NYU Florence
Fall 2011 Freshmen Program Learn: Intro
Learn • Campus • Academic Staff • Calendar • Registration FAQs • Billing • Service Learning • Academic Site Visits • La Pietra Policy Dialogues Campus 57-acre estate with 5 Renaissance villas, grounds and formal gardens Classes and some residence halls on campus La Pietra tours and open garden hours Community events and academic conferences 3 computer labs on campus Wireless Internet in public spaces Reference and reserve library with study area, periodicals, and media viewing stations Academic Staff
Office of Academic Support Villa Ulivi
Advising, registration, academic accommodations, study resources, federal work study, etc.
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel. (011-39) 055-5007300 Calendar All freshmen must arrive on August 29h!!! If you arrive before you will be responsible for your own accommodations.
August 29: Freshmen Check-in
August 30: Upper Classmen Check-in / Freshmen Convocation
August 31 – September 2: All Student Orientation
September 5: First Day of Classes
September 9: Make-Up Day for Thursday Classes
October 31 – November 6: Fall Break
November 1: Italian Holiday (Campus Offices Closed)
December 8: Italian Holiday (Campus Offices Closed, No classes)
December 12 - 15: Final Exam Week
December 16: All Students Check-Out (by 12 noon) Registration FAQ’s
Students must register for 12-18 credits consisting of three required courses and one elective
Enrollment in an Italian language class is required; select one that matches your skill level
Language courses cannot be taken pass / fail
Attendance is expected and required; absences will negatively affect grades
All course textbooks are available at local bookstores Billing
The NYU Ebill system is used for tuition, registration fees and an estimated housing charge
The estimated housing charge is used as a “placeholder charge” until housing assignments are finalized; the initial charge is unrelated to the final housing charge
Once the actual housing placement has been made, the Ebill is adjusted, resulting in either a credit or an additional charge, which appears on student accounts within 2-3 weeks after the start of the program Academic Site Visits Many courses include day and weekend trips that are part of class time Costs are included in tuition Academic excursions are a unique opportunity for experiential learning Sample Site Visits: Villa Gamberaia Gardens Local Museums and Monuments Mukki Latte Italian Language Day Sample Excursions: Overnight trips to Rome Tarquinia, Chiusi, Orvieto Archeological Sites Overnight Trip to Torino La Pietra Policy Dialogues
Academics, politicians, business leaders, and public intellectuals meet to discuss some of the most vexing and urgent policy questions in the U.S. and Europe
Students are involved in conceptualization, development and organization of events and have unique access to global leaders and distinguished experts who visit campus
Get involved & volunteer in LPPD : [email protected] Live: Intro
Live • Getting There • Arrival • Orientation • Housing & Meals • The City • Culture & Customs • Health & Safety • Staff Getting There: Pre-departure
Get/Renew Passport ASAP: Can’t expire before May 2012 Submit Confirmation / Registration Form Book Flight to Florence: Must arrive on August 30th! Forms to Submit – due June 30th Online Forms: Housing Preferences and Emergency Contact NYU Traveler: Arrival Info Apply for Student Visa Receive e-Bill for Fall 2011 and Follow Bursar Payment Deadlines Ongoing: Read ALL “Ciao Firenze” Posts on Blog Arrival
Arrival Cheat Sheet with shuttle times will be available on Blackboard Check-in is historically 10:00am to 4:00pm Transportation from the Florence Airport is based on group flights and the majority of student arrival info. Transportation from the check-in location to housing is carried out only within official check-in hours Staff will meet students outside of customs to direct them to shuttles or taxis Students arriving at other airports, by train, or outside of set times are on their own, including transportation to campus (taxi €20-25) and then to their living situation (€15-20) – cash in Euros only It may be several hours before students will be able to contact family; let family know! Orientation
Orientation sessions last 4 days, and activities continue through the weekend
Mandatory sessions are Health & Safety, NYU Florence 101, Academics, and Housing
Optional sessions include Neighborhood Tours, Campus Tour, Getting Around Florence, Information Fair, Community Service, Work Study, Advising, Survival Italian, etc.
Activities include City Sightseeing Tours, Peer-Accompanied Quests, a Welcome Reception, and more! Housing & Meals
All Freshmen are required to live in NYU Florence on-campus housing
Assignments are based on online forms submissions
Roommate requests are limited to bedrooms
Single rooms are limited
Meal plans available in On-Campus housing and in Homestays only
Actual housing prices are available online and via online forms
Housing assignments are sent to students’ NYU e-mail accounts 2 weeks before check in
No overnight guests (by law) On-Campus Housing Freshmen are required to live on campus. Villa Natalia & Villa Colletta
24/7 Gate Security and Reception
Bedrooms with en suite (Natalia) or communal (Colletta) bathrooms
Meal Plan: breakfast and dinner daily
Lunch a la carte on weekdays (not included in the meal plan)
Communal refrigerators, sink, microwave
Cleaning & linens service (sheets, towels, blankets, pillows provided but bring a towel – not white - for travel)
Coin-operated laundry machines
Exercise room
Air-conditioning
Computer labs
Ethernet in the rooms, Wireless in common areas The City Pronounced fi-ren'-zay.
Most populated city in the Tuscan Region (Toscana) – 380,000
11+ million tourists per year; 6,000 study abroad students
Compact city centered around the Duomo and other monuments
Buses, taxis and walking are main way to get around (no subways!)
