so be sure to take this into consideration when planning your budget. If you have questions about taxes you will need to refer to tax regulations in your home country or ask someone familiar with tax laws that would apply to your situation.

School of Liberal Arts Graduate Student Handbook/Catalog

All graduate students in the School of Liberal Arts are required to be aware of and adhere to the policies outlined in the School of Liberal Arts Graduate Student Handbook/Catalog: https://liberalarts.tulane.edu/academics/graduate-studies/resources Please review this before classes begin and take special note of the grading policy for graduate students. Please remember this “Resources” website for future reference; it contains forms, information about policies, instructions for graduation, and other useful information.

New Graduate Student Orientation

The University Office of Graduate and Post-Doctoral Studies sponsors a New Graduate Student Orientation each year before classes begin. The orientation includes an online portion which you should review prior to the start of classes and a short in-person orientation session. The online presentation will be open in late July or early August and remain open until after classes begin. The in-person session is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, August 16, 2022. You will receive more information about each via email in the next few weeks. You will also be able to verify your hiring I-9 identification documents at this orientation if you have not done so prior to orientation. This orientation is not the same as any orientations your department might have.

International Student Orientation

All students who are attending Tulane on an F-1 or J-1 Visa MUST check – in ONLINE with the Office of International Students and Scholars through the iGlobal portal as soon as they arrive on campus and attend the International Student orientation on Monday, August 15, 2022. During the last week of July or the beginning of August, the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) will email you a link to and instructions on how to check in through iGlobal. OISS will also email you information about the international student orientation. Orientation Information will also be posted on the Office of International Students and Scholars website orientation page. Be sure to check out all the information for new students on the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) incoming students website.

NOTE: Your I-20 or DS-2019 documents might have a program begin date of August 16, 2022, BUT you should plan to be in New Orleans in time to attend the OISS orientation now scheduled for August 15, 2022.

Instructor/Teaching Assistant Workshop

The University Office of Graduate and Post-Doctoral Studies has several resources that will be helpful to you in preparing to teach a class including a special workshop for first-time teachers tentatively scheduled for the morning of Wednesday, August 17, 2022. Check out the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies website and click on the “Seminars & Workshops” link under the “Graduate Resources” Tab at the top for information on the new teacher workshop and an Instructor Manual/Tips on Teaching. The Office of Graduate and Post-Doctoral Studies will email more information about this TA workshop and how to register later this summer. You should plan to attend this Instructor/TA workshop if your Teaching Assistantship will include classroom teaching duties your first year. If you will not be teaching your first year, it is probably best to wait until the summer before your first teaching semester to attend this Teacher Orientation which is offered every summer before classes begin.

Computer Requirements

Regular access to a laptop or desktop computer will be necessary for success in the graduate program. Tulane Information Technology would like to share the following information with incoming graduate students regarding computer needs:

• Most devices are compatible with Tulane's assortment of software applications as long as your device runs on a Windows 10 or Mac OS (Apple) operating system.
• Important Note about Chromebooks, iPads, and Tablets While these devices are great for notetaking, communicating and web browsing, we have found that Chromebooks, iPads, and tablets are not recommended for students as a primary computing device. Many of our software and security applications are not compatible with or supported on these devices, including our testing software that many instructors use for quizzes, tests, and exams. Therefore, we suggest having an alternative laptop or computer for testing and use of academic software.
• Detailed List of Tech Recommendations - Please view the detailed list of student device recommendations and specifications which also includes purchasing options and Tulane programs with specific device requirements.
• Accommodations and Assistance for Students - Tulane provides resources for students who need assistance with purchasing a recommended device or setting up accessible technology. Please refer to the Recommended Device Assistance form on The Center for Academic Equity's Resources page and Goldman Center for Student Accessibility

Mandatory Fees

Academic Support Services Fee ($400 per semester)– The Academic Support Services Fee entitles a student to use the supplementary services of the University libraries and academic support services, such as language and science laboratories. It also covers certain computer services, data and voice hook-ups, tutoring services and some of the non-testing components of the Center for Educational Resources and Counseling, certain online library services, and other academic support services.

Campus Health Center Fee ($359 per semester)– The Student Health Fee provides students with primary care, psychiatric care and counseling, and contraceptive care at the Campus Health Center. It also contributes to health education programs, drug/alcohol counseling, and the Tulane Emergency Medical Service. This is NOT the same as the student health insurance and you must have paid this fee in order to visit a healthcare provider at the Campus Health Center. All full-time students (those enrolled in 9 or more hours) will be automatically charged this fee but part-time students (enrolled in less than 9 hours) must pay and enroll in order to use any of the campus health center services.

Student Activity Fee ($120 per semester) – The Student body at Tulane assesses itself a Student Activity Fee to support its activities. The Student Activity fee entitles students to participate in or attend supported activities, readership of a weekly newspaper, and admission to many intercollegiate athletic contests, movies, special events, and lectures.

Reily Recreation Center Fee ($210 per semester) – Full-time students will be assessed for membership to the Reily Recreation center. Part-time students have the option to join the Reily Center.

Tuition & Fees 2022-2023

* This is the standard tuition rate for stipend-funded PhD, MFA, and MA programs. Most departments offer a limited number of academic merit-based tuition scholarships/ waivers and stipends (in the form of teaching assistantships, research assistantships, or fellowships). All who apply for admission to the School of Liberal Arts graduate school are automatically considered for the tuition waiver/stipend if applicable to the specific department.

