Information for New Students

We welcome you to the graduate program in mathematics at Colorado State University!  To assist you in getting to know your way around Fort Collins and the CSU campus, there are a variety of helpful maps. You will receive an information packet from the Graduate Coordinator (mid June for fall semester, mid November for spring semester) that is designed to answer many of your initial questions.  

Plan to arrive in Fort Collins one week before classes begin, as there are many important meetings and training sessions you are expected to attend.  Upon arrival, check in with Bryan Elder, Graduate Program Coordinator at your earliest convenience.  Bryan will issue necessary keys to the Mathematics building, the mail/copier room, and assign you a mailbox.  If you are a GTA you will be assigned a desk for tutoring students as well.  Although GTAs have first priority, desks are often available for self-supporting students, so if you are interested let Bryan know. 

If you have been awarded a teaching assistantship, you will need to fill out payroll paperwork with Sheri Hofeling, accounting tech for the Math department.  You will also meet with Zube, system administrator, to set up a math email address yourlastname@math.colostate.edu.  It is strongly recommended that you use this email in all of your electronic communications with the department given email relay restrictions.  If you arrive a little early, we welcome your stopping by and we will take care of you before things get too busy.  Our office hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Before you actually register for classes, you will attend an advising orientation for all new graduate students with a follow-up diagnostic interview with the Graduate Director.  If you are arriving with an MS degree in Mathematics from another Institution, you will need to discuss your degree requirements with the Graduate Director.  Such degree programs are planned on a case-by-case basis.  In some instances it is appropriate to substitute higher level coursework for the standard requirements. In order to register for classes you will need an eID (electronic Identity). We recommend that you obtain your eID before arriving at CSU. The actual registration procedure is done via RamWeb.

If you have a teaching assistantship, you will learn your teaching assignment after you have registered for your courses and reported your schedule to Bryan.  Teaching assignments are created around your schedule, therefore, please report your schedule promptly to avoid delays in teaching assignments. Attend the appropriate Course Coordinator meeting once you know your teaching assignment. 

As part of your GTA contract you will need to establish Colorado residency or be responsible for the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition after your first year.  It takes one full year to establish residency so you must begin the process immediately upon arrival in Ft. Collins.  The Office of Enrollment Services will assist students in establishing Colorado residency.

Although Mathematics and Statistics appear to have bifurcated as disciplines, the Survival Guide for Statistics Graduate Students may be of interest to you (presumably with high probability).

Again, welcome to CSU. Please let us know if you experience any problems and we will do our best to resolve them. A set of Rules of Common Courtesy has been written by graduate students for graduate students to generate a respectful and productive work environment.