Welcome Incoming Straus Students
A Special Note from Thomas J. Stipanowich
Dear Students,
Welcome to the family! I'm very excited that you will be joining our Pepperdine community this Fall. Pepperdine works hard to attract the best applicants for our top-ranked program, and you will be joining an elite group of students from around the world committed to the legal field and development of dispute resolution.
As you prepare for your studies at Pepperdine, I wanted to share two of my most recent articles on the International Evolution of Mediation and Commercial Arbitration and Settlement.
At Pepperdine, we place a large emphasis on not just providing an academic experience, but on the development of the Pepperdine community. From group social outings, and the BBQ at the house of a faculty member with all of our alumni, faculty, and students, to the international dinner I host during the Fall, we hope to give you the opportunity to share your culture with others in our programs and in turn experience new cultures.
If you haven't already, please reach out to my colleague Marcelo Rosadilla with your arrival times and flight information, so he can arrange to have someone pick you up at the airport.
I look forward to meeting you on campus this fall. Please reach out to me if I can be of any assistance.
Sincerely,
Thomas J. Stipanowich
William H. Webster Chair in Dispute Resolution
Professor of Law
Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law
Information about Malibu and Pepperdine
Pepperdine's COVID-19 Planning and Preparedness
Facebook Group
The Straus Institute staff has created a Facebook group for incoming students to use for discussion of subjects such as housing, transportation, and other shared concerns. It is our hope that this page will enable new students to build a community even before arriving on campus!
Malibu and Los Angeles
Pepperdine University is located in Malibu, CA, just 30 miles from downtown Los Angeles. Malibu is widely known for its beaches, mild Mediterranean climate, and as the home of many prominent Hollywood celebrities. For more information, please visit Pepperdine's website Life in Malibu.
Los Angeles is the second-largest metropolitan area in the US and is known for its warm climate, widely varied culture, and as the home and global headquarters of music, television, and film production. Los Angeles provides endless possibilities for entertainment and education - for more information, please visit the Welcome to Los Angeles website.
Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law
The Caruso School of Law is located on the university's graduate campus and boasts a 40,000 square-foot law library with ocean views, as well as conference rooms, classrooms, a dining hall, ample technology services, and on-campus housing. For more information, please visit the following site: Our Campus
If you require directions, please view our Maps and Directions site, or contact Marcelo Rosadilla.
Information
Paying Deposits
To accept your offer of admission, please visit the Student Response Form. Once you complete the form, please log into WaveNet to make your payment for your deposit. A charge will not appear on your account, but please deposit the amount stated in your admission letter into your Student Account.
Please log into WaveNet and go into your Applicant Center to make your non-refundable deposit which will be applied to your tuition once you enroll. When you click on "Make a Deposit" make sure that you either temporarily allow pop-ups or turn your internet browser's popup blocker off because CashNet (where you will pay the deposit) will open in a new window. If you do not have a U.S. bank account you will need to follow the step-by-step instructions to make an international wire transfer. This process can take 5 – 7 business days. When you take the printed receipt to your bank, if they are not able to make the transaction please email Randi Redman so you can be put in contact with our Student Accounts office - they will be able to assist you with alternate payment methods. Pepperdine is also now using Flywire to accept international payments! You can find instructions for how to make your deposit using Flywire here.
Office of International Student Services (OISS)
How to Obtain Your Pepperdine I-20
Important Information for International Students
As an international student, you will receive an email from the Office of International Student Services (OISS) once you have submitted your deposit introducing you to the OISS and informing you of any remaining immigration steps. For those seeking an F-1 visa, this email will include a thorough explanation of all the steps involved in the I-20 process. You will need to upload necessary documents to the OISS portal and complete the forms electronically. OISS Portal and e-form instructions can be found here. Please note that you will be required to show proof of sufficient funds to cover your program's cost of attendance as part of the I-20 process.
Please note that the I-20 process will not be initiated until your deposit is received.
International students planning to begin their studies during the Fall 2021 semester must have their deposit reflected on their Student Account no later than June 27, 2022; the International Student Data (ISD) form must be completed (all required supporting documents submitted) by July 15, 2022.
If you have recently attended or are still attending a school in the United States, the SSV Form applies to you. Contact your Designated School Official (or DSO, the person who signed your Form I-20) and request to have your SEVIS record released to Pepperdine before the expiration of your F-1 status.
Please also take some time to review the Passport to Pepperdine which is an international student arrival guide.
While all Pepperdine students are required to be fully immunized, we do not currently screen students at the Caruso School of Law. Any student that would like to upload their records to their Patient Portal is welcome to do so but are not yet required to do so at the Caruso School of Law. Law students who do upload records have the benefit of our medical staff reviewing them and letting them know what immunizations they still need to receive in order to be fully protected. This is an especially valuable service as we see outbreaks reported in the news, like the recent measles outbreak.
Getting Enrolled
Meet with Advisor
Each new student is required to discuss course selections with an academic advisor before enrolling for the first time. Please review your response confirmation email, which you received after submitting your online response form to confirm your offer of admission, to determine your academic advisor. If you have not yet discussed course selections, please contact your advisor by email or phone immediately.
Your academic advisor will be with you and available to you throughout your time with us here at Straus. You and your academic advisor will explore how you can benefit most during your time at Straus and create your individual academic plan tailored to your specific goals and needs. If you need assistance arranging an appointment with your advisor, please email Randi Redman.
You can find more information about the faculty at the Straus Institute on our Meet the Faculty page!
