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Email: admissions@mum.edu

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Information for Accepted Students

Getting to Know MUM and Fairfield, Iowa

New student welcome and orientation schedule

Make sure to arrive in time to learn about what’s new and different at MUM. Also, when to register for classes, move in to your new campus room, and much more. See the new student welcome and orientation schedule.

Before arriving on campus

1. Transportation to Campus
• Transportation to MUM
• If you would like to coordinate rides or share a shuttle to Fairfield you can do so using the MUM ride board
2. Lodging in Fairfield, Iowa

Hotels, motels, inns, bed and breakfast recommended for visitors to Fairfield, Iowa, including Maharishi University of Management and Maharishi Vedic City see the map

3. Housing

Room assignments are available to students at time of arrival on campus, but not prior to arrival. See more information about on-campus housing or off-campus housing.

The faculty expect that when students come to class they will maintain an appearance that is neat, dignified, and appropriate to the occasion.

• No T-shirts, shorts, or inappropriately revealing clothing
• Only earlobes may be pierced; women may also wear small nose gems
• Natural hair colors preferred; highlights with other colors permissible
• Students from other cultures and traditions are welcome to wear traditional dress provided the appearance is neat
• Dress in the dining hall and meditation halls is the same as for class, except T-shirts are acceptable in the meditation halls
4. Climate and clothing

Iowa generally has hot and humid summers, cold winters, and wet springs. Temperatures vary widely during the year. Winter may bring snow, freezing rain, or very cold wind. A very warm coat, boots, hat or hood, gloves, and an umbrella are needed. Natural fabrics like cotton, wool, and down will keep you the warmest. In the summer, light weight fabrics, light colors, a brimmed hat, and sunglasses will protect you from the sun and heat. If it is not possible to buy some of these items before you arrive, don’t worry — someone from the University will help you shop once you arrive.

5. What to bring for your on-campus room

Our rooms are cozy, so don't over pack! You should only bring items which can be easily stored in your room. Your room will have a bed, a desk, a desk chair, a closet-dresser, and a wastebasket. The furniture provided in the room meets most students' needs, and it cannot be removed without prior approval. You should not bring large pieces of furniture. If you want to provide your own bed, you must let us know ahead of time so we can remove the furnished bed before you arrive. The windows have drapes, shades or blinds.

U. S. students must bring their own bedding and linens — pillows, blankets, sheets, and towels. Regular twin size sheets will fit the mattresses. You may bring other personal items to make your room more comfortable. Here are some suggestions: clothes hangers, a desk lamp, an iron, your computer, a CD player, a clock radio, a sewing kit, an extension cord, and a UL-approved outlet strip with breaker switch. A fan may also be useful. You may bring small appliances like hot water dispensers and coffee makers. You may have a small refrigerator in your room. You can easily purchase any of these items in Fairfield.

6. Is there anything I should not bring for my on-campus room?

For fire safety purposes, we ask that you not bring open flame devices or open element cooking units like hot plates, cooking appliances, or microwave ovens. Also any lamp, particularly halogen lamps, that require a bulb greater than 150 watts produce a lot of heat and are not safe. Pets of all kinds are not permitted on campus.

7. Should I bring my bicycle or car?

We encourage people to walk or ride bicycles around campus instead of driving — it’s good exercise, you don’t consume fossil fuels or pollute the air, and you can easily get to where you need to go. Most buildings on campus have designated bicycle racks and the relatively flat terrain makes bicycling easy. Basic supplies and toiletries are available on campus through the University Book Store and the Golden Dome Market and Café. The downtown area is less than one mile from campus and offers a variety of stores. If you bring a car or bicycle, you must register it with the Security Office on registration day. Registration for bicycles is free and it is $50 per year for cars.

8. Telephone / Cable TV / Internet services

Once you have registered, you may order a private telephone for your room or take advantage of the University’s free voice mail system. Many students use cell phones; however most service providers require long contract terms that may be inconvenient or costly. Be sure to read all terms and conditions carefully before purchasing a cell phone plan. All residence halls have high-speed Internet connections and most are equipped with exercise and TV rooms. If you do not already have an e-mail address, you can apply for a University e-mail account after you arrive on campus.

9. Insurance
• Accident Insurance: All students enrolled at the University in at least a half-time program are automatically covered by accident insurance for accidents occurring on campus.
• Personal Property Insurance: The University does not carry insurance on personal property. We suggest that you determine if your personal property is covered by insurance you or your family already have. If it is not, you may wish to purchase personal property insurance. There are a number of private insurance agencies in Fairfield that provide policies for student residences.
• Health Insurance: The University does not provide medical insurance for U.S. students; but encourages them to have adequate health insurance coverage. In addition, all students should bring sufficient cash to cover health related costs not covered by health insurance, including transportation to medical appointments. For additional information on health insurance options, we suggest:
• IowaCare, a limited health care program that covers adults ages 19-64 who would not normally be covered by Medicaid. More about IowaCare
• Sidha National Insurance, which offers plans for Blue Cross Blue Shield, and also IMG Global (a travel insurance or for international students). Call to set up an appointment, 641-472-3500.
10. Can I ship personal belongings prior to arrival?

Small packages can be sent before you register and held at the campus mail room. Packages should be clearly addressed to: Your Name, New Student Arriving On (Date), Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield, IA 52557

11. Information for students with dependents

3 important things to send before you travel to MUM

1. Arrival form

Let us prepare better for your arrival by completing our Arrival Form

2. Medical health forms required by MUM

The following two health forms are required by the campus nurse. The health information you submit will be kept confidential. It can also be subitted at registration.

