RISD : Rhode Island School of Design : FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS

ORIENTATION: For Graduate Students

GRADUATE STUDENT ORIENTATION IS SEPTEMBER 13-15, 2009.

The information below and the links to the left pertain particularly to your first few days at RISD. Follow these links to learn more about specific graduate programs, campus life and the city of Providence.

DIRECTIONS
>> get directions to Orientation (destination is set to 2 College Street, RISD’s main address)
>> download a map of the RISD campus

ACCOMMODATIONS
Follow this link to a listing of area hotels and motels.

SCHEDULE

Monday, June 15
Summer Foundation Studies and English Language Studies programs begin.

Tuesday, June 30
Interior Architecture students arrive in Copenhagen for the DIS program. Classes begin Wednesday, July 1.

Monday, July 13
MAT program in Teaching+ Learning in Art + Design begins

Friday, July 31
Landscape Architecture “Design Foundations/Field Ecology” course begins.

Saturday, September 12
Residence halls open.

Sunday, September 13 through Tuesday, September 15
Graduate Student Orientation

Wednesday, September 16
Classes begin.

Friday, December 11
Classes end.

Friday, December 18
Studio Review Days end.

Saturday, December 19
Residence halls close.

ADVISING + REGISTRATION
Your appointment time will be indicated on the registration form you receive in your RISD mailbox. The courses required for your major — for which you may be preregistered by your department head — will be attached to that form. (Be sure to check with your department head to ensure that you’ve been preregistered.) You’ll receive a course announcement and course list from the Registrar as well as a list of suggested electives from the Graduate Studies Office. During your registration appointment (see Monday, September 13, above), you’ll complete your schedule by selecting electives.

FORMS

Health Form
The Health Form must be completed by you and your physician. All students must pay particular attention to the requirements of the Rhode Island State law concerning immunizations. Students who are attending Summer Foundation Studies or the English Language Studies Program or are beginning programs in Teaching + Learning in Art + Design, Landscape Architecture or Interior Architecture Program must return the Health Form by June 1. Students arriving in September must return their Health Forms by August 1. Please return the following materials by June 15.

Enrollment Form
We request this information to complete your student profile.

Special Needs Form
If you have a learning disability or physical handicap, please complete this form and provide appropriate documentation.

Counseling Services Form
Transition to a new college is often a stressful time. It is important that Counseling Services is aware of your needs.

IDs/KEYS/MAILBOXES
Your student ID will be issued during Orientation or at the Campus Card Office located at 48 Waterman Street. If you have questions, call 401 454-6664. Your RISD ID is also your library card and gives you some extended building access privileges. Carry your ID at all times when you are on campus. You’ll receive studio and room keys from your department head. Building access keys will be issued in early September by the Department of Public Safety. By mid-August you will be assigned a box in the RISD Mailroom, which is located in Memorial Hall. All RISD communications are sent to your RISD box (not to your home address), so plan to check it daily.

FINANCIAL AID
There are many different types of funding available to graduate students at RISD. For a complete overview, follow this link to financial aid for graduate students.

Assistantships
Department heads and graduate coordinators determine the amount of each assistantship and assign responsibilities to each. Please remember: you need to sign your assistantship contract in the Graduate Studies Office before you can be paid. A few assistantships are also available in ; Brown University's Department of Visual Art; if you are interested, contact your department head.

Fellowships
Department heads and graduate coordinators grant fellowships based on personal interviews and financial need.

Loans
To arrange a loan agreement, contact Dory Skemp in the Financial Aid Office (20 Washington Place, , 1st floor) dskemp@risd.edu or call 401 454-6635.

Work Study Bonnie Wojcik in the Financial Aid Office (20 Washington Place, , 1st floor) can help you make work-study arrangements. You can reach her by calling 401 454-6634 or e-mail her at bwojcic@risd.edu.

Awards of Excellence
Awards are granted during second semester to first- and second-year students based on exceptional work done while at RISD. These awards are credited toward tuition.

GRADUATE STUDENT ALLIANCE
The Graduate Student Alliance is a group of representatives from the 17 graduate departments who discuss issues of importance to graduate students and sponsor a number of social events. Meetings are open to all grads.

GRADUATE STUDENT GALLERIES
Located on the first floor of the Center for Integrative Technologies at 169 Weybosset Street, the Sol Koffler Graduate Student Gallery features work by graduate students from all departments.Individual, group and thematic shows are mounted year-round. Receptions are held Thursday evenings and are coordinated with openings at Woods-Gerry Gallery, The RISD Museum, and risd|works.