Complete Student Financial Responsibility Agreement in WaveNet
Effective with the Fall 2017 term and each term thereafter, prior to registration, all students must sign the Student Financial Responsibility Agreement. We have placed a registration hold on your account to ensure that you do this before any classes are added. To clear this hold, please access your Student Center on WaveNet, and look at your To-Do List, on the right side of your screen. Once you click on the link in that window, you may read the agreement, and scroll down to type in your name and check the box. By checking this box, you are agreeing to the terms of the agreement. Upon pressing "submit," the hold will vanish, and you will no longer see that item on your To-Do-List. If you require assistance please contact Randi Redman.
Sign and Return Initial Registration Form
New students are not allowed to self-enroll for classes before their first semester of classes. This policy is in place to ensure that each student communicates with their academic advisor. Once you have discussed your course selections with your advisor, please contact Randi Redman - she will provide you with an initial registration form to sign and return.
Course Schedules
All available, posted course schedules page
Orientation
All Students
FALL 2022
The Straus Institute will be hosting mandatory orientation sessions for all incoming dispute resolution students in early August for all students. Orientation will cover program requirements, academic resources, and other essential information. This will be a great opportunity for us to get to know you and also give you a chance to meet some of the other students beginning the program. More detailed information, as well as a form to confirm your attendance, will be sent out once available. Modality of orientation not yet determined and subject to change.
STUDENT ID CARD PICTURE
In order to streamline your arrival process, please submit your ID card picture as soon as you are enrolled in courses or at least 10 business days prior to your arrival on campus. This will allow us to print your card in advance so you can check in to campus housing, use your meal points, or check out books from the library without needing to visit the OneStop office to have your picture taken. It also allows you to choose your own photo, provided it follows the guidelines. For more information and to submit your photo, follow these instructions.
Housing and Residence Life Information
If you need assistance with on-campus or off-campus housing, please contact Marcelo Rosadilla.
If you are planning to live on campus beginning in the Fall 2022 semester, it is recommended that you apply for housing IMMEDIATELY as on-campus housing is already at capacity. Please note that you will not be able to apply for housing until your deposit is received; we also recommend including an additional $500 for the housing deposit when you make your seat deposit.
Caruso School of Law Housing and Residence Life
Financial Assistance and Cost of Attendance
Cost of Attendance (LLM, MDR, Certificate)
Financial Aid for International Applicants
International SIM Cards
We strongly recommend all international students obtain a SIM card prior to their arrival in California. Pepperdine has a partnership with campusSIMs - you should be able to simply search for Pepperdine on their Partnerships page and sign up to have your SIM card sent directly to you.
Transportation Options
Because Malibu is several miles from the nearest popular housing options, it is recommended that students research all available transportation options. Unfortunately there is no bus service through the Santa Monica Mountains, however, there is a bus line that runs along the coast between Santa Monica and Malibu. The bus route map and timetable can be found here.
Additionally, we recommend that students use the Facebook group to organize ride sharing options.
Notifications
WaveNet
You will need your login information, which was previously sent to you by the University. If you have forgotten or lost your login information, please contact the HELP desk[BROKEN LINK] at (310) 506-4357.
When you were admitted you should have received an email from a DoNotReply@pepperdine.edu address containing credentials to register and log into your WaveNet account. If you did not receive this email, have not registered your WaveNet account, or cannot locate this email, please let Randi Redman know so she can have the invitation email resent. WaveNet is the primary online platform Pepperdine uses; this will be where you will register for classes, view grades, pay tuition, update your personal information, view your class schedule, see who your advisor is, see if you have any "To Do" items, and much more. We strongly encourage you to become familiar with the WaveNet system and to remember how to log in!
Once your deposit has been received, you will see your Pepperdine email account appear in WaveNet. As soon as you have your Pepperdine email, please begin using only your Pepperdine email account for university communications.
FERPA Notification to Students
Health Insurance Information and Deadlines
Caruso School of Law Requirements
As an integral part of our mission at Pepperdine University, we want to ensure that students succeed academically and socially. With this in mind, we require all full-time, degree-seeking students to carry health insurance while enrolled at the University. Students may carry their own U.S. based health insurance, be added to a parent's plan, or enroll in the Pepperdine University Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). Students who do not wish to enroll SHIP must submit a waiver* through the AHP Insurance Dashboard and proof of comparable insurance by no later than August 2022. After this date, students will be automatically enrolled in SHIP, and will be fully responsible for the charge on their student account. The SHIP brochure is available online if you would like additional details regarding the SHIP.
*Please note: Students will not be able to submit the SHIP waiver until they are matriculated as a student and enrolled in a full-time course load (students enrolled in 8 units or more are considered full-time students). If you have not been enrolled in courses, you will not be on the waiver roster. If you are waiving SHIP, you must have U.S. based health insurance. Students who are in the certificate program and students who are enrolled in fewer than 8 units are not eligible for SHIP.
If you have questions regarding health insurance or health insurance requirements, please contact the Health Center.
Career Services
The Academic Advisors of Straus work with students to help you achieve lifelong professional success. They will guide you through your coursework at Straus and recommend courses and/or externships to help you reach your professional goals. Students can meet one-on-one to engage in career exploration or meet for externship and job search support. Please also feel free to contact our Associate Director of Career Development Aparna Gupta for information regarding career planning.
For students who are interested in working while they are studying, The Student Employment Office[BROKEN LINK] at Pepperdine is the best place to start looking for on-campus jobs for current students. There are more specific requirements for international students who are interested in on-campus employment during their studies; additional information regarding student employment for international students is also available through the Student Employment Office.