Special significantly reduced tuition rates are offered for graduate students enrolled in certain MA programs (Computational Linguistics, English, Policy Economics, and Philosophy) that do not offer tuition scholarships and stipends. The tuition rates for these programs were included in your admission offer letter.

Payment of Accounts Receivable (Fees/Health Insurance)

For students receiving a stipend, the Accounts Receivable Office has a payroll deduction plan which allows students to pay for fees and health insurance by deducting an amount from each paycheck during the semester. We highly recommend all graduate students receiving a stipend enroll in payroll deduction at the beginning of every academic year in order to eliminate a large balance due.

In order to use this payroll deduction, you must be receiving a stipend and, you must fill out a (Payroll Deduction Authorization (PDF) for fees AND a separate Payroll Deduction Graduate Student Insurance (PDF) for deduction of health insurance. Both forms can be obtained from the Accounts Receivable office or online: https://studentaccounts.tulane.edu/content/payment-options (Scroll down the page to “payroll deduction”).

• To avoid finance charges, all bills must be paid by the due date shown on the bill.
• Fees and health insurance can be paid over the course of a semester through payroll deduction for students on stipend. For this option students must submit, a Payroll Deduction Authorization (PDF) for fees and Payroll Deduction Graduate Student Insurance (PDF) for deduction of health insurance to the Accounts Receivable Office
• If electing payroll deduction, a small finance charge will accrue on outstanding fee or tuition balances even though a student signs up for payroll deduction. The health insurance charge will be removed from the student’s account and no finance charges will be assessed on insurance.

Student Loans

If you are a U.S. citizen or a U.S. permanent resident, you may be eligible for federal and state student grants, work-study, and loans. The maximum amount of loan you will be eligible to receive is the total cost of attendance (COA) calculated by Tulane’s Financial Aid office MINUS ALL other financial aid which includes tuition waivers, fellowships, scholarships, health insurance credits/supplements from Tulane and any other scholarships from external sources. Teaching or research assistantships are NOT considered financial aid for loan purposes; however, taxes will be deducted from these assistantships in most cases. Note that the original amount of federal loans you are offered will probably NOT include financial aid sources from Tulane such as tuition waiver, fellowships, scholarships, etc. because it often takes several months (2-3) for all of the aid to be processed and final federal loan packages calculated. This initial loan amount may be significantly more than the final amount of aid you are ultimately eligible to receive. You are responsible for checking your financial aid package to be sure tuition waivers and all sources of fellowships, scholarships, and other aid from Tulane or outside sources are listed on your financial aid package if any are applicable.

Your award may be adjusted several times to include all of the aid sources but it is your responsibility to understand that after processing is complete and all adjustments are made you will only be eligible to receive federal loans in the amount of the total cost of attendance (COA) calculated by Tulane’s Financial Aid office MINUS all other financial aid from Tulane (tuition waiver, fellowship, health insurance support, scholarships, etc. ) or from scholarship sources outside Tulane. Tulane is required to return from your account any amounts greater than this to the federal loan program.

If you are considering a loan please read the information on the Tulane Financial Aid website: https://financialaid.tulane.edu/ and https://financialaid.tulane.edu/graduate/liberal-arts and the Department of Education federal student aid website: https://studentaid.gov/. These websites contain important information you will need to understand about the cost of attendance and the estimated amount of loan, loan eligibility, and how to apply. All students interested in government loans will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine your financial need. To apply online for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form (FAFSA), just go to the Federal Student Aid website.

Final Transcripts

Before classes begin we need an OFFICIAL copy of your final transcript (with degree earned) for your record. If your degree will not be granted until July or August please wait to send the transcript until the final degree is granted. Please request that a complete, official transcript from your undergraduate or graduate registrar be sent to: Tulane University School of Liberal Arts, Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs, Newcomb Hall Room 108, New Orleans, LA 70118, or if sent via electronic transcript service, to: aschumac@tulane.edu to be included in your official admissions record.

NOTE: an official transcript is one that is sent directly from the University in either a sealed, stamped envelope OR via a University electronic transmission service. If your transcript is in another language we can accept the translated copy directly from a certified translation service.

When Should You Arrive on Campus?

The answer to this question varies depending on your situation. Classes begin Monday, August 22, 2022, but if possible all new graduate students should be in New Orleans at least a week before classes begin in order to attend the New Graduate Student Orientation (tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, August 16, 2022), to verify hiring documents and to get settled into your living arrangements prior to the start of classes. If you have not arranged housing prior to arrival, it could take at least 2 weeks to find a place to live at this time of year so many graduate students arrive 2-3 weeks before classes begin.

If you are an International Student (on any type of Visa) you will be required to check- in and attend the Orientation for International Students on Monday, August 15, 2022. Please check the Office of International Students and Scholars website: https://oiss.tulane.edu/students for more details as the site is updated. The Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) will also send information about this orientation for International students with your I-20/DS-2019 and periodically over the summer.

If you will be receiving a fellowship, teaching or research assistantship stipend and would like to receive your first stipend paycheck on the first payday in September, you need to arrive in New Orleans, complete and submit your hiring forms and have your I-9 employment identification documents verified no later than August 19, 2022.

Be sure you have enough funds available to live until the first paycheck in early September or the mid-September payday if your forms and documents are submitted after the August deadlines noted in the payroll section above. And plan to bring enough funds to cover all initial move-in expenses such as security deposits, electricity and gas deposits, one month’s rent, meals, furniture, etc. We generally suggest you have AT LEAST $2,500 available to cover initial expenses.

Other Information

• Accessibility Services
• Student Affairs