Information for Incoming Students:

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Cultural Information
Welcome to the United States, Albuquerque, and the University of New Mexico!  We are glad you have chosen to come to our University, and we hope to get to know you better over the course of your stay. Use this site as a reference while you prepare to come to the United States. It will be especially helpful in the first few weeks of your stay. Detailed information on most of the topics will be presented at the International Student Orientation.
No matter how well you prepare for a trip abroad, adjusting to a new culture can be a challenging experience.  The early stimulation of sights, sounds and people can be very invigorating and exciting, but a short time later you may experience homesickness, sadness and depression as you are overwhelmed by new cultural rules and behaviors, the challenge of communicating in a second language, and the stresses of beginning a new academic program in a new place.  You may experience some moments when it seems to be impossible to make sense of your environment, when you cannot predict the actions of others, or when your own habitual actions seem to produce an unanticipated response in others.  You may even fear that you made the wrong decision to come to the US and may consider returning home.  Don't worry.  These feelings are all part of the natural process of cultural adjustment and will soon pass as you become familiar with your new environment, make new friends and become more confident in your ability to function in US society.
Albuquerque and the southwestern US have a unique geography and culture of their own.  The land is sparse, the mountains are large, and the skies seem to go on forever.  On the west side of Albuquerque, from Petroglyph National Monument you can see the Rio Grande River meander through a tree-lined valley.  The rugged Sandia Mountains, the southernmost mountains of the Rocky Mountain chain, tower over the eastern part of the city.  A ride up the Sandia Peak Tram, the world's longest single-span tramway, puts you on top of a mountain where the views are spectacular.  To the west, silhouettes of volcanoes against fiery red sunsets are often dramatic and spectacular.  Albuquerque is a city full of exciting attractions and events from Old Town where Albuquerque was founded in 1706 to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, the largest open hot air balloon event in the world.  We encourage you to find out more about the US, the Southwest and Albuquerque via the web and other printed resources.  More information about Albuquerque can be found at: http://www.cabq.gov Bienvenidos!  Welcome to Albuquerque, New Mexico!

Immigration and Visa Information
Critical immigration procedures are covered in the orientation program & materials. Read the information very carefully to know the correct procedures for your particular situation. For a list of American embassies, consulates and their web sites, visit: http://usembassy.state.gov/


Preparing to come to US

A. WEATHER & WHAT TO BRING

At an altitude of 1,500 meters, Albuquerque receives over 300 days of sunshine per year, and it has a dry climate.  The average annual rainfall is 20cm.  The average summer daytime temperatures can range from 28°C to 35°C.  The evening temperature drops down to between 14°C and 18°C.  During the winter the coldest daytime temperatures can range from 11°C to 5°C, with evenings down to minus 5°C.  Come prepared for both hot and cold weather.

Clothes should be chosen for comfort and good wearing qualities.  Students dress informally on campus.  We hope that you will bring any national costumes you may have for the annual International Festival and other special occasions.  In addition to clothes, books, and other essentials -- consider bringing the following items for your stay in the US:  extra eye glasses or contact lenses, medications (in clearly labeled containers), photos, addresses of friends & family, phone numbers of US contacts, compact items that will help your apartment or house feel like home. Check with the airline that you are using regarding luggage weight restrictions and security measures.Top of the page

B. Money

You should arrive with $2000 to $3000 in US currency to cover initial costs.  These funds will be used for your arrival expenses such as taxi, meals, books, supplies, apartment deposits, and other personal needs.  For your protection, it is best to carry any large sums of money in the form of traveler's checks (NOT IN CASH); be sure to sign your name to each one .  You should also carry a small amount of money in US dollars.
If you bring a bank draft or a foreign check to open an account, you cannot draw upon it for 2 to 3 weeks; so do not rely upon these funds for immediate cash.  After you have established an account, you may wire money directly from your home bank to your Albuquerque bank.  Since wiring fees are expensive, consider wiring only large sums. Wiring money usually takes three to five business days.  In addition, exchanging foreign currency is difficult and can be expensive and time consuming, so you should not plan to bring foreign currency with you for use in the US.Top of the page

C. Sending Packages Before Arrival in Albuquerque

If you plan to live in UNM student housing, and you would like to send packages there before your arrival you may have your letters and packages sent to (if you will NOT live on campus do not send mail to this address!):

Text Box: Your Name SRC (mail box # if you have been assigned one) 2700 Campus Blvd NE Albuquerque, NM 87106-8000
You must attempt to have your package arrive shortly before you arrive in Albuquerque because the Mailroom has little storage space.  If you will be arriving later than expected, please call the mailroom and inform them that your package should not be returned.  Their telephone number is: (505) 277-3099.  Please pick up your mail as soon as possible after arriving on campus.  To do this, you can go to the front desk in the Student Residence Center and pick up your package if it has arrived.  If you are a graduate student and you will not be living in on-campus housing, you may try to contact your department by phone or email and ask if they will allow you to send packages to their office.top of the page

