Greetings from the Office of Graduate Student Life at Boston College!  First, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself.  My name is Darrell Peterson and I am now serving as the new Director of Graduate Student Life.  I look forward to working with all of you as you pursue your graduate and professional degrees at Boston College.

Once per month, the Office of Graduate Student Life sends out an electronic newsletter to all BC graduate students with valuable information about such things as programs and services, upcoming events, assistantship announcements, things to do in Boston, and the graduate student spotlight just to name a few.  Our first newsletter contains important information for all graduate students, both new and returning so we encourage you to take some time to read through the important information we have to share with you.

I would like to cordially invite all new graduate students to attend the New Graduate and Professional Student Orientation which will take place on Thursday, August 30, 2012.   This university-wide program is designed to orient you to your new community, university resources and the Boston area. Our orientation program is designed as a complement to your school or department-based orientation program.  We strongly recommend that you attend your school or department orientation as well as the New Graduate and Professional Student Orientation. If you have not yet heard from your graduate program, please contact them directly.  Orientation is sponsored by the Office of Graduate Student Life, the Office of the Provost, the University Libraries, and the Graduate Student Association.  For more information please click here.. 

If you plan to attend the New Graduate and Professional Student Orientation (and we sincerely hope that you do!),  Please fill out the registration form to RSVP no later than Friday, August 17, 2012.

Returning graduate students can get involved with New Graduate and Professional Student Orientation by volunteering to assist with the event.  This will be an excellent opportunity for you to share your perspective and expertise as current BC graduate students.  For more information please click here.  

We hope this newsletter will help answer some of your many questions as we approach the upcoming academic year. Please let us know if you have any questions or need any assistance.  We are here to support and serve you.  Thank you for your time, and we look forward to seeing you all in the fall!

Sincerely,

R. Darrell Peterson, Ph.D.

Attend the BC New Graduate & Professional Student Orientation: August 30, 2012 

Register for Orientation here  

• Get acquainted with campus with these Campus Maps 
• Find a place to live 
• Visit Your Agora Account: Agora is BC's online data system - you'll probably use it a lot during your time here. You can log on to Agora Portal to confirm your student account information, including contact information, financial aid, registration, email, etc.  Your username and password will be sent to you over the summer.  Please contact your individual school if you do not receive this information over the summer.
• Learn more about graduate financial aid  
• Familiarize Yourself with Important Deadlines:
  * tuition payments
  * financial aid documents
  * medical insurance waivers 
• Obtain your Eagle-One Card 
• Add funds to your Eagle-One Card and save 10% on all BC Dining Services  
• Complete and mail in your required immunization forms 
• Order textbooks (course syllabi with required books may be found when you log onto your Agora account, see above) 
• Purchase a computer 
• Visit the Murray Graduate Student Center 
• Get involved with the Graduate Student Association (GSA)   
• Get to know Boston! 
• View past issues of the newsletter  to familiarize yourself with the Office of Graduate Student Life (GSL)   

Attend your department's orientation   

Click here for the complete list of all orientations