Graduate Tax

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New Student Orientation Letter

I look forward to helping you start your studies in the Villanova Graduate Tax Program. If you would like to drop by prior to registration, I would be happy to answer any questions about our program. Information you should know before the first night of class follows:

New Student Orientation

All new students must attend the Orientation Meeting on Thursday, August  21st from 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. in room 103. You will meet Director, Leslie Book and learn about the exciting opportunities ahead as you begin your studies in the Graduate Tax Program.  You will receive your law school e-mail address, Blackboard classroom information, and your LEXIS, Westlaw and RIA passwords as well as other computer-related information. The computer utilization seminar will also be held during orientation. Stop by the Graduate Tax office first and we will direct you to the classroom.

For technology orientation materials - Click here (requires Microsoft PowerPoint).

Where to Report

Classes begin Monday, August 25th, 2008.  During the first week of classes, report to the Graduate Tax Office  located in the ANNEX building adjacent to the front of the Law School.  We will direct you to your classrooms.  After your first class, you should sign-in on your class roster which will be posted on the Graduate Tax Bulletin Board located along the hallway between rooms 28 and 26 in the Law School building. The rosters will indicate if it is necessary for you to come to the Graduate Tax Office to pick up any supplemental course materials.

Registration

Registration begins July 1st.  New students may not web register. Please complete the registration form and fax it to me at 610-519-8018. Click here for registration information.

Novasis ID and PIN

As soon as we have processed your $100 registration deposit, our student record system will generate your Novasis ID and PIN.  You will receive a mailing from Villanova University which will provide you with your University e-mail account (e.g., astudent@villanova.edu) and information about how to obtain your NOVASIS PIN.  Go to www.novasis.villanova.edu and click on ‘First time user’ then enter your e-mail address and birthdate.  You will need your Novasis ID and PIN to view your course enrollment, view your e-bill and to order your parking permit.

Blackboard

Blackboard is your electronic classroom.  Your professors will post announcements, course documents, syllabi, problems, external links, to  Blackboard.  Frequent visits to Blackboard will be an important part of your program.  Students may log into Blackboard beginning at Orientation.

To access your Blackboard classroom(s):

1. Go to the Law School website at http://www.law.villanova.edu.
2. Click on the ‘Blackboard’ link found on the bottom of every page.
3. Username:  First initial + last name
4. Password:  First 5 digits of your SSN. 
5. Changing your password.  You may change your password by selecting ‘Tools’ and then selecting ‘Personal Information’ or ‘Change Password.’

If you are not able to log in, please contact Computer Services at one of the following numbers:

Martin McDonnell: 610-519-6872
Steven Schwarz: 610-519-5216
Timothy Micklow: 610-519-7234

Parking Permits

All eligible students MUST register online.

Web Based Parking Registration is available to all Law students, Junior and Senior Resident students, and all Commuting students.  To access this form you will need your Novasis ID and Password.  Eligible students who complete the form on line will have the parking permit price automatically billed to their student account.  It’s easy and hassle free.

To register for parking just go to: https://novasis.villanova.edu, click on secure login, and the link, “Personal Information.”  If you are not sure of your Novasis Password  click on “Don’t know your Novasis Pin?”  This will allow you to acquire your Novasis password information.

Parking permit pick-up is at Farrell Hall or you can send a self-addressed envelope to the following address and the permit will be mailed to you:

Villanova Univeristy
Parking Office – Farrell Hall
800 Lancaster Avenue
Villanova, PA 19085

Class Attendance

Regular attendance at class is required. Your attendance is monitored by the Graduate Tax office. You must sign in before each class by placing your initials next to your name on the class roster, posted outside of the Graduate Tax office. Note that this is your responsibility; our instructors do not take attendance. 

Digital Recording

Many professors digitally record their classes.  These recordings are posted and available on our home page.  We do not guarantee that classes will be recorded.  To access the recordings, you need a login and password which will be provided at the New Student Orientation. Click here for audio files.

Text Books

Click here for the textbook booklist. The University Bookstore is located in Kennedy Hall.  During the academic year, regular bookstore hours are Monday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Friday until 5:00 p.m.; however during registration bookstore hours are varied and extended. Please call 610-519-4160 for more information. If possible, please purchase text books prior to the first night of class.  You may also fax your order to the bookstore using the textbook order form in the registration materials or on the web.

Course Materials and Syllabi

Class materials prepared by the instructors, in addition to or in lieu of text books, are usually required. The materials are available either in the Blackboard Classroom or for purchase in the Graduate Tax Annex the first night of class. Note that separate payment is required for those items - check or cash only.  As a new student, you will not have the appropriate passwords for Blackboard or the law school e-mail system until the New Student Orientation; however, the introductory courses do not usually post assignments in Blackboard until after that time.

Student I.D.

You are eligible for a Student I.D. once your registration is in the system.  You need this I.D. to enter the library.  Stop by the Wild Card office in Dougherty Hall on the main campus to obtain your picture I.D. Call 610-519-5031 to confirm their office hours. They usually close at 5:00 p.m. but hours vary during registration.  You must know your Banner (Student) ID number. E-mail vines@law.villanova.edu for this information.

Library

You must present your valid student I.D to enter the Law Library. The Library is open during the academic year 24 hours a day for students. The regular week-day hours are 8 a.m. - midnight; weekends 9 a.m. to midnight. Summer hours are limited and will be posted at a later date.  To enter the library after hours, you must present your I.D. at the loading dock doors at the rear of the library building.

Announcements

Please watch the graduate tax bulletin board for announcements about course materials, current events, placement opportunities and so forth. Call our dedicated message line (610-519-5369) for latest information regarding class cancellations and reschedules. Announcements are often also sent to your Villanova email account.

Message Only Hotline

Once we receive information from instructors regarding class cancellations or reschedules, we broadcast the message on our hotline. Call 610-519-5369 each evening before coming to class. (If class is cancelled, it will save you a trip).

Hazardous Weather

The Graduate Tax Program Director, in consultation with the Law School Administration, will determine whether classes will be canceled because of hazardous weather conditions. Please call our hotline number 610-519-5369 for closing information.

Please feel free to call me with questions at 610-519-4533 or e-mail vines@law.villanova.edu.  I will be glad to help you and look forward to seeing you soon.

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