Graduate Student Orientation Information

Welcome to the graduate programs in UD’s College of Education and Human Development!

You are joining a talented group of students who are committed to developing academically and professionally in a rigorous and supportive academic environment. Below is an overview of the orientation process, outlining the steps a new graduate student should take upon being accepted to our College.

Course Registration

A few days after accepting your offer of admission, you should have received an email containing login information and your PIN. That information will allow you to log in to UDSIS, where you can register for courses, view and pay your bill and print your schedule. If you encounter any trouble with your login, please contact the Help Desk.

Your graduate program will send you an email providing you the name of your advisor and a list of recommended courses for your first semester. If you have questions please contact cehd-info@udel.edu.

Once you have received your PIN and contacted your faculty advisor to verify the courses to take, you can begin your course registration. It is very important that you contact your advisor before registering for courses, to ensure you have the appropriate classes.

If you have credits to transfer that were taken outside UD, you will need to complete the Transfer of Graduate Credit process. Please be aware of policies such as 9-credit limit on transfer credits. For more information, please see How to Transfer Graduate Courses to UD. Note that classes taken at UD as a Graduate College Non-degree (GCND) student no longer require a transfer of credit form.

After registering for classes, your account will be charged the appropriate tuition. You can view your account statement through UDSIS and pay your bill from there. Students who receive scholarships will have the tuition applied to their accounts. If you have questions about your bill, you can contact Student Financial Services.

Orientation Activities

Fall 2026 semester classes begin on Tuesday, August 25 at 8:00 am. We offer several orientation activities to welcome you as a new graduate student and introduce you to the University of Delaware.

University Orientation Events

Tuesday, August 18, 2026

New Graduate Student Orientation (NGSO), hosted by the Graduate College, for incoming full-time graduate students. Part-time students are welcome but it is optional. Students are encouraged to complete online asynchronous modules in Canvas before attending.

The 2026 Teaching Assistant Orientation (TAO). This is an all-day training for graduate students who will be teaching at UD for the first-time during the 2026-2027 academic year.

Friday, August 21, 2026

Lunch at 1 pm | International Student Orientation at 2 pm, Trabant University Center

International Student Orientation is hosted by International Students and Scholar Services, is required for all international students.

College of Education & Human Development Graduate Orientation Events

We invite you to join us for our upcoming orientation and welcome events, where you will meet our administrative team, faculty, peers and learn about key campus resources to support your success. See below for your program’s orientation plan. It is only necessary to attend one CEHD session and one program session.

Virtual Orientation Session: Thursday August 20, 2026

Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM (EDT)
Location: Virtual via Zoom
Registration: Register in advance via Zoom
(Note: After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with details on how to join.)

Structure:

6:00 PM – 6:45 PM: CEHD General Session
6:45 PM – 7:30 PM: Program Breakout Sessions

Participating Programs:

Ed.D. in Organizational Improvement for Educational Leaders
M.Ed. in Educational Technology. (Ed Tech students can opt to attend in person on Monday, August 24. Please see below.)
M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language (The TESL program session will be prior to the General Session. Check for an email from Dr. Caplan and Tamara Herring.)
M.Ed. in Teaching Students with Disabilities (MPCP Cohort)

In-person Orientation Session: Monday, August 24, 2026

Structure: Separate program specific sessions at various times + CEHD General Session
- 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM: CEHD General Session (Gore Hall – Room 106)
- 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: College Ice Cream Social (Gore Hall atrium). Faculty and CEHD graduate students are invited.
- Participating Programs (See below for program session info):
  - Ph.D. in Education & Ph.D. in Educational Statistics and Research Methods
  - Ph.D. in Education and Social Policy
  - Ph.D./M.S. in Human Development and Family Sciences
  - M.A./Ed.S. in School Psychology
  - Master of Social Work (MSW)
  - M.Ed. in Teaching Students with Disabilities-traditional option
  - Any new CEHD graduate students who are unable to attend their scheduled online session or who prefers to attend in person. It is necessary to attend only one CEHD Orientation session.

Program Specific Orientations

- Ph.D. in Education & Ph.D. in Educational Statistics and Research Methods (program orientation TBA)
- Ph.D. in Education and Social Policy (program orientation TBA)
- Ph.D./M.S. in Human Development and Family Sciences department graduate student orientation and lunch. August 24 from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm, Alison Hall–Rm 220.
- M.A./Ed.S. in School Psychology program orientation August 24 at 10 a.m. in Willard Hall – Room TBA
- Master of Social Work (MSW) program orientation and lunch August 24 from 11:30 am-1:30 pm, Gore Hall–Room 104
- M.Ed. in Teaching Students with Disabilities (TSD) traditional option students should attend this session or see above on Thursday, evening Aug. 20 if that is better for your schedule. It is only necessary to attend one CEHD Orientation session. (4+1 students in the Teaching Students with Disabilities program have a program meeting and separate brief CEHD orientation scheduled on Monday, Aug 24 at 11:00 am, room TBA ).

3:00 -4:00 pm, Gore Hall Atrium/Lobby, CEHD Ice Cream Social

Enjoy cool treats from the UDairy Creamery while networking with fellow CEHD graduate students and faculty. We will also have a photo booth available for free professional headshots for your LinkedIn profile, digital portfolio, or UD marketing purposes if you choose. (Feel free to bring a jacket or wear business casual or professional attire if you plan to get a headshot.)

Additional Information

Establish an email account – When you accepted your admission offer, it should have triggered administrative processes like establishing a UD email and log-in. If you have not gotten that information, please check IT’s webpage.
Health Insurance – UD offers health and dental insurance. All full-time graduate students are required to provide evidence of health insurance and will automatically be enrolled in the UD health insurance plan. If you have coverage through another source or want to opt out of the UD Plan, it is mandatory that you complete the waiver form in early September. If you do not submit the waiver form by this date, you will automatically be committed to paying for health insurance for this academic year.
University ID card – Students are required to carry their University of Delaware UD#1 Card at all times. For questions, contact the ID Office at (302) 831-2273 or id-card@udel.edu.
Funding Opportunities– The Graduate College identifies fellowships and awards for master’s and doctoral students offered through the University, as well as external foundations and institutions. Also see the Graduate Student Job Board.
Graduate Resources – Links to other general graduate student information (tuition, parking, student life, emergency numbers, etc.) can be found on the Graduate and Professional Education website.

Other Important Dates for the Start of the Fall Semester

August 15: Health Insurance coverage begins for new graduate students on contract and students who have the graduate student health plan.
Tuesday, August 25: First Day of Classes; Graduate/PCS tuition/fee payment deadline for Fall 2026.

If you have any questions, contact your faculty advisor.