Washington 101 Reading

As part of your NYU Washington, DC, orientation, you will be required to read Washington 101: An Introduction to the Nation’s Capitol.   Each of the book’s ten chapters explores key features of Washington from both past and present perspectives that make it unique as a symbolic city, a political city, and as a living city. Topics covered in the book include Washington’s urban design and architecture, its memorials and museums, local and national politics, the regional economy, and the neighborhoods and people of the city and surrounding suburbs. This book draws upon a variety of intellectual approaches and a wealth of academic research to explain Washington in a manner that is clear, accessible, and engaging.

You can download the whole book or individual chapters for free. Click on Table of Contents and then the relevant chapter to open and download.

Please review the reading schedule for orientation week:

By Monday 8/22, read the following:

Introduction

Part I: Washington as Symbolic City

Introduction to Part I

Chapter 1: Rome on the Potomac

Chapter 2: Memorialization, the Mall and National Imagination

Chapter 3: A City of Magnificent Museums

By Wednesday 8/24, read the following:

Part II: Washington as Political City

Introduction to Part II

Chapter 4: Institutions, Power and Political Community in Washington

Chapter 5: A Center of American Protest

Chapter 6: Political Host to the World

Chapter 7: Home Rule, Race, and Revenue: The Local Politics of Washington

By Friday 8/26, read the following:

Part III: Washington as a Living City

Introduction to Part III

Chapter 8: Chocolate City, Vanilla Swirl or Something Else? Race and Ethnicity in City and Region

Chapter 9: The Economic Life and Development of a Capital City

Chapter 10: Neighborhoods and Suburban Communities of Washington

What to do if you Encounter Flight Cancellations or Delays

While our hope is that you arrive at your study away destination without any challenges, we know at times these can occur for a variety of reasons.  Please note that NYU is unable to act as an intermediary between the traveler and airline, but it may be helpful to keep in mind the below tips should you encounter any flight cancellations or delays:

Contact Your Airline First

Number one tip: Whether it’s an airport delay or flight cancellation, contact your airline – immediately.  It is most beneficial to act quickly so that you are able to grab a seat on the next available flight if necessary.  Many passengers will be trying to rebook and options may become more limited the longer you wait.

If Your Flight is Canceled:

• Multi-task communications: If your flight is canceled or delayed, immediately get in line for a gate agent; at the same time, call the airline (it may be quicker).
• If you have a frequent flyer status with the airline that gives you access to a priority phone number, using this may expedite the service you receive.

Note: There are no federal requirements that require airlines to provide you with any hotel or meal vouchers due to events outside their control such as weather, but airline policies on this vary. When in doubt, ask. Some will provide you with certain amenities.

If Your Flight is Delayed:

• Stay in touch with the airline: Follow the tips above; stay connected to your carrier
• Don’t be late to the gate: Even if you’ve been told your flight is delayed, stay in the gate area. Delays can evaporate and windows of opportunity for take-off can be short; if you’re not present for boarding, you may be out of luck

Note: Always be at the gate at least 20 minutes before departure, minimum.

Ultimately, if you are in an area where you still have access to email or phone service, please contact the appropriate staff member(s) at NYU Washington, DC, listed on your arrival cheat sheet to forward your updated itinerary.  This is another reason why it is important to have a copy in your carry on.  

Should your updated itinerary arrive outside of the provided transportation window, you will be responsible for getting to housing (but don’t worry – the arrival cheat sheet will have all the relevant details necessary to do so!).  

The staff recognize these occurrences are beyond your control so will work with you to catch up if any material is missed.  On behalf of the entire NYU Global Programs team, we wish you safe travels!

Arrival Cheat Sheet

Hot off the press in your inbox are personalized welcome emails from NYU Washington, DC!

This email details what you should be doing in the next couple of weeks before your arrival, how to connect with the NYU DC community, and a slew of other important documents you’ll need to prepare, pack, and successfully arrival on site. Be sure to check it out.

Understanding the Cost of Living in DC

There are several things that you can do to prepare your finances before you arrive in Washington, DC.

Figure out: what is the cost of living in Washington, DC?  What can I do now to make sure I save money? This site, Numbeo, can help you compare the cost of living in your home city and your study away location!

This is NYU: Blogging Opportunity

THIS IS NYU features student experiences from all over the globe. All of the stories are documented by students who maintain their own, personal blogs about their time at NYU, whether studying away or at their home campus.
Future Washington, DC Students! Prepare yourself for an amazing semester ahead with the inside scoop from other well-traveled #NYU students: http://thisisnyu.tumblr.com/tagged/nyudc

To become a blogger, all you need to do is register your Tumblr blog at http://nyu.edu/global/bloggers. Being a blogger is a unique opportunity to both document memories and get featured on TiNYU and HashtagNYU! Plus, NYU students not only write for TiNYU, they curate it too. This ensures that the project can remain as authentic as possible in representing a diverse set of student experiences from all over the world.

