New Graduate On-Campus Student Orientation - Full List

Getting Started as a New Student in the HCI Graduate Program

  • Workday Student: You will receive an email about Onboarding Requirements for Workday Student. These onboarding requirements can also be found here. Links to an external site.
  • Technology Resources for Students: You can visit the Information Technology Services for Students at this link to learn more. 
  • HCI New Grad Student with Questions?
    • Contact Tiffany Kayser (HCI Graduate Program Coordinator) to set up a meeting or email her your questions.
  • Overview Information
  • Where is the HCI Graduate Program located?
    • Inside the VRAC at this address: 1620 Howe Hall
    • The VRAC is a research center where interdisciplinary research takes place. This center is secure and you must granted access to come and go.
    • HCI students can use the computer lab in the VRAC. Please reach out to Tiffany for a tour and access. 
  • HCI Student Canvas Resources
    • Welcome HCI graduate students to your Canvas student resources page. This site was designed to centralize the information you need to excel in your HCI graduate degree program.

Register for Classes

Getting Started as a New Student at Iowa State University

  • New Spring 2025 Students >> HCI Graduate Program Orientation Meeting >> Tiffany will be in touch in January when this event will be scheduled.
  • International Students: Spring 2025 Graduate Pre-Arrival Guide is available here.
  • ISU Card – get your university ID card at 0530 Beardshear Hall. The ISU Card is used as a library card and a bus pass; sometimes, it is used as a key or bank card.
  • Learn about ISU Student Accounts and Technology - from the ISU Information Technology Services
  • Pay Your University Bill
  • Immunization Requirements
  • Health Insurance for International Students
  • Graduate College Resources
  • **International Students** - PLEASE READ: English Placement Test – for all non-native speakers of English (limited exemptions)
    • Incoming international students who are not native speakers of English, not enrolled in distance-only programs, or who do not meet at least one of the exemption criteria for the English Requirement must take the English Placement Test (EPT). The English Requirement is different from the English proficiency requirement needed for admission to ISU. Students who are admitted to ISU may be required to take English classes to meet this requirement.  The EPT provides an opportunity for students to satisfy the English requirement. It evaluates students’ English proficiency to determine whether they have the language skills needed to succeed academically at ISU or if they would benefit from additional English instruction in writing and/or oral communication. The results of the EPT lead to meeting the English requirement or assignment to take one or more English writing or oral communication classes. Students are only given one opportunity to demonstrate their English proficiency by taking the EPT. The one opportunity EPT is free of charge to ISU students. Please note that failure to take the EPT in your first semester may cause difficulties in planning your course of study and delays in your graduation.
      • Check the English Placement Test webpage and review the criteria listed under the Exemptions tab to determine whether you meet the English language requirement. If at least one of the exemption criteria apply, you have met the English requirement and should not take the EPT. Your student records should be automatically updated to indicate that you have met the English requirement. You do not need to do anything for this process to occur. If you do not meet the English requirement, you need to take the EPT on campus in January. Students who are confident that they have sufficient English proficiency may (re)take TOEFL iBT, IELTS, or Pearson PTE, at their own cost, to demonstrate their English proficiency. Required scores for meeting the English requirement are on the Exemptions tab of the EPT website. 
  • MyState app: https://mystate.iastate.edu/

Planning Your Arrival in Ames 

Degree Requirements

Transferring Credits: With the approval of the Graduate College and your Program of Study Committee, coursework taken at another institution in the pursuit of a graduate degree can be transferred to your program of study for a graduate degree at ISU. Please refer to the Graduate College Handbook, Chapter 6, to review the Graduate College policy on transfer credits. You cannot begin the transfer process until you have selected a major professor and committee and are ready to complete your academic plan.

For Students on Assistantship

  • If you have a graduate assistantship, you will receive an email notification regarding your required action in the ISU Workday system. If you do not receive a notification email, log in to Workday with your ISU Net-ID to view your Workday notifications directly.
  • Common Workday actions and questions
  • Student Health Benefits – Students with graduate assistantships are automatically enrolled in the Students and Scholars Health Insurance Program (SSHIP). At the start of the semester, you may add dental coverage for you or for your dependents.
  • Tuition and Fee Reduction, and Other Benefits, please visit this linkto learn more or reach out to Tiffany at HCI@iastate.edu

Tuition and Fees

  • The tuition and rates listed below are for the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 semesters and Summer 2025 term.
  • If you have been offered a research assistantship, please see the information above.
  • Tuition and fees are based on your full-time Iowa State graduate student residency.  
    • Iowa Resident - Total cost per semester: $8,223.45 
      • Tuition - $818 per credit hour or $7,355 for 9 or more credits; Total fees - $868.45
    • Non-Resident - Total cost per semester: $17,285.45
      • Tuition - $1,825 per credit hour or $16,417 for 9 or more credits; Total fees - $868.45
    • International - Total cost per semester: $18,247.45
      • Tuition - $1,931 per credit hour or $17,379 for 9 or more credits; Total fees - $868.45

Part Time Student Job Board

Jobs on campus provide flexible schedules as campus employers hold a student first mentality meaning you prioritize academic responsibilities first. Learn more here.

Things to Know

  • HCI Graduate Program and VRAC Email Lists – All HCI students will be added to two email lists.
    • One email list will be from the HCI Graduate Program. The student’s responsible for reading these emails and meeting deadlines and other important information that will be shared.
    • and the other from the VRAC (the Research Center that administers the HCI Graduate Program). 
  • The Graduate College’s Center for Communication Excellence offers free individual consultations with graduate writing consultants. Students working on their thesis or dissertation, journal article, research proposal, conference paper, poster presentation, etc. can make appointments with Disciplinary, Interdisciplinary, and English Writing Consultants. Students can also join graduate peer review groups, attend seminars and workshops, and access various other resources.
  • Find on-campus employment opportunities (including open graduate assistantships) at the Student Employment Center.
  • ISU Veterans Center
  • Join the HCI Student Group - learn more here!
  • Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) represents the graduate and professional students’ perspectives on campus issues and serves as a liaison between graduate/professional students and the university administration.
  • Professional Advancement Grants (PAG) are provided to graduate and professional students by the Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) to help defray professional meetings and conference travel expenses. You are encouraged to apply 8-10 weeks prior to departure.
  • The Graduate College Career Services office offers Iowa State University graduate students and postdoctoral scholars: Individual consultations, Group presentations, Resume workshops, Career Services Resources, and Cyclone Career Strategy.
  • Recreation Services
  • The Shop Food Pantry- Students Helping Our Peers (The SHOP) is a student-run, on campus food pantry.  They were created in January 2011 when a group of FSHN learning community was approached by ISU dining about the possibility of opening a campus food pantry.
  • Student Accessibility Services
  • Student Counseling Services
  • Student Wellness
  • Writing and Media Center
  • There are plenty of resources at ISU to support you and provide a positive experience during your time with us.