New Student Survival Guide
Arrival at FIU
The Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine is located in the Academic Health Center Building 2 on the Modesto A. Maidique campus in Miami, Florida.
FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
11200 SW 8th Street, AHC 2 693
Miami, FL 33199
For driving directions, click here.
Orientation for the PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences will be held on the first week of August, a week before classes commence. For detailed information, please see Orientation below. We recommend that you arrive in Miami no later than the third week of July, so that you may orient yourself to campus, complete payroll information, and take care of your housing needs.
Banking
FIU has partnerships with the following banks (although you may join any bank):
University Credit Union: University Credit Union is in business to provide the best possible financial services to its members at low cost with favorable rates and overall financial assistance while in constant pursuit of World Class Member Service. For more information, visit http://www.ucumiami.org.
Wells Fargo: FIU and Wells Fargo have teamed up to bring you the FIU One Card. It's your student ID and an ATM card all in one. When your card is linked to a Wells Fargo College Checking® account, you can use it:
- As your official student ID
- To access campus privileges
- For access to cash at Wells Fargo ATMs
- For purchases using your Personal Identification Number (PIN)
To learn more, please visit the Wells Fargo FIU One Card website.
Campus Maps
E-mail Activation
All students enrolled at FIU and taking at least one course in the current semester are assigned an FIU e-mail account. Your FIU e-mail account will be available 24 hours after you have registered. All-important communications from the University are sent to your FIU e-mail address. Therefore, it is extremely important that you check your FIU email on a consistent basis. For more information, click here.
Fees
You are responsible to pay all your fees by the appropriate deadline (usually within the first week of classes) to avoid late fees and cancellation. For graduate student fee information, please click here.
FIU Calendars
https://calendar.fiu.edu/index.php/academic-calendar/
FIU One Card
The FIU One Card is your student photo ID which is required to check out books at the library, use campus facilities, request/obtain official transcripts, etc. You may obtain your FIU One Card only after you have registered for classes. You will need to bring identification and proof of registration to the Card Office. For more information, click here.
Food
Panther Dining offers several restaurants across the campus to meet your busy life-style. To learn more about meal plan options, please visit the Panther Dining Services.
Health Insurance
Florida International University provides subsidized health insurance to all graduate assistants holding a full-term appointment for 20 hours per week. All Graduate Assistants are required to participate in this health insurance plan unless their insurance company will certify equivalent coverage. Gallagher Koster will administer the health insurance provided to Graduate Assistants.Please check this link for more details on Student Injury and Sickness Insurance Plan. If you need additional assistance or have any questions, please contact Ms. Odalys De La Rosa at (305) 348-4372 or odelaros@fiu.edu.
Housing
On-Campus Housing: The Department of Housing and Residential Life allows graduate students to take advantage of the on-campus housing experience at FIU. Please see Housing & Residential Life for complete information.
Off-Campus Housing: For information about off-campus housing, please check Off-Campus Classifieds. Although many websites are available to search for rentals in the local community, FIU is not responsible in any way for the accuracy or availability of information on these sites. Please use caution when giving out personal information or payment to avoid internet scams, identity theft, and fraud. Senior graduate students will probably be your best source of information on convenient apartments.
Immunization
As a pre-requisite to registration, FIU requires all students to comply with the following immunization policy regulations from the Florida Board of Governors regarding immunity of:
- Measles, Mumps, Rubella
- Hepatitis B and Meningitis
Please fill out the Immunization Documentation Form and submit to University Health Services. If you fail to provide this information, a hold will be placed on your record preventing you from registering for classes. For more details, you may contact the Student Health Services via phone: (305) 348-2401 or email: immune@fiu.edu (please include “immunization” in the subject line).
International Students
All F-1/J-1 students admitted to FIU must report to the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) Office at Graham Center (GC) 355 upon arrival on campus, and before registering for classes. All international students are required to -
- attend the mandatory International Student Orientation
- register as a full-time student (9 credits) for fall and spring semesters, and for 6 credits for summer semester
- obtain medical insurance (students without proof of medical insurance will not be able to register)
- present to the ISSS office an FIU I-20 or DS-2019, an I-94 card, and a valid passport
The ISSS office will give you details on how to apply for a Social Security Number. You need a Social Security Number in order to be paid and may also need one, or proof that you've applied for one, to open a bank account.
Orientation
Graduate Student Orientation: The Florida International University Graduate Student Orientation is offered before the start of the fall and spring semesters and is designed to prepare you for your FIU experience.
At the Orientation, you will:
- Meet representatives from various departments
- Learn about University services available to you
- Learn how to navigate the student webpage - my.fiu.edu
- Find out about the many ways you can get involved on campus
- Take a tour of the Modesto A. Maidique Campus
International Student Orientation: All newly admitted F-1/J-1 international students are required to attend the International Student Orientation. The following topics are covered: maintaining valid visa status, SEVIS (Student & Exchange Visitor Information System), enrollment requirements, employment, social security numbers, as well as on-campus and off-campus resources for international students. For more information and deadlines, please visit the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) website at isss.fiu.edu.
PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences Orientation: This orientation session will emphasize upon the core curriculum, research rotations, fellowship opportunities, laboratory safety requirements, library resources, and educational and information technology services available to you.Topics such as how to access course information at CanvasMed or review class recordings using Tegrity will be discussed. Please note that you will be sitting alongside the medical students for a majority of the didactic courses. Make sure that you are well oriented before the classes begin.
Panther Identification (ID) Number
Each FIU student is assigned a unique 7 digit number (Panther ID number) which is necessary for enrollment, registration, transcript request, application for scholarships, and other curriculum activities. Your Panther ID is the number you were previously assigned when you applied to FIU. You can find this number printed on your admission letter.
Parking Decal
If you are going to be commuting to campus, or living on campus with a motor vehicle, you must have the University Parking Decal displayed on your vehicle at all times. All students pay a Parking Access Fee each semester, and a student decal will be issued to you by the Department of Parking & Transportation. You may obtain a parking decal only after you have registered for classes. You will be required to bring a driver’s license, vehicle registration, and a copy of your class schedule to PG5-Market Station; Phone: (305) 348-3615. For more information, click here.
Payroll
You will need to go to the Division of Human Resources, Charles Perry Building (PC) Room 224 and complete your new hire Sign On Packet. It will be helpful to have the following information at hand: Social Security Card, Emergency Contact (Name and Telephone number), Bank Routing and Account Numbers. International students are required to attain an On-Campus Employment Certification from the Office of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) for submission with the Sign On forms. New hire forms will not be processed without all required documentation. For more information, click here.
Registration
Registration for classes takes place online via https://my.fiu.edu/. In the fall term, you will register for the following courses: GMS 6220: Molecular Genetics and Cellular Biology; GMS 6605: Basic Structure of the Human Body; and GMS 6864: Principles of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Before registering, please contact Ms. Odalys De La Rosa, Administrative Services Coordinator, Email: odelaros@fiu.edu.
A list of the most important facts to review before registering for any class can be found at http://onestop.fiu.edu/. The Academic Calendar will be your main reference for deadlines regarding registration, add/drop dates, etc. Please visit http://onestop.fiu.edu/ to view the calendar.
Registration Holds
Log on to https://my.fiu.edu/ to determine if you currently have any holds that will prevent you from registering. Contact information will be provided to clear any holds you may have.
Transportation
The Department of Parking & Transportation offers many commuting alternative to campus, as well as within campus. Bus passes for Miami-Dade buses may be purchased (cash only) at the Department of Parking and Transportation located at PG 5 Market Station. For more information on Miami-Dade County Transit, click here.