Submit Flight Details by August 1

If you haven’t submitted your flight details into the Study Away Confirmation Portal yet, please do so as soon as possible, and no later than August 1.  Although the housing application itself is no longer accepting changes within the portal, you can still log in to submit flight details.

In addition, please submit your flight/travel details into NYU Traveler, which goes directly to NYU Public Safety.  It should only take you a few minutes and you can get started by taking the following steps:

• Go to http://www.nyu.edu/nyutraveler
• Click on Register
• Click on New
• Follow the prompts to enter your travel information.

If you have questions about filling out this form, please refer to this step-by-step guide. The deadline to submit your travel details is Monday, August 1st.

Should any technical problems present themselves while entering your information into NYU Traveler, you may contact traveler.support@nyu.edu for assistance.

NYU ID Cards

Getting your NYU student ID, known around campus as your NYUCard, is now easier than ever.

First-time card holders: visit photoid.nyu.edu to submit a photo online and, once approved by the NYUCard Center team, have your NYUCard created. Visiting students, please submit a photo ASAP so it can be processed and sent to your study away site ahead of your arrival.  The final deadline to submit this is Friday, July 29.

Note:  If you receive an automated message after submission instructing you to pick your card up at the ID Center, please disregard.  Your ID will be sent directly to NYU Washington, DC.

Current and returning students:  Please remember to bring your NYU ID card with you to your study away site! Apply for and pick up a replacement card if you need one by visiting the NYUCard Center or respective campus location, depending on your school. For details, please click here.

*UPDATE* Resident Profile Deadline July 1st

Thank you for taking the time to complete the NYUDC Roommate Living Agreement prior to your stay at the Annette N. and Theodore M. Lerner Family Residential Hall. As a Global Network University, living in the residential facility will be a great opportunity to meet new people, expand your horizons, and be “in and of the world.”Whether you find a new hobby, learn a new skill, or become good friends, living with a roommate in Washington, DC can be fun! That said, living with someone can have its challenges. Conflict is a normal part of roommate relationships and it is important to address these conflicts before they get out of hand.

The following form is an anonymous resource that will serve to help facilitate the discussions necessary to create a positive living environment at NYU Washington, DC. The NYU Washington, DC will use your responses to help facilitate the assignment process. Please note that you may see similar questions on the housing portal. Please complete both forms. The form is due by July 1st.

During the first couple of weeks on site, you, your roommate(s), and your Residential Life Administrator will discuss the terms of this Agreement. Should you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact Residential Life Coordinator, Gillian Scott at gillian.scott@nyu.edu

You are invited to fill out the form NYU Washington, DC Resident Profile. To fill it out, visit:
https://docs.google.com/a/nyu.edu/forms/d/16Pl81vf6GedUVblFuTRg5uHdYixRZvuqLHQZ_GSl2pw/viewform?c=0&w=1&usp=mail_form_link

Study Away Confirmation Portal Due June 15

Throughout the past few weeks you have received information and access to the Study Away Confirmation Portal.  This is a final reminder that your housing application, required forms, and housing reservation payment) are due June 15.  Please ensure to meet this deadline so local staff can begin making assignments and preparing for your arrival.  You will receive your housing name and address about 1-2 weeks ahead of arrival.  Information about roommates will be provided when you arrive.

As discussed in the pre-departure orientation, when filling out the housing application, please remember to have an open mind and flexible outlook.  Given the number of students attending, we want to honor requests where possible, but know that this is dependent on your peers’ requests as well as availability.  Please feel free to be in touch  if you have particular concerns – NYU Washington, DC, staff and I want to assist as best as possible.

Lastly, please note that the portal also has a section for you to input your travel details. These are due by August 1 (only the housing portion closes June 15 – you can log back in to submit travel details if you don’t have them yet).  This is critical so site staff are aware of when you intend to arrive and can keep an eye on any delays that may occur!  The earlier you can submit these the better so staff can get a sense of common arrival times.

Study Away Confirmation Portal Now Available

If you have confirmed your place in the program, you are now eligible to log in and submit your required forms through the Study Away Confirmation Portal!  You will login using your NYU netID and NYUHome password.

This portal will allow you to confirm personal information, sign off on necessary agreements, and submit your travel details so site staff can prepare for your arrival. You will also find the Study Away Housing application which will allow you to submit your housing preferences, search eligible roommates, view their lifestyle profiles, message one another, and request roommates. Please read the information thoroughly and submit your answers carefully so that we can best meet your needs.

You will need to have access to your passport, emergency contact information, and a 2×2 photo to complete these forms.

Students who haven’t yet confirmed their participation by submitting the reservation fee will not have access to this portal until their place is confirmed and their fee has been processed.

All sections of the portal will be due by June 15th (please note it is not first-come, first-serve).  Your Housing Reservation Payment is due at this time as well (please disregard NY listed deadlines, but this illustrates how to submit payment if you need assistance).