D. Health Insurance: Think About This Now!

You are required to show proof of health insurance in order to enroll for classes at UNM. Health insurance is a necessity in the US because the cost of routine and emergency health care is extremely expensive. Also, international students are not eligible for public benefits such as health coverage for those with low income. Accepting any benefits would make you subject to deportation from the US . Routine dental work and eye examinations are not covered by most US health insurance plans; therefore, you should take care of any dental or eye problems before you leave your home country. You will be able to purchase the UNM health insurance only shortly before the semester begins. Therefore, you should plan to purchase short-term travel insurance at home to cover you before you buy the UNM health insurance. Note that UNM student health insurance can only be purchased at the beginning of each semester. Check with the UNM Student Health Center as soon as you arrive on campus for the deadline . For complete information about the insurance plan offered by UNM, including cost of coverage and an enrollment application form, please visit www.gmsouthwest.com .

You may choose to buy a non-UNM insurance plan that has at least the same amount of coverage as the UNM plan. However, if you buy a different plan, you must bring your medical insurance card or letter that verifies the policy number and current coverage. Furthermore, you should be sure that you know exactly what your insurance covers and how to access it from Albuquerque .

E. Medical Records

Be sure to bring copies (translated into English) of your medical records and those of any accompanying family members. A record of your children's immunizations is also required before they will be allowed to enroll in public schools in the US . School and daycare immunization requirements are available at http://www.health.state.nm.us/immunize/


F. Getting to Campus

The University of New Mexico is located about five miles from the airport. You should plan to take a taxi from the airport to the University. This will cost approximately $12 plus a tip of about $2 for the driver, especially if he helps you with heavy luggage. The trip from the airport to the University should take about 10 minutes. If you arrive late in the evening, you may choose to stay at a nearby hotel. Please go to the housing section to find out more about temporary housing and motel information.

 

G. REQUIRED CHECK-IN AND REGISTERING FOR CLASSES

New students are required to check-in with the Office of International Programs and Studies (OIPS), 2111 Mesa Vista Hall when they arrive at UNM in order to get a clearance card to register for classes. Check the cover letter that came with this guide for all of the information regarding check-in for the semester you are arriving. Checks in are usually offered once per day in the week prior to orientation. Bring all of your immigration documents with you and plan to spend at least an hour checking in with us. We will check and copy your documents and review the information that you are required to provide us before the end of the first week of classes (this includes copies of immigration documents, proof of health insurance, a UNM email account, a local address and proof of attendance at the international student orientation). Failure to provide the required information by the end of the first week of classes will result in disenrollment from the university!

At the check-in session we will give you a clearance card to register for classes. You can then register online with UNM's I-Tel service. Undergraduate students must complete at least 12 credits each semester in order to remain full-time and maintain legal immigration status. Graduate students must complete 9 credits; those graduate students with UNM assistantships must complete 6 credits each semester.

Course descriptions are on-line, listed by department at www.unm.edu . Click on “Current Students”, and then click on “Class Schedules”. For more detailed course descriptions, contact the specific department. Some courses may have prerequisites or require special permission from a faculty member or department advisor for registration. In addition, some arts, dance, or exercise classes may have special fees, anywhere from $15 to $160 per class. These special fees are not included in your tuition, and you will be expected to pay them should you choose to take the class. If a class has a fee, it will be indicated above the class listing in the class schedule. Once again, you will not be able to register until you complete the check-in process.
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H. International Student Orientation

All incoming international students are also required to attend international student orientation. Dates and information about international student orientation for each semester are in the cover letter that accompanies this guide. All students must plan to arrive at least one day before the orientation program begins; although we recommend you arrive one week before. The orientation program is designed to make your transition to life at UNM as easy as possible. We will provide you with essential information about immigration rules and regulations you must follow in order to remain legally in the US . We will also supply you with information regarding academic expectations, health insurance, safety and security, and other information about university services and procedures. Even if you have already spent time in the US , you will find this program useful.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GROUPS AND SOCIAL EVENTS

The University of New Mexico hosts students from over 80 countries, so it is likely that you will find other students from your country at UNM. International Student groups at UNM can provide a source of support for new students. Further information about coming to UNM can be found on the following group websites:

India Students Association http://isa.unm.edu

Chinese Student Friendship Association http://www.unm.edu/~csfa

Chinese Christian Campus Fellowshiphttp://www.unm.edu/~csfa

OIPS also sponsors an International Student Social Hour every Thursday from 3-5, a fun event with food and socialization. This activity is an excellent way to meet new friends and share experiences with other international students. In addition, OIPS usually plans trips for students during the mid-semester breaks.

For students who are coming to UNM with a spouse, there is an International Couples Organization, ICO. This organization encourages couples to make friends with others from around the world. ICO provides a support network for all non-UNM spouses/partners by planning fun activities and events. The activities vary from potluck dinner parties, to cooking demonstrations, to trips outside of Albuquerque .