Your Learning

Whichever degree program you pursue, you’ll have the support and the tools to succeed – and it’s not too early to start thinking now about what that experience will be like and what you can do to be ready for your first quarter.

Orientation Modules

The Harris Orientation modules are a combination of informational handouts and videos designed to provide you with the necessary information to be successful here at Harris. The module topics include academic support, campus systems, financial aid, degree requirements, course registration, academic honesty and professional expectations, Harris organization, and student facing offices like Career Development and Student Engagement and Belonging. All of the modules will be posted here in early summer, and we will highlight them in the weekly Preparedness Digests. We recommend that you review all modules prior to welcome week and refer back to them often to help answer your questions about Harris and University resources.

Academic Preparation

At Harris, you will take rigorous courses that will develop you as a student and policy professional. While we expect your courses to push and challenge you, we provide multiple academic support resources to help you succeed.

You will receive information about resources throughout the summer that you can utilize before you even step on campus. The resources include support for the mandatory math exam, required for all master’s students except students in the MACRM program, pre-orientation academic programs like Math & Coding Camp and Mathematical Methods, and coding self-study support resources like Dataquest. During the academic year, you will also have access to other tutoring, coding, and writing resources.

No matter your academic background, there are resources to help you succeed at Harris. You will be challenged and grow, and we will be here to support you every step of the way!

Academic Advising

As a Harris student, you will be assigned an academic advisor who is committed to helping you make the most out of your degree program. Your advisor will help you select classes, track your progress toward your degree, and navigate your life as a graduate student, by supporting you through day-to-day issues and questions. It is always best to contact your assigned academic advisor before reaching out to central university offices (like the Registrar or Bursar) as your advisor can help you manage that process and save time.

You will receive your advisor assignment in early August and from there, we recommend that you book an introductory meeting to help your advisor understand your goals, create an action plan for your time at Harris, and answer any questions you have. Your advisor is your first point of contact, so you can always reach out to them with questions or make an appointment!

Core Courses & Registration

We know you are eager to start considering exactly which courses will make up your class schedule for the autumn quarter! During your first two quarters at Harris you will be taking required courses in the core. The description of your degree program includes a sample schedule that outlines when you will take your required courses – look for the  “Sample Schedule” and “curriculum” drop-downs on each of the pages.

You should plan to be available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. for core courses and other co-curricular obligations, such as teaching assistant (TA) discussion sessions and other class activities. Each core course is offered several times, and some of the core courses have the option of an advanced section.

We will share more information about class times, schedules, and registration later this summer. The registration period begins in early September and we will have an information session to go over the process and common questions. You can also reach out to your advisor for help.

Email

As a Harris student, properly managing your University email and calendar is essential to your success and it is important to start checking your email account at least once per day.

We encourage you to install your UChicago email on your smartphone and also add it to any desktop email client you use (Outlook, Apple Mail, etc). It is best to keep your university email separate from other email accounts and we recommend that you do not forward your email, as we have found that emails are not always forwarded properly and we do not want you to miss any communications.

For support with your university email account, see the University of Chicagos email knowledge base for more information or contact the Harris IT Service Desk. If you think you have missed a message of importance, please first check the UChicago Spam Folder. You can also check the trash folder on your email account.

Academic Calendar

Refer to the academic calendar for the start and end dates of each academic quarter and other key dates, like registration periods and breaks, throughout the academic year.

You can also find the final exams schedule linked at the bottom of the academic calendar webpage, which will be updated at the beginning of each quarter. Please note in order to view the final exams schedule, you must login to the website with your CNET ID and password.

Technology & Software

We recommend that every student has their own device to complete their coursework. Expected computing platforms must be capable of running the most recent operating systems. In general, devices should have a minimum of 8GB memory, 256GB hard drive - although more memory and/or disk space is always a good idea. If you are planning to purchase a new computer, the university has a relationship with Dell Computers, Apple and Lenovo which can give you a discount on purchases. Purchases can be made directly from the vendor. You can also purchase laptops and accessories from retailers such as Best Buy, Office Depot, and Micro Center. More information on purchasing computers on the University IT website.

Please note that laptops cannot be used within the required core courses and some elective courses per our policy on technology use in the classroom. Exceptions are made for students with a documented Student Disability Services (SDS) accommodation and for hand-written note-taking on tablets laid flat on students’ desks. If you prefer to utilize technology to take notes during classes, we recommend purchasing a tablet, however this is not required.

All students are also entitled to install Office 365 on up to five devices at no cost. The university offers a wide range of free or discounted software for students