Home of the Uffizi, Brunelleschi's Duomo, Ponte Vecchio and tons more! Culture & Customs
Space (personal and architectural) is a scarce commodity
Most young people live at home; family and childhood friends are important
Living in older buildings can be challenging (yet beautiful)
Heat, hot water, and electricity may be limited and should be conserved
Internet access may be erratic as compared to US standards
Meals: breakfast is sparse, dinner is late (8pm), and eating is an art
Air-conditioning may be regarded as bad for your health Culture & Customs
When entering a business, it’s bad manners not to greet The customer isn’t always right Tips are just a few Euros Staring at strangers is not rude Eye contact means you’re interested Every venue, even the supermarket, is a fashion show Nothing is open 24/7, stores may be closed on Sundays Schedules are suggestions, not rules, especially for the bus Firenze isn’t NYC…that’s a good thing! Living conditions are not the same as the US, so be flexible, patient and enjoy the differences! Health & Safety
Italy’s healthcare system is ranked #2 in the world (W.H.O.) Most medications are available except ADHD medication (bring a full supply) Medication, toiletries, and food should not be shipped from outside the EU Bring copies of prescriptions (generic name and dosage) with you Students with special needs must contact the Moses Center in advance Learn the Italian word/phrases for any food or medication allergies If you need ongoing care, set it up in advance…before you need it! Pre-departure referrals: [email protected] Health & Safety
Doctors are available on campus Health Insurance
HTH Worldwide -Included in tuition fees -No out-of pocket payment -24/7 hotline -Staff can help with appointments -Coverage throughout the world (except the US) Do NOT cancel your domestic health insurance! Italian Health Insurance Register with HTH when you receive their e-mail, print a copy of the card and bring it with you Student Life Staff
Office of Student Life Villa Natalia
Housing placements, residence life, activities, clubs, health & safety, crisis response, non-credit community service, general assistance & support, etc.
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel. (011-39) 055-5007450 Explore: Intro
Explore • Student Life • Community Service • Things to Do • Local / Regional Travel • Budget Tips Student Life Most activities are subsidized, some are free Trips Modena, Cinque Terre, Verona, Bologna, Perugia, Viareggio, Lucca, Val D’Orcia Events Scambio Dinners, Tastings, Soccer Games, Concerts, Opera, Open Mic Nights, Film Screenings, Olive Harvest Programming Florence Sightseeing, Dinners, Study Breaks, Hiking, Sports Tournaments, Gelato Crawl, Cooking Lessons, Cultural Exchange Project Clubs Culinary, Music, Gardening, Creative Writing, Vegetarian, Sports, Politics, Running, Photography Tell us what YOU want to do! Community Service
Individual Placements Teaching English Assisting the Elderly Volunteering with Animals Guiding Tours Working with Disabled Children Assisting at UAN Community-Wide Events Fundraising Angeli del Bello Corri La Vita Parking Day Alternative Fall Break Things To Do
Academic Events Talks, Concerts, Conferences Museums & Monuments Galleria degli Uffizi San Lorenzo and the Medici Chapel Boboli Gardens Music & Theater Concerts, Theater, Opera Live Jazz Sports Calcio! Fiorentina (i Viola) Markets San Lorenzo, Sant’ Ambrogio, Le Cascine Festivals/local events Rifricolona Vendemmia Palazzo Giovane and UAN Local / Regional Travel
Florence is centrally located in Italy, so there are great opportunities to travel
Within Italy:
Lombardia (Milano, Como, Bergamo)
Veneto (Cortina, Padova, Venezia)
Liguria (Cinque Terre, Lerici, Genova)
Toscana (Greve in Chianti, Pienza, San Gimignano)
Lazio (Roma, Ostia, Isola di Ponza)
Campania (Capri, Amalfi, Ischia)
Puglia (Lecce, Gallipoli, Alberobello)
Sicilia (Palermo, Taormina, Siracusa)
Sardegna (Villasimius, Cagliari, Olbia)
Most students travel by plane or train Budget Tips Figure out how much money you will have Working abroad may not be an option because of time or visa restrictions; how much can you save before going? Think carefully about what you plan to do while living abroad Travel, eat out, shop, buy souvenirs? Consider everyday expenses Food, toiletries, medicine, household items, school supplies, etc. Be aware of the exchange rate and fees for currency conversion http://www.xe.com Contact your bank about fees Traveler’s checks are difficult and expensive to cash Budget Tips
Ask for student discounts Available for train and bus tickets, hostels, and restaurants with friendly owners Buy groceries Groceries are far cheaper than eating out; buy local products! Take local transportation Price-wise, public transportation is less expensive than taxis (at night taxis are much safer) Don’t ship from the US to Italy Items will be stopped in customs and taxed Contacts
Florence Site Rep Kate Bruce [email protected] 212.998.2191 NYC Student Services Office 110 East 14th Street, Lower Level 7 New York, NY 10003 212.998.4433 212.995.4103 (Fax)
NYU Florence Offices Villa Natalia, Via Bolognese 106 50139 Florence ITALY Phone:011-39-055-5007-450 Student Life: [email protected] Academics: [email protected] NYU Public Safety (24 Hour Emergency Contact) 212 998-2222 Thank you!