• Meningitis vaccination response form
• Medical history form. This form can be faxed to 641-472-1145. It can also be scanned, saved in jpg format, and then emailed as an attached document to nurse@mum.edu
3. Admission Deposit of $100 to confirm your enrollment

Please pay your deposit online or send the Admissions Deposit form included in your acceptance packet with a check or money order made payable to MUM to:

Office of Admissions
Maharishi University of Management
1000 North Fourth Street
Fairield, IA 52556-9972.

Registration Day

Registration will take place at the Argiro Student Center on Thursday, February 3, between 10:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., and Friday, February 4, between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

You will meet with your admissions counselor, who will provide you with a checklist of steps to complete registration. This will include making the tuition payment, meeting with the campus nurse and registering your car or bicycle, etc. You will have a chance to meet the graduation adviser, academic advisers and the Student Life staff.

• International students will also meet with the international student adviser
• Undergraduate students will not be registering for courses for the semester on Registration Day. In order to provide you with assistance to make course selections that best meet your academic goals, you will meet with the graduation adviser within your first month here to set up a course schedule.
1. Work-study

We have a wide range of work study positions available on campus. If you are interested in applying for a work study position, please confirm that work-study is part of your financial aid award. Your work-study award amount is also listed in your financial aid award letter. You can review a list of available work-study positions. Once you arrive on campus, you will be able to sign up for a work study position.

2. First course for undergraduate students: STC

What is Consciousness-Based education? What are the objective and subjective approaches to gaining knowledge? What would it mean to live my full potential? What is the paradigm that guides research and intellectual inquiry in Consciousness-Based education?

These are the questions that you explore in the Science and Technology of Consciousness. This course provides a foundation for all other courses you’ll take at MUM, and introduces you to key ideas and terms relevant to your studies and to your life experience here. We discuss the full range of consciousness, from individual experience to a fundamental field of intelligence that underlies all of life, and we explore how this experience is unfolded through Consciousness-Based education. You will explore how Self-knowledge is the unifying basis of all branches of knowledge.

Integrated into the Science and Technology of Consciousness (STC) course is a three or four-day camping trip where students, faculty, and staff go to a wilderness area. This is a fun, bonding experience for all participants. Camping trip activities may include canoeing, biking, and hiking, as well as learning outdoor skills. Winter activities may include, skiing, snowboarding, sledding and skating.

We try to make it easy for anyone who would like to attend Base Camp, but we are not set up to provide childcare for your children or support for pets. You will need to supply your own clothing and sleeping bag. For summer Base Camp we encourage you bring river shoes but an old pair of running shoes will work as well. For winter Base Camp warm outdoor clothes are a necessity. At present the summer Base Camp lasts for 4 days and winter Base Camp is a three day outing.

3. First course for graduate students: SCI

What is the unifying basis of education here at Maharishi University of Management? What are the objective and subjective approaches to gaining knowledge? How could my success in life be enhanced by developing the full potential of my creativity and intelligence?

These are some of the topics covered in your first course at Maharishi University of Management, the 33-lesson Science of Creative Intelligence course. This course provides a foundation for all other courses you’ll take at the University, and introduces you to key ideas and terms relevant to your studies and to your personal experience as a student here.

The video-taped series of lectures that are the basis of this course unfold systematic understanding of consciousness as the foundation of knowledge, and of the relationship between experience and understanding in the learning process. Questions and small group discussion will enhance your mastery of the course content.

Academic Tests

1. Math placement test

During your first month at the university you will be taking a math placement test. Based on this test, you will be placed in a math course appropriate for you. More about the math placement test.

2. Writing placement test

During your first month at the university you will be taking a writing placement test. Based on this test, you will be placed in a writing course appropriate for you.

The writing placement test has two sections:

• A short essay to evaluate how students put ideas together in writing
• a multiple-choice assessment to evaluate punctuation, grammar, and sentence structure skills

If you would like to prepare for this test the following companion websites can be helpful:

• Rules for Writers (requires registration)
• The Little, Brown Handbook
• The St. Martin's Handbook

Other resources

1. Campus dining hours
2. Student Support Service
3. Student Success Center
4. Faculty and staff directory
5. University catalog
6. Academic calendar
7. Standards of appearance
8. Fairfield, Iowa — Convention and Visitors Bureau
9. Chamber of Commerce — Fairfield, Iowa
10. Campus drug, alcohol, and tobacco policy

The use of alcohol and drugs has been found to be counterproductive to enhanced neurophysiological functioning produced by the Transcendental Meditation technique, so the University has a stringent policy on the use of alcohol and recreational drugs. Students must be free of recreational drugs for six months before enrolling.

In accordance with the State of Iowa Smokefree Air Act, smoking is prohibited on campus. Use of smokeless tobacco products is prohibited as well. All indoor and outdoor spaces are smoke and tobacco free.

11. List of local banks

Iowa State Bank
55 South 4th Street
Fairfield, IA 52556-3258
(641) 472-5061

MidWestOne Bank
55 South 4th Street
Fairfield, IA 52556-3258
(641) 472-5061

Libertyville Savings
2000 West Jefferson Avenue
Fairfield, IA
(641) 472-9839

Louden Depot Community CU
611 West Broadway Avenue
Fairfield, IA
(641) 472-9770

Community 1st Credit Union
2501 West Burlington Avenue
Fairfield, IA
(641) 472-6222

Capital Management Partners
1100 North 4th Street
Fairfield, IA
(641) 472-8800

12. Child Care Resources
13. Cost of Living Resources

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